Kuumba

Habari Gani

Kuumba

Creativity

 

I stand on the shoulders of two creative giants, my grandparents.  When they left this world, they knew they had raised one child to become a Supreme Court Judge.  Another child traveled the world.  A daughter who was an educator in the New York City School system and a son who became an engineer.  Everyone learned to play and instrument, went to church every Sunday, and was polite and courteous to elders.  These times (30's and 40's) were not idyllic, but Momma and Poppy were creative, my mother and her siblings had a good lives.  

Just like my family, I am sure you have celebrated this Kwanzaa principal for years, because Kuumba is:

 

It is a lopsided birthday cake made with loving hands.  

Chicken soup, loaded up with herbs and vegetables. 

A spoonful of Cod Liver Oil.  

A swing made from an old tire.

Handmade card for mommy.

Collard greens cooked just right.

A saved egg carton for an important art project.

The prettiest Easter dress.

A crocheted blanket,

Friends and Family

Nia

Habari Gani

Nia

Purpose

Have you been building and developing your community, restoring our people back to their traditional greatness?  Yes Yes, of course you have!  If you are apart of a community garden, which makes the neighborhood beautiful, it is a step in the right direction.  Or maybe you begin with a window box of herbs, as it nourishes you it will nourish the community.  

Rebuilding a community may look like a barn raising, but sometimes it starts with the one looking back at you in the mirror.  Pearl Fryar (above) looked first in his back yard. His back yard became the world.  

Go out and plant that seed, Nia.

P.S. below I wrote this in 2005, and it is just for laughs:

Some people can use a little Nia in their life.  You've seen someone who is just wrong, wrong, and wrong.  Like the woman I saw in her electric blue, one shoulder, spandex jumpsuit.  She was shaped like a bag of potatoes.  Now before anyone gets their nose out of joint, I applaud her spunk, what I had a hard time with was it was 10am and she was drunk.  At this moment hooded ninja like gang should have grabbed her from the street and filled her with coffee and some knowledge.   

Hope you had a giggle.

Ujamaa

Habari Gani

Ujamaa

Cooperative Economics

This Kwanzaa principal is overlooked and under appreciated.  In the past few years, we have been in such a financial slump.  From lay offs to foreclosures, we are in trouble.  Fingers point at the Government, Big Financial Conglomerates, War, and The Rents Too Damm High.  They may deserve a finger wagging or two, we must point the finger at ourselves. 

We have spent too much, saved too little, and ignored all the steps to make ourselves financially stable.  Debt is the new slavery and if we don't remove these shackles of "I have to have it.", we will never be free. 

Save 10% of your income (or any amount just do something)

Create an interest bearing account, LEAVE IT ALONE, and watch it grow.

Make your purchases count, spend money with a small minority owned business.  You may have to go out of your way but it will work to the benifit of the community in the long run.

Work with a financial planner, advisor, or read more about how to make your money go further.

Stop throwing money away. 

• If you belong to a gym and haven't gone for months, you could have thrown the money out of the window. 
• Or do you buy coffee and lunch EVERYDAY, ugh too much. 
• If you haven't won the lotto yet $20 each week won't increase your chances.  
• Cable bill 2 months overdue????? I like cable too, but you can always turn it back on.
• Does the Chinese restaurant know what your order is before you order, maybe it's time to grease up a frying pan and COOK.  Plus it's just too much sodium in take out, you know your blood pressure is TOO HIGH.

I can go on but you get the idea, if you Coorperate With Your Ecconomics, Your Ecconomics Will Cooperate With You.

Now you can sing Money Money Mooooney!  Ujamaa

Ujima

Habari  Gani

Ujima

Collective Work

and Responsibility

Cowrie Shell Pin Available on Etsy

I know you are under the misconception that you have not celebrated Kwanzaa, but I am here to tell you, you have.

Ujima tells us to work collectively and make our brothers and sisters problems, our problems.  Although this formal idea of collective work sounds new, you have been practicing this principal for a long time. 

There is a leech......I mean friend or relative that calls on you, with their daily drama.  You never turn them away.  Even if they are grown and living off of their 76 year old mother's pension.  It is a challenge but, you take on this poor old sad sack doing all you can to get them off your back.......I mean back on track.  Sing your praises you have done good work, Ujima.

Kujichagulia

Habaragani

Kujichagulia: Self Determination

Photo from The Brooklyn Socialite Blog/ Ms Dahlia's Cafe and N-Diya Spa...

