I never had any other desire so strong, and so like to covetouseness, as that one which I have had always, that I might be master at last of a small house and a large garden.
- Abraham Cowley, "The Garden" (1666)

Saturday 10 December 2011

Wildflower Tea
He brewed his tea in a blue china pot,
Poured it into a chipped white cup with
forget-me-nots on the handle,
and dropped in a dollop of honey and cream.
He sat by the window, cup in hand,
watching the first snowfall.
"I am," he sighed deeply,
"contented as a clam.
I am a most happy man."
- Ethel Pochocki

Visit with Santa 1948

With a far away look and the magic of Christmas this picture of my brother is a snapshot of a simpler time. Sixty years ago there was less of everything. Less "stuff", less rushing, less technology, less money (or maybe less debt), less television, less traffic, less expectations. There was more of some things too. More time for family, more sitting around a table and talking to each other, more live music in the home, more home cooked meals, more time to be bored , more time to use your imagination to entertain yourself, more crafting, more making do, more walking where you had to go. Just a thought or two about days gone by - and maybe an inspiration to slow down, and take a breath and just be.

Thursday 10 November 2011

A visit to the Doctor isn't so bad when I can pop into a nice coffee shop/bookstore that is in the same neighbourhood. A great cup of steaming dark roast coffee and time to peruse the secondhand books in this funky little shop is a treat. I found these two little books by C.S. Lewis: one is called Prayer and the other, Miracles.
Cleaning up the garden bed I accidentally broke a branch of Rosemary. The oils it contains must have been at their peak at this time of year because they came off on my hands and had such a rich scent - very sweet. I believe Rosemary is supposed to be an uplifting scent and seems to clear your head. Alongside is a beautiful mug I picked up at the second hand store for just 2 dollars! A nice cup of herbal tea and the smell of Rosemary make a nice little break.

Monday 7 November 2011

Here goes nuthin`!

Here goes Nuthin' !
Jumping off into blogland! I am finally joining in on a creative exercise that I have been putting off for a while now. I have been following several blogs for many months now and have been so inspired by the creativity and soulfulness of the people who have decided to share a bit of themselves with the rest of us!
Ozzy and Henry are the two cats in the yard that are a big part of life around here, and are pictured here in front of their cat house, in our garden. Here you would think they knew that they were posing for a portrait.This is post number one and once I get all this figured out I will add more!