with us intertwined, please

 We had two or three summery days last week. I had the week off; my co-workers have often told me that I pick the best weeks to be on vacation, and it seems to be true. I had no way of knowing ahead of time of course, but it was a treat. Still, by Saturday evening, I was ready for some cool breezes. After dark they came, and I sat on the back step, watching leaves fly over my head - from the roof, apparently. I tried so hard to photograph the flying leaves, but have no idea how to do it, or even if I can. Now, it's thirty degrees cooler and we have to get used to it. 

I went to Pinterest to get inspiration for dinner, and saw a recipe for colcannon that I'd saved. Well, I had a cabbage, cheddar and potatoes. But it was getting late, and I didn't have time to examine the instructions, so I just cooked the cabbage with an onion, added savory, salt and pepper, then shredded  a few potatoes in the food processor, sprinkled cheese all around and put it in the oven. It was pretty tasty, but I know I didn't do the potatoes right, and I used red cabbage - very unsightly! We had kielbasa with it. I'll have to try it again, properly next time.

Every day I break up more cardboard and lay it around in my beds outside. We've had more rain and there's standing water out there now - these beds I bought aren't exactly thick wood - I hope they survive their first fall and winter, before succumbing to rot! 

I've been hemming and hawing over my dress: to line or not to line, to face or not to face. I guess I should use a facing, like the pattern suggests. I don't like iron-on interfacing, though. And am not even sure if I have any. I'm old enough to remember how it was before it existed, and they were all sewn-in, woven interfacings. I may do that. But I need to stop the dilly-dallying.

God, be in our thinking, always as a guide;
God, be in our yearning, high and deep and wide;
God be in our caring, with us intertwined,
As we grow to love you, heart and soul and mind.

Carl Larsson - his home and studio

love, the only force

 "Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."

                                                       -  Martin Luther King, Jr.

*this was in Plough magazine, Autumn 2023

fall colors

 A few nights ago it got down into the thirties. Now, we're having summer again, with four days in a row of the seventies and up to eighty. I'm trying to finish washing the windows while it's nice. 

I can't ignore the beautiful scenes out the window, with everything golden, and leaves gently falling in the sunlight. I notice every change of light, every different window angle - I am always enraptured at the beauty. The reds and oranges are past now; the yellows have taken over.

This is next door - can you believe it? And there's a golden maple in our yard, too.

Fantastic. I had my window open last night and will again - next week will be drastically different, with daytime temps in the fifties and then the forties! Well, it'll be November.

We have a book at the library similar to this one, with Carl Larsson's paintings in it; it's called A Farm. But there are two more, which I obtained through inter-library loan, A Family, and A Home. They are all delightful, as you can imagine. His work makes country life and family life fascinating and very appealing. I'm also going through some older Country Living magazines, tearing out what is saveable. This caught my eye today

In cities, no one is quiet but many are lonely.
In the country, people are quiet
but few are lonely.

- Geoffrey F. Fisher

I don't think Carl Larsson's home was too quiet, with so many children, but it looks just right. 

Meanwhile, I plod along with my sewing; I've cut some of it out, and was looking through my thread to find a match. I hesitated over the facings - I don't like them and would rather make a bodice lining, but I haven't done that with sleeves. It may be nothing, but I told myself not to be so stubborn and just do the facings. 

I was very surprised while cutting that Daisy didn't rush over when she heard the pattern papers rustling. Well, I have to thank God for these small mercies. Meanwhile, I caught her in a comical position today.

two somebodies

 I went outside to put more cardboard in a raised bed, and somebody was at the door when I came back.

Well, two somebodies.

who's out of place?

 I was planning to toss the morning glory pots, and then there was this.

Is the leaf trying to get a point across? The weather is supposed to turn warm for a few days....

those who love and those who labor

 Jesus says to those who seek him,
I will never pass you by;
Raise the stone and you will find me;
Cleave the wood, and there am I.

Where the many work together,
They with Christ himself abide,
But the lonely workers also
Find him ever at their side.

- Geoffrey Dearmer

"manifold and changing business"

 Another weekend with rain; it's a sure thing, every weekend there seems to be a tropical storm in the Atlantic that passes by (not too close, though!) and we get wet. 

