Check out Lori Seaborg’s “Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt.” Last night one of the ladies of the choirlet, a skilled quilter and knitter, gave me a ride to rehearsal and told me along the way about the class she’s giving in how to make a bag or briefcase from a quilt block. I carry a briefcase myself, since I cart student papers to and fro, and printouts to show clients who are more at ease with paper. My kids carry laptops. So I was imagining what a nice, quick Christmas present such a bag would make if you machine quilted it. Fusible web, the quilter said, and crosshatching — pick an elegant suiting fabric or even an upholstery fabric with a subtle pattern, and there you’d be.

Then the quilter started describing the ones she was using as examples: a pink and green print of candy with a bright yellow geometric having lots of different sizes of circles, and a stripe.

Whip that out at a meeting and see what happens.

With that fresh in my mind, though, I ran into Lori’s tutorial, and thought that it would make a very snazzy non-briefcase. The briecase that I carry is pictured here, and I love it. It’s as relaxed as I could comfortably carry to meetings.

Honestly, I’m tempted sometimes to carry my Google bag, just because it’s so cool that I have one. I am saved from this show off temptation by the fact that none of my clients or students will have any idea how cool it is to have a Google bag. They would probably think I had bought it.

I have a meeting today with a prospective client. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with the amount of work I have for current clients, so I’m having to work hard to have a good attitude about this meeting. “OMG! I can’t believe these people are calling and interrupting me!” is not the right attitude with which to approach meetings with prospective clients.

I’m having fun with the work I’m doing, though, even if I am worrying that I’ll never get it finished. And, while I have given up sleep for the nonce, I haven’t given up rehearsals. Accordingly, I tried last night to persuade the choirlet to sing today’s song of the day: “Born on a New Day.” I love this song. They liked it, too, but felt that it was too hard. I won’t suggest that you sing it, then, especially since it’s kind of hard to sing all the parts yourself and your friends, too, might balk at having to learn it real quick. Just listen to it.

If you’re having sort of a mad day, as I expect to be, you’ll feel better. It was written by John David, arranged by Peter Knight, and recorded by both the King’s Singers and the Cambridge Singers. It’s one of the most lovely of new Christmas carols. If you honestly prefer Lady Gaga’s “Christmas Tree,” that’s okay,but you should at least listen to it all the way through before you decide.

I went last night to the rehearsal at the down-the-hill church, instead of the up-the-hill church where I have been going. The difference is striking. At the up-the-hill church, everyone scurries to be on time, enters and takes a seat quietly, and the time between songs is quiet. At the down-the-hill church, many people are late, including the pianist, people talk all the way through the rehearsal, even when there is simply a rest in their part, and much time is wasted in laughing and bickering.

You wouldn’t think we were in the same town.

Both are fun, though there’s a predictable difference in the outcome as far as the music goes. Last night’s rehearsal was not only a jolly way to spend an evening, it also included a new-to-me carol that I really like, “Star in the East.”  Here’s some shape note music for it. Here’s a Wikimedia file, and here’s a YouTube file with an authentic shape note sound, which not everyone will enjoy. Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer share the dulcimer tab for it in pdf form. It’s included in the podcast of The Rose Ensemble. You can sing it with a YouTube karaoke while you get to know it.

The song is also known as “Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning,” though I know a completely different song by that name so I won’t be calling it that. It is usually attributed to William Walker, author of the shape note hymnal Southern Harmony, but Oremus says it’s by Reginald Heber, the Bishop of Calcutta.

If you’re not determined to sing it in  traditional shape note style, it’s a beautiful tune. The words are pretty cool, too:

1. Brightest and best of the stars of the morning,
dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid;
star of the east, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Refrain:
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning,
dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid;
star of the east, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

2. Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining,
low lies his head with the beasts of the stall;
angels adore him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Savior of all. (Refrain)

3. Shall we then yield him, in costly devotion
odors of Edom, and offerings divine,
gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,
myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine? (Refrain)

4. Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
vainly with gifts would his favor secure;
richer by far is the heart’s adoration,
dearer to God are the prayers of the poor. (Refrain)

5. Brightest and best of the stars of the morning,
dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
star of the east, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

This is a very good song for fiddles and other stringed instruments.

If you get tired, as many people do, of hearing the same Christmas music over and over at this time of year, you may be cheered by the knowledge that there are always lots more different tunes out there to learn.

I had three meetings yesterday, which is at least two too many, I had trouble getting access to the websites I was supposed to work on, I had lots of phone calls and emails requiring things, lots of interesting technical issues, and then I had a fight with my husband and then went to Tuesday class and heard about the end of the world.

Today I taught a class, tried to visit my parents at their new place (they weren’t there), and then came home and worked steadily on one project for most of the day. It seemed much calmer. Of course, here it is 9:00 and I’m back at work after rehearsal, but it felt calmer. I enjoyed the day more.

I have a happy song for you: Behold That Star. This is so much fun to sing, you can sing it at any time at all. It doesn’t require any accompaniment, though we had a terrific piano player with us, but you can clap and wave your hands and dance around while you sing it. This makes it good for stressful days. You could also hum it to yourself in a contemplative manner at the end of a satisfyingly full day.

Either way.

Do you still have leftovers? Not things you cooked on Thanksgiving, because those would be old by now, but ingredients. Here’s what I made with my leftover box of stuffing mix: Chicken Bruschetta Bake. Turkey and vegetables are ordinary food that you can use in normal ways, but  Cranberry Coffee Cake is good to use up that cranberry sauce.

You can sing while you cook.