a spirit of simplicity

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Our Autumn colours in New England are not as vibrant as they normally are. The people who figure that stuff out tell us it is because of all the rain we had during the summer. I suppose we reap what we sow and all that.  They tell us we won't have as many reds this year and from what I have seen thus far they are correct...not so much red but lots of beautiful yellow. It does make what red we are seeing really stand out. ~ ~ ~ Nature notes Communal global my corner of the world wordless Wednesday Wednesdays around the world

The weather.....It is cooler today after unseasonably hot temperatures last week.  Right now I am....Sipping coffee. The cooler temperatures had me searching for slippers this morning.  Thinking....I need to stop at the market to pick up more coffee. I won't have any for tomorrow morning and that is never any fun. On my reading pile....I just read a book called The Winter Garden which I chose out of one of those little libraries in people's yards. It was very good...but very sad.  On my TV.....I really enjoy Restoration Road with Clint Harp. Something fun to share.... On the menu for this week....I have some winter squash I want to roast, homemade pizza, I am going to my daughter's Friendsgiving this weekend and I plan on making a harvest roast to bring along with some pumpkin pie. On my to do list....Cooking for this weekend and putting the air conditioner away. I've been procrastinating about that. Looking forward to this week....the end of the Halloween madness in Sa

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20 ~ ~ ~ scripture and a snapshot You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Both of my daughters, my son-in-law and all three grandchildren went to the pumpkin walk over the weekend. Oh my goodness, so much fun! So many jack-o-lanterns! I treated my family to a pumpkin walk! We saw hundreds of Jack-o-lanterns and had such a great time! ~ Saturday we got together at my daughter's house for some Jack-o-lantern carving of our own. So much fun! This year Verne carved his own pumpkin for the very first pumpkin! He used a safety pumpkin carving knife. I spent time at home on Sunday and was able to putter around my house a bit. I picked up a new chair at Saver's. I love that little sun symbol. I used it as a inspiration for my pumpkin. I found a secret way through Salem so I don't have to drive through the throngs of tourists  on my way home from work! There are no words or pictures to say how happy this makes me! Just a few more days and then Halloween will be over for another year.  ~ ~ ~ ~ friday fave fives

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I found this wonderful non-fiction book written by a Japanese woman named Yumiko Sekine. She started a company called  Linen Fog It is separated by the seasons. I love books that do that.  The weather: Autumn's cool temperatures have finally arrived. Today we will reach only 59 degrees but this morning, as I type this, it is only about 49. I have my fuzzy slippers on! Outside my window: it is dark. The sun has not yet even begun to rise up over the harbour. Sunrise won't be until just after 7:00. I don't mind the darker, earlier evenings. It's sort of cozy. I don't, however, enjoy the later mornings. It's hard to get out of bed in the dark! Right now I am: sitting at my kitchen table drinking a hot cup of vanilla nut coffee.  Thinking and pondering: about a book I read recently called, Life in Five Senses, by Gretchen Rubin. It's very interesting. She writes about how she spent one year being very mindful attention to her 5 senses. She set up

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t Rejoice with those who rejoice,  Weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18 I grew up Irish Catholic in a town with a large Jewish population.   My sister lived in the south for a while and though there were churches as big as concert halls it was hard for her to find a Catholic church. She was in the minority.  I have some idea of what it must be like to believe that your way is the only way to the "true God." I believe that there is one God but that there are many different ways to worship Him. As long as you are basing your belief on love, agape love, and not hate or fear all the paths lead to heaven. I'm sure there are people much better than I, but for me, following the path has been a lifetime of learning, self-correction, letting go, and acceptance. It's hard work. If you are not the same as

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Last spring I purchased a few bags of seeds.  The art on the little bags was so beautiful that i couldn't resist even though I don't have a garden anymore.  I gave my daughter the seeds and I kept the pretty artwork. This is her bountiful harvest. Not only were the bags beautiful to look at but the seeds created beauty as well!~ ~ ~ little things Thursday thankful Thursday

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Verne's birthday party! ~ Little miss Natalie told me all about the three blow-up Halloween things in their front yard... but this little tree stump jack-o-lantern guy was her favorite. This one got a hug! ~ I recently read Life in Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin. Great read!  She has inspired me to pay more attention to my five senses throughout the week. This week I've searched out the colour blue. These well loved blue wellies were hanging on the playground fence at work.  To me they tell a story about a young child who did some puddle stomping! ~ My daughter got a new puppy! Her name is Violet and she is a gentle little soul. The children love her! She still needs some house training though. Glad I have a cat. ~ My older daughter, Hannah, was at Verne's birthday party so I got to spend a little time with her as well. That made me very happy. ~ ~ ~ Friday fave fives Farmhouse Friday

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The story of a little table To think I almost passed this sweet little table by.  Isn't that always the way it is with true-love?  Just when you are not looking it shows up and knocks your socks off! ~ ~ ~ Busy Monday happy homemaker Monday inspire me Monday

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I finally got out to the farmer's market to pick up a jar of honey. As I was contemplating the calories in the the spoonful of honey I added to my morning oatmeal it occurred to me that the song title, "honey in your hips" means something entirely different to me now... ~ I read the book Leaf Man, by Lois Ehlert to my class of toddlers. Afterward we made our own leaf creations on a wooden tray.  "There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature;  to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and the beauty in nature." Maria Montessori ~ Joe and I got a chance to listen to some records over the long weekend. It was nice to have a chance to relax with him as he works nights and weekends. ~ I have had an old trunk for a coffee table for as long as I can remember. When we downsized I switched it out for a smaller one that an old neighbor lady gave me 16 or 17 years ago. Monday, I went to the local homegoods store and picked up t