I think you suffer under the impression that no one understands or celebrates Kwanzaa.  Oh to the contrary.  You've seen it celebrated each morning on your way to work, fellow riders are determined to get that seat on the train, get out of the way, you are blocking an important principal.  You have a good idea and a co-worker steps up and claims credit, be quiet, the boss needs to see their brown noses.   Coffee shops are prime examples of Kujichagulia at work.  The next time  a determined customer jumps in front of you and screams "I WOULD LIKE A MOCHA, SMOCHA, LATTEE SKIM WITH SPLEDA..........", don't get mad.  Look at them directly in the eye, don't blink and scream at the top of your lungs "KUJICHAGULIA!!!!!!!!!", now how would you like your coffee.  

Smooth Transfer

I had file cabinet to give away and this went artist, Sophie Naess.  This Free Cycle transfer goes smoothly.

Umoja

Habari Gani

Umoja: Unity

Photo from Average Bro.com

We were unified when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat  (1955)

We were unified when we marched on Washington

(1963) 

We were unified when we marched from Selma to Montgomery

(1965)

 We were unified when we elected the first African American as the 44th United States President

(2008)

@#??!&%##!X

Ouch!

Someone kicked me off my soapbox

Apparently Unity has an expiration date

Let's put the U back in Unity and get our Moja working

UMOJA

A Partridge In A Pear Tree

See the recipe Here

The first gift your true love will give you, a partridge in a pear tree, and it will cost $161.99.  "Great, just what my cat fluffy wanted.  A tree to climb and a bird to chase".  

I was curious why so many gifts were birds (geese, colly, french hens, doves etc).  From pear tree, Lords a leaping ,and drummers drumming each of the "gifts" have a religious significance, Twelve Days Of Christmas.  Well that certainly clears it up.  I thought your true love had to work at the zoo.

2 Turtle Doves

Two Turtle Doves Comb Necklace/Contrary

 The cost of 2 turtle doves vary.  One site posts the pair for $100.  Another site has it at $55 each.  Or for the bargain rate of $55.98 for 2, which may be too good to be true.  Your true love has good intentions, the birds are a symbol of love and fidelity.  That's sweet but who is going to clean out the cage.

3 French Hens

My grandfather in Virginia

3 French hens and your true love's list is almost complete and with $150, 3 french hens can be in the living room skawking, walking, and pecking at the furniture........hmmm.  Can we revisit those 5 gold rings?

4 Colly (not Calling) Birds

This verse is often sung as 4 calling birds, but is is actually 4 colly or collier, which is a black bird.  In England a coal mine is called a colliery which means black like coal.  This gift sets your true love back $599.96.  I am sure that doesn't include the cage, bird seed, etc etc etc.  And do you want birds to take care of, which is why I have posted this version of Beatles-Black Birds (Acoustic Cover-Tomothy Moloi).

Both of you will fly.

Closet Clean Up

My quest to clean up, decorate, continues, and Free Cycle a helpful source, where I can participate in the hip and happening trend of recycling.

Above are some ornaments that were sitting in the closet.  I still haven't done any holiday decorations inside and these ornaments were not family heirlooms. They were in a box in the closet wanting, waiting to be used, and I decided that I would post them to Free Cycle.

After so much success with my Piano, this should be an easy transfer.  Not so fast, I posted the ornaments with an error, the post was removed.  I posted again then that seemed correct but there must of been a technical error, and the post was removed for an error in posting.  But the post did get a response from readers.  However when I re-posted, believing I corrected it, yup, it was removed because you are not so re-post an item for 30 days (huh).  This is all happening the 2nd week in December, 30 days and would make the ornaments irrelevant.

Suffice it to say, I had a deal pending and even that fell through.  NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEXT, Max came through and on a street in Brooklyn the ornaments are off to a happy home. 

5.....Gold.....Rings......

Now we're talking, Fiiiiiiiiiive...Goooooooold.....Riiiiiiiiiings.  This has value that you can understand.  Based on some Googled results, your true love will spend, $500 to $1500.  However, with a bit of searching I found many 14K gold rings for less.  

Like Oli and Me has this set of Whisper Ring, Set Of 5 for $350.  Wow, your true love is a financial wizard. 

Oli and Me

6 Geese A Laying

Hawaiian Paradise Designs

 

 

 Above a goose egg

See more 

Real Egg Carvings

Now we are getting into an area of gifts that are plausible, 6 geese a laying.  According to Veracity Stew, it is just $150.  Someone actually posted a question to Back Yard Chickens,  "I'm thinking about getting a pair of geese......read more".  Surprisingly  some of the answers are positive.

