a new roof's on the way

September afternoon

"It was a lovely afternoon -  such an afternoon as only September can produce when summer has stolen back for one more day of dream and glamour. Harvest fields drenched in sunshine lay all around them: the austere charm of northern firs made wonderful the ways over which they walked: goldenrod beribboned the fences and the sacrificial fires of willow-herb were kindled on all the burnt lands along the sequestered roads back among the hills."

                                             -  L.M. Montgomery,  Emily Climbs

a good prayer

"May we walk profitably in this day's light, in the strength of the most high God, in the good pleasure of Christ, in the light of the Holy Spirit, in the peace of the Apostles, in the brightness of the saints, in the endurance of the martyrs, and in the purity of the virgins."

                                                            -   from Magnificat,  September 2013

Anna's tea loaf

Today I finally made Anna's tea loaf. Loads of fruit, but no shortening of any kind. It calls for a small amount of orange marmalade, which I used, but you could just as easily use honey, I'm sure.

Very good!

very bulky hand warmers

Since finally getting comfortable with dpn knitting recently, I am happily supplying myself with hand-warmers. These are the Simple Wristlets, made with super bulky yarn - so fast! 

This is the recommended yarn, which is Malabrigo Gruesa, a terrific thick-and-thin wool which gives such an interesting look to these mitts - I don't even like them in plain old yarn. Gruesa has been discontinued but I managed to find some online. I bought two neutrals: a natural color and a charcoal. (but yesterday I ordered some more in lettuce green and a cool light blue!) Anyway, needless to say I love the stuff. I'm also finding that for double pointed knitting, I actually like wooden needles - my work seems secure on them, not likely to slip off too-slippery needles. For regular knitting, I've always preferred the old-fashioned aluminum or plastic I learned on (now I'm showing my age, I guess).

My book is Outcasts United, about a mostly-African refugee community in Georgia. It's about people from nations at war trying to make their way in a strange place. Also, a young Jordanian Smith College graduate who's good at soccer - she ends up in this town and coaches the young men from these families, giving them some focus and teaching them about teamwork. I like it so far.

Thanks to Ginny.

wild asters in front of a clean window

Almost all the windows are done -

ah, it's the Little Things.

prayers for all in authority

"I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity."

                                                -  St. Paul   1 Timothy 2:1-2

clouds go by

I was very busy today, but still had time for some picturesque cloud-watching.

herbs dried and stored

The herbs got dried this morning in the microwave - the whole place was fragrant, and it took no time at all. 

I really wanted to use the oven method since that seems more natural, somehow. The instructions said two to four hours on a low temp, less than 180 F with the door cracked open. After twenty minutes Tuesday night I had a coughing spell and decided to give up the idea. I didn't want bronchitis from breathing in that wonderful but strong aroma for two hours. That was the dill weed; so I just left it on the trays in the oven till my next day off, which was today.

After a day and a half sitting in there it was all dry, so I just put it in this jar!

The microwave instructions said between two sheets of paper toweling, for one to three minutes. I did several batches of the basil that way, eventually settling on a one minute, ten second time for each batch. There was some dampness remaining, so I just left the stuff on a tray on a shelf; when I came back to it, it was dry. That is also in jars now.

The basil seems far less aromatic now that it's dry, and I'm sorry I didn't use this method from Organic Gardening magazine. It advocates freezing fresh herbs in olive oil or butter for the utmost flavor preservation - you can simply break off pieces of it as required! If I get my hands on any more basil I'm going to try it  Still, I'm beginning to feel like a squirrel who's storing nuts for the winter.

drying the herbs

They're talking about a bit of frost in the morning for the next couple of days. I thought I'd better pick the herbs.

Some Italian parsley went into the freezer. I'm going to attempt to dry the dill and basil in the microwave. Wish me luck.

carrot tops

I so wanted to cook those lovely slim carrots with their tops, but alas! no skillet of mine could accomodate them.

green eyelet dress

Trying to finish it before it's too cold to go sleeveless.

pretty Japanese maple leaves

say your prayers

"Courage is fear that has said her prayers."

                     -   from Simple Abundance  by Sarah Ban Breathnach

still be my vision

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys' O bright heaven's sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

thrifted compote glasses

In the parking lot at the library there's a drop-off bin for clothing and shoes. After closing today, we noticed that someone had left a box of breakables next to the bin, and lo and behold! Some of us found treasure therein - things which would have unfortunately been thrown out, because the bin is only for clothes.

