Saturday 4 February 2023

All Things Nice . . .

 

 

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.


 

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.


 

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 . . .

 

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.


 



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!

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ 
⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
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And I do too!    

   





 

10 comments:

  1. I am not certain, but " Canva " may work something like your old Picasa

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  2. Mercy that is awfully cold!! Glad you are staying home and hope the heat stays on. We used to have baseboard electric heat and I never noticed it being more expensive to heat with. It is true that the heat pump type simply cannot keep up in temps much under freezing. We have that here and even though it was going into the low 20s F. last night, it was struggling to keep up. I miss having the baseboard electric heat (was a lot cleaner too...the dust here drives me nuts and it has to be coming in from the heat ducts...simply no other place it could be coming from as we rarely go out most of the time). Hope your dad's electric returned quickly. But at least he has kin nearby to stay with if need be!! Take care!
    Elizabeth xoxo

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    1. Some people here have power bills in the Winter that are more than the cost of their Rent Elizabeth. Thankfully the heat pump usually keeps the cost within reason for me. Today though, I am using it, damn the cost! Dad's power is back on now. Take care! xoxo

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  3. Miss Picasa too, will check out the one recommended by another commenter. Our hydro went off about 5 am and came on just after 9 am, house cooled down really quickly as it was -31 Celsius outside. Hope your dad isn't without hydro for long Loved the poem today, in fact I used to have a little blue kettle! I wonder about those little birdies too in this cold, they still come around for food as it is so important to them when it is this cold. A stay home day for sure, thank goodness for crochet afghans. It is supposed to get up to above 0 by the end of the day and tomorrow. Stay warm and cozy. Have a good weekend.

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    1. I bet the house didn't take very long to cool down at all without the hydro! Brrrr. Thankfully ours didn't go off and my father's is now back on! You stay warm and cozy also Linda! xoxo

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  4. Brrrrr….good idea to stay in today! I love your little girl drawing, I think it’s lovely. Hope your Dad is warm and comfy soon. Have a cozy day with your two fuzzy friends and enjoy a quiet day. xo, V.

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    1. Thanks very much V! Hope you are likewise enjoying your day also! xoxo

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  5. Bitter cold here too..Doing indoor things not stepping out.Brilliant sunshine..Amazon was delivering yesterday and today..I left hot pockets outside.He was so happy he was going to stick them in his boots.I mean the courage!Praying our power stays on.You ahve a BEAUTIFUL life here..Never saw you so busy..and doing so well.Happy for you!Your girl is adorbs!

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    1. What a very kind thing to do Monique! I never thought of that! I thought of the power linemen having to deal with power outages in that bitter cold and the wind. They deserve medals! Thank you! I need to get back into my art. Slow but sure. Baby Steps. xoxo

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