HIS THIS THE WORLDS TALLEST SNOWMAN

The world’s tallest snowman — 113 feet, 7 inches — was built in this western Maine town back in 1999. In the photo below the tallest snowman, “Angus, King of the Mountain”, stands tall over a crowd of people gathered to attend a ceremony in Bethel, Maine, in February, 19 1999.

Now the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce will attempt to build the world’s tallest snowman (snowwoman) again. It is told that the work will start on Jan. 22 and take up to 20 days to complete, said Executive Director Robin Zinchuk.

“We definitely learned a lot the first time around and that’s helping us know what we need to do. We really didn’t know what we were doing last time,” Zinchuk said. The giant snowman was named “Angus, King of the Mountain” in honor of former Gov. Angus King. Angus was so big that his nose was 8 feet long, his hat was 20 feet in diameter and the scarf around his neck was 120 feet long. His eyes were 4-foot wreaths, and his smile was made from automobile tires.

There was also a raffle as to when Angus would melt, which with our Maine weather, was anyone’s guess. The official melt date was June 10, 1999. The raffle was divided by 22 winners. Fashion ideas being tossed around for a giant snowwoman include making a skirt out of snow, adding a pink scarf and painting tires lipstick red for her mouth.

Jim Sysko, the chief architect and engineer nine years ago, will again lead the construction team. He’ll be assisted by an engineer and a longtime snowmaker from the nearby Sunday River ski resort, which has a new snowmaking gun that could help ease the effort.

For a name, the chamber is considering holding a naming contest. The giant snowman was named by a radio station disc jockey. “I haven’t heard from Angus (King) yet, but I’m sure he will be thrilled that we’re doing it again. He’s all about doing fun things,” Zinchuk said.

Detail of the to-be-dethroned tallest snowman are:

• Height 113 ft. & 7 inches tall
• 9,000,000 lbs
• 200,000 cubic feet of snow
• 4 ft. wreathes as eyes
• 6 ft. of chicken wire & muslin for the carrot nose
• 6 automobile tires as the mouth
• 20 ft. fleece hat
• 120 ft. fleece scarf
• 3 skidder tires for the buttons
• 2 – 10 ft. trees for arms

The snowman’s hat was made by seventh graders at Telstar Middle School. His six-foot nose was made by local elementary school students and as a special touch, has the imprints of the student’s hands.

Maine’s governor, Angus King, whom “Angus, King of the Mountain” was named after, came to participate in the ceremony to honor the citizens of Bethel who achieved their goal and “made it” into the Guiness World Book of Records for the World’s Largest Snowman. He stated he felt honored to have had the snowman named after him, but wondered if “Willie Melt” might not have been a more appropriate name! (source )

The snowman is listed in Guinness Book of Records 2002, page123.

CAN THIS BE THE TALLEST SNOWMAN

Poems for Friday the 13th

 

Friday the 13th
By Adele Swift

Oooh! Aaaah!
Stay home
Little frightened ones!
Today is Friday the 13th!
You know what that means!
Ooooh!
Bad luck
Because you feel guilty
For all the things
You’ve done to hurt people
For which you’ve
Yet to be caught.

Habits
By Brenda Braene

I find a penny
I pick it up
I give it to my sister
So she has good luck.

I skip the cracks
No broken backs
I knock on wood
To keep it good.

I cross my fingers
So good luck lingers.
I laugh and play
To save the day.

The 13th of Friday
By Cassandra Oleander

Frost on the glass
Creates patterns that blast
Away fears from the day.

Peeking through Jack Frost’s
Gifts given in the night
Seeing land so clean and bright.

It’s quiet because people
Move carefully, clearly
Fearing a misstep.

Their fear makes them polite.
Superstition takes them to
New heights.

What are you doing on valentine’s day?

AND SHE SAID YES

Eight YEARS AGO TODAY

 

VALENTINES DAY POETRY CHALLENGE – IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN LOVE IS IN THE AIR!

SEND  YOUR LOVE POEM’S TO US  AT: poetreecreations@yahoo.com

AND HELP  US  CELEBRATE OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 

WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR SEVEN YEARS

FEBURARY 14th 2016

A LETTER TO A MOTHER IN SPIRIT

 

 

Dear Mother, It is very hard,

As I do not know where to start,

These few words I send to you,

Come from within my heart.

