All Things Nice

 

(source)

The kettle sings a low contented tune

The dog snores in her sleep behind the stove,

There is a mingled color in the air,

Of apple pie and cinnamon and clove,

The smell of yeast . . . for mother set the bread,

In the blue pan before she went to bed.

Beyond the pantry door I catch a glimpse

Of shiny milk pans on a narrow shelf,

A row of places . . . the old brown cookie crock;

A brimming water pail all by itself;

A little bracket lamp beside the door,

Makes a small halo beside the door,

Makes a small halo on the kitchen floor.

An old grey cat is sleeping on a chair,

Paws folded in below her slowly chest,

She looks the picture of contented peace,

Like an old lady waiting for a guest,

Her eyes blink softly as if half awake,

Pale green like water in a mountain lake.

The kitchen has a fragrance all of it's own,

Of porridge simmering in a blue pot,

Of kindling wood drying beneath the stove,

And red coals glowing beautiful and hot,

There is a sense of joy and comfort there,

In the old stove and cushioned rocking chair.

A feel of home and peace and fireglow,

That lovely modern kitchens do not know.

~Edna Jacques, Farm Kitchen at Night

The Golden Road, 1953

What a wonderful poem this is and the pictures it paints in the mind are so warming and comforting. It reminds me very much of the kitchen of my first husband's family. A place that was always so warm and welcoming. I had grown up in Military housing and spent most of my adult life living in the same, so this was such a special experience for me and something that I had always wanted to have for myself.

I did not know then, but do know now that a kitchen like this is much more than aesthetics . . .  it is about the feeling of home and you can get that anywhere, anytime. It is a feeling of comfort and belonging . . . of love  . . .  love of family, friends, home. That is something I have always had. It was not something I ever really needed to chase or look for . . .  it was something I had all along and something which I have now.  I am blessed.

 

 

(source)

I am late getting started this morning as I have been watching a wedding on Zoom. One of the young women in my church congregation back in Chester in the U.K. was getting married. I have been watching this young woman grow and become the special person that she is since she was a wee girl in one of my Primary classes.  She always came to class with fingers full of color. She loved art and she loved creating.  That was something we had in common. I remember mentoring her and encouraging her in this skill. It was so wonderful to see her all grown up this morning marrying the love of her young life. I wish them all the happiness that life has to give them.  Such an exciting future they have to look forward to. She will be leaving her home to move over to America and so I know her parents will be feeling that loss, but at the same time I know her parents are pleased for her to begin a new and happy life of her own.

I wish this young couple all of the happiness that is theirs to hold as they begin this new chapter in their lives.  

 

(source)

It was nice to get out and go to the shops with Cindy yesterday afternoon. Dad had great difficulty getting in and out of the car. I can see a vast difference in him over these past few months.  He is really slowing down and his mobility is getting more and more difficult.  His sight and hearing as well. His hearing aids don't seem to do the job they are supposed to do and I am not sure what is wrong with his sight. He is waiting on an appointment to see a specialist for his eyes.  

His world is getting narrower and narrower. It breaks my heart to see it happening. I am grateful that my brother will be here next week. I believe it may be his last chance to see and spend some quality time with our father. I could be wrong, but that is just the way I am feeling. 

Oh the selfish part of us would keep our parents with us forever. But quality and quantity of life are not the same thing and I fear quality is much better than quantity will ever be.

 

(source)

On our way home yesterday we decided to go up the mountain to Pelton's to get a few things. They had fresh bread in the market. I wanted a loaf for this weekend when Eileen will be here.  We were interrupted by a flock of guinea fowl all over the road.  Thankfully we were not driving so fast as we could not stop, but I feared for them. They were waddling right down the center of the road. There must have been about 20 or more of them. A whole flock. Who knows where they came from. I found myself feeling anxious about those who might come after us that might not notice them before it was too late. I think it is in the nature of guinea fowl to wander. But, their owners should probably take better care at keeping them somewhat contained. I do not think they are very intelligent birds. 

That is perhaps harsh of me to think that the owners are being negligent. Afterall, I have never owned any guinea fowl and perhaps it is impossible for them to be contained and I apologize if I am being overly judgmental.  I just hate to see any of God' creatures put in danger due to negligence. 

And speaking of guinea fowl, I can hear the ones who visit my neighborhood now.  They are down to just two now.

