Friday Favourites

 

Late one afternoon the sun diffused a golden glow over the garden in benediction to the day. How beautiful it was. I stood outside for the few moments that the garden shed held the light. We must take the small gifts of grace and beauty when they come and keep our hearts and minds alert to them, for they last but a moment. 

Come, for the dusk is our own; let us fare forth together,

With a quiet delight in our hearts for the ripe, still, autumn weather

L M. Montgomery (November Evening)

Our autumn weather is quite variable these days; there have been both still days and windy days this week, all warmer than usual. Lots of rain, but not as much in the north of the Island where homes have been evacuated and torrents of water pour down the mountainsides. 

Today, when taking out the kitchen compost, the lovely arrangement of hydrangea posed against the worn fence caught my eye. Beauty in aging. 

I stood for some time, watching the Golden-Crowned Sparrows and other birds at the feeders. The larger birds have left and I am glad to see the small creatures getting their fill. After I looked at the photo on my computer, I noticed the one pink rosebud blooming between the two sparrows. And today I picked another handful of zinnia blooms. I have pulled out many plants, but with the warm weather and no killing frost, I'm happy to let things carry on for a bit. 

This is one of the real beauties of rainy weather, that while the amount of original and direct light is commonly lessened, the number of things that reflect light is unquestionably increased. There is less sunshine; but there are more shiny things; such beautifully shiny things as pools and puddles and macintoshes. It is like moving in a world of mirrors. And indeed this is the last and not the least gracious of the casual works of magic wrought by rain: that while it decreases light, yet it doubles it. If it dims the sky, it brightens the earth.

G. K. Chesterton 'The Romantic in the Rain'

Someone on Substack quoted the above from G. K. Chesterton, and I looked up his essay. I've put a link to the online piece and found it full of wry humour. 

Another of the small birds visiting the feeder - a sweet little Nuthatch. Their colouring is so pretty, especially with the white dash along their head. They are fast, and hard to capture. The other birds in the photo are mere blurs. I'm using my I-phone more and more, but I think my bigger camera with a long lens gives better images. 

This week I completed the second of the flannel rag quilts for the two youngest granddaughters. This one has more pinks and purples than the other one as I tried to differentiate them well, and appeal to the girls' tastes. After the sewing, the raw edges are clipped with scissors, then the quilt is washed to create the fluffy seams. It's easy enough to do, but makes quite a mess of threads when clipping, and in the dryer. So it was good to take time to vacuum and dust thoroughly today to clean it all up. 

I tried a new cookie recipe this week - Taylor Swift Chai Cookies. The link will take you to the site with the recipe. The original baker used a nutmeg glaze on the cookies, but I chose to dip them in chocolate. They are really good, with a nice balance of spice. Apparently, they are a riff on a cookie baked by the famous singer. 

There is a bread company in Canada, Australian-based, I believe - Cobs Bread, that bakes everything fresh each day. The leftovers each day are collected by various charities and distributed throughout the city. Our church collects on Friday evenings, and Tim and I help bag and distribute the bread once a month. We take the loaves and buns and sweets to a daycare, to a seniors' complex, and to a thrift store. It's good to not let food go to waste. 

Tonight's dinner here will thus be eaten earlier, and it will be easy. I brought home a ready-to-bake fresh pizza from the grocery store and made a salad to go alongside. 

Rain or sunshine, snow or rain, I wish you all moments of grace and beauty this weekend.

On a Tuesday in November

 

It's a very wet Tuesday in November. In the dull light when colours are muted, the dying leaves look like tarnished gold. How good it is to see the ponds and creeks filling once again after the summer drought. 

The bird bath fills all on its own, surrounded by quiet shades of purple, green, and yellow. The tiny iron birds drink and drink, but never get their fill. 

On Sunday afternoon we walked to McKenzie Byte during a break in the rain. While there a drizzle began, infinitesimal droplets on the water looked like glitter in the slanting rays of the sun. Impossible to capture on camera, but quite magical. 

And there were mushrooms here and there, small ones, but so cute. 

There's been a lot of action at the bird feeder and suet block we put up. We've never seen Starlings in our garden before, but they came in great clouds and devoured most of the suet, scaring away the tinier birds like Dark-eyed Juncos and Sparrows. A Northern Flicker held its own against the onslaught of Starlings and managed to get his fair share of the food. Two Stellar Blue Jays tried the feeder, too, but soon left. I think they are too large.  

These wet and sometimes windy days are good for drinking copious cups of tea and reading books. Also sewing, of which I've done a little. 

Friday Favourites: Days of Calm

 

Some of the days in November carry the whole memory of summer...

Gladys Taber

November is here. After blogging daily in October it's been good to not have to think about what to post everyday. Yet my mind keeps thinking - this might work, or you could write this. Instead, I've saved it for today's post. 