 

Now that you are no longer with me,

You are always on my mind,

I remember you were very gentle,

And to me, so very kind.

 

Sometimes I said things to hurt you,

But you took it in your stride,

And although you never shown it,

You must have hurt inside.

 

You helped me through my heartaches,

And problems I could not bear,

For I know that in the background,

You were always there.

 

I suppose I took you for granted,

My enemy and my friend,

My eyes are filled with tears,

For this letter I cannot send.

 

You are no longer with me,

For you have gone to a better place,

I miss the love you gave me,

And the smile upon your face.

 

Mother, I love you very much,

That is all I want to say,

These greetings I send you,

Because it is Mothers Day…

 

Malcolm G Bradshaw

Mother

 

A sweet enchanting smile

Warm and tender charms

The things I remember

While safe in mother’s arms

 

Protected from all troubles

Comforted when in pain

Kissed gently on the cheek

To make all better again

 

Guided through my infant life

Of things I should not do

Taught me right from wrong

And shown things old and new

 

I want to thank you mother

I cherished all the years

Even when I was punished

And cried so many tears

 

And now that I am older

My love for you is strong

Although you are no longer with me

To the Spirit world you have gone

 

I know you will always be near me

For your love will never die

At times when I need you

I will always feel you nigh

 

I should like to say thank you

For all that you have done

For I will always cherish you

From your grateful Son.

 

Malcolm Bradshaw

The Tramp

Cold as ice
there he sat

Dreaming about
this and that,

Of what could
have been

If  he’d stayed
within the social scene

Each night his
shadow lies under the lamp,

He is
identified as the local tramp

The park is his
home,

Nowhere else to
roam

No hidden
agenda

Or anyone to
care for,

No personal
appointments to keep

No people at all 
to  meet

No-one to
explain to when he isn’t there,

No sacrifice to
bare

The owls watch
over him at night

Under the lamp
in the moonlight,

Where empty
beer cans surround him

Next to the
rubbish in the bin

The tramp that
wants to be alone,

And to leave
his identity unknown

By Gillian Sims

New Year Wish

This new year I will not be wishing for stardom, I do not even want fortune and fame;
In fact I do not want anything to change, I want my life to stay to same 
..
Instead you can give my New Years wish to somebody who is feeling low;
Give it to the homeless man who has no place to go 
..
Grant the wishes of the dying children in Africa, so maybe they can get to drink clean water;
You can Give my wish to their parents, so maybe this year they will not have to say goodbye to their son or daughter 
..
You can take my New Years wish and give it to a child who’s daddy will never come home;
He may have died fighting for his country but he has left his baby all alone 
..
Please give my wish to the person who cannot smile, sadness is now their only expression;
Please give my New Years wish to the war widow before she sinks deeper into depression 
..
So please do not waste a wish on me when there are still children crying their hunger pain;
There is nothing In my life I need to change, I just want everything to stay the same 
..

BARRY MOWLES ©2013

In the bleak mid winter your favourite Christmas poem

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air,
But only His mother
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man

I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

Christina Rossetti

1872

What happened on Christmas eve

Christmas Poem

I wrote this poem because it really makes people laugh and think about what happens on Christmas Eve when they are asleep. It also makes you think about the times you may have left your fire burning and what might have happened to Santa.

© Peyton

As Santa came down,
The chimney with care.
Below was the fire,
With a steaming hot flare.
As Santa squirmed down,
And his bottom was burned.
He threw down the presents,
And simply turned.
His reindeer blew,
The fire out.
And that’s when we heard him,
let out a shout.
He woke up the neighbors,
We saw him leave.
That’s why there’s no fire,
On Christmas Eve.