 

(source)

For me that will always be the summer of summer days -- a cloudless sky, ditches and roadside deep in grass, poppies, cuckoo pint, trees heavy with leaf, orchards bulging over hedge briars . . . 

Ah those days . . . for many years afterwards their happiness haunted me. Sometimes, listening to music, I drift back and nothing has changed. The long end of summer. Day after day of warm weather, voices calling as night came on and lighted windows pricked the darkness and, at daybreak, the murmur of corn and the warm smell of fields ripe for harvest. And being young.

~J.L.Carr, from A Month in the Country

I am so grateful that I grew up in rural spaces. Indeed much of my life has been lived thus. Oh, I did spend quite a few years in cities I suppose . . . Winnipeg, Calgary, London, Chester . . . but it is the country years that impressed upon me the most. The ones which brought me the sweetest memories.  I am a country girl at heart. I long for nothing more than quiet summer days. It is said you can hear the corn as it grows. I have never put that to the test.

Friend's pages on Instagram are full of beautiful photographs of their flowers gathered into bouquets to bring indoors. They are so lovely. The beautiful fruits of their labors. I am so grateful that they are so generous in sharing the lovely photos of them with us all.  Are we not blessed to live in a world where such a thing as this is available for us to enjoy?? I think we are. I am so grateful for the sharing of these beautiful glimpses into the lives and gardens of others.

 

(source)

I was marveling yesterday at how much these young mums today manage to get done.  They have beautiful homes and the ones that I watch had large families, 8 or 9 children in each. Their homes are beautifully decorated, and they cook such lovely meals for their families. And most of them home school as well. I was never as together as that. I suppose I had a large family, with five children, but my home was never that put together. I did cook them lovely meals but I was always playing catch-up with everything else in the house. It seemed I never ever saw the bottom of the laundry pile, and my house was never a showhouse.  I don't know how they manage to do it all, and cook the meals, home school and then film it all to share with the world. 

How inadequate I was, and am, in comparison. I fear I was always running to catch up and never quite did. I am still running to catch up, lol, and there is really only me in the house. I never get the things done in a day that I really want to get done. Oh, I have lists in my head of what I want to do, what I would like to do, but I never even begin to scratch the surface.

Comparison is the thief of joy. That is so very true. I cannot and should not compare my life to theirs.  What I see is only a glimpse of what they want me to see. Perhaps beyond the edges is chaos. I like to think that nobody can be so perfect as what they want us to think.  The thought of that brings me a measure of comfort.  

And I am in my dotage now . . . it takes me twice as long to achieve half as much. I spend too much time with my head in the clouds, dilly dallying. But I am happy and that is what counts most of all.

 

(source)

I don't really have a lot more time to spend this morning.  Watching that wedding took up several hours. (It was 45 minutes late starting.) But it was a worthwhile occupation with which to begin my day.  I will have to leave you now as I have a lot to get done before I go to pick up Eileen.

We have a busy day planned together. Her laundry, a knife skills class, a craft activity, and movie night, and that is just for today. Plus we also need to go to the store.

I will leave you with a thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Nevertheless,

she persisted.

That pretty much sums it up! Short but sweet.

In The Kitchen today  . . .  Easy Mixed Berry Crumble.  A perfect dessert to make with all of the fresh berries that are in abundance at the moment. The fruit is sweetened with white chocolate. Nothing else.  That buttery crumble on top is fabulous!

I hope you have a lovely weekend. I apologize for the briefness of my post this morning. Monday will be better.  Have a great couple of days. 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!    

   

Dear Neighbor . . .

 

(source)

 AUG 14th, 2026

Estate Lane,

Nova Scotia

14*C/58*F

Mostly Sunny

Dear Neighbor,

Hello on a beautifully sunny morning. Its a bit more chill this morning than it was yesterday, but I welcome that as I am not so much a fan of the extreme heat that comes with the dog days of August as they are called. 

It is hard to believe that already we are entering the latter part of August and thoughts are turning towards preparing for the new school year. Having gone to school a good part of my life and having raised five children the academic calendar is deeply ingrained in my inner clock. I don't need new shoes and a brand new box of pencils to embody the feeling. Fresh beginnings seem right around the corner. It's a time of anticipation and perhaps a bit of anxiety as I think about the impending darkness as the days start to become noticeably shorter.  When I leave my sister's to come home now after dinner . . .  the sun is much lower in the sky and I need to pull down the visor in my car so that I can still see to drive without the sun blinding me to my course as it appears to be shining full in my face.

