Everyone Is Busy, Words From Retiring Alice Munroe And Incense

 

My first born granddaughter looking at wedding invitations with her mom, who is my daughter and her future mother-in law.
   What would I do without a computer?
Just think - it was not a part of my life until
age 70.  Then a couple of years later
bought my first camera that I could download
images on computer.
Now I know almost daily what is going on in my family's life
and we rarely talk on the telephone....

Years ago many letters were written and it now seems almost
a lost art.  I have a special drawer filled with all kinds
of stationery and cards and still enjoy using.

A cold morning with heavy frost and I wonder why surrounding this cottage
 there are not any beautiful colors on the trees as of yet.
The majority of the trees still have green leaves on them.
The leaves that are falling are not colorful....

Plants brought in from screen porch, a huge rabbit foot fern and begonia that are about
30 years old.  Someone will have to place them
upstairs in the loft area -  something I did in the past but
with a continual balance issue cannot carry them up the many steps.

My middle daughter has always been a daddy's girl.  He loved horses and this is something she has had
a love affair with for many years.
When she was young they grazed in the fields surrounding our home. 
 At times
they have some really bad disagreements then in a short time he has her heart once again.
What would her siblings have done without her medical contacts
in assisting him to relocate for a short stay in a home health care facility.
She is a good daughter, all daughter's and son good
but because she is a RN was able to do so much for him.
My Beth, I am proud of you...

Some words from writer Alice Monroe
in recent New York Times
age 82 retiring.

"I worry less then I did
there is nothing you can do about it
and its also better then being dead.
I feel I have done what I wanted to do and
that makes me feel fairly content."

"We say of somethings that they can't be forgiven,
or that we never will forgive ourselves.
But we do - we do it all the time."

This practice began again on this cold day
love the scent of the Tibetan healing incense

 

Did Not Plan And Special Image Received

Did not plan on writing this early morning
keep having thoughts of turning computer on later in the day
and writing less.
Seems it has just not happened.

"I am amazed at the rainbow of feelings that can overtake
me in the span of a week, or, even a day.
I can swing in the clouds, full of confidence and competence and,
in short order, slide onto the ground, bereft, lost, in my
capacity to grapple with life."

Reminded that life is a continuous process of being born,
innocent awkward and new; of learning and growing and spreading one's wings;
then falling and flailing and rising again."

Words in part from - Ellen Hamilton 
in an entry this morning from
http://www.elderwomenmusings.com/

I always recognize her words
even before I see her name
and always relate to them...

Her words this early morning speak to me in a deep way.

On a positive note
in my mail this early morning
I received
an image of my granddaughter
who is visiting my son
in Thailand.

Needless to say I was pleased....

Thankful
she arrived safely
and
wish I was there :)

Pumpkin White Bean Bisque And The Last Rose

I can remember the first time I was served
Pumpkin soup.

Under the stars with the ocean sounds in the background
in Jamaica many years ago.
It was delicious and when served I inquired "what kind of
soup is this" and was pleasantly surprised when told it was
Pumpkin.  At that particular time in my life I never thought
of pumpkin soup.

New issue of "Cooking Light" arrived recently and is filled
with page after page of wonderful recipes and some new ideas.
I am one that seldom adds new recipes since I like all of my old
and tried experiences in my huge binder.

Pumpkin soup has been made in the cottage kitchen but never
with an addition of white beans and Sage and it sounds healthy...

This is a new one and especially pleasing since I have
my fresh Sage right outside my door and also a can of pumpkin,
white beans and chicken broth waiting on the pantry shelf.

It is so simple.....

White Bean and Pumpkin Bisque

2 tbs butter
1 cup of chopped onion
1 tbs fresh chopped Sage
5 cloves garlic chopped
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
1/4 tsp ground cumin

I used
a can of chicken stock
1 can of white beans - rinsed and drained
1 can of pumpkin puree
1 & 1/2 cups of milk or half and half
dash of salt
2 tbs apple cider vinegar

In a good size pan
melt butter, add onion, sage and garlic
saute 4 minutes.
Stir chicken broth into onion mixture,
add rinsed beans and pumpkin
simmer 4 or 5 minutes
and put into the blender and process until smooth.
Return to pan to simmer 5 or 10 minutes, stir in milk and salt.
Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally,
Last, stir in 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar.