Christmas cards

 

 

Christmas is here once again

Brings memories of the past

The times we were together

I am alone again alas

 

Dusting down the Christmas cards

Placing them for all to see

The house is now empty

Since you were taken away from me

 

I miss the way you smiled

I miss you being there

I miss the warmth of your embrace

As I talk to an empty chair

 

Christmas can be a lonely time

When a loved one passes on

The sense of loss is painful

When you realise they have gone

 

As I read those Christmas cards

I thank God for all the years

That we both shared together

Through happiness and tears

 

I am going to enjoy Christmas

And toast our life with Champaign

Because I know one day

We shall meet in heaven again

 

Malcolm G Bradshaw

A visit from st Nicholas – Your Favourite poem

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

Attributed to Clement Clark Moore 1823

Probably written by

Major Henry Livingston 1808

Christmas Limericks

Holly and Carols limerick

The hallway with holly is hung; 
The carols by choruses sung. 
The tree is alight 
To brighten the night 
As the church bells are joyfully rung!

Christmas Greetings limerick

This Christmas I’m writing to you 
Our friendship to warmly renew. 
May the season be glad, 
The best that you’ve had, 
And all of your best dreams come true.

Santa’s Sleigh limerick

We’re singing the song of the sleigh 
As Santa gets his underway. 
The bells are a-jingle, 
Our tummies a-tingle, 
SO SHOUT OUT FOR THIS XMAS DAY!

Fairy limerick

There was a young Xmas-time elf
Who greatly admired himself.
He climbed up the tree,
A fairy to see,
But fell down and left with a skelf!

Reindeer limerick

A reindeer of Santa’s grew ill
So the vet gave the patient a pill.
His ears went all droopy.
And then he went loopy.
So your present is over the hill!

Turkey limerick

A turkey was asked out to dine
So told all his friends, “I feel fine!
When the water grew hot
He went in the pot,
And asked for a cool glass of wine!

Mistletoe limerick

May all of your Xmas be very
Much more than the regular merry.
Though merry is good
There are times when you should
Find more ‘neath the mistletoe berry!

By William Clark

The Snowman

There’s a strange man

In my garden

With top hat and tails

He is looking rather pale

He’s been standing there

For some time now

Just standing and staring

And looking all around

He very often smiles

But doesn’t often frown

The squirrels and the fox’s

All adore him

As they pass by

He lifts his hand

To wave at them

And smiles to say goodnight

Thomas and Gillian Sims

Thoughts at Christmas

 

Christmas is a time of joy for some,

But Christmas can bring sadness too,

Christmas is what ever

The time of year means to you.

 

Christmas can be happy,

For all the girls and boys,

To see there faces light up,

When they receive their toys.

 

Christmas can be lonely,

For those that are left alone,

Families that have forgotten

Loved ones left at home.

 

Christmas brings out all that is good,

It lifts our very soul,

It makes us feel like children,

As we approach the Christmas Noel.

 

Remember as you celebrate Christmas,

Send good cheer all around,

For all the good fortune you have experienced,

And for all the love you have found.

 

 

Malcolm G Bradshaw  

A different Christmas poem

 

 

 

A Different Christmas Poem

 

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold..
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
“What are you doing?” I asked without fear,
“Come in this moment, its freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!”

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire’s light
Then he sighed and he said “It’s really all right, 
I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night.” 
“It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ‘ Pearl on a day in December,”
Then he sighed, “That’s a Christmas ‘Gram always remembers.
“My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘ Nam ‘,
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue… an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.”

“So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I’ll be all right.”
“But isn’t there something I can do, at the least,
“Give you money,” I asked, “or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you’ve done,
For being away from your wife and your son.

“Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
“Just tell us you love us, and never forget…
To fight for our rights back at home while we’re gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.”

PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S.service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.  Let’s try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

Bump – Promote Yourself

The shock when I saw two pink lines,
The tears of confusion, what to do now,
Am I happy or sad, am I ready for this?
Our lives will change, suddenly a future with kids,
There’s no choice the bond is already strong,
Now praying that nothing goes wrong,
Now it’s all exciting, is it a girl or boy?
I cannot wait to meet our little bundle of joy.

Abbe Cutforth

A New Broom

 

Two brooms where wed
And when “I do’s” were said
The lady broom disclosed
The reason for her clothes
Of generous flatter
And the fact of the matter.
A little broom was on its way
Oh what a happy day
But he was not so happy
With expecting a little chappie
This just wasn’t fair
As he hadn’t swept with her

Paul Curtis