Jumpin' At The Woodside

This festive Christmas mix features 20 tracks spanning 62 years from 1963 to 2025. Sounds of a snowy winter night and a crackling fire set the scene along with a distant church bell and the whistle of a passing train. Skating - Vince Guaraldi (1965) Warm and Cozy - Brett Eldredge (2024) The Christmas Song - Olivia Dean (2021) Christmas Time Is Here - Herb Alpert (2025) I Love The Winter Weather/I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Tony Bennett (1968) Snow in Montana (feat. Gabrielle Grace, Moony & Abby Holliday) - Michigander (2022) Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love (1963) Christmas Celebration - B.B. King (1964) Jingle Bell Rock - Bill Haley and His Comets (1968) Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Lady Gaga (2024) Irish Christmas In New York - Joanne Shaw Taylor (2025) Wrapt in a Beau - The Bamboos (2024) Stay a Little Longer, Santa - Shemekia Copeland (2003) This Christmas I'm Coming Home - Leon Bridges & Norah Jones (2025) Sleigh Ride - The Ronettes (1963)...

This festive Christmas mix features 23 tracks spanning 70 years from 1954 to 2024. There are classics new and old, and the sounds of a snowy seaside winter's night and crackling fire set the scene. What Child Is This - Vince Guaraldi (1965) Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald (1960) It Must Be Christmas - Brett Eldredge (2024) What Christmas Means to Me (feat. Stevie Wonder) - John Legend (2018) You For Christmas - Kelly Clarkson (2021) Let It Snow - Luscious Jackson (1998) Please Come Home for Christmas - Eagles (1978) You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (2013) Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Lou Rawls (1967) Coming Home For Christmas - Forest Blakk (2023) The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire) - The Drifters (1954) My Favorite Things - Jennifer Hudson (2024) The Bell That Couldn't Jingle - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass (1968) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Lauren Daigle (2016) Merry Christmas Baby (Alternate Mix) - Otis Red...

This year's festive Christmas mix features 26 tracks spanning 66 years from 1957 to 2023 and touches every decade in between. There are classics new and old, along with a couple non-traditional tunes, that I'm sure you know. Sounds of a snowy winter night and a crackling fire set the scene along with a distant church bell and the whistle of a passing train. Carol Of The Bells - Keith Lockhart & The Boston Pops Orchestra (1998) Christmas Time Is Here - Lauren Daigle (2016) Christmas Waltz - Gregory Porter (2023) Santa Claus Is Comin To Town - Tony Bennett (1968) Wake Up! (It’s Christmas Time) - Forest Blakk (2023) Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses (1981) Jingle Bell Rock - Daryl Hall & John Oates (2006) Drivin' round Town - Gabe Dixon (2013) Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Ella Fitzgerald (1960) The Christmas Song - The Whispers (1979) White Christmas - Norah Jones (2021) I Pray On Christmas - Harry Connick, Jr. (1993) Snoopy's Christmas (Snow Waltz i...

The first Christmas mix I created was over 20 years ago, and was a collection of classic holiday tunes that I've loved over the years. I initially got the idea of putting the songs together while selecting music to go with my family's old home movies that I had transferred to video. They were shot on 8mm with no sound and many of them were from various Christmases in the 1970s. It seemed natural to add some music to go with them. I actually thought I may not make another Christmas mix, because the first one contained what I felt were the ultimate Christmas songs. I arranged the songs from old to more recent, much the same way I placed the home movies on video. In 2004, I added a couple tracks, but the majority of the first mix remained the same. Later when I digitized some of my great grandfather's paintings, many of them winter scenes, it seemed like a perfect fit to use them as cover images and also honor the memory of my great grandfather. For each of the follow-up Woo...

This new Christmas mix features 25 tracks spanning 66 years from 1956 to 2022. There are classics new and old, along with a few non-traditional tunes, that have the Christmas spirit and/or were included in holiday movies. I’ll Be Home for Christmas (feat. Ellis Marsalis & Plas Johnson) - The Count Basie Orchestra (2015) Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season - Andy Williams (1963) Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Ray Charles (1985) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Ramsey Lewis Trio (1961) Christmas Calling (Jolly Jones) - Norah Jones (2021) White Christmas - Ella Fitzgerald (1960) Sleigh Ride - Diana Krall & The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (2005) I Believe - Frank Sinatra (1958) Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (feat. Kenny G) - Dave Koz (2014) What Christmas Means to Me - Joss Stone (2022) Right Back Where We Started From - Maxine Nightingale (1976) The Christmas Sweater - Michael Bublé (2011) Hometown Christmas - Switchfoot, NEEDTOBREATHE & JUDAH. (2021) Christmas Mu...

