Hope is the thing with feathers...

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
~Emily Dickinson



A favourite nature artist of mine is dutch artist, Marjolein Bastin, who shares this:

"When you open your eyes and your heart for nature's beauty around you, there is so much joy and love. I see each day as a gift with a possibility to discover something new. Discoveries I want to share with you through my paintings."

"Parents can hardly know or guess what's happening then, or what can happen, when they put their children in the garden or in the grass or in the park," says Dutch artist Marjolein Bastin.

Marjolein's earliest memory is when, as just a toddler, she would lie in the grass outside her family's home near Utrecht, The Netherlands, breathing in the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural world around her. Little did her mother know that when she lifted little Marjolein from her baby carriage and placed her into the hands of nature, she was placing nature into the hands of Marjolein.

As a little girl, Marjolein collected and treasured simple items from nature – pine cones, seeds, and flowers. As soon as she was able to hold a pencil and paintbrush, she began to lovingly capture the beauty of nature in her sketches and paintings.

"It was my way of holding forever the impression I loved so much in nature," she says."
You can read her story and see her paintings here For more of her beautiful artwork you can visit this art gallery here


It is a glorious morning here with an early morning sunrise set in a pinkish sky; tree branches adorned with hoar frost. I am baking for my family as well as putting together a gift basket for another family that I hope to deliver later this morning. It will be a grocery shopping day today as I didn't get far in my errands on Wednesday due to the snow storm which caused driving to be treacherous.
Many of my dear friends have been commenting on this snowy weather, feeling like we will never see indications of Spring as it has been so cold here. I empathize with you and wanted to dedicate this blog post to all of you. I am so confident of the fact that Spring weather is just around the corner as the sun is shining warmer in the sky, the birds continue to sing cheerfully, the days are getting longer, and I have spotted green shoots coming up out of the dormant earth.
A dear friend of mine shared her thoughts in a recent comment left here. I just loved this and wanted to share her perspective with all of you:

"It is almost effortless to cherish the fresh hope and new life of spring - the ample warmth and lavish fragrance of summer - the vivid colours and clear air of autumn - but what about winter? It is a cold and tempermental season, to be sure, but while all around us is covered in the slumber of snow, we are allowed a time of quiet reflection and rest. Winter makes room for dreams to be explored and spirits renewed. A time to feel sad and amazed... lonely and grateful. Strangely enough, winter is necessary... for it is the very thing that sets the stage for our souls to be uplifted the other three seasons through."

Take heart and hope, my friends, your patience will be rewarded with glorious Spring in all her splendour! We'll have to celebrate with a Spring Tea Party:)

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"
~Robin Williams

As I was cleaning on Wednesday, I was drawn to the windows many times to watch the sparrows and the chickadees, as well as the chubby robins as they moved from branch to branch in the trees, carrying on as if they had no cares in this world.
I was reminded of this scripture verse:

Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:26

And in my heart I was singing this song
as a reminder that God is faithful
and He will bring it to pass...

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Saturday Quote

(image found online)

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:
if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
Anne Bradstreet
American poet (1612 - 1672)

Mother Culture Morning

This term or concept was first introduced to me on my journey of homeschooling our four children.
Karen Andreola revived Mother Culture, 'an obscure term from the past, and has coined the phrase for today’s busy hardworking homeschooling mom. This is her favorite message to give, as the joys and advantages of Mother Culture overflow into the family circle.
To partake in Mother Culture is to feed herself with the Word of God, with ideas from books, nature, art, music, etc., thus taking care to keep growing spiritually and mentally. If there such is a thing as the joy of childhood, there is also such a thing as the joy of motherhood, and Karen admonishes mothers to recognize and live within such a blessing.
For a mother to allow herself a bit of leisure to rest and refresh herself by exploring her own interests, to find a little time for herself, especially when so many others depend on her, is a what Karen calls, Mother Culture' ®.

* Added:
I had no idea that the author I mentioned above, Karen Andreola has a blog. She left me such a lovely comment on this post which led me to discover that she has created a delightful blog, combining all of my favourites. Have a peek...I think you will love it!
I have on my shelf a number of her books found in the sidebar of her blog which I have often referred to. Her blog can be found here.
Thank you again Karen for your inspiration to my family as well as countless others over the years.

I am so thankful that over the years I have made it a priority to enjoy the beauty of the arts, and as a result, my children are keen, avid readers, with a love of the arts and music. They often share their photography, quotes, music, art, books and movies with me that inspire them...
It thrills and blesses me.
This morning I am setting some time aside to indulge in Mother Culture as it is my first day at home this week, and the weather outside is more than a bit nippy.(-21'c)
I am enjoying my morning coffee, reading some of my library books, studying the work of local artist, Barry McCarthy which is absolutely gorgeous, and listening to music by Italian contemporary music composer and pianist, Ludovico Einaudi, that my oldest daughter in India emailed to me recently.

Wishing you all pleasant moments and gentle joys in your days...

