All Things Nice . . .

 

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A frog is such a weesome thing

To be a herald of the spring,

From the old slough behind the trees

They always sing on nights like these,

Their cheerful, tuneless melody

That seems a part of spring to me.

And I remember dusk and dawn

Bringing to me Saskatchewan,

Night like a blanket, thick and cool,

Stars white as lilies in a pool,

The wind's cry in the hollow mow,

Gulls flying low behind the plow.

In fancy I can hear the birds

Telling their love in tender words,

And through the haze of April's heat

The tiny fingers of the wheat

Lift up the soil, so eagerly

From their small caskets to be free.

Far from its peace, my heart still clings

To the warm joy of by-gone springs,

The wide brown fields where cloud and sun

Makes the long dappled shadows run;

The glowing furnaces of dawn,

Bringing to me . . . Saskatchewan.

~Edna Jacques, Spring's Herald

Beside Still Waters, 1939

 

Oh this made me think of all of the frogs that we got in our pond in the back garden in the U.K. The pond would be full of spawn in the late Winter and then early spring.  Before we knew it the garden would have a host of baby frogs. 

 

I can remember one day I was picking strawberries, and I thought the strawberry bed was full of crickets, but it was not crickets it was baby frogs. Can you see that wee one there?  Just on the edge of the brick. 

That garden was such a happy space, filled with birds and bees and butterflies.  So much beauty there.  Lots of different roses, and other flowers.  It was a place where I loved to spend time in the warmer months.  Our lives are filled with seasons and that was one of mine.

 

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Paris in the spring . . .  could there be a much prettier place on earth?  I always wanted to go to Paris for the weekend but never got there. It would have been such an easy thing to do as well on the Eurostar. A trip of just a few hours.  I think from all that I have seen Paris is a city I would love to live in.  I did get to travel quite a bit in France during the years I lived in the U.K. Mostly to the South and along the Northwest coast.  I loved France.  Especially the South. I could easily see why a lot of British had second homes there.

 

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This cup reminds me of some dinner pieces that my mother had.  I think she had mostly just shallow bowls, collected from soap powder or some such. Mom did not have a China Dinner set.  She had bits and bobs collected through the years from here and there and everywhere. Mostly Corelle. She loved her Corelle. She did have a set of silverplate cutlery that she liked to use on the holidays and a set of Melmac dinnerware that she also only used on the holidays.  

I have it now. It is in a box in the spare bedroom. I need to make room for it and start using it on holidays.  One of my father's business friends gave it to her one time when he was having a meeting with him. We were sat in the car, mom and we children, for what seemed like hours in the heat while our dad was inside with this fella discussing stuff. Once the man realized that we were all waiting in the car, he came out with this Melmac dinner set for mom. She always saved it for good. In autumnal colors, browns and oranges.  There were plates and bowls, cups, saucers, sugar dish, creamer.  Because mom cherished it so did we. Well, I did anyways. I really should be using it.

I always thought our mother was the most beautiful mother anyone ever had.  I still do.  That is the prerogative of a child. I think she was 19 or 20 in this photo, certainly no older than 20. She was immensely proud of this photo. She had had it taken in a photographer's studio in Truro where she went to work when she finished Business College. Mom only ever had one real boyfriend and that was our father.  She met him one weekend when she was home to visit her family in Lawrencetown from Truro.  A friend talked her into going to a dance with her in Greenwood at the base there.  Something about this tiny little Frenchman charmed her.  I think they only saw each other about three or four times when they got married. She was all the way up in Truro, and he was down here in the Valley. He got posted to Newfoundland and he called her on the phone asking her to go with him, to marry him.

She said yes and here we are.  I can see young me in my father her and my sister in my mother.  She kept those "wedding" shoes and that "wedding" dress for many, many years. I can remember looking at the shoes and marveling at how tiny they were.

I believe that my mother was the sweetest, most innocent, kindest, and most generous person my father had ever met, and the truest friend he ever had. I think he would tell you that himself.

Oh, how I miss my mother. I see a lot of her in my sister. I wish the same could be said of me.

It's Mother's Day tomorrow.  If the weather is fine in the afternoon, I might take a trip down to the Cemetary after church, to spend some time with her. A mother is someone you never stop missing.