I noticed over the whole summer that our rabbit friend comes out in light rain or afterward, when the grass is cool and wet. And today, I saw one near the hedge out my window this morning, and again in late afternoon, just sitting there quietly. They like it. Or, I should say that this one likes it.

It was raining here. 

A moment later, and he was gone. Which was just as well, for one of Dianne's cats came by, sniffing around. He may be getting too old to chase rabbits, and just wants to snoop around; I hope. I like seeing these little neighbors. 

I suppose the local cats are also our neighbors, but in a different way - they have a home. 

There is a very interesting quote today on the Trappist monks' blog, something from Robert Louis Stevenson. But even though I've linked it, I want to put it here:

"the Trappist world appeals to me as a model of wisdom...so infinitesimally is the day divided among different occupations. The man who keeps rabbits, for example, hurries from his hutches to the chapel, or the chapter-room, or the refectory, all day long: every hour he has an office to sing, a duty to perform; from two, when he rises in the dark, till eight, when he returns to receive the comforting gift of sleep, he is upon his feet and occupied with manifold and changing business. I know many persons, worth several thousands in the year, who are not so fortunate in the disposal of their lives...We speak of hardships, but the true hardship is to be a dull fool, and permitted to mismanage life in our own dull and foolish manner."

My apologies to the monks for stealing their blogpost on the day they posted it. 

Meanwhile, I am trying to get away from regular wheat flour, and am re-doing some favorite recipes with gluten-free mix, einkorn flour, spelt, buckwheat, rye, or mixtures of these. It's interesting and unpredictable. 

beautiful, dramatic October

 I think it's peak foliage days around here. It was sunny, and then overcast, back and forth all day. I finally got outside in late afternoon to put my other raised bed together; everything was so brilliant.

I loved the first raised bed - it was well made, with perfectly cut sections. I put it together and went back to Amazon to order another - no longer available. I found another one which looked exactly the same, but with different wood. It came with poorly-cut pieces that were splintering. My brother showed me that it could be used, because I was getting ready to return it. So, I managed and it's almost together now, but not as nice as the first. But I was glad of the fresh air; too often I get mired in the household affairs, which are never done anyway.

Often just when I'm getting in bed, one of the cats will be there and then the other one comes - then they must wrestle. On my bed. Fortunately, after a minute, one takes off and the other flies after. They wrestle at mealtimes, rather than wait patiently - I suppose they figure why not do something while we wait?

"Beautiful, dramatic October! I wish it could last for a year."

-  Gladys Taber

getting brighter

 

It's that ol' sugar maple.

moving along

 Well, I couldn't finish the H.G. Wells story, but I couldn't put down Out of the Silent Planet. What a contrast in the way the two authors approached their stories! When I first heard that C.S. Lewis wrote a "Planet Trilogy", I couldn't imagine - I never thought I'd actually like it. It was fantastic. Both are telling almost the same tale, but it's all in where the authors are coming from. One, a socialist, the other, a Christian. One, negative, the other, positive. So of course I'll read the other two sequels, but not right away. 

I also picked up a biography of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., written last year. I've never been a fan of the Kennedy's, but he is running for president. 

"It struck me... that every nation, like every individual, has a dark side and a lighter side. I became fascinated by populism, a democratic impulse that was often perverted by demagogues. The easiest thing for a politician to do is appeal to our greed, bigotry, racism, xenophobia and crude self-interest. My father had endeavored to do something different - to appeal to the hero in each of us - to persuade us to transcend narrow self-interest and act on behalf of the community."

We've had two more morning glory blooms since the first one; it's a hardier plant than I thought it would be. 

The last time I was at Goodwill I found a task lamp there. It's taller than the usual and has got a heavy base; it's dark brown, with a plastic, rather than glass, shade. I like task lamps - they can be great in the right places. I was thinking of the spare room, but ended up finding a space for it on the kitchen counter. It was very helpful when I made the pie the other day! We have three lights in the kitchen but to have something right there, where the work happens is very welcome. But I can't seem to get a nice photo of it.

Empire apples, at last

 I found some Empires! 

And there's a cranberry apple pie in the oven. 