"I believe the nicest and sweetest days
are not those on which anything very splendid
or wonderful or exciting happens,
but just those that bring simple little pleasures,
following one another softly,
like pearls slipping off a string."
~L. M. Montgomery

Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch,
but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.
~Helen Keller

Welcome February...♥ Library Love ♥

February arrives cold, wet and gray, her gifts disguised for only the most discerning spirits to see. Gentle is our path. Gratitude is the thread we weave into the fabric of our daily lives this month, giving thanks for our simply abundant lives and asking for the gift of one thing more: grateful hearts.
Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach

This card arrived in the mail for me, made by my wonderful sil M.
I was so touched and moved that as she created this card, she thought of me.
That was just so thoughtful and such a kind gift...my heart is filled with gratitude:)
I am adding it here as I think it goes perfect with the library/love theme.
Don't you love that library card...so perfect!
Who can you send a card to this month to bless and encourage...just because...


It's hard to believe that we have flipped the calendar again to the month of February....the month of love and romance. There is evidence in the stores but also right here in our library.
We had fun adding a little romance to our display table:

Chocolate, Roses, Romantic Novels, Movies and Music...

I just had to share this photo with you that was emailed to us at the library.
Shall I let you guess where this library is located? Any ideas?
If you don't know, I will reveal it tomorrow...


And this in from The Weather Network
February 1, 2011 — Blizzard, winter storm warnings issued ahead of “Groundhog Day Storm.“
Wednesday's “Groundhog Day Storm“ is almost guaranteed to be a major snow event in southern Ontario, with up to 40 cm forecast for some areas by mid-afternoon.
That, combined with strong northeast winds, has prompted Environment Canada to issue a blizzard warning for parts of the region, including Sarnia, London, St. Catharines and Hamilton.
This is the first widespread blizzard warning for southern Ontario since March 1993.
A winter storm warning is in effect for the rest of the region and stretches as far to the northeast as Ottawa.
When winter storms hit, the safest place to be is at home, and the Ontario Provincial Police are asking people to avoid unnecessary travel Wednesday.

(image found online)

I am scheduled to go in to work tomorrow for a long shift at another library in the Wellington County, but the possibility is there that I will have to stay home due to road conditions.
Do you suppose I will have time to work on my knitting project or curl up in my favourite chair to get caught up on some reading?
That would be bliss indeed!

Quiet Beauty of Winter

It has been a quiet, relaxing day today at home getting caught up with the laundry, baking, cleaning, making some phone calls, working on my course assignment and enjoying a brisk afternoon walk with my daughter. Although I left my camera at home, I did take these winter scenes yesterday on my walk with hubby. One of my resolutions is to walk daily for fresh air and exercise, and so far I have been doing well. I feel less tired and more energetic. I have appreciated each winter day and find that as I take in the quiet beauty of winter, I have come to embrace the season more and am so thankful for the reminder once again, that each season has its own beauty and treasures.

In the stillness of the garden:

Walking through a cathedral of trees:

Rambling fence lines:

Stone foundation:



I can't resist saying this:
It's a jungle out there!
Don't these snow formations on the trees
look like snakes?
I love it!

Evidence of wood peckers:

Hmm...wonder what is in there?

One of the cottages along the lake:

Even the swings are still;
awaiting the carefree days of summer:

We have been eating plenty of oranges, both naval and mandarin,
perfect for a healthy snack along with freshly baked bran muffins:

My recent vintage find c. 1948
It has been a long time since I have played scrabble,
but I enjoyed several games this afternoon
with my daughter.
Although our words are not very articulate...
practice will make perfect!
I was excited to play seven letters in a row with a
favourite word of mine: vintage!

During these winter evenings
we have enjoyed reading
as well as watching videos
in our family room,
including more travel videos of Italy by Rick Steves.
We are still brushing up on our knowledge
of the country along with its food and cultures.

Winter is the time for comfort,
for good food and warmth,
for the touch of a friendly hand
and for a talk beside the fire:
it is the time for home.
~Edith Sitwell

In Grandma's Kitchen

Recently I came across a poem that has hung in many kitchens in the past generation. It reminded me again of the importance of making the kitchen the center of the home with each meal prepared as a service to my family and to those who grace our table.
It makes me feel nostalgic and sentimental to reflect on the days when the kitchen truly was the epicentre or heart of the home and the dining table was where great conversations happened over a hearty meal.
It was a time of coming together, sharing the events of the day, and offering encouragement to one another around a comforting and nourishing meal.
Life has gotten so busy for many families, including our own. I think that is why
I cherish the Christmas season so much.
It is such a joy to be gathered around the table with family and friends, making me so grateful for those special times.
It is my renewed desire to make each meal a pleasant event around our dining table as I create special memories for my family and for all those who grace us with their presence at our table.

