All Things Nice . . .

 

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Dawn called! And out across the plain

I heard the prairies move again;

I smelled the sage where dawn uncurled

Her leaves, for incense to the world;

I heard a meadow-lark get up

And pour its song in day's new cup.

I saw the horses, dim and still

Against the shadow of a hill,

Stand up and shake the sleep away,

And snort their challenge to the day;

The roosters called across the plain

Their thanks that light had come again.

I saw Dawn walk with gracious feet,

Upon the billows of the wheat;

I touched her garments as she passed

Into a farmer's house at last,

And laughed to hear him softly stir

Against the lily hands of her.

I saw blue smoke upon the air,

I heard a woman singing there,

Close by the door and saw her stand

And breathe the fragrance of the land;

And heard her laughter, clear and sweet,

Echoing out across the wheat.

Dawn called! The prairies answered her;

I saw the grasses wake and stir;

I heard the breathing of the air;

Felt Life abundant everywhere;

Saw the glad Earth, where shadows run

Drawing her substance from the sun.

~Edna Jacques, Dawn Called

Beside Still Waters, 1952

I have always been an early riser. There is something very beautiful to me about the early part of the day.  Watching the sun rise, hearing the earth wake up. In the U.K. I used to watch the milk float glide down the street, its only sound the rattle of milk bottles and the quiet hum of its electric engine. Looking down onto our back garden and seeing all the little heads of the sparrows popping out of the hedgerow echoing their morning greetings to each other.  In Kent, I used to love to watch the song thrush standing on the chimney of the cottage next to ours, singing it's heart out in the early dawn hour as the sun just began to show its face above the horizon . . . the sound of the rooster down the hill echoing up to greet us.  So many early morning things that bring joy as the sun begins its ascent into the sky.  It is quite simply my favorite time of the day.

 

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I have a few moments to myself each morning as I pull my legs from beneath the covers and perch on the side of my bed, palms upraised, my legs finding their way into the day from having been asleep all night, as I give thanks to the Lord for the new day that is beginning for me.  When you reach these golden years, you realize that many of your childhood friends are no longer here to bid the day hello, and you recognize each day given for the gift that it is. It is a simple thing to just pause for a moment and give a simple thanks. To the Lord, to the cosmos, to whatever . . . 

A new and fresh page to draw and write upon its length and breadth. Clean and fresh . . . unspoiled, unmarred. How will you write upon it. What marks will you make. The story of it waits for you. What will it be? Good or bad. Happy or sad. Full or empty. Peaceful or filled with angst. There are some things that will happen quite out of your control, but the things you can control . . . well, those are your choices to make.  How will the story of your day unfold? How will it flow . . . 

 

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It actually doesn't take much to

be considered a difficult woman.

That's why there are so 

many of us.

~Jane Goodall

Happy International Women's Day! How wonderful it is that we have a day which celebrates the wondrous beings that we are!  Multi-faceted and talented. We are the nurturers of the world, we cradle the earth in our collective wombs. We are wonderfully created to bring love out of our most painful moments, from Mother Eve down through the centuries to modern times. We are the tear dryers, the wound healers, the listeners, the calm-downers, home builders, family hubs . . . creative from the get-go. The cooks, the bottle washers.  We CAN bring home the bacon AND cook it in a pan. We are encouragers. We are helpmeets. We are strong and resilient and soft and welcoming. The keepers of the home and hearth.

My life has been uplifted, inspired and strengthened by the examples of many women from many walks of life. I honor them all on this day, beginning with my sweet mother who gave me life.  I have been blessed through the years to be surrounded by a great many positive examples of the best that womanhood has to offer.  I applaud and celebrate you all.

 

 

This was the scene next to me on the sofa last night. So very content.  He was snoring.  He is at times a very demanding and jealous little soul. He can be a bit of a bully as well. He likes to be the center of my attention and yet at the same time, he only wants me to pet him when he wants me to pet him. He is as likely to bite me as he is to kiss me. He can be very, very sweet and comical . . . bumbling and endearingly foolish, and yet he can also be quite obnoxious at times. But when he is sleeping next to me like this, I see an angel and I would not want to be without him.

 

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This is me in a nutshell. There are so many things about this modern world that I do not embrace, like, or love. I crave quiet and simplicity . . . calm. I do enjoy the pleasures of modern technology. I like my computer, my iPad, my phone, my television. I like having a vacuum cleaner and a dish washer. Running hot water, a shower and a tub. A washer and a dryer.  But I ofttimes think I was born too kind to be living in these times of loud and brash voices.  That's why I make and create my own little world. It is a world of peace and comfort. A world filled with goodness and rapport. It is up to me who and what I invite to share it with, and these days I am much, much choosier than I have been in the past. I liv a happy life of my own choosing. Therein is my joy to be found.