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Once upon a time we lived on a rather tiny island connected to the mainland by a 2 mile causeway. It was wild and rugged and just after a storm was my very favourite time to walk the coast line. I found so many buoys that had broken off of their landings at sea and washed up upon the shore. These two are colour suited for the season so I add them to a basket in the living room. I am thankful for our time on that little island and just as thankful to be back in our darling home town  in our tiny little spot along the old harbour. ~ ~ ~ Little things Thursday Thankful Thursday Thursday favorite things

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Two paths diverged in a yellow wood I took the one less travelled by and that has made all the difference I find myself seeking out Robert Frost in October and turn again to one of my very favourite poems. October O hushed October morning mild, Thy leaves have ripened to the fall; Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild, Should waste them all. The crows above the forest call; Tomorrow they may form and go. O hushed October morning mild, Begin the hours of this day slow. Make the day seem to us less brief. Hearts not averse to being beguiled, Beguile us in the way you know, Release one leaf at break of day; At noon release another leaf; One from our trees, one far away. Retard the sun with gentle mist; Enchant the land with amethyst. Slow, slow! For the grapes' sake, if they were all, Whose leaves already are burnt with frost, Whose clustered fruit must else be lost- For the grapes' sake along the wall. ~ ~ ~ Nature notes communal global my corner of the world wordles

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Easy baked squash risotto recipe for the squash 1 medium butternut squash 2-3 TBSP extra-virgin olive oil 1 tsp dried sage salt and pepper For the risotto 1 TBSP extra-virgin olive oil 2 shallots, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, crushed and finely sliced 1 1/2 cups risotto rice  (I used short grain brown rice-you may need a little extra stock for brown rice) 1 1/2 quarts vegetable stock 3 TBSP dried sage salt and pepper To serve 2 TBSP pine nuts 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil small handful fresh sage leaves To roast the butternut squash: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Pell the squash, and slice into 1/4 inch thick rounds before removing the seeds and slicing into small, cubed pieces. Spread the squash out acrtoss the baking sheet, drizzle over the olive oil, then scatter over the dried sage, salt and pepper. Place in the oven to roast for 30 minutes. To make the risotto: Meanwhile, in a large ovenproof cast-iron saucepan (with

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven,  and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them; things that the Lord your God  has allotted to all of the peoples under heaven. Deuteronomy 4:19 ESV "Come quick!" my husband called out to me from where he was standing on the back deck just a few nights ago. So we stared up into the night sky and watched Elon Musk's string satellites fly over our heads, over the rooftops of the revolutionary era town we live in, over the Atlantic ocean and off into the heavens beyond. What a strange world we are living in.  I thought of my grandmother who was born in 1898, and what her thoughts must have been when she got her first telephone or her first television. I thought of The Jetsons, that old space age cartoon I used to watch on Saturday mornings. I thought of my grandchildren and great grandchildren and how strings of lights commandin

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Last night my husband stepped outside to the back deck and said, "Come here, quick!" so I got out there and we both watched Elon Musk's string satellites/star link sail through the night sky, over our heads, over the revolutionary era town we live in, and off into the heavens above.  Pretty strange world we live in these days.  Smallish orange pumpkins and red/orange mums are in the window box.  I can see it from my living room and it looks quite pretty. I am hoping that it will take the squirrels a good long time to find the pumpkins.  ~ I lit the fire the other night. Our home was once lived in by John Merritt who was in the revolutionary war. I believe he was one of the soldiers that rowed General Washington across the Delaware river. Unfortunately, the house was rebuilt about 130 years ago. I don't know why, perhaps fire or neglect? We have a beautiful brick exposed chimney but no fireplace as people were using wood stoves for heat by that point. I

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I am thankful for fresh fall soups the kind that simmers on the back of the stove much of the day and permeates the whole house with a delicious aroma.  A walk in the brisk Autumn air and then turning toward home for a bowl of soup and a slice of fresh bread...a green salad and perhaps a bit of pie for dessert. ~ ~ ~ thankful Thursday little things Thursday Thursday favorite things

  What's something that scares you? Scary movies. I never watch them. I don't even like it when they are on in the house and I'm in another room.  Do you care where the food you eat comes from? To what degree? Yes. I care. I prefer to eat food that is fresh and clean. I shop at farmer's markets when I can (we live in New England). I try to support local restaurants and small grocery stores. It's important to me that my body is healthy. What's something you wish you'd spent more time doing when you were younger? I was a stay at home mom when my children were young. I have no regrets about that. I do wish that I was better off financially now though. I wish I could work part time and spend more time with my grandchildren. However, staying home with my children is not something I regret. When I look back those were some of my favourite years. I'm not sure I would have said that at the time though. Some days were very long. Let's play autumn this or that

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ A walk in the wood of a morning  Olden woods are my favourite. Wild places where we leave things as they lay and let the world take care of itself...the way it has been doing for ever and ever.  Perfectly fine without us. When I was a girl I could walk through our backyard into a conservation area that was nothing but woods. A few clearings here and there and a small stream...frog pond.  I would spend days in there coming home only for food.  Hours and hours - seasons upon seasons - years upon years. When I was a young teenager we moved closer to town and I stopped going into the wood. But the wood has never left me. It's still my favourite place to be.  ~ ~ ~ Nature notes communal global my corner of the world wordless Wednesday Wednesdays around the world