Recently, in Whole Foods I figured would get a few groceries, which included eggs.  WHEN DID EGGS GET SO EXPENSIVE, I know I know it's a fancy smancy grocery store, but  DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG.  I think I may consider buying 6 geese. I can raise them on the terrace and every morning, fresh eggs.  Maybe create a business, "Goose Eggs From Brooklyn".  Get a Facebook like page, Twitter, and then.................

7 Swans A Swimming

The cost of 7 swans a swimming: $5600.  For sure it doesn't include the lake, bird keeper, feeder, and if these birds were under the tree Christmas morning, you know what else would be there, SOMETHING TO CLEAN UP!  Below a less messy alternative.

7 different sterling silver  swan charms $271.00, all found on Etsy.com.  Your true love can keep $5329 and put it towards those 5 golden rings.

Vintage Sterling Silver Etsy

Sterling Silver Charm Etsy

Swan n Loop Sterling Etsy

Two Swans Sterling Etsy

Swan Etsy

Origami Silver Swan Etsy

Dainty Sterling Silver Swan Etsy

8 Maids A Milking

Heifer International

 If your true love gave you 8 maids of milking, it would set them back $58.00, that's it!!!!!  You can get a gallon of milk here in NY for about $2.70 to $3.00 x 8 = $21 to $24.  Add $37 for the maids.  Seems so affordable compared to some of the other gifts.

Buuuuuuuut, if your true love gave a cow to a needy family, it can enable them to have a glass of rich milk every morning, sell the milk which can pay for schooling, medication, and clothing. The first offspring is passed on to another family.  They then agree to pass on their offspring, and so on and so on.  It is the gift that keeps giving.  This may not be 8 maids a milking, but you begin with one and then it multiplies in more ways than you ever expected.

9 Ladies Dancing

This gift is a little like 10 Lords a Leaping, just add $1527.33 making it a whopping............$6294.03.  Also, what kind of ladies dancing, strippers, clog dancers, back up dancers for a rapper, tap dancers, I can go on but you get the idea. The 12 Days of Christmas does not specify.  However I will stick to ballet for this reference.

I wish I could fly across the floor stand on my toes and spin like a top.  I believed those days are long gone then I saw this video of Alicia Graf beautiful, graceful, and an outstanding talented dancer.  She has a story that should get you moving, no matter what the dream.  

Be daring to 

dream it, 

live it, 

loose it, 

rise above it, 

and be extraordinary.  

BTW, I am getting my toe shoes ready, 

I am about to fly.

 

10 Lords A Leaping

Photo By Andrew Eccles

If your true love spent $4766.70 on lords a leaping, wouldn't you be mad.  Dudes jumping around the living room knocking stuff over.  Plus, couldn't that money go to something that would appreciate, 10 lords a leapin' is not an investment.

 

So if you have to have 10 lords a leaping, try tickets to an Alvin Ailey performance.  This is a gift you will love love love.

See more photos by Andrew Eccles

11 Pipers Piping

Fancy Flours

According to Veracity Stew, the cost of 11 pipers piping, is $2356.20.  

An alternative, 11 cookies from Fancy Flours, $271.70.   

A demented version of 12 days of Christmas, freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

12 Drummers Drumming

 The cost of 12 drummers drumming, according to Answers.com, drum role please........... $2552.55.  ............Ba da buh

A Bucket Full Of Fun!

Bucket Full Of Fun

About 2 weeks ago I went to the Martha Stewart Show, again.  This time I took a friend and we got in by the skin of our teeth.  Although my name and my friend's name was on the list, it was not enough to get us in.  We had to stand on the side with 2 other women (but the MS employee whispered "Don't worry, ladies I have 25 stand bys, you will get in and you will be very happy".

They have a system for seating the guests and along with other stand bys, we were seated last.  As we (my friend and I) got into the studio we were directed to the front row.  Kind of like orchestra seats.  What a bonus too, this was the Holiday Gift Show, and every segment was a gift giveaway!  And you can get in on the fun too, Enter To Win. 

During one of the breaks, someone from the staff, whispered to my friend that Martha Stewart may ask her a question.  During the taping she asked her to come up and try on the Seersucker Robe, which of course was a gift for everyone in the audience.

We had a great time and got a bucket full of fun.  I even made a little movie with my Flip Video camera (one of the gifts).  Thank you Martha!

Flipped Out Over My Beans from Cassandra Bromfield on Vimeo.
My new Flip Video and I celebrate with some beans!  So this is just me foolin' around.