We cast off the last day of November with a full moon overhead, sprinkling moonbeams down upon us on this crisp and clear night.
And we leave November with a fresh wreath hung on the door as we ready ourselves for a season of magic.
Tag: Home (page 4 of 18)
It’s Friday. The sun is glowing and the air is nippy. The shadows have been changing throughout the house on a daily basis. As I write this now a golden hued beam is dancing across the floor towards my feet. Two week ago at this time, that beam would have been in a different place. It feels like a beautiful autumn day, the kind of day my parents would pack up the car with a picnic and take us up to the mountains to feast and hike.
Christmas music is playing. It’s been playing since November 1st! The house is clean and ready for the weekend to begin. I’m working on a final plan of attack for Thanksgiving, so I can ensure that the bread I’ll use for stuffing and the loaf we’ll use for sandwiches and the pumpkin pie are all baked on time. I’m also working on a final grocery store list for the week ahead to ensure I have all the little odds and ends I need.
Thanksgiving will look very different for many this year. It will be as it has always been for us. It’s just us around our Thanksgiving table. Because of school schedules we have yet to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family overseas. But, one year that just might happen!
This year has found me very quiet in this little place of mine. I have felt at times that I did not have a voice. I’ve still been working on my own writing projects, but this has not been a place that I’ve wanted to come to. I’m not truly sure why? The time I have been spending here has been with the help of Mr. Michie, who has aided me in making changes to the overall visual look of my blog. It’s been awhile since I have written code, so this project was a good refresher! There are still a few things left to tick off the list before I get it close to how I would like it. It is a very different, more streamlined look for me and I have enjoyed that, although it was a hard design decision to come to. I narrowed it down in the end and decided what would work best for me.
Our days are moving one into the next. Life is still happening in the midst of all the chaos. There are lots of games of Scrabble being played and books being read and albums being listened too. There has been a steady rhythm that we have continued to beat out through this storm we are all weathering. And that rhythm will continue to carry us through.
I hope wherever you are today that my ramblings find you safe and well.
{Cranberries, Andrew Wyeth, 1966}
We were up before 5am this morning and slowly got ready. Mr. Michie made a pot of coffee and heated up two pain au chocolat to go, while I worked on packing our bag with towels. We were on the beach before 7am and found a quiet spot to make camp. We ate our breakfast and watched the waves roll in. We toasted the end of the month and the beginning of the weekend.
After breakfast we went for a swim. The water was delicious! It was a perfect morning.
Life is GOOD!
It’s the album that’s been spinning since this morning, when the coffee went cold and it has continued on through a rainy lunch, that drifted into brief glimpses of the sun that made the raindrops on the window sparkle and glow like glitter and it has taken us back into a wet and windy afternoon.
I hope this Thursday finds you happy and safe and well. x
Uncertainty. A potent word. A word that brings to mind FEAR. Or does it? Maybe uncertainty creates the possibility to discover a new path that leads to something wild and wonderful.
The Coronavirus is the plague of our day. We are more connected now than ever before and with that comes a river of information. Information is power, the more knowledge you have, the more tools you can arm yourself with to cope. But the abundance of data we are flooded with can also bring anxiety and fear. Facts are coming in almost by the second, not the minute. I will admit that I have at times been overwhelmed by all the information coming my way.
When that happens, I take a very deep breath. I am blessed. I come from strong stock. I am a farmer’s daughter. My grandparents fought on the frontlines and the home front during WWII and I carry with me valuable lessons I learned from them. We are a “make do” tribe. We are a “figure it out” tribe. We are innovative. We are resilient. We accept the challenges that lay ahead.
We do not know what tomorrow brings. But that is always the case, whether or not we, as a world, are facing Covid-19 or not. We shall continue on. We will be strong for each other. We will continue to do right by people. Help a neighbour; help a friend; help a loved one if you are able. Even if that’s as simple as a wave from the window, to leaving milk or bread at their door.
So much is out of our control. I know that there are so many ‘rites of passage’ that will pass so many by. But there is plenty that we can control. As Winston Churchill once said, “Attitude, is a little thing that makes a big difference.”
