Category Archives: Celebration

Celebration – First Day of Spring

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The first day of Spring this year will be March 20, 2013.

The four seasons are generally defined as: spring, summer, autumn (also known as fall) and winter.  Each season lasts three months.  The three warmest months are summer and the three coldest months are winter with the months between each of those seasons having the greatest varying of transitional temperatures.

At the time of the vernal equinox, the axis of the Earth is increasing a tilt toward the Sun and the length of daylight increases.  In our case, the Northern hemisphere begins to experience warmer temperatures.  If snow/frost are a normal part of your winter, the temperatures start to warm, the snow begins to melt and the rivers and streams begin to flow with increasing amounts of water. The flower bulbs start to break through the soil sometimes with snow still on the ground.  The crocus is a perennial that traditionally starts to bloom in late winter or early spring which is a good indication that warmer weather is coming soon.  Plants and trees also start to bloom, such as: magnolias and cherry trees.  Forsythia branches can be brought indoors and with the interior warmth of our home the flowers will magically bloom and it is a perfect way of bringing a little bit of spring indoors.  With the temperatures starting to warm, many of us start to pull out those garden catalogs that have been arriving all winter and start to plan our spring/summer gardens.

Before spring, try getting an early start to your garden planting.  Find a good spot will a sunny window, perhaps the kitchen counter, laundry room or even down in the basement with artificial lights.  Sow the seeds in potting soil in several peat pots on a tray to catch the draining water.  Under these indoor growing conditions, smaller plants seem work much better, such as a variety of herbs. As we get closer to outdoor planting time and the danger of frost is gone, we can start to sow the seeds for our garden vegetables.  (This is a great family project with small children because they can learn about the plant growth process and experience the excitement to see the plants begin to sprout!!)

Spring legends

Folklore has it that the vernal equinox is the only day of the year when an egg can be stood on its end, this is not true.  In fact, eggs are nature’s perfect symbol for life, new beginnings and the joys of springtime.

The phoenix earned its legendary immortality by refusing to eat from the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden. Every 500 years, the bird creates a nest of herbs and spices, sits upon it and then sets itself on fire. After the fire dies down, an egg laid by the phoenix is found among the ashes. The egg hatches, and the phoenix emerges, resurrected.

Spring Cleaning

After the long winter months, we begin to emerge from our hibernation indoors.  Spring brings us renewed energy and usually that energy is turned into spring cleaning.  Below are a list rooms and some basic cleaning tips.

Kitchen –

  1. Clear the contents from both the refrigerator and freezer.  Discard any expired or spoiled items.  Thoroughly clean the interior of both the refrigerator and freezer.
  2. Don’t forget to clean the refrigerator coils, this helps with energy efficiency and will save money, too!
  3. Prepare the oven and stove by removing the burner/covers and knobs.  Thoroughly clean the interiors.  If possible, pull the oven and stove from the wall, sweep and mop the area behind.
  4. Clean the small appliances, such as: microwave, coffeemaker, toaster, blender, etc.
  5. Clear the contents from the kitchen cabinets.  Discard any expired food products or broken/chips plates, dishes and glassware.  Clean the cabinets, both interior and exterior.  Replace shelf liners if necessary.
  6. Thoroughly clean the kitchen sink, be sure the faucet and drains are running properly.  It is a good time to schedule any plumbing repairs.
  7. Clean the windows, both interior and exterior, with a streak-free cleaning solution.
  8. Finally, sweep and mop the floor.  Consider floor wax for the wooden floors.

Bathroom –

  1. Remove items from the medicine cabinet.  Discard any expired prescriptions or medicines.  Clean both the interior and exterior.  Take an inventory of supplies and replenish needed items.
  2. Clear the contents of the bathroom cabinets.  Now is a great time to replace worn towels and purchase new ones.  (Consider donating the old towels to the local animal shelter)  Think about adding new bath soaps/oils and new candles to create a spa-like environment.
  3. Thoroughly clean the tub, shower and toilet.  Please sure to check that all faucets, shower heads, toilets and sink drains are functioning properly.  Schedule any repairs if needed.  Replace the shower curtain and liner; these inexpensive items can help to give the bathroom a fresh look!
  4.  Clean the mirrors and windows with a streak-free cleaning solution.

