I did go out for a quick walk, but aside from that, it was an indoor day. (A cookie baking day. I can't complain.) Nonetheless, I came across this poem that I had stored up for just such a day, and now I will share it with you.
Dust of Snow
I did go out for a quick walk, but aside from that, it was an indoor day. (A cookie baking day. I can't complain.) Nonetheless, I came across this poem that I had stored up for just such a day, and now I will share it with you.
Dust of Snow
For the Beauty of the Earth --
"One is constantly reminded of the lavishness and fertility of nature..." - John Muir
Thanks to Fran for hosting our Spiritual Thursday group today, and for providing the prompt. She asks us to write about what is holy.
I believe we all experience glimpses of holiness. I have written about one holy moment for me, you can find it if you click here.
Frederick Buechner writes about a holy moment:
Two apple branches struck against each other with the limber clack of wood on wood. That was all -- a tick-tock rattle of branches -- but then a fierce lurch of excitement at what was only daybreak, only the smell of summer coming, only starting back again for home, but oh Jesus, he thought, with a great lump in his throat and a crazy grin, it was an agony of gladness and beauty falling wild and soft like rain. Just clack-clack, but praise him, he thought. Praise him.
Perhaps holy moments, like angels, are all around us, if only we could see them. Or perhaps they come just a few times in a lifetime. In any case, they give us a glimpse into another life, a deeper connection. I have felt this "agony of gladness" upon holding a newborn, at the innocence in a child's face, walking in the woods with my husband, while singing in choir, to name a few.
One of my strongest experiences was during a guided prayer. I was guided to a dry place, and a well, and then silence. In the silence Jesus approached me and put his hand on my shoulder and just stood next to me. I felt a deep sense of connection, of understanding. An agony of peace. Like a brother, he knew me. He accepted me. He stood with me. Praise him.
If we weren't blind as bats, we might see that life itself is sacramental.
- Frederick Buechner in Wishful Thinking
Autumn is my favorite time of year. The scorching sun settles down, each day becomes a little easier, and the crisp nights are refreshing. So here, without further ado, is some autumn joy for you!
The poem below came to me via The Writer's Almanac. Barbara Crooker is new to me, but I will surely be looking for more of her poetry.
I can't pass October without celebrating pumpkins. I find them is so compelling.
Oh, that Jack-O!
Autumn is beautiful in New Jersey. The colors are still peaking (peeking) and each day I'm thankful for this gorgeous splash of color.
Don't miss the Poetry Friday gathering, this week hosted by Jone Rush MacCulloch. Click the blue link to find more poetry posts: Jone Thanks for hosting, Jone!
It's almost Halloween, and spooky spiders come to mind.
I'm somewhat fascinated with spiders and their webs, and I wish I could make something so beautiful overnight. Just look at these webs.
Thanks to Maureen Ingram for joining our group and hosting this month's gathering of the Spiritual Journey, and for providing the topic of Community as our focus for the month. You can find her post and the rest of the group here.
I'm currently reading and learning from Braiding Sweetgrass, which is full of wisdom from indigenous tribes, written by Robin Wall Kimmerer. She shares a Thanksgiving Address, a traditional way to begin meetings in the Onondaga Nation. This particular address has been widely shared, and was given by John Stokes and Kanawahientun in 1993:
Today we have gathered and when we look upon the faces around us, we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now let us bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People. Now our minds are one.
I'm trying to let this address sink in, with its emphasis on balance and harmony. Notice that he speaks not of hopes or dreams, but the duty to live in balance and harmony. Likewise, not only within the human community, but also balance and harmony with all living things. In a few words, John Stokes outlines huge challenges. Lifelong challenges. Still... I believe that we all yearn for balance and harmony. To me these two ideals embody community, and imply a possibility that often seems insurmountable. And yet... and yet I agree that it is our duty to work toward them. I especially admire John Stokes' sense of certainty in the final phrase that affirms community: Now our minds are one.
