the servant of life

"To the average man, life presents itself, not as material malleable to his hand, but as a series of problems of extreme difficulty, which he has to solve with the means at his disposal. 

Perhaps the first thing that he can learn from the artist is that the only way of "mastering" one's material is to abandon the whole conception of mastery and to co-operate with it in love: whosoever will be a lord of life, let him be its servant. If he tries to wrest life out of its true nature, it will revenge itself in judgment, as the work revenges itself upon the domineering artist."

                                      - Dorothy L. Sayers, The Mind of the Maker

teapot shadows

The copper tea kettle is in the front window.

The shadows are on the side wall.

a good choice

 Daisy likes my brother's new blanket.

a little neighbor

 I went outside today to survey the kingdom and sprinkle some super phosphate on the bushes. This is an old practice I first learned from Martha Stewart. It's a chemical fertilizer, and I put it on twice a year. Anyway, I found a few red berries on the very small holly bush!

Very few - maybe four or five. But it's doing well!  A chickadee was deedeedeeing at me, unafraid. So I asked him to stick around while I took his picture.

Caught him looking at me there. They're so cute.

the end of the year

The liturgical year, that is. Next Sunday begins Advent; today we celebrate Christ the King. In the course of the year, the church goes through the natural life of Jesus, beginning three or four weeks before Christmas, that is, before he is born, because life begins at conception. And, since he is King, this feast, the culmination of the year, celebrates that. 

 Prayers on the feast of Christ the King -

That the Church will always be a place where the truth, mercy, love, and wisdom of Christ the King shines forth.

That world leaders will see their power as a sharing in the authority of God, and reflect it in the way they govern.

That the culture of life proclaimed by Christ the King will reign in every human heart.

from Meltham parish, England

Upon those who labor under the illusion of power and who cause others to suffer:

                                 - Thy kingdom come!

Upon those who are blind of eye or heart:
                                - Thy kingdom come!

Upon those who are deaf of ear or of understanding:
                                 - Thy kingdom come!

*all prayers from Magnificat, November 2023

the two rascals

 I bought an extra bag of dry cat food; I put it in the basement. 

Not long after, I was down there doing laundry or whatever, and there the two of them were, with a tear in the bag - they were snacking! I brought it upstairs, put the torn bag into a larger plastic bag, tied it up and put it on the fridge. 

Well, Daisy found it up there and was trying to get into that bag. So, I had to pour it into a few small - bite proof - containers.

They've never done this before - must be very tasty stuff.

a good Thanksgiving

 

O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.

                                      - from  Psalm 136

preparations

 Well, tomorrow's Thanksgiving, and I've made cookies, the sweet potato pie and the broccoli gratin. The pear sauce (pears were on sale when I was looking for apples, so I made pear sauce instead!) is defrosted. My brother ordered a berry pie from a customer who was selling some frozen ones, so I just baked that. I think that's enough for today. 

There were a lot of dishes to wash. I used homemade bone broth for the gratin sauce and forgot it wasn't seasoned - after it was put together it occurred to me, so I sprinkled some salt over it and will hope for the best. :)

It looked pretty good after assembling.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

all is not lost

 What I forgot to mention the other day, was that somebody was selling the Christmas issue of (British) Country Living on ebay. The price was pretty good. It came today.

sharing

 From Magnificat -

For those who are blessed with a cheerful heart:
- may they bring joy to others always.

For those who are blessed with a gift for beauty:
- may they lift the spirits of others to God.

For those who are blessed with a gift for prayer:
- may their intercession uphold many.

For those who are blessed with a gift for kindness:
- may they console the sad and lonely.

"For to everyone who has, more will be given", from Matthew 25

magazine solutions

 I made out very well at the thrift stores on Thursday. An off white flat sheet, brown velvet scarf, wood desk organizer, a little mason jar - I never pass those up - an oval mirror with an eagle on the top, rather Federal-looking, and sturdy basket.

This is a figure eight shape, if I can call it that. It looks the same on the back as here on this side. I have three years worth of Country Living (British edition), and some Organic Gardening, Mother Earth Living and Country Gardens which were withdrawn from the library. I thought if I took out the issues pertinent to the season, I'd make better use of them; no sense keeping things unless you can benefit from them. So I put them out, along with a few Tasha Tudor books in a bag on my floor. It didn't look very well. I decided a tall basket was what I needed, but at Goodwill this one caught my eye. Could it be more perfect? The magazines curve into the sides and the books fit in the middle! It looks so orderly and... intentional. I'm working on organizing my desk area now.

About the Country Living - I had a subscription through the publisher, Hearst. Several months ago I noticed that I'd missed a couple of issues; this wasn't always easy to be sure of, since it was coming across the ocean and was often late anyway. I didn't want to claim a missed issue and then receive two because the original was just later than usual. Anyway, I finally thought to look at my account online and discovered it had been cancelled! I emailed, and they told me CL wasn't shipping overseas anymore. This was painful for me, since I love it so much. (an uncharacteristic lack of communication) Anyway, I immediately checked Amazon and they were still offering it! So, I quickly subscribed there. But after a few months they also ended it. 

I can't say I blame them. Since COVID, mail delivery isn't what it was. (Have you noticed that?) They were probably losing money over lost issues which needed replacing. So, I'm going to reuse my old ones until I've exhausted their usefulness. And I actually can see the current issues of it online, with Libby, which is free through the library. 

taking time

 We are having two days with temps in the sixties - how wonderful. I emptied out a bag of compost into one of the raised bed squares. 

It looks pretty full, but beneath it is dry leaves and some branches, sort of a hugel mound; I know it will settle and go down. Lentamente.