Bedroom –

  1. Remove all the bed linens, including comforter, fitted and regular sheets, pillow case/protective covers, mattress pads and bed skirts.  (Always check the product labels for the correct cleaning instructions) Most of these items can be cleaned in the washing machine and dried in the dryer, just be cautious NOT overload the machines.    Now is also a great time to replace any worn linens and buy new ones.
  2. Most pillows can be cleaned in the washing machine, be sure to check the label for instructions.  I recommend a maximum of two pillows in the machines at a time and also to completely dry the pillows to avoid dampness that could create mold later.  If a couple of clean tennis balls are added to the dryer, the pillows will return to their normal fluffy shape.
  3. With the bed stripped of the bed linens, it is a good time to flip the bare mattress.  This will create even wear and extend the life of the mattress.
  4. Clear the contents of the dresser and nightstands, use a vacuum to clean the drawers.  Clean both the interior and exterior surfaces.
  5. Remove and clean window coverings.  (Always check the product labels for the proper cleaning instructions, some curtains can only be dry-cleaned)  Consider switching out heavy curtains with a lighter fabric. If the window covering has blinds, carefully clean the dust build-up using a vacuum with special attachment.
  6. Wash windows, both interior and exterior with a streak-free cleaning solution.
  7. Clear the clothes from the bedroom closet.  Now is a great time to determine items to keep, repair, donate or toss.  Make a list of clothing and other items need.  Store the winter clothing in containers and be sure to label the contents.  Dust the shelves before returning the clothing and other items to the closet.
  8. Clean the floors, vacuum the carpet or sweep/mop.

Living room –

  1. Vacuum the floors, now is a great time to consider purchasing or renting a carpet cleaner or hiring a professional company for the entire house.  Also while the furniture is removed for the deep-cleaning, consider rearranging the floor plan.
  2. Cleaning units can also be used for large furniture, such as: sofa and chairs.  If sofa covers are used, remove and clean them.  Afterwards, take the opportunity to add more spring inspired pillows.
  3. Remove everything from the display shelves, dust the surfaces and each item before replacing them back on the shelves.  Take the opportunity to change photos and decorative items, replace with more spring/summer accessories.
  4. Be careful when cleaning the TV screen, it does make a difference and the picture will clearer and sharper.
  5. Dust the lamps; don’t forget the lampshade interior and exterior.
  6. Remove and clean window coverings.  (Always check the product labels for the proper cleaning instructions, some curtains can only be dry-cleaned)  Consider switching out heavy curtains with a lighter fabric. If the window covering has blinds, carefully clean the dust build-up using a vacuum with special attachment.
  7. Clean the windows, both interior and exterior, with a streak-free cleaning solution.

General tips –

  1. Clean the air conditioning filter.
  2. Polish the wood or metal hardware, such as doorknobs, etc.
  3. Dust large wall art and any display photographs.
  4. Wipe down light switches.
  5. Replace batteries in smoke detectors.
  6. Take this opportunity to change the light bulbs to more energy efficient ones.

 

Celebration – St. Patrick’s Day

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St. Patrick's Day vintage card

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17; the anniversary of his death which became an official religious feast day in the early seventeenth century and over the years has become a cultural celebration of Ireland and the Irish people.  Some of the symbols, customs and traditions surrounding this celebration include: shamrocks, leprechauns, festive parades, eating corned beef & cabbage and wearing green so we won’t get pinched!

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and he was born in Britain in the fourth century to a wealthy family with a father who was a deacon.  At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken captive by Irish raiders and sent to Ireland as a slave.    He was held somewhere on the west coast of Ireland and eventually returned to Britain and began his studies to become a priest.  Several years later he went back to Ireland as a bishop in an attempt to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity.  One famous legend told is that St. Patrick went to a hilltop (now known as Croagh Patrick) and with his wooden staff he banished all the snakes from Ireland.  This of course is a myth, since snakes were never native to Ireland, and it has become a metaphor for the conversion of the pagan Irish to Christianity.

