(source)
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.
Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.
Where are the songs of spring? Ay, Where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,—
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.
~John Keats, To Autumn
This week I believe we have experienced all four seasons in just a few days. Its been sunny and warm, cold and crisp and rainy and damp, we even had snow one day. All in the matter of a few days. Seasons in transition. They are like that. It will be Winter soon enough. I bought myself a window scraper. Now I need a brush.
Dad came by earlier this week to see the cats. Dad and I talk several times a day every day. I never thought I would have this extra special blessing of being able to talk to my father so frequently and to spend time with him like this.
He is a real cat person. He has always had a cat, and he really enjoys the kittens. Of course they are looking more like cats now. When we were children the family cat used to have a nap with him every night after supper. Dad would lay on the sofa and the cat would lay on his chest, whether it wanted to or not, lol.
Whether he comes to see the cats, or he comes to see me, I enjoy these little interludes. Its just nice to spend time with him. My sister gets to cook for him every day and do his shopping, etc. I enjoy being able to spend little pockets of time with him. When he came the other day Andy Griffith was on the television and we had a lovely discussion of the good old days, and how much better television was way back when. I wonder if he can get the CHCH channel on his television. He keeps it on the News Channel much of the time. I think the news is depressing. I never watch it. Never.
I got the most delightful gift in the post the other day from my friend Diana. Its an advent calendar. There was also a Jamie Oliver Christmas Cookbook. Diana has been sending me cookbooks from her collection every now and then as she whittles it down. I really appreciate it as I had to leave all of mine behind as you know. I did get to send over my Big Blue Binder which was the important one! So that was good. Anyways, this was and is so very kind of Diana. What a blessing to me she has been. I am going to enjoy opening this up each day throughout December and having a nice hot cuppa and perhaps a biccie while I think of the value of friends and the many kindnesses I have been offered throughout this past year by so many. Thank YOU Diana! There are some lovely herbal infusions in here! (Yes, I peeked.)
My DIL posted this photo on her facebook page. I love a Charlie Brown tree. I am very much looking forward to seeing them later today. I pray they have a safe and uneventful journey over here from PEI. It is just Doug, Kayla and Josh. Then I will have seen at least two of my grandsons. It was a year ago that I was able to see Doug and Jon, who came here last November the day after I got out of quarantine.
This was last year. Jon has grown a foot since then I am sure! A lot has happened in a year. Doug got his defibrillator, I got my own place . . . its all good. Dad is really looking forward to seeing them as well. He just called and told me to let him know as soon as they arrive. He plans on coming over to see them and spend an extended visit with them. He has already told his friend Marianne that he can't take her to the mall this afternoon because he is visiting with his grandson and great grandson.
It breaks his heart that he has other great grandchildren who live very close and whom he has never seen. I just tell him don't worry about it dad, its their loss. There are not many people in the world who have an opportunity to get to know their great-grandparents and those who don't make the effort to do so, well . . . its their loss. I would have loved to know mine better.
(source)
The sun is shining out there this morning. The kittens are sitting in their perch watching all of the outdoor action. I will have to keep an eye on them this weekend to make sure they don't get out the door. I went to check my mail on Thursday and when I came back and opened the door, Cinnamon shot out like a bat out of hell. I had to drop everything and chase after her. So now I have been putting them in the back bedroom every time I need to go in and out. With such a small place the front door is easily accessible. I don't know what I would do if I lost them.
And with that I best get busy and do a bit of tidying up before everyone gets here. I am excited and can't wait. I probably will be pretty scarce on here this weekend. But I promise to take plenty of pictures!
A thought to carry with you . . .
° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
*.˛.I have learned,
in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content.
~Philippians 4:11•。★★ 。* 。
In The English Kitchen today . . . Classic Lyonnaise Potatoes. The small batch. Three simple ingredients.
Have a wonderful weekend and couple of days. I will catch you on the flip side! Whatever you get up to don't forget!
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════