All Creatures of Our God and King

 All creatures of our God and King,
Life up your voice and with us sing
Alleluia, alleluia!

Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam,
O praise Him, O praise Him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
Ye clouds that sail in heav'n along,
O praise Him, alleluia!

Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice,
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part
O sing ye, Alleluia!

Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care,
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him alleluia!

Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One,
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

- words by St. Francis of Assisi

the October poem

 They just played the October poem on the radio -  if you missed my post about it last year,

 HERE IT IS.

And here's why I posted it.

three surprises, and a decision to make

 I went outside first thing to put more cardboard in the garden area, and there were so many diamonds in the lawn! 

Can you see them? At the top, but not very clear, I'm afraid. But when I came back I noticed something else!

I planted these morning glory seeds very late - probably in July, but I was determined to do it anyway. I told myself to not expect a bloom. But, here we are! These little plants didn't seem to suffer from the cold we had last week, so we'll see how long they can hold out.

After posting the fabric and pattern yesterday, I started to think that I could make a whole cloth quilt top from that check. It's more than long enough; I'd have to widen it with something but it would look nice, colorwise. So that's where I've been much of the day, trying to decide between making the dress or a quilt. I really need a new quilt, since the cats have torn up the old one. Basically, I don't feel like making a quilt, and I really would like to make a dress for myself. I never finished that blouse last spring, and the summer v-neck dress was turning out so different from the way it was portrayed on the package. Those sketches always look more flowy than the reality, but this one had a photo - and the photo didn't show how full it is. I abandoned it. I would like to make something to completion. 

I am now reading Out of the Silent Planet, by C.S. Lewis, with the podcast group. I ended up abandoning the H.G. Wells, as I wasn't finding time to finish, and didn't like the intensity of it. I've since learned that the story by Lewis was intended to be a sort of re-telling of the Wells novel. Of course, I like this one much better; his tone is quieter and he is coming from a different place, mentally and spiritually, which is going to be evident in all his work.

the sugar maple today

 I watch the sugar maple for its daily changes because it can get so brilliant in October. But capturing it is so hard - I'm sure I don't understand my camera well enough. 

And I often take the photos from a window, as I'll notice something while busy in the house.

the sewing mojo

 "The day of the home dressmaker seems to have gone in most places. This is a pity for the town dressmaker was a grand institution. When ours came, it was a gala day. The sound of the sewing machine humming all day and the laughter from the sewing room as Mama and Alma chattered away was a pleasant thing. The smell of chicken simmering on the gas range was fine, and I was usually in a dither over whether my dark-blue corduroy trimmed with fur would get done for the Saturday night football dance.

Alma never used a pattern. She would riffle the pages of a fashion book and say I think I'll make the neck like this - and the skirt like this - and how about raglan sleeves? 

Then her long slim shining scissors went snip, snip - and the material divided like the Red Sea when the Israelites crossed."

                              
                                                         -  Gladys Taber,  Stillmeadow Daybook

  

at the Name

 Speaking of singing, we sang At the Name of Jesus in church yesterday:

At the Name of Jesus

At the name of Jesus ev'ry knee shall bow,

ev'ry tongue confess him King of glory now;

'tis the Father's pleasure we should call him Lord,

who from the beginning was the mighty Word.

At his voice creation sprang at once to sight,

all the angel faces, all the hosts of light,

cherubim in heaven, stars upon their way,

all the heav'nly orders in their great array.

Humbled for a season to receive a name

from the lips of sinners unto whom he came,

faithfully he bore it, spotless to the last,

brought it back victorious when from death he passed;

Bore it up triumphant with its human light,

thro' all ranks of creatures to the central height,

to the throne of Godhead, to the Father's breast,

filled it with the glory of that perfect rest.

In your hearts enthrone him; there let him subdue

all that is not holy, all that is not true;

crown him as your captain in temptation's hour;

let his will enfold you in its light and pow'r.

Christians, this Lord Jesus shall return again

in his Father's glory with his angel train;

for all wreaths of empire meet upon his brow,

and our hearts confess him King of glory now.

- music by Ralph Vaughn Williams

The order of verses is a bit different in the link, and there's another verse there, but I liked this version best. There are lots on youtube!