I changed slightly
do all recipes.

I simmered a little longer and an addition of a little more chicken broth and half and half.

It is delicious and had a bowl last night and topped with my parsley
and since returning from a long day of errands
I will have a bowl in about an hour
and freeze a carton
or may just finish the rest tomorrow at lunch time
and there will be none left to freeze :)

You can probably look the recipe up online
if you want to be exact and not just a pinch and dab of this and not measuring much.
Guess that is what being a matriarch and a long life of cooking does to you.
Also has a topping of Sage Pesto
that I did not make
but may when I have more time.

While picking Sage I noticed this last Rose
it is a beauty compared to what I saw this summer.
Roses do not do good in my damp woods
and have only one bush left out of 4 originally planted 4 years ago


I will think of it as a gift to me....

Day ending
here in the woods....

At The Moment And Sage

Thoughts of my granddaughter Sarah arriving in Thailand
and the warm welcome she will receive from her Uncle Jimmy.

His words to me this morning
"Rest before you are tired"
like this - but a busy week is in progress.

A post read this morning from
a favorite one in Nashville
gave me some ideas for using my abundant
Sage plant.
Usually used for my dressing at Thanksgiving and Christmas
and  had forgotten  how tasty
chicken is
when you pound it very thin, dredge it in flour
and cook in olive oil and butter...

http://nancyvienneau.com/blog/recipe/sage-praise/

Can't wait for her cookbook to be published
and have it sitting on my kitchen counter...

Simple Sharing And Trying To Still The Voices In My Mind

Oh yes
it is so simple
but on damp and cold nights
feels so luxurious.

My hot water bottle
put at the foot of my bed
about an hour before going to bed
is wonderful.

I started doing this when I lived at the old farm house
and started using this warmer
last week.

While eating evening meal I fill the bottle
with hot tap water
until water in kettle is boiling hot.
Then pour out the tap water (ruined a hot water bottle years ago by first using boiling water)
this warms the inside of the bottle
and then fill with the boiling water.
Wrap in soft material and put at foot of bed
in an hour when I go to bed
the warmth is so nice and comforting.

I know many who use something electric
and I find that drying.  
The hot water bottle is not drying to my skin
and still warm in the morning when it is emptied
to dry.

Someone shared that on their trips to England
at fine Inns they placed a hot water bottle
at the foot of the bed....

The one I bought 3 years ago is a beautiful shade of blue
instead of red like I have had in the past.

Simple post
but over the last 14 hours
a lot has been past on.
One passed out and head concussion.
My children very concerned as it is their father.
Another, in the last stage of cancer
and then one who has been like a sister
in the past shared her husband recently
had a head injury.

This morning
the sun is shining
birds at the feeders
life goes on
at a slower pace
and I wish
the damp earth surrounding my cottage
would dry
and I could get on my tractor....
maybe next Spring....

Instant Antidepressant

Received this early morning
and so true
for me
when I think of Miss Callie
Love is always there
and no need to ask.....

The last image
is for Charlotte.

Carol, thank you
for being you....

Afternoon With Mary Oliver

A rainy beginning and then sun and very cool.
Shut all the outdoor vents.
First frost expected in the morning.
Spent some time going through my Mary Oliver books.
They number 12 and each one is special.
They almost look ragged with all the little papers
that mark some of  my favorite poems.

"Another morning and I wake with thirst
for the goodness I do not have.  I walk
out to the pond and all the way God has
given us such beautiful lessons, Oh Lord,
I was never a quick scholar but sulked
and hunched over the books past the
hour and the bell; grant me, in your mercy,
a little more time.  Love for the earth
and love for you are having such a long conversation
in my heart.
Who knows what will finally happen, or where I will
be sent, yet already I have given a great many
things away, expecting to be told to pack nothing,
except the prayers, which, with this thirst,
I am slowly learning"

Thirst ~~~ Mary Oliver~~~