I've got the last Anne Perry Christmas mystery - I look forward to them every November, and like most of them. This is it, since she died this year. The main character is a woman in her eighties and I keep thinking that Ms. Perry was perhaps describing herself on these pages? 

After deciding not to use interfacing in my dress (mainly because I didn't have any), I found some in a small drawer where I didn't expect to see it. So, after the facings were sewn together, I cut out a piece and ironed it on. I think it will help stabilize things when I have to slash the back opening.

before I ironed it on

I get an infrequent newsletter from a Benedictine monastery (not the one I've mentioned here before), which I enjoy reading. In this issue is a story - a legend - that coffee was first used as a stimulant in Ethiopia in the 9th century. A goatherder noticed his flock getting excited after chewing on some red berries. He mentioned it to a monk who was have problems staying awake during prayer times, and that's how coffee drinking took off. The author of this newsletter says monks still depend on it when they have to get up for Vigils, which are prayers said around 3-ish. They don't go back to bed after that.

The other day there were leaves of gold all over the street in front of our neighbor's house, near the corner.

"Last night's heavy frost loosened the golden leaves and this morning, when the school bus came, they were falling like confetti. Still it was noon before you could notice any diminishment of leaf on the young maple by the driveway. By that time the sharp-pointed leaves covered the ground under the tree, like ruffled gold feathers covering a bird's body."

-  Rachel Peden

remembering

 Grace Hamman has a monthly newsletter on substack called Medievalish, sent out every 12th. The November one included a beautiful poem/prayer by Christina Rossetti. I tried to find it online because I wanted to know the title, but couldn't find it. It's from a book of hers called The Face of the Deep. I have to post it here, I like it so much.

O Lord Jesus, who knowest them that are thine,
when thou rewardest thy servants the prophets, remember we beseech thee,
for good those who have taught us, 
counseled us,
guided us,
and in that day show them mercy.

When thou rewardest the saints remember, we beseech thee,
for good those who have surrounded us with holy influences,
borne with us,
forgiven us,
sacrificed themselves for us,
loved us,
and in that day show them mercy.

Nor forget any,

nor forget us,

But in that day show us mercy, O Lord,
thou Lover of Souls.

Amen.

The King of Love

 We sang this today at Mass. We have never sung it before, but I was very familiar with the melody - not sure how. 

The King of Love My Shepherd is

The King of love my shepherd is,
Whose goodness fails me never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
And he is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
With gentle care he leads me,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With heav'nly food he feeds me.

We sang only two verses. Where have I heard this melody? It's a puzzle.

And so through all the length of days
Your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise
Within your house forever.

days go by

 I don't know where the days go. My brother had a birthday, and I've been in the kitchen a lot; I made a gingerbread cake for the celebration, and found a nice recipe for a vegetable pot pie, with butternut squash, carrot, peas, spinach - I used a turnip instead of a parsnip, because I had it - onion, celery. Very delicious! I gave him a throw/blanket.

I don't think the cats can ruin it very easily and it's quite washable. 

The Lord is our shepherd; nothing shall we want. 

fall evening outside

When you're comfortable in the house, and you have to step out briefly and you get chilly - it makes you shrink from going out again. But all you need is the proper attire and it becomes a pleasure to go out. 

It was cool today, but still nice out. I hadn't done anything in the fresh air and it would be dark in an hour. I was going to start on the dinner at four, but I put on my wellies and down vest and went outside to prune the rugosa. 

I have to do this late pruning, because the rose bushes are right near the driveway and I know when it snows, the canes will bend over too far, so I have to cut them. Meanwhile, the sun was getting low and things in the back yard were starting to turn coppery.

Then, my brother helped me with the last slats of the not-so-good raised bed and it was so bracing to be out. The sun was going down across the street.

And then I went in and made the soup.

"The yard is full of yellow maple leaves, turning a reluctant brown but not yet disintegrating. They have cooled all night, soaking up rain or dew, and in the early morning warmth they dry out, rustle again, and give off a pleasant fragrance."

                                                               -   Rachel Peden

to be still and quiet

 Most merciful Father, 

help us to still and quiet ourselves,

confident in your unfailing mercy.

juggling

 I am always thinking about the balance between what you need to get done, what you are able to get done, and the stuff in between that you try to fit in. 

"It is probably one of the compensations for living in an age so dedicated to science that one feels guilty for wanting to study history or French horn or pinking shears. On the other hand, with too much of science and not enough of these other things, our civilization could become like a broken zipper. The zipper key will move forward, neatly zipping up the jacket, but the line comes apart right behind it, so that when you get the key all the way up to the collar, the jacket is still wide open."

                                                                        - Rachel Peden 

it's November now

 It actually snowed yesterday! Around lunchtime - we were at work, it was overcast, with rain predicted. Then it turned to snow for about an hour. Later, the sun came out, which wasn't expected any more than the snow was. 

Like somebody flipped a switch when November arrived. 

This morning the ground was very frosty.

And very pretty.

what next?

 Okay. While getting ready for work, I heard my brother, Come 'ere, come here, hurry!
I thought it must be a bear in the backyard or something. I came out of my room.

He was in the bathroom, and there was Daisy, sitting on the toilet tank, the Kleenex box on her head. Vertically. I mean her head was in the box. She sat quietly so I ran to get the camera. Took a (lousy) photo and removed the box from her head. 

She didn't cry, or struggle. I suppose if we'd been at work, she would have figured it out herself.*

Oh, you should have been there.

*now I'm starting to wonder what really goes on all day with those two