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I had a bit of a problem with my mobile phone last night. It would not connect to the WiFi and I was afraid of using up all of my data.  I only ever rarely use data on my phone. Mostly just if we are out and about and I have no WiFi coverage. It kept telling me I had no internet connection and yet my laptop was connected as was my iPad and my television. It did not make sense. I spent several hours getting it sorted out.  Eventually I was talking to an Apple technician down in the States. She had a really thick Southern accent. A very nice girl. She got me sorted. It ended up being my VPN that was causing the problem. Once I shut that off and restarted my phone, it hooked up fine.  Such a simple thing really, but it had everyone running around in circles trying to figure out what the problem was. She figured it out. Smart girl!

It is the same with life sometimes.  We overcomplicate things and look for complicated answers to our questions and problems, but really, most of the time all we need is a simple solution.

 

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Cindy and I had fun rambling through the gardening section of Dollarama yesterday afternoon. A person could go crazy buying stuff for the garden there. To dress it up. Neither of us bought anything, but we did enjoy looking. They have these beautiful little ceramic toadstools and mushrooms.  What fun they would be to have. My garden gets too full of buttercups however and the toadstools would get lost in them.  I wouldn't dare put them on the lawn as they would probably get mowed over in a frenzy when the mowers came. It would not be safe. There is no rhyme or reason to when they come so I would never know enough to get outside and move them to a safer spot.  You just look out and there they are rolling over the lawn all willy nilly.  I think it takes a minute at most and the guy is on to the next lawn.

I always enjoy myself when I am out and about with Cindy. I think we need to have a paint day soon. Perhaps after my brother's visit.  Things will be more settled then.

 

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I am looking forward to the next series of The Chosen to begin streaming. I think it is set to stream in June. I think I have watched the first four series at least 7 or 8 times now. I am in series four again now. Every time I watch it I get something more from it.  I am impressed with this particular portrayal of Jesus.  He is the Jesus I have always imagined.  The God who sees me.  Over and over again, He says to people. "I see you," or "I saw you," or "I know you, " etc.  It reminds me of the scripture in the Old Testament, in Genesis where Hagar is speaking to God. 

She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” Genesis 16:13

Hagar was in a sticky spot, to say the least. Her mistress, Sarai, had forced her to sleep with her mistress’s husband, Abram. Then when Hagar became pregnant, she began treating Sarai with contempt. In return, Sarai then treated Hagar so harshly that Hagar ran away to the desert. The angel of the Lord found Hagar and told her to return home. If she would submit to Sarai, God would take care of her and her son, and so she returned home. 

 The second time Hagar left Abraham’s household was when she was sent away by Sarah and Abraham (Genesis 21:8-21). But the Lord spoke to her again and promised that she and her son, Ishmael, would be more than okay (Genesis 21:17-18). Ishmael was too young to understand what his mom went through to ensure his future. But he lived in the fruit of her faith and the joy of God’s love.

Motherhood and life are full of mundane tasks that can make you feel unseen and unknown. Motherhood changes you, shapes you, and interrupts your sense of self. But your children benefit from your obedience and faith. The first time Hagar ended up in the desert, God spoke to her and gave her a hopeful promise for her and for Ishmael’s future. In turn, Hagar called God “the One who sees me.”

And this is my Jesus, The One who sees ME. That thought brings me great comfort.

 

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The beaches in the U.K. in some places are dotted with beach huts. I have never seen one as pretty as this one. Beach Huts are like little, tiny houses.  Not very big.  Brightly colored. Most are only a space that is large enough where you can have a few chairs, change into your swimsuits, perhaps make a cup of tea, have a small picnic lunch in comfort.  

The one in this photo seems very glamorous, and two stories no less. I love all of the plants and flora. You could live on the beach in this.  Can you imagine falling asleep at night to the sound of waves crashing against the shore and having days embroidered by the sound of the gulls and the smell of the salt water . . .  bliss.

 

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That beach hut and a cottage home like this  . . .  if my ship ever comes in. 

I have good taste and fanciful dreams. If only my pocketbook matched my dreams.  Ahh, but I can never complain as I have found a place where I am at peace and this brings my heart joy.  I have all I am in need of here.  Family close by.  A comfortable space to call my own.  Two sweet companions. My sister, my best friend.  Comfort. Solace. Peace. Tranquility. Faith fulfilled. What utter joy is this. I do not deserve it and yet, it is somehow mine. How blessed I am.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

 *.˛.The influence of a mother

in the lives of her children

is beyond calculation.

~James E Faust° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

In The English Kitchen today, Marmalade Scones. Divine. Served with a hot cup of Lemon Meringue Tea.  Bliss.

I hope you have a lovely weekend. Happy Mother's Day all you sweet ladies. (Are we not ALL mothers in one way or another!)  Be happy. Be blessed.  Don't forget!

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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!!