Choir has been a particular source of community for me. We gather and work hard with the goals of balance and harmony. I often come back to music as a balm. And so, today I will leave you with music.
In clearing out extraneous documents from my computer, I came upon this ode written by my grandson when he was 12. It warmed my heart, not to mention the heart of my husband who bakes it. Since I'm very proud of both of them, I knew I wanted to share. This cake is a speciality in our house, made from an old Danish recipe entitled Sand Cake:
Sand Cake (Sandkage) from Danish Home Baking by Karen Berg
Baker's Notes: Not very sweet, but good with coffee. I used a tube pan, it fills about 1/3 and does not raise much at all, not that I expected it to.
This cake can be made gluten free by substituting casava flour mixed 1 to 1 with gluten free oat flour. The photo below is of the gluten free. The wheat version has a finer crumb.
Yesterday I posted about my love of lakes and loons. When we were just starting out as a family, we lived in Minnesota, where loons are the state bird. The more I saw and heard them, the more I became enamored with them. Loony, you might say.
Laura Purdy Salas has written a beautiful book, Secrets of the Loon, which I pulled out yesterday when thinking about loons. No surprise that Laura's poetry is lovely. I especially admire these lines about the unborn chick:
I'm a lake lover. I love to canoe and watch the wildlife along the shore. Before we had children, my hubby and I would go into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota, camping, portaging and canoeing. I still love lake time, but the days of sleeping in a tent on a 1/2 inch pad, and portaging with a Duluth pack on my back, are over. Now, when I get the chance, a cabin on a lake is the way to go.
Sometimes we can finagle the whole family to join us for lake time... then we do some hiking, canoeing, exploring. Here are some bits of natural beauty that we found one day. It was fun to gather and arrange, and then put it all back into the woods. Later we had campfire, walked out on the dock and looked at the Milky Way. It is a memory I cherish.
The time spent quietly in nature fills my heart and soul. There is no pressure to be on a schedule, to look a certain way, or to perform a task. No traffic snarls. There is just calm and beauty. For me, lake time is time to "Be still and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10
Every morning
the world
is created.
Under the orange
sticks of the sun
the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves again
and fasten themselves to the high branches ---
and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islands
of summer lilies.
each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,
whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.
***
I wish you the peace of summer, the joy of burbling water, and the sweetness of laughter.
Thanks to Carol Varsalona for hosting today's Spiritual Journey group and for creating and sharing the beautiful image above. Join her at her blog for some beautiful summer gratitude, and follow the links to other bloggers in the group.
Hello All:
I hope your 4th of July was as fun and relaxing as mine. We had a few folks over, grilled brats, played corn hole, made s'mores, had a fire in the fire pit and lit a few sparklers. Woohoo!
I'm getting ready for a busy week. One granddaughter will be visiting and helping me with crafts at our church Vacation Bible School. It's a fun challenge and my main concern is energy level. Beam me up some extra energy, okay?
I ran into some old acrostics I had written in the margins of a sudoku, and thought I would share since it's that time of year when we like to have meals outdoors.
ANT
Weather often surprises me. This morning I awoke to the deep rumble of thunder and the sputtering patter of rain. What a nice way to wake up. I love a gentle storm.
I'm so thankful for the many surprises of nature: color, shape, texture, sound, temperature, taste, touch. Every day is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Every day a new show unfolds.
Sunsets are some of the best surprises. Their silence makes them easy to miss, but their deep vibrant colors and constant renewal can be awe inspiring. I recently watched one evolve on my way home from a shopping trip, each permutation more stunning than the last. If only I could have taken a video.
Today I offer you a little poem about sunsets.
I can scarcely believe how fast the days go by. Who can keep up? And yet, I have moments of quiet, hours when I don't know what to do next, when I feel at loose ends. I try to take these hours as a gift, to let myself recalibrate, to let go of ongoing worries and just breathe. Time to pray.
This year I tried a few vegetables in my garden along with some flowers. Mixed reviews.
Nasturtiums are still trying to find their place. My sources suggest full sun, but leaves seem to burn.