Outside my window

The first of the month was bright and sunny. We went for a walk downtown along the water and revelled in the bright sky, the coloured leaves, and the deep blue water. Any rain we've had this week has been during the night. Today, however, the clouds are moving in and it's rather dark outside mid-afternoon. Storms coming in from the Pacific are predicted and we've been warned to expect rain. 

I'm happy to hunker down at home, reading books, sipping something warm, and puttering about the house. 

It was November - the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind songs in the pines.

L. M. Montgomery

I am thinking about...

An upcoming birthday party on Saturday, not mine this time. I was well celebrated and the house is full of bouquets of white and pale pink roses that make me smile every time I see them. Instead, we'll be celebrating a daughter and a daughter-in-law. We call the last four months "Birthday Season," for much of the family was born then. 

I am also thinking about Christmas. How I love this season of preparation and anticipation. I'm looking at my Christmas-themed books and wondering which ones I'll read this year. Perhaps I'll begin sooner rather than later so as not to miss any. 

Gifts are on my mind - what will the people I love appreciate most this year? We tend not to be extravagant gift givers, but a little something under the tree is pleasant. Often it's something handmade. I've been adding a few treats and necessities to my shopping cart - a box of Christmas in Paris herbal tea, two new mugs, and a puzzle. Doing things earlier rather than later lets me enjoy each day without feeling stressed. 

There is the November sky, clean of summer dust.

Hal Borland

I am wearing...

blue jeans, a soft red pullover sweater, cozy socks, and silver earrings. I am glad for my jacket when I go walking and have pulled on my down jacket once or twice, especially in the evenings. 

People I've spent time with lately...

I collect my two youngest granddaughters from the school bus stop on Thursdays. It's always a highlight to hear their chatter. They settle in quite comfortably at the table and seem to want to colour every day. For a snack I toasted English muffins and spread them with peanut butter, sprinkled a few chocolate chips on top, and gave them a glass of milk each. Then I sat down to colour with them. 

Does it count when the people I spent time with are on Zoom? I enjoy my weekly writing group get together with people across several provinces. And then there's the telephone. I chat with my mom and my sister at least once a week. 

Of course the person I spend the most time with is my husband. We eat breakfast together but then mostly go our separate ways through the day. He works in his shop and I do whatever it is I do. There is a bit of chatting as we pass each other in our various activities. Dinners are always together. 

I am thankful for

Books! Reading plays a big part in my life and I read every day. Do you have Little Free Libraries in your area? I pass several of them on my walks through the neighbourhood and often take a moment to see what's available. When I do take a book, I try to replace it the next time I walk there. 

I am reading

Miss Wolcott's Ghost by Louise Penny has just been finished. Another Gamache mystery plot full of twists and turns. 

Mapp and Lucia by E. F. Benson is a mid-20th century comedy set in a small English village. This is what I'm currently engrossed in.

The top two books in the stack, one by Elly Griffiths and the other by Julia Bryan Thomas, are what I brought home from the Little Free Library I passed while walking yesterday. 

Other Activities of the Week

Sewing wise men costumes for the church's Nativity play performed by the children. This year it's wise people costumes, for at least one girl is a wise person.

Baking brownies, making a hearty black bean vegetable soup.

Planting 370 garlic cloves with my daughter. We planted about 200 last year and she was able to sell them quickly. They are an easy crop to grow and harvest. The ground was soft, making planting quick and simple. We were done in less than two hours. 

And to close

A few lines from a poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar discovered by me in Miranda Mills' Cozy Commonplace Book,

Just whistle a bit, if the day be dark

And the sky be overcast:

If mute be the voice of the piping lark,

Why, pipe your own small blast.

Pipe away, dear friends. Thank you always, for reading and commenting. Wishing you a wonderful weekend. 

Blogtober 31: A Month Summarized

 

A lot of living happens in just 31 days. We began the month in our neighbouring province of Alberta, where we spent a fun day in Jasper, enjoying the mountains, waterfalls, and some wildlife. 

There were walks in the woods, beside the ocean, around duck ponds, and in our neighbourhood. Warm sunny days slowly cooled and darkness fell a wee bit earlier each evening. 

Late summer blooms of zinnias, roses, and dahlias continued to provide colour in the garden and for bouquets in the house until almost the very end of the month. I think October the most beautiful month of the year. 

Thanksgiving is always celebrated the second Monday of October and we gathered as a family for a festive meal, ending with pie. 

On one last camping trip to the west coast before Tim winterized the camping trailer we had sunny weather, with a bit of chill in the air. Watching the waves roll in from the Pacific Ocean was mesmerizing.

There was a walk in Butchart Gardens where the gardeners' artistry is stunning in layers of colour.

And the month ends with a birthday followed by Halloween. Last night, after coming home from the restaurant, 70 roses awaited me on the piano. After Tim and I left the house, our son and DIL dropped them off. What abundance! These roses are locally grown in greenhouses. I've put them throughout the house to enjoy wherever I am. 

And so ends another month of daily blogging. It will be good to take a bit of a break. On to November!