This week's Five4Friday ... some of my favorites from Woodside Christmas I and II . For me, the all-time greatest Christmas song is Nat King Cole's rendition of "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)". Next up Ray Charles' signature take on "Winter Wonderland", which was also used in the film "When Harry Met Sally". Harry Connick, Jr.'s "Sleigh Ride" puts the BIG in big band with a rousing version of Leroy Anderson's orchestral piece composed in the 1940s. Billy Squier's 1980s MTV-era classic "Christmas Is the Time To Say 'I Love You'" never goes out of style. And bringing it home, Kenny Loggins' "Celebrate Me Home". Good tidings, good cheer and Merry Christmas to one and all - Salud!

This week's Five4Friday... Christmas songs that aren't really Christmas songs. The first track has a great spirit of love and joy, and it's his birthday, Frank Sinatra's live performance of "Fly Me To The Moon". While I could have included George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" from the same album "All Things Must Pass", I like the life and love quality of "What Is Life". It has a "George Bailey" simple every-man tone. Lenny Kravitz "Let Love Rule" an obvious choice for the season. "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys from the film "Love Actually" has become almost synonymous with the holiday, and includes jingling sleigh bells in the opening. Wrapping things up is Elvis Costello & The Attractions' "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding". It's Christmas, so a gift of a bonus track is in order. Three Dog Night's "Joy To The Worl...

Hope you're warm and cozy on these chilly winter eves approaching the New Year, enjoying the bowl games as well as some fine libations. I was in ol' Willy Penn's Commonwealth for the Christmas holiday. It was the night before Christmas Eve (or Christmas Eve Eve) and we decided to venture downtown following a hearty evening meal. My niece Mac and her husband Justin were in town from coastal Carolina, having only moved there from California this past summer. I thought Porter's Pub would be a nice destination for its excellent beer menu and east-coast charm -- a small space with an exposed rock wall. Porter's is famous for its pewter mugs hanging from the ceiling. " Experience every one of our 60 imported and micro craft brews and you will earn a pewter mug with your own personalized engraving! " It wasn't that crowded, but all the spots were taken at the bar and tables are reserved for eaters. We decided to have a drink there, and see if some spo...

Happy Friday! Tonight's brew is the last of the Sierra Nevada 30th anniversary series finally available here... Our Brewers Reserve: Oak-Aged Ale . "... a marriage of our three most acclaimed ales, Oak-aged Bigfoot, Celebration Ale, and fresh Pale Ale blended together and generously dry hopped." Ahhh, a very nice beer to enjoy in front of the ol' yule log! OK, so it's not a real fire, but I like it. We had our company Christmas party this week at Strike City for the second year in a row. Had a good time bowling and hanging with friends, we need to add this spot to our "Team Building" itinerary. Only thing I didn't like was it seems I remember back in the day having more slide on the floor, so that you slid to a stop as you finished rolling the ball down the lane. Not that I'm a big bowler, and last time I bowled was at last year's Christmas party, but it was hard to get used to the sudden stop when you're expecting to slide. Ah, didn...

Happy Friday, hope y'all staying warm! This evening's brew is Great Divide's Hibernation Ale , an English-style old ale with malty hoppy goodness! "Hibernation Ale has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995. This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character. 8.7%ABV" If you click on the image ( larger view ) you can see a few of the outside Christmas lights that I put up last weekend. It's been cold here all week with lows in the 20s, and next week they're calling for lows in the teens - what up with that, this is the south! We had "Team Building" last night at Duckworth's Grill and Taphouse . Not bad... had a half-rack of ribs, a skewer of grilled shrimp, sweet potato fries and a couple Foothills Hoppyum IPAs from Winston-Salem, NC. This was the first place I've found that's had quite an extensive beer list of local NC brews. The Hoppyum was good, but would ha...

Good evening, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! Not a flake fell here yesterday. Had rain, some sleet, lots of cold, but not even a trace of snow. I was checking in on the Cowboys vs. Saints game online, and figured a good chance to catch up on the blog. Last night's beer of choice was the Belgian seasonal St. Bernardus Christmas Ale . Very nice dark, Belgian style brew. Got in some "Team Building" Thursday night at the Wild Wing Cafe - I don't think I've ever eaten so many wings in my life! Great wings, lots of good flavors! Also this week was our company Christmas party, consisting of lunch, bowling and billiards at Strike City . Cool place, reminded my of Lucky Strike Lanes in L.A., when I was out there for Adobe MAX. But, being lunch no "adult beverages" were served. Stay warm and here's to a Merry, Merry to all and to all a goodnight. - Buon Natale!

Happy Friday! Hope everyone had a good week. Cold here, so much for the south being warmer. It didn't get above 40 today and going down to 23 tonight! It may be colder up north, but 23 degrees is cold regardless of your latitude! I got my "Griswold" on last weekend and put up the Christmas lights outside. I noticed a couple lizards hanging out on the front of the house. The house faces west and gets a good deal of sun on that side so naturally that's where they like to warm themselves. I also finished the last of the leaves, finally! I only rake to get them off the driveway and back porch, then I mulch them all with the mower in the yard. In other news... After many years, I think I finally have the Sam Adams Winter Seasonal 12-pack figured out. Every year I'm always puzzled as what to do with the 1-2 beers I don't like in the seasonal offering. Granted if they'd simply release Old Fezziwig Ale and Holiday Porter in six-packs I'd forego this annual rit...