The shamrock was a scared plant to the Celts in ancient Ireland it was a symbol of the rebirth of spring.  It is said that St. Patrick, in his teachings, used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity since the shamrock being a plant with three leaves represented the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  By the seventeenth century, after the 1798 rebellion of the Irish against British rule, the Irish people began to wear the shamrock on their clothing as a symbol of their pride in their Irish heritage and their displeasure with the English rule.  Over the years this tradition became known as “the wearing of the green” and the association of the color green and St. Patrick’s Day has grown to represent Ireland.

The belief in leprechauns probably comes from the Celtic folktales of fairies or tiny people who used their magical powers for good over evil.  According to legend, leprechauns were responsible for mending the shoes of all the other fairies that paid them with coins that the leprechauns stored them in a hidden pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.  If the leprechauns were ever captured by a human, they would give them three wishes in exchange for their release.  Leprechauns were not originally associated with the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.  In 1959, Walt Disney released a film, “Darby O’Gill and the Little People”, which featured a cheerful and friendly leprechaun so different from the cantankerous little man of the Celtic folktales.  It is this image of a leprechaun, a small little man with a beard wearing a hat and a green jacket, which quickly evolved into an image associated with the Irish and became a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day.

The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day was originally observed in Ireland as a religious feast day.  The day usually falls during Lent and Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and then celebrate in the afternoon.  The Lenten custom of not eating meat was waived and there would be dancing, drink and a feast of the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.  Unable to find Irish bacon in America, Irish immigrants living in New York City substituted with corned beef which was a cheaper alternative.

Chicago River dyed green 1The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place not in Ireland but in Boston in 1737.  Later in 1762, to celebrate and observe St. Patrick’s Day, a group of Irish soldiers serving in the British military marched through the streets of New York City and expressed their Irish pride through their music with bagpipes and drums.  Since that time, the Irish immigrates in America have held annual parades not only in New York City but also Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia.  On very unique tradition developed in Chicago when in 1962 city workers, in an attempt to control pollution and trace illegal sewage leaks, released green dye into the Chicago River.  This idea of dyeing the river has now become an annual event in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated throughout the world and although the United States holds the largest events, other countries such as Canada, Australia, Japan and Russia have their own festivities.  In Ireland, the day has long been a religious holiday and until the 1970’s Irish laws dictated the closure of local pubs on March 17.  However in 1995, the Irish government began a national campaign to capitalize on the interest in St. Patrick’s Day as a way to showcase Ireland, Irish culture and to increase tourism.  Currently approximately 1 million people annually take part in Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Festival which has become a celebration over several days featuring parades, concerts and fireworks shows.

St. Patricks Day Trivia

  • Erin go Bragh translates to “Ireland forever.”
  • An estimated 13 million pints of Guinness will be consumed on St. Patrick’s Day.
  • St. Patrick’s true given name was Maewyn Succat.
  • 36 million U.S. residents claim Irish ancestry. This number is almost nine times the population of Ireland itself (slightly more than 4 million).

Celebration – Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit

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Peter Rabbit

During this Easter season, I thought it would be the perfect time to visit the world of Peter Rabbit and find out about the author who wrote these charming and classic children’s books.

Beatrix PotterHelen Beatrix Potter (Born: July 28, 1866 Died: December 22, 1943) was an English author and illustrator, her first book “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” was first published in 1902.  She continued to write a series of books featuring such delightful characters as Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Squirrel Nutkin.  Beatrix also drew the beautiful illustrations for her stories which featured the lovely English counrtyside where these small animal friends lived.

Beatrix was born into a wealthy and privileged family and her father was a barrister in London.  They lived in South Kensington and spent their summers in Scotland or the Lake District in England.  Beatrix and her brother were naturally curious children and had such a love of nature that they would keep a variety of small animals and spent their time studying, drawing and painting watercolors of them.

Beatrix and her brother were raised by a governess named Annie Moore and after she left their employment to get married, she remained friends with Beatrix throughout their lives.  Beatrix and Annie kept in touch over the years, writing letters and sometimes Beatrix would enclose stories for Annie’s children that she would illustrate with amusing drawings.  In 1893, one of those stories was to Annie’s son, Noel, and it was a charming tale about four little rabbits named Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter.  Annie suggested that Beatrix’s stories would make wonderful children books.