God bless my little kitchen,
I love its every nook,
And bless me as I do my work,
Wash pots and pans and cook.
And may the meals that I prepare
Be seasoned from above
With Thy great blessings and Thy grace,
But most of all Thy love.
As we partake of earthly food,
The table before us spread,
We’ll not forget to thank Thee, Lord,
Who gives us daily bread.
So bless my little kitchen, God,
And those who enter in,
May they find naught but Joy and Peace,
And Happiness therein.
Author: M. Peterson (1944)

I have mentioned Gladys before in a blog post recently as I admire her gentle reflections and astute observations of the world around her. Gladys Taber (1899-1980) is the author of 59 books and was also a columnist for the Ladies Home Journal entitled, Diary of Domesticity.
She is a kindred spirit in her love of country life, nature, good home-cooked meals and being a keeper of the home.
You can take a visit to Stillmeadow here

“Traveling is all very well if you can get home at night. I would be willing to go around the world if I came back in time to light the candles and set the table for supper. I cannot conceivably influence the world's destiny, but I can make my own life more worthwhile. I can give some help to some people; that is not vital to all the world's problems and yet I think if everyone did just that, we might see quite a world in our time!”
"At Stillmeadow, there is no predicting. (the time of our meal) But in the end, we always manage to sit down to a candle-lit table and the rib roast is not overdone and the Yorkshire pudding is crusty and tender with rich juices bubbling at the edges and the salad is not wilted. I even have remembered to take the cheese from the refrigerator so it has become room temperature, and I did not park the fruit bowl on the radiator! When everyone takes that first mouthful and breathes a happy sigh, that is the time I relax and become the gracious hostess. My hair may not look like a Vogue illustration and my face is shiny and I never did find time to slip into that fresh frock, but I am a very happy woman."
~Gladys Taber

The ordinary arts we practice every day
at home are of more importance to the
soul than their simplicity might suggest.
~Thomas More

No matter where I serve my my guests,
It seems they like the kitchen best.

Bless this Home
Ella Miller

Bless this home, O Lord, we pray
Guard it safely night and day,
Bless the family living here
Bind them close with love and cheer.

Bless the food which is prepared
And each guest with whom it's shared.
Bless the children through the years
Guide them in their joys and tears.

Bless the Mother - tender, kind
And the Father by her side
Bless their pure and faithful love
Making home like Heaven above.

Bless this home, O Lord, we pray
Where we live and walk and play,
Bless us all that ever we
May live O gracious Lord, with Thee.

The Gift of Kindness

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. ~Leo Buscaglia

While I was at work this evening at the library, my friend M who works at the florist shop in town here, walked in carrying the most beautiful poinsettia plant then handed it over to me. I thought it was an order for the library and was shocked when she said it was for me. I just couldn't believe it!
Some dear kind people ordered it for delivery to the library just for me.
I can't thank them enough for their kindness... It just made my day!

And at church on Sunday a fellow anglophile brought me some lovely holly from her garden as we talked about how much we love all things british including holly and ivy.
It was so very kind and thoughtful of her! Thank you M!

After posting about my broken dishes including 3 cups and saucers, another dear kind lady had a little package for me on Sunday. I was so moved that she would have parted with one of her own tea cups as well as one she found. Her kindness moved me to tears when I saw what was in the package. My heart is so full of thankfulness to her!
Thank you D!

How beautiful a day can be

When kindness touches it!
~George Elliston

Kindness (thoughtfulness) is truly one of the greatest gifts we can give to one another.
I then reflect on God's kindness toward us, a reminder again during this Christmas season:

God's Daily Acts of Kindness
1. Unconditional love.
2. Forgiveness ~ he is a God of second chances
3. Grace ~ undeserved favor, a free gift that is greater than anything money can buy.
4. Peace ~ even in the midst of difficulty.
5. Joy! Hope!
6. Jesus ~ the best gift of all. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the birth of Christ. Easter wouldn't be Easter without the Resurrection...

A Li'l Retail Therapy and a Whole Lotta Love...

I have been looking forward to this day for weeks. Three of my dearest friends set time aside to spend the day together doing a li'l retail therapy with a whole lotta love....
Whenever we get together, there is no end to the topics we discuss and the conversations we share, as we pour our hearts out and invest in each other's lives.
Our first stop was to our favourite Coffeeshop,
The Rumble Tum, a unique specialty gift shop and cafe.
Although it may seem early to some, everything was decked out for the season, with fresh garlands and mini lights....

As we stepped inside, we were greeted by snowmen and center pieces, festive aprons, candles and napkins, dishes and other houseware items....




This morning we did not consider calories as we all enjoyed delectable desserts along with our beverage of choice, mine being... coffee, of course:) I chose the praline cheesecake and was not disappointed. It was heavenly!

After a leisurely morning, we meandered into the village of
St. Jacobs, known for its unique small-town shopping experience, with elegant shops such as The Weathered Gate, my personal favourite...

They've got a little oh-la-la Paris theme going here....

The shop window display...

Great outdoor urns:
And for my chocolate-loving friends,
who shared a good laugh as we read this:

My theme for this holiday season...
(I should add that for me giving more
means giving of my time and resources,
not 'stuff')
This is my wish for you, my friends: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth,
Love to complete your life.
-- Author Unknown