All Things Nice . . .

 

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O western wind blow softly here

Bring me the scent of sage and brier,

Wild mint round a brimming slough,

And blue smoke from a prairie fire,

Drifting like pale ghosts in the sky,

Where clouds of tufted wool go by.

O western wind -- blow gently here,

Bring to my heart the thrilling sight,

Of April skies serene and blue --

Wild Mallards in their northern flight,

Cleaving the sky in a long V

Calling to something deep in me.

O western wind -- I hear you blow,

Above the rooftops of the East,

Inviting me to come once more,

To share in some great pagan feast

Where wind and sun and everything,

Drink to the coming of the Spring.

O western wind -- that calls us home,

We -- who are prairie born and bred,

With music from a magic flute,

By some enchanted piper lead,

Down prairie trails to the world's rim

Where hearts beat high to follow him.

~Edna Jacques, O Western Wind

The Hills of Home, 1952

I kind of liked this poem this morning. It made me think of the wind and where it has been. All the people and towns and countryside it has caressed on its way to where I am.  The heads of hair it has tussled, the flowers and grain that have bent beneath its deep caress, the waves that it has dashed against the shore . . . the leaves it danced along the streets . . . all these things and more are born upon it's breathless wings, and as it passes it grabs a bit of me and takes me with it on that journey to who knows where it blows . . . the essence and memory of all that it touched along the way clinging to its soul.

 

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Dad is home from the hospital now. I stopped by yesterday afternoon to drop something off and he was quite happy in his room, going through his mail, brushing his cat, Princess. Princess was very happy to have him back. She was laying on his bed basking in all of his attention. I did my heart good to see him back home and happily where he belongs. It was a long week and a half!

 

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I think I will unpack the car today and my suitcase that I had ready to go.  I do not think the fires will get much worse but never say never. They have not been updating us as frequently as they were. I think it is still out of control, but I don't know much more than that.  An air advisory is still in effect in my area. Rain is expected with light showers tonight and light rain tomorrow. It is more than welcome. Bring it on and then some!

 

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As summer gardens reach their peak, thoughts turn to preserving flowers. When I worked at the Manor my boss would have the gardeners cut and start to dry huge armfuls of the hydrangea blooms that bordered the mansion along the South side. These would be used in the weeks ahead to create dried arrangements to sit in the bit hall downstairs and on the sideboard in the dining room. Old sheets would be laid out on the floor around the big table for her to discard the last years bloom on and any bits she didn't want to use. This was a lot easier for the housekeeper to clean up.

 

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The countryside grows golden now as the late summer's light ripens the grains and swells the fruit and vegetables ready for harvesting. Dahlias are at their best and people start to fill their porches with baskets of mums. The sun shines it's golden rays over fields of ripening wheat and barley and orchard fruits mature on the trees. A seasonal shift is in the air.  The wheel of the year turns and we become all too aware of summer's fleeting nature as the nights ever so slightly begin to lengthen and nature begins to sigh and slow down  . . . 

The earth keeps turning and the first flickers of autumn can be spotted. It has been really early this year due to the dry, dry conditions, but with these early weeks of September it is unmistakable, from the changing light in the evenings and the gradual golden transformation of the countryside to the first yellow leaves, fading flowers and drying seed pods. A whisper of the season to come.

The bed of our beautiful river is very low now.  Fish lay in small pools and rocks I have never noticed before are all too evident in places. It makes me sigh to see it so low and I hope and pray that we soon get all of the rain and snow that is needed to bring it back again.

Hunting season has been cancelled. I read this yesterday. Good news for the deer.

I got myself some window candles.  Every year I say I am going to and every year I procrastinate and when I go to get them, they are all gone. I am on the ball this year.  I always think it looks so welcoming to see candles burning in windows, be they real or operated by battery or electricity.  I love the look. It speaks of cozy and home sweet home to me. 

These are battery operated. They came with a remote and a timer. You can turn them on and off with the push of a button and you can also time them to stay on for a certain length of time upon which they will turn themselves off. Very handy.

 

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The battle with the Fugus gnats continues. They are really doing my head in. I went to Home Hardware yesterday to check and see what they had.  I saw my cousin Sheri and my sister there.  It was really nice to now be living in a place where I can run into family happenchance like that!  Good times.

Home Hardware did not really have anything, but they have ordered me a lamp to plug in that will hopefully help.  I also ordered a new litter box for the cats that should be here by next Wednesday. You roll it over and it strains the litter into a little box that you can pull out and dump.  I fear that the litter box may be the culprit.  That and the kitchen sink drain possibly as that is where I am catching the most gnats in the traps I have made. A few in the trap I put in the bathroom and a few on the artificial fire in the living room. I have tried to place the traps all over the house so that I can catch them everywhere.

Today I am going to go out and buy a big box of baking soda and bottle of white vinegar.  I am out of those things and need more.

This has been a real nuisance to be honest, but I will persevere!

And with that I best leave you with a thought for the day.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
*Neglect not the gift that 

is within thee.

~1 Timothy 4:14

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Brown Sugar Quick Bread.  This is a simple quick bread that is really easy to make and tastes delicious.  Not too sweet, but a slight caramel flavor. You just know I had to butter mine.  It was lovely with a cup of herbal tea. 

I do hope you have a lovely weekend. Whatever you get up to I hope that it brings you joy!  Don't forget!

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And I do too!