Five compote glasses which match some favorite stemware we've had for many years - this is a real treat! Who doesn't like their ice cream in a footed bowl?

Oh, I'll take good care of these.

apple tree lean down

This evening, with our apple tree outside still leaning heavily with its apples, I suddenly thought of Ralph Vaughan Williams' beautiful Linden Lea.  Do you know it?

Within the woodlands, flowery gladed, 
By the oak tree's mossy moot, 
The shining grass-blades, timber-shaded, 
Now do quiver under foot; 
And birds do whistle overhead, 
And water's bubbling in its bed, 
And there for me the apple tree 
Do lean down low in Linden Lea. 

When leaves that lately were a-springing 
Now do fade within the copse, 
And painted birds do hush their singing 
Up upon the timber tops; 
And brown-leaved fruit's a-turning red, 
In cloudless sunshine, overhead, 
With fruit for me, the apple tree 
Do lean down low in Linden Lea. 

Let other folk make money faster 
In the air of dark-roomed towns, 
I don't dread a peevish master; 
Though no man do heed my frowns, 
I be free to go abroad, 
Or take again my homeward road 
To where, for me, the apple tree 
Do lean down low in Linden Lea.

our own apples

Such excitement! Many years ago my brother planted an apple tree on the narrow strip of land across the brook. I'm not sure why he chose that spot; it didn't get much sun and produced very few, gnarly things not fit to eat.

Monday while mowing the lawn he noticed a tree laden with apples! It was rainy that day, so he asked me to pick them after work this afternoon. I filled a basket, tbut then mosquitoes drove me indoors.

I guess the tree is tall enough to get sufficient sun now, and since the storms of two years ago there's less out there than there used to be. I can finish picking on Thursday. They are far from smooth-skinned and perfect, but I suppose most are all right. Some applesauce or apple butter is what I'm thinkin'.

Too, too exciting!

Dolly has a holiday

On the table this evening, listening to St. Louis Gal sung by Cecile McLorin Salvant.

 (if Dolly is a St. Louis gal, it's news to us)

bowl of ugly tomatoes

back to the park with Emily

The same place we'd been to about a year ago - a place full of bright flowers, long views, cool shade, picturesque sculptures and all kinds of birds. Spaces perfect for weddings and other kinds of get-togethers.

Lots of walking on a warm and humid day. Good exercise, and then root beer floats at the end.

misty morning

much better

I guess I got the hang of it.

knitting agony

After all these years of knitting, I am finally making myself do something with double pointed needles. Hand warmers.

What a misery.

But I'm getting used to it.

does this remind you of a fairy tale?

except there isn't any pea under there,

just a few magazines.

(illustration by Edmund Dulac)

the shed gets a re-paint

amazing how quick they fade.

respectable laziness

"Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability."

                       - from an old issue of Country Living

an unexpected pleasure

Emily dropped by today, bringing a group of sunny faces with her.

A very welcome visit.

first crop

Well, I wandered out to the garden last evening and there was my first crop of the season! A pleasant surprise for this haphazard gardener.

sturdy, thrifted apron

Anna's actually the one who thrifted it - I bought it from her. It's nice and strong, homemade from a heavy ticking. I got the idea at the time that she didn't think anyone would like it. The name on the pocket captivated me. So, thank you, Anna!

and thank you, Rivka.

for He is like a refiner's fire

"Just about the worst thing we can do with Jesus is to domesticate him, to turn him into a nice, harmless figure, simply a teller of tales and a wise spiritual teacher. He announces himself as an arsonist. I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! Jesus' purpose was to set the human race on fire with the Holy Spirit, and that fire would burn away the chaff of sin, corruption, cruelty, and violence. Jesus and the fiery Spirit would clear the spiritual ground, painfully if necessary, in order to create something new.

The arsonist also characterizes himself as a home-wrecker! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three. Jesus indeed wants to establish a great family. He himself called it the Kingdom of God, and the great tradition refers to it as the mystical body of Christ. But in order for that new and authentic family to emerge, all dysfunctional forms of human community have to give way. If a family or society or culture is predicated upon manipulation, games of domination, arrogance, and fear, then it has to be undermined, cleared away.

The domesticated Christ makes no demands. The real Christ burns and divides - in order to make all things new."

                                              Fr. Robert Barron, Magnificat, August 2013


"Whoever comes close to him must be prepared to be burned. This is a fire that makes things bright and pure and free and grand. Being a Christian, then, is daring to entrust oneself to this burning fire."

                                                Pope Benedict XVI