And for those of you who live so very far away from those you love so deeply. I understand you. It is a boat we share. It is scary to know that if a loved one is in need you can’t be there to help them; you can’t reach them. But we will continue on. We are blessed to live in a time with the technological capabilities to talk to one another, across borders, across oceans. And we shall continue to walk in faith.
I am fully aware of what is happening around the world, so please never for a moment, think that I frivolously share things here. But as it has always been; will continue to be for me; and I hope for you: a safe place. This is my spot in the world, I come to share and as much as possible, I would like to continue to do that and not with a heavy heart. We are seeing enough of that in the daily news and in the world around us. And I never want to jump on a band wagon for “hits” or “likes”, I see too many others do that to increase their blog and social media traffic. That is not who I am. I come here only to speak from my heart.
Thank you to our doctors, nurses, paramedics, healthcare workers, firemen and women, police and teachers! Thank you to all those lending a hand. We are forever in your debt. The toll mentally and physically that this will take on our frontline defence, will for some be more than they can bear. When this hell for you on the front lines is over, we will be here for you, to help you pick-up the pieces.
Do not forget that we are ladies and gentlemen. Let us continue to hold ourselves to high standards and not be dragged down. We are all in this together. This isn’t happening in one town, one city, one country, this is GLOBAL.
Let this bring out the best in us. We have already seen extraordinary acts of kindness and people coming together in our own community. Acts of love and creativity. Let, that be the torch we all pick up. There are silver linings; light will always prevail over darkness; and some good will come of this. Let us all act sensibly and responsibly, as some people who may be more susceptible to this virus may not appear vulnerable to the naked eye.
I pray that you all stay safe and stay well.
xoxo
Happy Friday the 13th! Thirteen is a strong number for some, unlucky for others. As for me, I happen to like the number 13 and I like days that have a theme that we can build something fun around. So tonight, we’re feasting on homemade pizza, raiding the candy bowl and watching The Goonies.
Here’s to Friday! And here’s to the weekend, long may it last!
January is passing us by all too quickly for my liking. My opportunities to visit here have been few. I’m hoping that changes with the onset of February.
We hit the ground running into this New Year. I’ve been busy organizing, cleaning and decluttering small areas here and there. I don’t mind the bareness of space. We’re savouring all the quiet moments that we can. I’m not wishing winter away yet. I like each season to have it’s time and place. I’m enjoying winter on the coast. I love watching the sea rolling in calmness, crashing in anger and changing colour with its mood. There is a power and an awe to her beauty.
Today has been misty, rainy and damp. Patsy Cline is crooning in the background, a cup of tea is steeping next to me, a loaf of bread is rising on the counter and my candles are lit. I’m attempting to ease into the week.
After working through the morning, I’m now patiently waiting for a glass delivery to arrive. I’m taking an evening stained glass class this winter. I had my idea narrowed down to three designs, then two and the design that made the final cut, simply came down to being able to find the glass colours that I wanted to use. It will be more of a contemporary design with the focus being on colour and a play on movement. I’m excited to see the glass in person as I was having to do my best in choosing my colours from online websites. So fingers crossed they will all work as I have envisioned them.
Here’s to the week! Let it be a good one!
Happy Santa Lucia Day!
This morning on one of my most treasured December days, we feasted on iced danishes by the glow of candlelight and listened to Christmas music. It was dark outside and the wind was howling, but inside it was cozy, magical and was a wondrous way to start our Friday.
Happy St. Lucia Day to you all! May a light guide your way today and always. ❤️
Hello, November! We’re ready for chilly evenings and leaves underfoot. Cups of tea by candlelight and Vince Guaraldi spinning on the record player. Warm gingerbread cakes with toffee sauce and pumpkin pie and the promise of turkey sandwiches after Thanksgiving. For cold hikes through the woods and adventures that lead to warming up by a pub fire. For comforting stews with mashed potatoes and homemade soup with grilled cheese sandwiches. We’re ready to embrace all that you have to offer.
{Image House of Hawthornes // Pinned HERE}