In 1901, when Beatrix was unable to find a buyer for her stories, she decided to print them at her own expense for family and friends.  The London publishing house of Warne & Co. was eager to compete in the lucrative children’s book market and they decided to publish Beatrix’s story of Peter Rabbit.  In 1902 “The Tale Peter Rabbit” was published and became an immediate success.  The popularity of Beatrix’s books is credited to her enchanting and imaginative animal stories set in the beautiful rural English countryside and charmingly illustrated.  Beatrix wrote and illustrated two to three of these little books every year eventually writing a total of twenty-three books. Working closely with Norman Warne, her editor, over the course of following years the two became friends and then they fell in love.  In 1905, they were secretly engaged despite the disapproval of her parents but sadly Norman suddenly died a few months later.  Beatrix continued to work with the Warne & Co. until her final book was published after World War I.

Beatrix Potter's Hill Top Farm

With the proceeds from her books and a small inheritance from an aunt, Beatrix bought Hill Top Farm in the Lake District in 1905.  She made many improvements to the property, learned new farming techniques and began raising livestock.  She continued to purchase additional farms hoping to preserve the unique country landscape that she loved.  In 1913, she married William Heelis, a respected solicitor in the area.  Beatrix and Heelis were married thirty years, they had no children, but Heelis came from a large family and they enjoyed their nieces and nephews.  Through the years they continued farming, raising their prized Herwick sheep and more importantly their preservation efforts.  Beatrix also continued to write her stories and to draw, mostly for her own pleasure, until her failing eyesight made it too difficult.  She died from complications of pneumonia and heart disease in 1943 at Castle Cottage.  She left almost all her property, including over 4,000 acres of land, sixteen farms and several cottages to the National Trust.

Beatrix Potter’s lasting legacy are the stories of Peter Rabbit and his friends.  Her children’s books have continued to sell throughout the world and are printed in several different languages.  She left most of the original illustrations for her books to the National Trust and the copyrights to her stories and merchandise were given to Warne & Co.  Her beloved Hill Top Farm was opened to the public by the National Trust in 1946; her artwork was displayed there until 1985 when it was moved to Heelis’s former law offices in Hawkshead, now known as the Beatrix Potter Gallery.

Beatrix Potter Interesting Facts

  • “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” was published commercially in October 1902, with a print run of 8000. Each book cost one shilling each.
  • The character of Mr. McGregor appears in several books. He’s remembered for chasing Peter Rabbit out of his garden in “The Tale of Peter Rabbit”, but he also appears in “The Tale of Benjamin Bunny” and “The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies.”
  • “The Tailor of Gloucester,” was based on a story that her cousin, Caroline Hutton, had told her. She self-published it in 1903, paying for 500 copies to be printed, but after sending one to Norman Warne, he published it as a follow-up to “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” This story was said to be her favorite story (… and mine, too!)
  • To mark the 110th anniversary of the publication of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Frederick Warne & Co. commissioned British actress Emma Thompson to write “The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit”, in which Peter ends up in Scotland after accidentally hitching a ride on Mr. and Mrs. McGregor’s wagon. The book was released on September 18, 2012.

Movie recommendation

The 2006 movie, “Miss Potter”, stars Renee Zellweger in the title role with Ewan Mcgregor as her publisher, Norman Warne.  The movie tells the story about the life of Beatrix Potter and charmingly incorporates animated characters from her children’s books.

Celebration – Easter Traditions

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Just like the other holidays celebrated throughout the year, Easter has so many wonderful symbols and traditions.  One is the symbol of the Easter Egg and the tradition of coloring the eggs. Another is the Easter Bunny who leaves a basket of treats for the children and also hides eggs for find on an Easter Egg hunt.  Here is a little history about how and when these symbols and traditions came to be a part of our Easter celebrations.