Things are beginning to look tired as the corn is ripening in the fields.

 

(source)

Speaking of corn.  I had a lovely birthday yesterday. It was a fairly quiet day. I finished my work very early on and had plenty of time to relax before I picked up Eileen to go to Cindy's. My oldest son facetimed me briefly which was nice. Eileen had the most beautiful homemade card for me. (She paid for my dinner on Wednesday night as well.)  Cindy had made homemade pizza which we enjoyed with corn on the cob and potato salad.  With chocolate cake for dessert.  

Of course the best part was being with family. That was my favorite part.  I got a gift certificate for my next venture to the hair dressers for a trim, etc. a couple of vintage sundae dishes and

 

This lovely vintage Tomato Juice jug that I have long since admired. You know how much I love vintage dishes and glassware, so I was thrilled to receive it. Thank you, Cindy and Dan. This year I received so many cards, each one a sweet reminder of the giver, and there were just so many "Happy Birthday" wishes on Facebook that I will not be able to respond to each one, but I have read them all. It is nice to be cared for and remembered. Nice too that our father is still here to help me celebrate it. 

I was missing mom when I got into bed last night. It's been over 7 years since I have been able to speak to her on my Birthday. I do confess I shed a few tears. I miss her so very much. The feeling of loss has never lessened with the passing years.

The creeping thyme in my sister's yard is in bloom and so pretty . . . and I think it is Queen Anne's lace, but I am not sure as it is low to the ground, some of that looks pink at the moment. I love the creeping thyme, it smells all herby when you walk through it. I am reminded of the long walks we took in France when we were here with Audrey and Peter Lee . . .  as we hiked through the countryside the earth smelled like wild garlic. It was quite intoxicating. (That was such a fun trip.)

Things will start to change now.  It won't be long before we start noticing the leaves at the tops of the trees beginning to turn, and of course many of the wild flowers and plants will be going to seed and looking dry. The thing about country living is there is always something going on.

 

(source)

You can almost predict how hot the day will be when you get up in the morning. Hot, hot days begin with an almost peculiar pure color in the sky . . . the air being very still and sweetly smelling of the dew which lays on the grass. I love the practice I have taken up of checking my post box early in the morning before anyone else is awake. I get to enjoy the silence and the comfort of the coolness that still remains before the cement beneath my feet starts to heat up under the bearing down of the sun. It is nice and cool in my house as well. It won't heat up until the sun moves from the back over to the front of my place, which won't happen until much later in the day. It is North Facing. I get sunlight at the back early in the day, but the large maple tree that lives there provides plenty of shade.

Hot days make me grateful in a way that my canning days are long since over. Those long hours spent standing over the stove as I preserved the bounty that August was gifting me with are spent now. It is no longer practical, but there are plenty of cooks that sell their preserves, conserves and pickles in the local farm markets so I can pick up a jar or two of them there and still enjoy them.  So far I have bread and butter pickles and dill chips.  Pickled beetroot will be next. I love the ginger beets that a local place makes. And of course there is the sunshine relish. Spiced peaches would be nice  . . . 

 

(source)

I bought Eileen a new Santoku knife because I thought she needed one.  When she comes to spend the weekend tomorrow I am planning a knife skills activity for her. I want to teach her how to use it safely so that she doesn't cut herself.

It will be fun. We usually go to the grocery store right after I pick her up so she can buy some drinks, etc. to bring over so I will pick up some things to chop. Maybe we can have fajitas for supper so that will give us the opportunity to use what we practice on. We can also make a salsa. Who doesn't like Mexican food!  We love it!

I do enjoy our weekends together. So does she.

She has an appointment already for next Friday to see another gyno Doctor in Kentville, so that has been quick. I expect things will move along now as they should. 

 

(source)

This afternoon we will be taking dad out with his friend Maryanne to the mall. I am just about out of cat food so I will need to get some. It is the cheapest at Walmart. I will get double the amount this week as we won't be going next week due to my brother and sister in law being down visiting. I am so looking forward to seeing them! One of their girls has messaged that she is coming to Nova Scotia at the end of the month as well and wants to spend a few hours with us. That is something to look forward to as well. 

We probably won't be going out for our Wednesday night dinner next week. We will have to see how it goes. Eileen will be disappointed, but maybe I can take her out another time to make up for it.

