All Things Nice . . .

 

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I have a small blue kettle,

A small homely thing,

And when I put it on for tea

It always starts to sing.

It makes me think of little fields

And hills all fresh and green,

Of tiny streams that slip along

Their mossy banks between.

It has a note of wistfulness

Like flutes, all silver clear --

Perhaps it was the piping of

Some fairy trumpeter.

It sings of quiet hidden pools,

Of clouds and summer rain,

Of the grey waste of winter seas,

Spring in the fields again.

Bird-song and eventide . . and still,

Deep places of the earth,

All come to me and sing again

Beside my glowing hearth.

I hear the piping of the lark,

The sound of hurrying wings --

Here in my room . . they whisper in

The song my kettle sings.

~Edna Jaques, The Song My Kettle Sings

My Kitchen Window 1935

Its frigid and cold out there this morning with a brisk wind blowing fine sharp snow across the rooftops and down the street. It's not a day fit for man nor beast as they say. The temperature is -24*C (-11.2*F) without the wind chill. With the windchill it's -42*C (-43.6) so pretty cold.  No traffic moving (not surprisingly). 

My heat pump is groaning, and I have the electric baseboard heating going.  The first time I have ever had to have it on, but my heat pump is not giving off much if any heat this morning. One does what one has to do and then worries about paying for it later.  I will not be the only one in this position! All of Eastern Canada is caught in this Polar Vortex of frigid temperatures and snow.

A few minutes ago, a wee little bird flew up to my front window and was trying to get in.  Poor thing. It was all puffed up. It flew to the railing and sat there for a few seconds and then flew away. My heart really goes out to these creatures in weather like this. I hope that they have warmish places to shelter in. It's a wonder that they survive the winters, but somehow, through the miracle that is nature, many do. Looking at their wee little legs and feet you would think they wouldn't, but somehow, they do. 

Never fear, my two resident snooper-visors are on the case.  They are keeping a close watch on all of the going's on outside our front door. Nothing much passes their scrutiny without being noticed by their watchful eyes.  Last night it was very windy and every time the house walls cracked beneath the cold they got a bit spooked. Not used to it.  We haven't had weather this cold and windy since I moved into here, and certainly not since they moved in with me.  

On days like today, well every day really . . .  I am most grateful for their company.

We had been going to go as a family to Swiss Chalet up country today for our supper, but I dare say that won't be happening now. Its okay. Swiss Chalet isn't going anywhere and will still be there waiting when the weather warms up a bit and the roads clear.

 

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I was most grateful for my hot water bottle in bed last night. I was also grateful for my magic bag.  I filled up my hot water bottle, and warmed the magic bag, and threw them both in under the covers about fifteen minutes before I retired last night. My bed was toasty warm when I got into it.  

I didn't sleep very well. I was very worried about my heat pump.  I had read all kinds of things on Facebook about how they work in extreme cold like this and I was anxious about it cracking up completely. I got up to check on it a few times. I did not want my pipes freezing.  I have turned it off now as it was making too much of a racket, and I don't want it to completely give up the ghost.

I am sitting here with my flannel nightie, my robe, a pair of sleep pants, my knee socks and slippers, with the hot water bottle tucked in behind me on the chair. I also have the electric fire on.

Enough about the cold!

I dragged out my paper and paints yesterday and did one of my little girls. I had not really done one since before everything in my life blew apart.  Actually, I have struggled with doing much like this since my mother passed away. I have had a difficult time being inspired, I guess. I thought I would dip my toes back into the water.

She is not perfect. My markers are a bit wonky due to not being used.  I had bought some new ones at Michaels a number of months back and they were stored on their sides and they leaked a bit, but I managed to clean it up.

Handwriting/script has never been my strong suit. I had it down to an artform in the UK.  The printer I had enabled me to print out my writing and then I could just transfer it to my art and go over it with my ink pen.  I also had the use of Picasa on my computer and could digitally add writing to my art once I had scanned it.  I don't know how to scan using the printer I have now, and I no longer have Picasa on my laptop. They don't have that program anymore. I am not sure what a suitable substitute would be or if I could master any new technology. I could try though.

 

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My sister just messaged me to tell me that my father has lost his electricity. I hope it is not out for long. thankfully I still have mine. My sister has had to put on her electric heat as well as her heat pump was also not working efficiently.  Apparently, they don't do well in extreme temperatures.

Oh my back to the cold . . .

 

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Nutmeg is laying on my desk next to my computer now. His little head is resting on my hand, bobbing up and down as I type. He likes to be near to me, bless his little heart. Cinnamon is sleeping on back of my recliner. 

When I think of all that I have been through I am so very grateful that I have come through it and am feeling content in my little house. I never thought I would be happy again, but here I am, happy and content. There are moments when I do wish that I had someone to share it with, but that ship has passed now. I hate that I have wasted my whole adult life never having found that special someone to spend eternity with, but it is what it is. I know I am not alone. Many others have experienced the same.

To have loved and lost is better than to never have loved at all. Isn't that what they say?  And I have loved with all of me, and yes been loved as well. I cannot say that I haven't been. It was just not a never-ending love. If you have that, you are one of the really lucky ones.

 

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I love my little home, my cats, my life.  It is not the happily-ever-after life that I had anticipated I would have when I was a child.  But I don't know why I thought it ever would be. Nobody has the perfect life. There is no such thing as an Andy Griffith existence. It lives only in our imaginations. At best we can come close and be content with that.  I think the real secret to happiness lies in being content with what you have. It is natural to yearn for more at times, but really . . . we need to be happy with what we already have. There are many, many people who have far far less  . . . 

A crust of bread, some butter to spread on it. A hot drink to cup our hands around. A blanket to keep our laps warm.  A good book to read. Good music to listen to. Something with a beating heart to snuggle next to. Life really is not bad at all  . . . 

I think I will stay snug and content in my jimjams all day today. I am not going to get dressed. Just stay here snug in my layers. It is supposed to warm up a bit as the day goes on.

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

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

•。★★ 。* 。

° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚

  ˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛

 ˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

*Even in a time of 

elephantine vanity & greed,

one never has to look far to see 

the campfires of gentle people.

~Garrison Keillar  •。★★ 。* 

There is something really nice in The English Kitchen today . . .  Fresh Ginger Scones filled with Lemon Curd.  A delicious indulgence.

I hope that you are safe and warm wherever you are.  Be blessed. Don't forget!

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And I do too!