Here are the topics for this delayed blog: P,P, & M; a monarch rediscovered; candle making in Sweden; winter in FL; a December college graduation; finally, holiday music.

PBS fundraising. It is that time of the year -- again: money-raising time for Public Broadcasting. Sometimes, though, PBS fund raising has its moments. Last Wednesday there was a music segment from Peter, Paul, and Mary, one of my favorite groups from the '60s. Their songs were interspersed with pictures and a bit of commentary on the day. For example, their appearance at MLK, Jr's March on Washington. No massive electronics or pyrotechnics, just three great voices with marvelous harmony. Good stuff!

Parking lots, lost churches, and DNA. Word came this past week about "them bones." Location, age, skeletal similarities, and evidence of multiple wounds had given rise to much speculation. Now, DNA has virtually assured the world that the bones recovered from a parking lot on the past site of the Greyfriars Church in Leicester, England, are indeed those of Richard III. After his death in the Battle of Bosworth (1485), his bones had not been thrown into the River Soar at the Bow Bridge -- as legend would have it. Another mystery solved. RIP, Good King.

Winter in southeast Sweden. My wife's relatives live near Helsingborg, Sweden, just across the Ōresund from Hamlet's castle in Helsingor, Denmark, just north of Copenhagen. Even though it is not, as they say, "far north," the sun goes down early and comes up late. A past Christmas holiday visit gave us our first taste of eating both breakfast and dinner by candlelight! Hence, their Swedish family ritual of December candle making. There are craft shops where you can try your hand, though the Delanders have "graduated" and now make their own candles at home. A fun family holiday activity.

Frostproof. Yes, that is the name of one small town in central FL. This past week I spent time not far away and, though it seems counter intuitive, it was just chilly enough that the orchards around Frostpoof were spraying the trees to keep the oranges from freezing. Counter intuitive, but true.

Graduations. It seems they are all the same and always involve the everlasting debate over timing! How to recognize graduates from all the disciplines, faculty (distinguished or otherwise), et. al. The most fervent hope is that the featured speaker does not drone on and on. Sadly, she did, so the ceremony for my grand nephew at the University of Central Florida was no exception, but a good time was had by all.

Holiday music. Like it or not, the season is upon us. The car radio gave forth with one of the more unusual seasonal melodies: Eartha Kitt singing that sassy ditty, "Santa Baby." You know her list: sable coat, '54 convertible, yacht, deed to a platinum mine, duplex and checks, tree decorations from Tiffany's, a ring (please, not on the phone), and do "hurry down the chimney tonight."
    Another favorite that will come around more than once is "Frosty the snowman," now available with an accompanying animated movie. Believe it or not, my father and our piano-playing cousin once sang Frosty live on the local radio station. Sadly, dad's 78rpm vinyl has been lost.
     One past mid-December, my wife and I took a trip to the UK. We spent one week in London (plays, museums, etc.) and a second week in a 300 year-old manor house located in Droitwitch, a famed spa city near  Birmingham. (The town's salt baths date to Roman times.) The manor, Hanbury Hall, is now owned and operated as part of the National Trust. The manor has two third-floor apartments, but for our week we had the manor to ourselves. Quite decadent!
     A sign on the bulletin board outside the Trust office noted an upcoming evening gala with Christmas carols, tea, hot mulled wine, and traditional mincemeat pies. When we inquired, all the reservations were taken, but the lady in charge said, "Oh, you are staying with us so do come down. There's always someone who does not make it."
     What an experience. The local chorus were beautifully dressed in traditional garb and aligned themselves along the ornate railing of the tall spiral staircase between the 1st and 2nd floors. Glorious voices, but of the 15 or so carols on the program, we recognized only one! We were welcomed as manor guests for the refreshments and were told all the carols were all very traditional English holiday tunes. The warmth of the mulled wine spread more than enough holiday cheer. I happen to love mincemeat and the individual pies were divine; my  grandmother could not have done better!

Thank you for reading and enjoy your holiday preparations.