 

(source)

There is no month in the whole year in which nature wears a more beautiful appearance than in the month of August. Spring has many beauties, and may is a fresh and blooming month, but the charms of this time of year are enhanced by their contrast with the winter season. August has no such advantage. it comes when we remember nothing but clear skies, green fields, and sweet-smelling flowers -- when the recollection of snow, and ice, and bleak winds, has faded from our minds as completely as they have disappeared from the earth -- and yet what a pleasant time it is! Orchards and cornfields ring with the hum of labour; trees bend beneath the thick clusters of rich fruit which bow their branches to the ground; and the corn, piled in graceful sheaves, or waving in every light breath that sweeps above it, s if wooed the sickle, tinges the landscape with a golden hue. A mellow softness appears to hang over the whole earth.

~ Charles Dickens, from the Pickwick Papers

It is important to note here that the corn mentioned is really what we would call wheat here in North America. It is funny how subtle the differences are in the two languages which are both English, and how things can be called by quite different names. You think that English is English and that's all that it is, but it really isn't. You can very easily put your foot in it without even trying or at the very least be completely misunderstood.

Underwear for instance . . .  they call it pants over there in the U.K.  People will wonder why you are talking about your underwear when you are talking about your trousers and think it quite rude. Whereas we refer to our behinds as our fanny, they take that in a completely different direction as it is meant over there to describe female parts of the anatomy.  and yet there are women over there called Fanny, or at least there used to be. 

And that is just a few examples.

 

(source)

And with that I will bring this missive to a gentle close. I have exhausted all of my trains of thought now and it is time to get moving on my morning. I have things that I need to get done before I go out and time flies. The morning will be spent before I know it!

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*The heart, like the mind

has a memory, and in it 

are kept the most precious

keepsakes.

~William Wadsworth Longfellow

 

In The English Kitchen today, Enfrijoladas Bake. A Tex-Mex wonder of soft tortillas coated in a lush and creamy bean sauce and plenty of cheese, folded and baked, covered in more cheese.  Bubbly, cheesy and oh so tasty served with your favorite Tex Mex Toppings. Quick and easy to make, economical and quite delicious!

I hope you have a lovely Friday.  May it be filled with a bit of sunlight, plenty of joy and time spent with those that you love most in this life.  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!    

   

My Favorite Things . . . Gifts . . .

 

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens . . . these are some of the things in life that I enjoy, and which make me happy, inspire me, or put a smile on my face. Maybe some of them are yours too.  Let's share! 

This place I call my home. What a blessing it has been from above to have a place that I can call my own, to shelter me, keep me warm, give me a soft place to land. Home Sweet Home.  Its just the right place for me.

 

These two little munchkins who are always here with me, keeping me company, entertaining me, cuddling up to me. Love them so much.

 

Family. The one God gave me. I have been so blessed in my life to have this wonderful family. It means the world to me. 

Especially my sister, my best friend.  She's been special to me for over 68 years now. I love her very much. I love my brother too, but a sister is a special gift.

 

So is a daughter  . . . 

A brother  . . . 

Two good sons and all those grandsons, my two daughters-in-law  . . .  my father . . . 

Good friends. Friends are the family you get to choose for yourself.

My faith in my Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. It strengthens, sustains and supports me. Always. 

Enough. I have enough. Of everything and then some to share.

A positive mindset  . . . 

Good music  . . . 

The word of God and those who are able to expound it so beautifully so that I can understand it. 

The gift of prayer  . . . 

The gift of forgiveness, for others and for self.

And so much more. My life is filled to overflowing with abundance and favorite things. I am blessed.

A thought to carry with you  . . .

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Being a family means you are a part of

something very wonderful. It means you

will love and be loved for the rest of

your life. ~Lisa Weed 

In The English Kitchen  . . .  my all-time favorite Chocolate Cake.  Creole Chocolate Cake. This is the THE BEST! 

I hope you have a beautiful day. I will be picking up Eileen later and going to Cindy's for supper. She's making my favorite. Pizza! I love her homemade pizzas!  Whatever you get up to today, may it bring you joy. Don't forget!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!    

   

Wednesday Witterings . . .