Merry Christmas Eve! NORAD Tracks Santa

I'm always up for trying new beers, so when I received the news article in the mail ( see photo ) from Poppa Gar recommending the Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale , I figured why not. Especially a beer that comes in a bright red bottle this time of year seems rather festive regardless of its name. I picked up a Double Dead Guy today at the Total Wine, along with another new brew that I'll feature in my Friday post. The shopping complex at this Total Wine was crawling with holiday shoppers. I could barely find a place to park and even had someone tap my bumper while leaving, but all was well. The bump happened at a very low speed and after inspection found nothing wrong. We both went our merry way. Today was a foggy, dreary, rainy day - all day. Had it been cooler, I suppose we would have had snow flurries, but we actually hit the 60s today. Enough about that, on with the beer. Like a vampire, light is one of beer's worst enemies, this is the reason many beers come in a brown bottl...

Good evening all and Happy Friday! How about a joke to start off... What are the two dirtiest animals on the farm? Brown chicken, brown cow. I'm not a big "joke guy," but sometimes the simplest ones always seem to get me. BTW... if you didn't get the above joke, sing the answer. There are two other super simple jokes that for some reason always get me. In no order... If you're American in the living room, what are you in the bathroom? European! And the other one is not so much a joke, but just goofy. My butt is broke, it's got a crack! OK sorry for the trip to 5th grade, but had to relate the other two after starting off with the "Brown chicken, brown cow." Hope everyone is having a good start to the weekend and enjoying the biggest full moon of the year . Although I'm thoroughly enjoying my Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, The Lazy Acres Crew made me jealous when they sent me the pict of their 2nd margarita at Senor Pique's. Salud, Fearys! Od...

Strung the outside Christmas lights this weekend. Ayecarumba, it's been cold here. I thought this was the south! Yesterday was so cloudy with dampness in the air, if it had been just a little bit cooler I think we could have gotten some snow. Instead just some rain shortly after nightfall. Our low tonight is supposed to go down to 23! At least it looks to warm up later this week. Oh yeah, by the way... the EAGLES BEAT THE GIANTS!!! Booyah!

Happy Friday, or should I say a Holly Jolly Friday! Also Happy Repeal Day ! Sorry to be away from posting for awhile. I have been updating the Twitter from time to time, but have not had a chance to make a proper blog post.  Let's see, well what's happening right now... I'm enjoying a Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Ella Bella just dropped her toy mouse behind me wanting me to throw it for her, and the jukebox just went from Dean Martin to The Isley Brothers -- some things never change :~) The jukebox is actually spinning a new playlist I created the other day. It's called "Woodside Christmas" and combines all the tracks from the regular Woodside playlist along with all the tracks from my Christmas playlist, which includes everything from Frank, Dean, Nat, Jackie Gleason, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall, Bing and Boston Pops on up to and including South Park's "Mr. Hankey's Holiday Classics." Almost forgot Ray Charles, who just came on sing...

The air is cooler, the days are shorter and the festive brews are hitting the shelves. So far I've had the Sam Adams holidays brews, Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale and yes even the Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale! Not all in one sitting, but over the course of the last couple weeks. I may be one of the few people who noticed, but they changed the photo of the cabin on the label of Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale. It used to look like a cabin at sunset that had a fire burning inside , but I noticed now it looks very much like middle of a wintry day and the windows are darker. Don't get me wrong, I still love the brew and their label will always be one of my festive favorites, but for what it's worth I like the older version better. Speaking of the holidays, even the new Sirius XM channel lineup features the Holly channel that has already started playing holidays hits. I'm actually excited about the merging of the channels and getting to hear the best of both wor...

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 rose such a clatter, I sprang from my 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 a lustre of mid-day to objects below; When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer, 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! ...

Arrived in Florida yesterday greeted by a mass of holiday travelers probably making their way to their Christmas cruises, unlike Luther Krank in "Skipping Christmas." There was a big moon last night, I guess you could say a Moon over Miami, and I'm sure it was over Miami but I was not in Miami so there you go. Warm here, supposed to be 80 today. Will be weird to run in only shorts and a T-shirt. Heading to a cocktail party this evening at the optimal cocktail time of 5pm. If I don't get to post again today, a Merry Christmas Eve to all! And don't forget to track Santa's travels tonight... NORAD Tracks Santa Below is a photo I forgot to post from my trip earlier this month to Easton, PA. It's the annual holiday candle in center square. Normally a civil war statue is on display here, but at holiday time it's covered with the candle.