Conversation – 15

The Nutcracker Ballet Story
The Most Common of Many Variations

The Nutcracker Ballet is based on the story “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice” written by E.T.A. Hoffman. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same; The story of a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads.

When Marius Petipa had the idea to choreograph the story into a ballet, it was actually based on a revision by Alexander Dumas, a well known French author. His version reflects more of what we have come to love as the Nutcracker Ballet.

The Party Scene

It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house — A large and grand house with the most beautiful tree imaginable. The Stahlbaums are hosting their annual Christmas party, welcoming the arrival of their family and friends. The children, Clara and Fritz, are dancing and playing as they welcome their friends too.

The party grows festive with music and dance as godfather Drosselmeyer arrives. He is a skilled clock and toy maker and always full of surprises. Drosselmeyer draws everyone’s attention as he presents two life-size dolls. They are the delight of the party, each taking a turn to dance.

The children begin to open gifts when Drosselmeyer presents his to Clara and Fritz. Although his gift to Fritz is quite nice, he gives Clara a beautiful Nutcracker that becomes the hit of the party. Fritz becomes jealous and, having a bit more spunk than a boy should have, grabs the nutcracker from Clara and promptly breaks it. Clara is heartbroken looking on as Drosselmeyer quickly repairs the Nutcracker with a handkerchief he magically draws from the air.

As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the Stahlbaum family retires for the evening. Clara, worried about her beloved Nutcracker, sneaks back to the tree to check on him, falling asleep with him in her arms.

The Fight Scene

As the clock strikes midnight strange things begin to happen. Clara begins shrinking as her beautiful Christmas tree grows high above her. The toys around the tree come to life while the room fills with an army of mice, led by the fierce Mouse King. As the Nutcracker awakens, he leads his army of toy soldiers into battle with the mice. The Mouse King corners the Nutcracker and battles him one-on-one. The Nutcracker seems to be no match for the Mouse King.

The Nutcracker and his army can go on no longer and are captured by the mice and their King. Clara makes a final daring charge throwing her slipper at the Mouse King, hitting him square on the head. The Mouse King drops to the floor and the mice run away, carrying off their leader’s lifeless body.

The Land of Snow

The Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Clara on a journey to the Land of Snow, an enchanted forest wonderland where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.

The Land of Sweets

The Prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Prince tells her about their daring battle with the army of mice and she rewards them with a celebration of dances.

The Spanish Dance
The Arabian Dance
The Russian Dance
The Chinese Dance
The Mirliton Dance
The Waltz of Flowers
As a finale, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier dance a beautiful Pas De Deux.

The Dream Ends

Heidi Daus of course. ♥

Enjoy Berries are good for you anytime of year. ♥

Happy Holidays. ♥

I love this Movie and I watch it every year with my family. ♥

Rudolph you’ll go down in history. ♥

Silver and Gold – Burl Ives

Silver and gold, silver and gold
Ev’ryone wishes for silver and gold
How do you measure its worth?
Just by the pleasure it gives here on earth
Silver and gold, silver and gold
Mean so much more when I see
Silver and gold decorations
On ev’ry Christmas tree

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Burl Ives

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen
But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You’ll go down in history

A Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives

Have a holly, jolly Christmas
It’s the best time of the year
I don’t know if there’ll be snow
But have a cup of cheer
Have a holly, jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet
Oh
Ho
The mistletoe
Hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you
Kiss her once for me
Have a holly jolly Christmas
And in case you didn’t hear
Oh by golly
Have a holly
Jolly Christmas this year
Have a holly, jolly Christmas
It’s the best time of the year
Have a holly, jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet
Oh
Ho
The mistletoe
Hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you
Kiss her once for me
Have a holly jolly Christmas
And in case you didn’t hear
Oh by golly
Have a holly
Jolly Christmas this year

Shifting The Mood

We all have to do things in our life that we don’t want to and the easiest solution is with to change our attitude.

We all have days when we are faced with chores, errands, or responsibilities that we don’t want to do. At times like these, it’s easy to get into a bad mood and stay in one as we tackle these tasks. However, given the fact that our bad mood will not change the fact that we have to do these things, and will most likely make things worse, we could also try to shift our attitude. Many wise people have pointed out that it is not so much what we do as it is how we do it that makes the difference in our lives.

It’s important when we’re facing something that’s really hard for us, whether it’s doing taxes, paying bills, or visiting a challenging relative, that we lovingly support ourselves through the process. The more supported we feel, the easier it is to open our minds to the idea that we could change our way of looking at the situation. In truth, most of the chores we don’t like doing are intimately intertwined with our blessings. When we remember this, we feel gratitude, which makes it hard to stay in a dark mood.

We can shift our attitude by considering how much we love our home as we clean it and how lucky we are to have a roof over our head. Any task can be transformed from a burden to a necessary aspect of caring for something we love. All we have to do is shift our perspective, and our attitude follows shortly behind.

@mcpoopoo,

I did see you post a page back. Just wanted to say Good Morning and yes that was
my baby Sheba2011.♥ I love animals and I feel the same way about my cat. ♥

I am so glad you enjoy your daughters for the holidays. Here is to many more happy
holidays with family and friends. 🙂

@bassetbabe,

Good Morning! Have a fantastic day. I have done more this morning then most
active people will do all day. Long story. 🙂 I too miss Loaf. The reason I am concerned
is Loaf has never been gone this long and I prey nothing is going on. Everyone needs
a break and many have taken them and never came back. LOL! I am cool with that.

No worries. ♥ The thing is Loaf has been with me since almost the first week this thread
started three years ago. It’s odd she will always tell me if she is going out of town or if
she has the kids. So if she is somewhere having a great time good for her. ♥

I just want to know how she is.:)

Cherie,

My family has had the Farm for years. 🙂 I am helping take care of my dad who has
cancer. I don’t travel like I used to. I miss going around the way. ♥

I am going to Colorado I need to see my mom and make sure she is doing well.
My sister lives there as do all my brothers and sisters. ♥ Every niece and nephew too.

I am going up in the Mountains. ♥ Cherie I am named after my beloved dog. ♥

@taci

I miss my little Sheba everyday. ♥ Hey I am decorating the entire house.
When I decorate I leave nothing out. I have lots of decorations over the
years. Some of my children I still have their special things we put on the
tree. My greatest Christmas would be to have all the children home. ♥

I am blessed I really don’t need anything. Well I will always get a Heidi Daus
Beauty. ♥ Some things you have to have.

Taci what coupon are you referring to? I don’t you for not going out in the cold and
dark hiking.

You can always make it up. 🙂