 

 

(source) 

Hello on a beautiful sunny summer morning. The dew is laying on the grass and I have already had my walk to the post box and back. I have been doing that first thing in the morning while my knees are the most cooperative. It's an easy walk and quiet. Not much to hear. The birds quiet down this time of the year.  Nesting season is over. You still hear them, but they are much more subdued than they are earlier in the season. It is hard to believe that summer is more than half over and that in just a few weeks the children will be going back to school. Each night I pray that my grandchildren will really enjoy these last weeks of their summer holidays happily and safely. I hope that they are.

I can remember always being more than ready to go back to school at the end of August, much of the novelty of summer having been worn off. We were not a family that did holidays away perse  . . . so, generally speaking, things had gotten quite boring come mid August.

Our next door neighbors in Gimli had a station wagon and the back windows were covered with destination decals. Decals showcasing all of the places they had visited on vacations, with the ultimate vacation being Disneyland. I can remember gazing at them all and wondering what it must be like to go to places like that. Dad was a no-nonsense kind of a driver.  When we went anywhere, there was no stopping along the way to view the world's largest ball of string or anything like that. It was pedal to the medal all the way. The only stops were for gasoline. End of.  

That was also the only opportunity we girls had to use the loo. A bottle was kept in the car for our brother, but that wasn't practical for us girls. We had to hold it. Not that we really went anywhere. We did not. There might have been the odd day we went into Winnipeg, and I can remember going to Winnipeg Beach once. I got a bleeding nose on the bumper cars and bled all over my pretty yellow dress, but they gave us free tickets for other rides so I felt good about that.

We did go and stay with one of our parents friends for a few days once.  The dad's went out camping and hunting.  The women folk and children stayed back at the house. I remember they had a vegetable garden and she made Perfection Salad which we all enjoyed. (Veggies in jello!  Bring it on!) A bear tried to get into the bedroom I was sleeping in and I caused a great ruckus and kind of spoilt the holiday/getaway. I was afraid to sleep in the bedroom after that. It was thought that I was making it up, but I saw what I saw, and there had been bears in their garden recently. There was a box of Muffets cereal on the dresser in that room and I think the bear was after that. In any case, that was our one and only holiday.  And I had to go and spoil it. I know  . . . 

It wasn't much better when I grew up and got married. I married the same kind of man. Pedal to the medal.  His last words to the children every time we got into the car were "Seatbelts on, mouths shut." Eileen still says that when we get into the car.

Mind you, I understand the impracticalities of taking holidays when you have a growing family. There usually isn't a lot of money for extras like that. Just making sure we had enough to get them new shoes for school took most of our budget, not to mention school supplies. 

I don't expect our family was much different than many others.

 

(source)

Ohh, this photograph reminded me this morning of the time I discovered the plum tree orchard on the Manor grounds when I worked there. I had no idea it even existed. It was as if I had found a great treasure.  The family I worked for were away at the time. There was all sorts on the Manor Estate that I was never told about that I could have used. A garden loaded with raspberry bushes, fig trees, medlar trees, the plum trees. Anyways, I discovered the plums and picked quite a few to use in jams and cakes, etc. They were beautiful plums, almost to the point of being overripe.  

They were a real treasure to me.  

 

This is an actually photo I took of the plums that I discovered. You can see the fruit just hanging from the trees.  What a shame it was that they did not use it. I did and made some lovely things with it. The boss was not fond of plums I guess.

What I wouldn't give to have a motherlode of plums like that now! 

 

(source)

Eileen and I had a fairly quiet day yesterday. She spent a good part of the day sleeping off the anesthesia.  My cleaners were here late morning, so she was up for that.  I made her her favorite raisin bread toast with peanut butter and a cup of milky tea.  After the cleaners left she went back to bed for a while and I got some work done.  Then I made us supper. It wasn't really much. Just chicken, scalloped potatoes and green beans. We finished off some blueberry cake for dessert which we enjoyed with a bit of ice cream. We watched a movie on Netflix. (The Last House) 

She wasn't up for doing any Diamond art yesterday. We were both in bed by nine.  Today she will be busier as she has a CSS visit and then we will be doing our usual Wednesday night supper with Dad and I will take her back to her apartment after that.  She will be back here on Saturday.  

She is recovering quite well from the D&C.  No heavy bleeding or anything so that's good. I hope and pray it continues.  