One small tomato plant, my only one, had to be removed. I noticed leaves were yellowing, then some creature ate the top off. I pulled it out and planted another tomato in it's place. This time I put a chicken wire cage over it.
Green beans were also munched in a few spots. I'm experimenting, covering them with a thin mesh at night, uncovering during daylight. Tiny bugs are eating the leaves. Still, I love the pink of the blossoms and the hope of a few fresh green beans.
Today I celebrate parsley. I love it in scrambled eggs and salads.
Six pea plants grew from the 20 or so seeds that I planted. Germination rate was not great. I'm learning. The peas also are under a chicken wire cage to keep animals from eating them. I'll have a nice little harvest of sugar snap peas in a day or so, and I will celebrate a small victory. Woo hoo!
Below: witness the hope of next year's raspberries. This plant had a rough beginning, but now perks up.
Thank you, God
for challenges
for learnings
for time to plant, write, pray
for future's pink buds
for each runner and vein of green growth
for pungency
for crunch.
- Karen Eastlund
Thanks to Ramona for hosting today at Pleasures from the Page.
The final month of 1928. This tells about my Grandma, Grace Pierce, visiting my parents in their home in Isle, MN on the shore of the huge Milles Lacs Lake. Isle is about 95mins north of Minneapolis by today's standards, but considerably longer by 1928 standards.
I love her simile but I don't want to give it away. Watch for: Nervous as ...
Dec. 1, Saturday
We got up early & poked around in the dark & got started finally at 20 to 8. We got to Minneapolis at noon & started from there at 1-30 & went all right until after we left Anoka & had a puncture & at Elk River we had the tire fixed so didn’t get to Isle until after dark & the house was very cold. Margarette & I slept down stairs on the day bed. I was very tired and had a stiff neck.
Dec. 2, Sunday – Isle, MN
Very snowy & kept it up all night & all day. We all felt tired and got up late. We wrote letters & sat around all day and went to bed about 11. It certainly looks like winter and we were lucky to come up yesterday instead of today.
Dec. 3, Monday – Isle, MN
Very snowy. The sun shone a little while. I ironed until middle of afternoon. Doris cleaned up the house & went up town a little while. We saw many sleighs go by today and so many trucks loaded with Christmas trees. Emil hauled water with a sled in eve. & we worked on fancy work.
Dec. 4, Tuesday – Isle, MN
Nice and bright but very cold. Doris washed & mopped all the floors. I made some canned plums into preserves. I went up town to mail a letter right after dinner. In eve Emil went to basket ball practice until 9-30. Doris & I both worked on fancy work.
An example of fancy work by Grace Pierce
Dec. 5, Wednesday – Isle, MN
Another bright day but colder than yesterday. I went to post office after mail just after dinner & got a letter from Anita & a card from Eda Wade. I washed three storm windows to have ready to put on.
Dec. 6, Thursday – Isle, MN
Very nice and warmer. Our clothes weren’t dry so we didn’t iron yet. I went up to post office after mail and got a letter from Anita and poor little Marilyn isn’t much better. In eve Emil went to basket ball practice & got home a little after nine & then went down to restaurant and got some ice cream.
Dec. 7, Friday – Isle, MN
A beautiful day. Marion is a year old today. I went to post office again but didn’t get any thing for me. I ironed all forenoon & part of afternoon. Emil went to basket ball game at Ogilvie & got home about 12.
Dec. 8, Saturday – Isle, MN
A lovely day, very blustery in morning but got nice & warm before noon. We just did the work and worked on fancy work. I got a letter from Anita & one from Luella & one from Addie Cole & a card from Mrs. Price. I have my fancy work nearly done.
Dec. 9, Sunday – Isle, MN
Oh such a beautiful day. We got up late. Doris gave both kids a bath & took one herself. I washed my feet but that was as far as I got. I cut a chicken up & put it on to cook & Doris made date cakes. We had chicken noodles for dinner. After noon we went for a ride and saw a wolf in a wire cage that had been caught while they were deer hunting.
