October, Store-Keeper

 A dahlia in Autumn.

                            

October, Store-Keeper

 October is the keeper

Of a bargain store

See the orange posters

At the windows and the door.

Within are piles of remnants,

Some faded, it is true,

By a summer's wear and tear;

Some as good as now.

Mill-ends of dahlia satin,

Chiffon of thistledown,

Cloth of goldenrod enough

For a party gown.

Zinnia ribbon yard lengths-

Note prices on the tags!-

Fringed with asters, they would make

The most distinctive bags.

And trays of lacquered rose haws

And watermelon seeds-

Could any combination be

Lovelier for beads?

~Ethel Romig Fuller, Kitchen Sonnets

 

Happy Weekend, dear friends!

Oaks Bottom Nature Reserve

 The weather person said it would rain on Saturday, but for some reason I wanted to go in search of mushrooms. Having painted mushrooms recently and at this time of year I just knew there were mushrooms and lichens to be found. It had been many years since I had hiked through Oaks Bottom Nature Reserve right here in the city; so off I went. No, it wasn't raining, so I thought I would be fine.

At first I didn't think I would find any mushrooms, but as I watched more closely I found wonderful lichens and other fun surprises.What I thought we would see was birds, but only one bird was spotted. At the bottom of the hill was a train track and much to my "live-in gardener" and my surprise the train was coming down the track. There were waves of greeting to be had and then they had passed us by.

I felt like I had found the mother lode of mushrooms when I found this cluster just sitting under a tree.

                                                                      Aren't they beautiful?

                                 There were some individual mushrooms hiding under leaves too.

Beside searching for mushrooms and lichens I knew I would see a fairy or two, but alas there were none to be found. Next time I will go more quietly and maybe I will find them then.

And fun discoveries growing on the trees. By the end of the hike we were soaked, but I learned what to look for and where to look too. Even the rain couldn't deter me and I loved every moment of this adventure.

Walking at Oaks Bottom Nature Reserve was pure delight. Now I can't wait to go on a sunny day and maybe I will discover more birds or a frog at the tadpole pond.

                         What fun to escape to nature right in the middle of the city. I will be back for sure.

Word for the Day - 2020

 Comfort

 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4

Wikipedia says: Comfort (or being comfortable) is a sense of physical or psychological ease, often characterized as a lack of hardship.

This morning quite early I baked a cake.  Of course I had to sample it while it was warm.

As I sat with my tea and cake I contemplated the word for today, comfort.  I was nibbling on a lemon cake that is one of my all time favorites and had chosen my favorite tea. I felt comforted just sitting in the quiet of the morning with cake and tea. I am still sipping as I write to you, but the piece of cake is just a happy memory. For a few moments I could imagine a world of peace and joy and my heart was comforted.

Have you felt the need these days for comfort?

Maybe a cozy sweater, warm socks, a quilt to curl up in, a particular meal, a good cup of tea?

I struggle these days with the chaos of the world and the pandemic; so sometimes it is cake and tea. Maybe not great for the waistline, but it does quiet my soul for awhile.

A walk in the woods or even in my neighborhood comforts me also.

On Facebook I share a picture from my garden each day just for the comfort and joy it brings to others.

Just the act of going into the garden each morning to snap that pictures brings me comfort and joy also.

Here is the picture this morning from my garden. Doesn't the beauty of a simple rose opening to the world bring a bit of comfort? The raindrops just enhance it's beauty. Go out and savor the day and feel the moments of comfort and joy.

 

Taste of Autumn

 With the cooling in the air and the leaves beginning to fall my mind has traveled to Autumn and the tastes of richness in flavors, more spices for sure.

Pumpkins have been delighting me. As I do my occasional visit to the market several have come home. I think that little orange pumpkin will soon be in a pumpkin bread full of spices soon.

There was one more teatime in the garden this week.