 

(source)

 

Weeding is a delightful occupation, especially after summer rain, when the roots come up clear and clean. One gets to know how many and various are the ways of weeds -- as many almost as the moods of human creatures. How easy and pleasant to pull up are the soft annuals like Chickweed and Groundsel, and how one looks with respect at deep-rooted things like Docks, that make one go and fetch a spade.

~Gertrude Jekyll, from Wood and Garden, 1899

I have to confess that I have never seen having to weed the garden as a delightful occupation. But, then again, I would never have considered myself to be a gardener of any sort.  As much as I love to enjoy the beauty of them, and the bounty they bring to the table, I am no gardener. Not by any stretch.  I greatly admire anyone whose talents stretch to those of being a gardener. We have had vegetable gardens through the years when the children were growing up, but not much more than that. Our gardens at our home in the U.K. were quite lovely, but that was not down to me or any of my efforts.

I can see now where some of the birdseed has sprouted in the mulch in the front garden and I will need to get out there and pluck it out. I wouldn't have thought that it would grow in such an inhospitable environment but that is the tenacity of nature I guess!

 

(source)

And bright and silvery the willows sleep

Over the shady verge -- no mad winds tease

Their hoary heads; but quietly they weep

Their sprinkling leaves -- half fountains and half trees;

There lilies be -- fairer than all these,

A solitary Swan her breast of snow

Launches against the wave that seems to freeze

Into a chaste reflection, still below

Twin shadow of herself wherever she may go.

~Thomas Hood, The Two Swans (a fairy tale)

Swans were quite a common sight over in the U.K. Most parks had them, and waterways.  All the swans in the U.K. are the property of the Queen/King and protected. They were quite beautiful to watch, but really they can be quite nasty birds if provoked.  I only ever enjoyed watching them from afar, being a bit too afraid to get very close. They are quite large you know!

 

(source)

Summer is perfect now.

The wheat says so, when in the dawn it drips with half-an-hour's rain and gleams like copper under the fresh, dim sky; it cries aloud the same when it crackles in the midday sun, and the golden sea of it washes murmurously to the feet of the hills.

In the hedges and fields the agrimony wand and mullein staves, the climbing vetch, the cushioned bird's-foot lotus, the myriads of ragwort and sow thistle, are golden too.

The meadowsweet and honeysuckle flowers and the wild carrot seeds give out sweet scents, but not so strong as not to be drowned, when the wind blows, by a thousand lesser scents from field and wood and farmyard.

Wood pigeons coo in the high-shaded storeys of the beeches and in the wet willow copses where bushes and herbage have grown so dense that hardly a bird's-nester or a lover would care to penetrate them. In the dark wood alleys, all day long, hang insects whose wings seem to be still in their swiftness, like golden lamps.

The gardens have amber lilies, fuchsia trees, phloxes, poppies, hollyhocks, carnations, snap-dragons, rockets and red flax rising above rose of Sharon and lemon-scented balm and yellow stone-crop, where the tortoise-shell butterflies worship with opening wings.

And on the garden walls the purple plums ooze and heave in the sun with yellow wasps that give a touch of horror to the excellent and abounding life of perfect summer.

~Edward Thomas, The Heart of England, 1906

How blessed am I to have experienced all that Mr. Thomas writes about above. Perfect summer.  We used to walk with Jess, long walks down through the orchards surrounding our cottage along the public footpath. It took us past the orchards and next to the local gold course. You could walk all the way through to the next village.  The wild plants would be coming to their ends this time of year, going to seed, the hedgerows filled with ripening hips and haws and buckthorn.  Silent now from the birdsong which made them seem alive just weeks before  . . . now only quietly interrupted now and then by the light movements beneath of rabbit and shrew, or fieldmouse going about their ways.

The air was hot and humming with the sound of insects  . . .  a high pitched drone . . . the occasional snap of a branch cracking in the heat. Cracking too, the acorns beneath our feet, somewhat uncomfortable to walk on in many ways. But they were pleasant walks. 

I miss being able to walk like that. 

I haven't much else to say this morning. I need to wake up Eileen. She will be going out this morning. I am not sure what time, but it is best she be up and about and readying herself just in case it is more sooner than later.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Every artist

was first an amateur.

~Ralph Waldo Emmerson

In The English Kitchen today, Easy Blueberry Streusel Cake. A small batch cake that makes only four, moist and delicious berry studded portions.  Enjoy! 

I hope that you have a lovely day today. That it is a day filled with joy and with promise. 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!