Easter Eggs

In centuries long past, eggs were a symbol of fertility and new life.  Many cultures, like the ancient Egyptians and Romans, used eggs for this reason during their spring celebrations.  To Christians, the egg is a symbol that represents Jesus who was resurrected from his tomb three days after his crucifixion.  During the Lenten season, certain foods were forbidden from being eaten, such as eggs.  People hardboiled or otherwise preserved their eggs to be eaten at the end of the period of penance and fasting.  The tradition of decorating eggs comes from this time, people would paint and decorate their eggs as they were waiting for the Lenten season to be over and then they would eat them on Easter Day as a celebration.  The custom evolved over time and families today enjoy painting or dyeing their Easter eggs.  (Please check out this month’s craft post, Jeweled Easter Eggs, for an elegant alternate style of decorating eggs)

Easter Egg coloring - 2010

The Easter egg represents a celebration of new life and people started to give eggs carved from wood and even precious stones as gifts.  Around the world, different countries have their own traditions of the Easter Egg.  The most elaborate Easter eggs are created in Eastern Europe. Known as pisanka in Poland and pysanky in the Ukraine, these beautiful eggs are created by carefully applying molten wax onto the surface of an egg and creating specific designs.  The egg is then submerged into a dye for coloring; this brings out the lovely patterns.  (When we went to Poland several years ago we purchased a couple of these eggs and I always bring them out at Easter to display in the china cabinet in our dining room)

Easter Eggs Stories:  There are two Polish legends that tell the story of how colored eggs have become an Easter tradition.  The first one is the story of the Virgin Mary delivering eggs to the soldiers at the cross, as she pleaded with them to be kind to Jesus she began to wept, her tears fell on the eggs and spotted them with brilliant colors. The second story tells the story of when Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, she had brought eggs with her for her daily meal; when she arrived and uncovered the eggs, the white shells had taken on the colors of the rainbow.

Easter Bunny

2001 Easter BunnyThe custom of an Easter bunny seems to have originated in Germany.  Rabbits and hares have long been an ancient symbol of fertility and springtime.  Children were told stories about an “Easter Hare” who would lay special colored eggs and the tradition was that children would make nests for this magical creature to lay his eggs.  When German immigrants came to America in the 1700s and settled in Pennsylvania they brought this custom with them.  As the custom grew over the years across the United States, the Easter bunny would make his early morning deliveries and the nests became Easter baskets which were filled with the traditional colored eggs and other treats were added including chocolate bunnies and eggs, jelly beans and even small gifts.

For my family, growing up there were always family traditions at Easter, the Easter Bunny always came to our house and left baskets filled with jelly beans and chocolate eggs.  We also looked forward to getting a brand new dress, shiny patent white shoes and sometimes a spring hat to wear to church on Easter Sunday morning.  After church we looked forward to an egg hunt and then sitting down to a delicious ham dinner.

What are some of your families Easter traditions?

Celebration – President’s Day (Part Two)

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A good way to celebrate President’s Day is by watching some great movies about presidents.  Two of our favorite presidential movies are about fictional presidents, “My Fellow Americans” and “The American President”.  Here is a suggestion to make President’s Day a special evening: order a pizza, make a salad and enjoy a delicious dinner with the family, then get comfortable on the sofa and watch the movies.  Please be advised: both these movies are rated PG-13 and might not be suitable for younger children.

To continue with the theme of fictional presidents, one of our favorite television series is “The West Wing”.  This show is so well written and the dialog is fast-paced and we also enjoy the balance of comedy and drama; it keeps the series fun and exciting.  I know you can’t watch all 154 episodes in one night, but this is one of those television series that is worth watching again!

My Fellow Americans

This 1996 comedy movie is about two fictional ex-presidents, President Russell Kramer (Jack Lemmon) and President Matt Douglas (James Garner).  These two former rivals of opposite political parties are drawn into a scandal by the current President William Haney (Dan Aykroyd).  Presidents Kramer and Douglas become reluctant allies on a desperate search for evidence to establish their innocence in the “Olympia” scandal and they narrowly escape into the Appalachian Mountains as they are pursued by government agents.  These reluctant allies are on a desperate search for evidence to establish their innocence in the “Olympia” scandal. Surprisingly, as these two former presidents travel through Middle America; they meet illegal immigrants, a homeless family and they even find themselves marching in a gay pride parade.  Wait for the plot twist near the end of the movie and the fun ending to the movie.   Supporting cast includes John Heard as the bumbling Vice President Ted Matthews, Wilford Brimley, Lauren Bacall, Sela Ward, Everett McGill and Bradley Whitford.