Dec. 10, Monday – Isle, MN
More beautiful than yesterday. We did a big washing and I mopped the porch & kitchen & Doris mopped dining room and pantry. I got letters from Anita & Hazel. After supper Doris and Emil went down to the store and I stayed here with the kids.
Dec. 11, Tuesday – Isle, MN
A cloudy frosty morning & sun shone for a while and then clouded over and was damp & rainy all day. I ironed and Doris went down town about 2 o’clock. I made an apple pie for dinner & Doris made a cake. Margarette went down to the store with Emil after school.
A few of Grandma Pierce's Pie Recipes
Dec. 12, Wednesday – Isle, MN
Very dark and dreary. I finished the ironing & Doris made a pie & I got fish ready for dinner. I got a letter from Anita with a $2.00 check in it & a letter from Add. Margarette & I went down town in afternoon and made some purchases.
I made a cape & hood for Margarette’s doll.
Dec. 13, Thursday – Isle, MN
Just as dark and cloudy as the other days this week. I made Margarette’s blue dress longer & put new pieces in her crazy quilt. I got a package from Sears and a letter from Luella. Doris went up to post office in afternoon but didn’t get her package she has been looking for since last Saturday.
Dec. 14, Friday – Isle, MN
Just as dark as yesterday and rained a little. Emil called Minneapolis this morning to see if the winter top to the car was done, but it won’t be done for a week so they won’t go down tonight. Margarette & I went to post office & store and went in Anheusers so she could see the toys. Marion cried hard about 4 o-clock in morning on account of having so much gas on her stomach.
Dec. 15, Saturday
Very nasty morning. I got up a little after six & fixed my lunch and after breakfast Emil carried my suit case to bus station & I left Isle at 7-30 & got to Minneapolis at 11-15. I had dinner & went to a Woolworth Store near there & waited until I was as nervous as an oyster & left at 2. The roads were very bad part of the way & the big bus was loaded, about 25 in & we got to Rochester at 25 to 7 & left right away, but could only get as far as Canton as he doesn’t go any farther on account of bad roads. I stayed at Franks. Parnell Kimball carried my suitcase for me. I called home & Elmer is quite sick with flu. LuVerne & Anita are doing chores. This is the last day the bus runs from Rochester down until it freezes.
Dec. 16, Sunday
Got up about 7 at Franks & Raymond came after me with a team. Dr. Emmons stopped in about 5 o’clock to see Elmer. He is not in as much pain as yesterday. Clifford Pierce came after a horse Johnny Reinsvold bought. Louie Underbakke came up & threw down ensilage so LuVerne didn’t have to. Anita is about worn out tonight & she & LuVerne went to bed about 7-30 but I’m not as tired as I was last night.
The challenge of fountain pens...
Dec. 17, Monday
Not a very nice day, but we washed the white clothes & didn’t get through until after noon. Elmer is some better. I made a pie & scaled three fish. Ervin Leistikow came down and did nearly all the chores but milking & Anita & LuVerne did that. She sent to Canton with Louie U. for some things.
Dec. 18, Tuesday
A queer day. The sun shone by spells & it would be a regular blizzard. In afternoon I washed the colored clothes. Ervin was here all day & cleaned barns & hen house. Elmer went out door a little while. Luella & Roger walked over and Raymond came after them. In eve I wrapped Christmas packages & got Leslie’s ready to send. It thawed a lot today so it was very slippery.
Dec. 19, Wednesday
Sun shone all day but it was cold. I ironed in afternoon. Elmer went out and helped with chores & LuVerne went home after school, the first he has since a week ago last night. Anita is busy with fancy work. I sent Leslie & Hazel and Thomas’ things today.
Dec. 20, Thursday - 2 below zero
Pretty cold and the wind blows a gale. Anita & Elmer went to Canton about 9-30 and got back a little after 11. I kept Marilyn. They had quite a time to start the car. Mrs. Peacock passed away about midnight.