 

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I took the most beautiful train journey last night, on the most exquisite train, onboard the Train Suite Shiki-Shima across Japan!  Travelling from Ueno station in Tokyo this was one of the most luxurious and beautiful trains I have ever seen. The scenery was breathtaking, and the food was exceptional.  Their sleeper room was amazing.  The aesthetics of the whole train were amazing.  I really enjoyed watching this from the comfort of my sofa. It is a journey I would take again.  I think you might all enjoy watching it.  I wanted to share it with you so that you could have that chance.  It's really nice.

 

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Had a nice afternoon with Cindy yesterday. We picked up Dad and his friend Maryann and dropped them off and then we did a few errands. It is always nice to get out of the house and breathe in some fresh air, and to have someone to talk about rather than just myself.  Nice to see my father.  Nice to see Maryann.  We went to Giant Tiger and Sobey's.  Got some potatoes at Goucher's, picked up chocolate donuts at Spurrs, (naughty us). It was bitter cold out, mostly because of the wind and it did snow a bit, but nothing too difficult to handle.

The river has overflowed her banks and is laying over a large swath of the land adjoining it.  Large chunks of broken ice blocking some parts near bridges.  We had a lot of rain through Thursday night and a lot of the snow has gone now.  Hopefully we won't get a lot more, only light dustings now and then. But nothing is completely predictable, and we can be quite surprised from time to time, but Winter is starting to lose its grip.

I am a person who loves the seasons. All of the seasons.  I love everything they each bring to the table. Well, maybe not the humidity and heat of middle summer, but I do tolerate it because I love the rest of it.

 

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I have begun my journey following Lent on the Hallow Ap again this year. I find that there are many beautiful things about many of the world's religions, and whilst I cling to the tenants of my Latter-Day Saint Faith, I do like to also explore and appreciate aspects of other faiths, and I enjoy the Lent practices on this Catholic Ap. I also really enjoyed their Advent practices prior to Christmas. This is a way for me to get closer to the way of the Cross, something to meditate on, something to ponder. A unique chance to get closer to God. I do experience that in my own faith as well, but I think it is also nice to embrace other practices from time to time. I enjoy them at any rate. Peace and closeness to God. How can that ever be a bad thing. There is a great deal of beauty and worth in these things.

 

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I love this. Focus on the good and the good will come into focus. That is how I have chosen to live my life over these past five years. Have I perfected it?  Not at all. It can sometimes be a challenge. I am only human after all. I do sometimes find myself being critical of others and their efforts. But I am working at not being so. And I am training myself to keep those thoughts to myself and not verbalize them out loud. Hopefully with time I won't even have those critical thoughts. That is my goal as I work towards becoming more like the Savior. It is easy to look at the efforts of others and to find fault, but who am I to judge?  I have not walked in another's shoes, and it behooves me to be less judgmental and more loving in all of my interactions with my fellow beings, who are, each of them, doing the best that they know how to do at any given time. And for those who are not, well . . . that is on their heads. I do not need to put it on mine.

 

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I am not sure what I am going to get up to today . . .  I have my usual writing to do for tomorrow, and I usually like to do my Monday recipe on Saturday.  I also like to get my house in order before Sunday. Our clocks move forward an hour tonight.  I am not a huge fan of the clocks changing. I was reading about a man earlier today that does not change his clocks. Not ever. It is what works for him. Interesting.  Is it possible to live without time? To just operate your life on "as and when." I wonder how that would work . . . I am already stressing a bit about getting up in time to get ready properly for church tomorrow morning. That is my adhd in action. In fact that was my first thought as I was going from my bedroom into my bathroom this morning . . .  that tomorrow it would be an hour later, and would I be able to manage all of my doings done in time and be ready for church appropriately.

I really do wish that they would leave the clocks alone.  And, I know I am not alone in thinking that way. Many of us struggle with this. I find the Spring time change a lot harder to deal with than the Autumn one.

And with that I guess I best leave you with a thought for the day as I have miles to go before I sleep.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

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

 *.˛.Friends - They are kind to

each other's hopes.

They cherish each other's dreams.

~Thoreau° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

In The English Kitchen today   . . .  Belgian Buns.  Sweet yeasted rolls filled with lemon curd and sultana raisins.  Delicious. 

I hope that you have a lovely weekend. Stay safe and stay warm. Be blessed and embrace the nice. Whatever you get up to, don't forget!

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And I do too!