Blogtober 30: Celebrations Here and There

 

It's been a very celebratory couple of days. This afternoon I walked with my eldest daughter under threatening skies that held off until we were almost home. We enjoyed a lovely visit together, something that happens not often enough because of her teaching schedule. 

The trees are losing their leaves quickly and drifts of them lie along the path. The creek is running again after a dry summer. 

Some of the many maples have brilliant red leaves that are clinging on for now, but will soon fall on the ground. 

Last night we enjoyed dinner with four friends at one of their homes. How lovely it was to sit around the table, chatting and laughing for several hours. The meal was spectacular. The cake was a surprise - bought from the same bakery and the same cake that Tim had bought for me last year. It's a light cake, not too sweet, with lemon and white chocolate flavours. Very elegant. 

This evening our children treated us to dinner at a local restaurant. It was relaxed and lovely - the grandchildren entertain themselves and conversation flows freely.

A few thoughts on turning 70:

1. It's a big number.

2. I'm grateful for every one of my years.

3. I don't like being the centre of attention, but I like being celebrated.

4. Cake is delicious.

5. A day spent doing very little makes a very nice change. (I read, chatted on the phone, and did no cooking today.)

6. The world is a beautiful place despite rain and clouds.

7. I am blessed to be surrounded by the love of family and friends.

Now home for a few hours of what's left of the day. The fire glows and I feel its warmth. The house is quiet. Pools of light create shadowy corners that are filled with the friendliest of feelings. 

Until tomorrow...

Blogtober 29: Houses and Homes

 

Jozef Czajkowski - Country Manor in Winter

This morning while tidying the house and cleaning the bathrooms, I thought about how much my home means to me. I am grateful for its shelter, but beyond that, homes are often a reflection of personality, and certainly a place to practice creativity in many genres. 

I always enjoy seeing others' homes, from the outside and the inside. Houses feature in many paintings, too, and here are few I like. 

The above painting is set in a Polish winter. The long shadows of trees create a dappled walkway and one hopes the fires are lit inside the house for it does look cold. 

Monet - The Artist's House at Giverny

I was thrilled to visit Giverny on a summer morning, on a special tour before the usual opening hours. The garden almost overpowers the pink house, and the interior rooms are lovely, particularly the bright yellow dining room, and the blue tiles in the kitchen. I would love to visit Giverny another time. 

Vincent Van Gogh - Houses at Auvers sur Oise

For many years I thought Van Gogh's palette was all yellows and oranges, warm colours. Then I discovered some of his other paintings and loved the blues and greens he used. There are several paintings of houses in Auvers sur Oise, and in his letters, Van Gogh talks about the way modernity was arriving and the diminishing use of thatch for the roofs. 

Monet - The Blue House at Zaandam

Another of Monet's paintings, a pretty blue house. I'm rather partial to blue. This looks like a house near the sea. 

Pieter Bruegel the Elder - Children's Games

There are houses in Children's Games, but the focus is on the many many children - over 200 of them, playing various games. When I enlarged the picture and really studied all the different games, I see many similarities to modern children's play as well as play that isn't fun for all participants. 

Which is your favourite among these paintings? 

Blogtober 28: A Bit of Late Gardening

 

I awoke very early this morning and heard the soft Whoo-hoo of an owl outside my window. We had heard it earlier in the evening when we stepped outside for a breath of fresh air before bed. Such a treat! 

The garden called. Our recent rain has softened the soil, although it's still quite dry deep down. I raked and tidied a bed, added bonemeal and alfalfa, then planted 54 fat garlic cloves to be harvested next July. While I worked I listened to more birds - the chip-chip of Dark-eyed Juncos, and the cheerful trill of a Song Sparrow, seen above with his beak open as he sang to the morning. I heard the whirring of hummingbirds and caught a glimpse or two of them, as well. 

In late September I threw some leftover seeds into a patch - carrots, lettuce, and radishes, all mixed together. Today I picked radishes and the other plants are coming along nicely. People here talk about year-round gardening, but frankly, by the time October/November arrives, I'm ready to be done with it until next spring. There is Kale and Swiss Chard to pick all winter, and the leeks are coming along nicely for late winter harvesting. I do need to mound more dirt over them. 

The Lace-Cap Hydrangea that blooms bright blue in summer has altered to this gorgeous purple colour. All of the hydrangea bushes have intense shades this year - deep red and burgundy, along with the purple. 

My original goal in gardening today was a fall pruning of the roses so that the pieces could go into the green bin pick up tomorrow morning. I keep thinking (and saying) that the last bouquet has been snipped, but here's another. This will be the last because I've cut the rose bushes down one-third, and cut off most of the dahlia growth. There are some very fat rose hips on one bush and I added a few of them to the vase. 

I baked granola and made soup this afternoon, read a little, and had another enjoyable day mostly at home. I did go to the library, but didn't find anything to bring home. The above photo is the same bouquet with the stage light setting. Very dramatic. 

Until tomorrow.