My Fellow Americans Trivia

  • The title of the film comes from the common phrase used as a traditional opening of presidential speeches.
  • The movie was originally supposed to be a Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon movie.  Unfortunately due to illness, Matthau was replaced with James Garner instead.  For this reason the film was unofficially known on set as “Grumpy Old Presidents”
  • Some memorable lines for the movie:
    “Hail to the chief, he’s the chief and he needs hailing. He is the chief, so everybody hail like crazy…”
    “Well, as usual, the Republican comes up with a plan while the Democrat just aimlessly wanders in the woods”

The American President

This 1995 romantic-comedy movie is directed by Rob Reiner (he also directed “The Princess Bride”) and written by Aaron Sorkin (he created “the West Wing” television series.  In this movie fictional President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) is a widower with a young daughter who is preparing for his upcoming re-election.  Based on his high approval rating and on the advice of his chief of staff A.J. MacInerney (Martin Sheen), they attempt to pass a controversial crime control bill before the State of the Union Address.  Meanwhile, President Shepherd meets an environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening) who has recently moved to Washington D.C. who has her own agenda to get legislation passed regarding reduced carbon dioxide emissions.  Spontaneously President Shepherd invites her to attend the upcoming State Dinner for the President of France.  A romance soon develops and causes problems when a political rival Bob Rumson (Richard Dreyfuss) uncovers some damaging information about Sydney’s past and tries to derail President Shepherd’s re-election plans.  The movie ends with the State of the Union Address.

The American President Trivia

  • Originally Robert Redford was cast as the President but he was replaced when he had a falling out with the director, Rob Reiner.  Also at one point, Emma Thompson was considered for the role of Sydney.
  • Michael J. Fox, who plays Lewis Rothschild an assistant to President Shepherd, based his character on George Stephanopoulos.  Stephanopoulos was the communications director during the 1992 Presidential campaign of Bill Clinton, when Clinton was elected Stephanopoulos became the White House Communications Director, then a Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy before he left in 1996.

The West Wing television series

“The West Wing” television series ran for seven seasons on NBC from September 1999 to May 2006.  The show takes place during the administration of the fictional President Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and centers on daily work of the West Wing of the White House which is where the Oval Office of the President is located and also the offices of the presidential senior staff.  “The West Wing” ensemble cast centers on the President, the First Lady Abigal Bartlet (Stockard Channing), Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer), Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford), Communications Director Toby Zeigler (Richard Schiff), Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) and Press Secretary C.J. Cregg (Alison Janney).  Numerous secondary characters appeared throughout the show’s seven seasons.  Generally the storylines involved the main characters with some advancing into other positions in the fictional presidential staff, some characters left and other characters where added over the course of the series.  During the series final two seasons, the plots involved both the final years of President Bartlet’s presidency and the campaign and primary elections for the next president.

“The West Wing” received critical acclaim and many entertainment awards.  What kept the show interesting were the fast paced, humorous scripts filled with intense dialog brilliantly written by Aaron Sorkin.  The show developed a technique known as the “walk and talk”.  These scenes generally involved long conversations started between characters as they are walking from one location to another with various characters joining or leaving the conversation as they move through the halls of the West Wing.

The West Wing Trivia

  • The series was supposed to center on the presidential senior staff with the fictional President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) originally scheduled to appear in only four episodes per season but after the pilot was filmed it was determined that he was needed as a permanent character.
  • Martin Sheen had an injury to his arm when he was born and has a very unusual way of putting on his jacket and this unique style was incorporated into the character of President Bartlet.
  • A portrait of Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican President, traditionally is hung in the Roosevelt Room in the West Wing of the White House during a Republican administration.  During a Democratic administration a portrait of Franklin Roosevelt, a Democratic President, hangs in the room.  In the Roosevelt Room of President Bartlet’s White House both portraits are used.
  • During the first season, reporter Danny Kincannon brings C.J. a live goldfish in a bowl.  The goldfish/bowl became a permanent part of C.J. office and whenever it appears in later episodes, the decoration in the goldfish’s bowl changes to match the theme of the episode.
  • Sadly, actor John Spencer, who played Leo McGarry, died from a heart attack in December 2005, about a year after his character experienced a nearly fatal heart attack on the show. The cast and crew were devastated and a brief memorial message from Martin Sheen was broadcast before the episode “Running Mates”, which was the first new episode that aired after Spencer’s death. The loss of the character of Leo McGarry was addressed in the episode “Election Day”.