Dec. 21, Friday
Much nicer than yesterday. Anita & Elmer went to Decorah and I went to Elsie’s and kept Marilyn. She was very good. They got back about 1-30. Elsie had club today so we didn’t get home until between 4 and 5. We had a flat tire coming home.
Dec. 22, Saturday
Quite cold & blustery. Elmer took a grist to Burr Oak with a team. We washed & I baked a fruit cake for Ladies’ Aid Food sale. I walked down to Louie’s with a package that Anita was to send to Margarette. He went to Decorah & took it there. Gladys Peacock called and told us when Mrs. Peacock’s funeral would be.
Dec. 23, Sunday
Much warmer. We went over to Stevie’s. Gene Headingtons were there too. In afternoon I went to Mrs. Peacock’s funeral. Alva, Clifford & Victor took me. Luella stopped here when they went home from Iona’s and I sent their presents over with her.
Dec. 24, Monday
Quite warm but cloudy. I ironed and made an apple pie. Raymond came over and helped Elmer butcher a hog and was here to dinner. Elmer went to Burr Oak with him and rode home with Leistikows. I got a lot of Christmas cards & Gerald and Margaret Moran’s pictures, also a letter from Doris and they won’t be down. Elmer went to tree at M.E. Church with Louis Underbakke.
Dec. 25, Tuesday
A lovely warm day. The most beautiful Christmas day I ever saw. I got very nice presents. A diary, silk bloomers & a box of candy from Anita, a pair of silk stockings, lovely box of stationery & silk bloomers from Luella, pillow cases & dresser scarf from Doris, a lovely portfolio of writing paper, box of candy & silk combination suit from Hazel & Leslie. We went over to Luella’s & were the only ones there except Willard Barth. Had a lovely dinner goose, chicken, & everything. About 5 o-clock Doris, Emil & kids came. Raymonds came over in eve & stayed until 11 o’clock.
Dec. 26, Wednesday
Nice in forenoon but clouded over at noon. Emil went to Spring Grove. I washed & made a fruit cake. In afternoon, Luella & kids came over while Raymond went on cream route. We were all so tired tonight so went to bed early. Margarette played out door in afternoon it seemed like October.
Dec. 27, Thursday
A beautiful day. We ironed and did a few odd jobs. Elmer was feeling bum but went down to Louie’s and helped stack stalks but came home early. Emil came down about 3 and Burnell was with him so Doris & kids went up with him & came back to Luella’s to supper about 7-30. Elmer was too sick to go over so I walked over about 5-30 so it was dark before I got there. We got home about 10-30.
Emil gave me a nice box of stationery so I am pretty well supplied.
Dec. 28, Friday
Not as nice as yesterday. Emil went to Spring Grove as soon as he had breakfast. Elmer is sick and Anita feels bum. Raymonds were all here to dinner & LuVerne stayed all night. I had to go down to Violet’s to get macaroni. Emil came about 6 o’clock. The wind is much colder tonight. Margarette played out door with Roger & LuVerne. We weighed Marilyn today and she weighed 20 lbs. She will be 9 months old tomorrow.
Dec. 29, Saturday
Much colder and quite a wind. I got up a little after five and Doris, Emil & kids got started about 20 to 8 and am afraid they will have a cold ride. Elmer doesn’t feel well at all and Anita isn’t very good. LuVerne went home for a while and came back just before dark. Raymond took feed to B.O. to get ground and brought groceries home.
Dec. 30, Sunday
Much warmer. Elmer feels about the same & Anita is worse. She has a cold. I made ice-cream. LuVerne went home about 11-30 and came back about 2-30. Nobody here all day. It was a very nice day. Marilyn didn’t feel very good either.
Dec. 31, Monday
Very dark and cloudy and a few snow flakes fell. Elmer’s head is a little better, and Anita feels some better and I have a backache and my head is stuffed up a little worse than usual. Elsie, Merle & Dean came over about 4-30 and brought some medicine for Elmer. It is much colder tonight. This is the last day of 1928.