The tea was a Bourbon Black tea from Elmwood Inn and the cookies were a new to me recipe from King Arthur Baking website. This ginger spice cookie will definitely be a repeat, it was just the right amount of ginger and chewiness with little bits of crystallized ginger.

Bringing out the French table cloth each Autumn sings to my heart. With past visits to France it sits in my heart with joy. The teacup was brought back from one of those trips also and is quite old. Treasures from travel that I can enjoy for many years makes me smile in remembrance each time I see them.  

 

This week I received the Victoria Magazine book, Our Hearts are in France, and it reminded me once again how I loved traveling to France and how my heart wants to go once more. My little garden teatime was in celebration of those travels in Autumn.

Homemade caramel corn has also appeared in my home recently.

Caramel and spices just say Autumn.

May your days be full of spices and joy.

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Word for the Day - 2020

 Wonder

From Wikipedia: Wonder most commonly refers to an emotion comparable to surprise that people feel when perceiving something rare or unexpected

For me wonder almost always has something to do with nature.

It might be out hiking and finding a waterfall I didn't know was there, or driving down the highway and suddenly seeing a huge field of pumpkins, or in my own garden discovering some sweet flower popping out of the ground when I didn't expect to see them there.

Or the first smile coming from a baby.

What comes to mind too is Alice in Wonderland. Alice found so many "rare and unexpected" surprises when traveling to Wonderland. Just stepping through the mirror took her to adventures she would have never imagined.

What wonders touch your heart? intrigue you? 

and make your heart just smile?
 
 

Another Walk

A few days ago I walked with my camera in my neighborhood.

The signs people shared on their sidewalks and yards touched my heart.

The sign above was my favorite. I do believe "We are all related".

The more I walk, the more I have traveled I believe this and wish for all people to be able to travel and see this truth.

Then there are murals too. Some rather bazaar and some that made me smile.

Some are just plainly graffiti, but intriguing.

I don't mind some graffiti, but wish they would leave artist murals alone.

Even power boxes are not left untouched.

And in this time of COVID people are sitting on porches to visit with people passing by.

Once we get through this time there will be indeed "A New Beginning".

And this says so much!

I wasn't sure what this sign meant, but there was an ice cream shop nearby.

Was it meant that even zombie's head for ice cream? Ha!

I know I headed there.

Just a sweet horse on a wall of ivy. You just never know what  you will find.

And finally, I was impressed that even the artists put their spray cans in a garbage can.

Everywhere was art/graffiti, even down this alley.

It is an active art community for sure and it always fascinates me when I walk this way.

Most often I watch for nature, but every once in the while I just like to see what these artists are doing.

And yes! in the end "Love wins".

Happy weekend, dear friends!

 

Word for the Day - 2020

 Truth

 

 

From Wikipedia: Truth is the property of being in accord with fact or reality.^[1] In everyday language, truth is typically ascribed to things that aim to represent reality or otherwise correspond to it, such as beliefs, propositions, and declarative sentences.^[2]

^{I thought "what pictures would I choose for truth?"  Surely, a church teaches us truth. Then I thought of little white lies and found white flowers to represent those lies.}

^{When I was a little girl my mother would get out the bar of Ivory soap and threaten to wash my mouth out with the soap if I lied.}

^{These days there is a lot of mention of lies told by people in government and it sickens me just like that soap in the mouth to hear them lie to us.}

^{Truth is a virtue I respect in others and myself.  Even if the message is a difficult one, I want the truth.}

          ^{My heart just feels clean and white when the truth is spoken. There is a pureness about it.}

^{I feel like I can relax in the surrounding of truth.}

 "The truth is rarely pure and never simple."  ~Oscar Wilde

 

"I am a firm believer in the people.

If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet

any national crisis.

The great point is to bring them the real facts."

~Abraham Lincoln 

Wow! There were so many good quotes on Truth and all so relevant today.

Let's not forget Truth in our words, it has so much power.

I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts. Abraham Lincoln
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/truth-quotes

I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts. Abraham Lincoln
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/truth-quotes