In the last few days, the trees have burst their buds in a delicate display of chartreuse, pink, white, and lavender lace. Beside every fence and lane are bright drifts of golden forsythia and purpley-pink mounds of azalea. I've donned my garden gloves and tidied the flower beds and pruned and nourished the roses. 

Last Thursday the David Austin rose catalog arrived in my mailbox--I haven't put it down since. Do you receive this wonder? It is a coffee-table-worthy publication of gorgeous photos, beautiful descriptions, and lots of helpful information and tips on growing English roses. I don't have any English roses in my garden yet (I have two floribundas: Moondance and Sunsprite; and two hybrid teas: Falling in Love and Let Freedom Ring; none of which are particularly happy with our New England winters--makes you wonder why they sell these varieties here), but I've told my family that my Mother's Day wish is for two D.A. English roses: The Lady of Shalott, and Mustead Wood--even the names are delightful to me.

Last week I saw the most dazzling sunset of my life right outside my door. The sky was lit up in every shade of pink (the photo above is completely untouched). I stood there marveling at the awesome play of colored light, and for just a moment I was enraptured and forgot all the earthly things: the bills and bombs and health concerns and dead fish. The only thing of true importance was the way the sky flared pink as the sun went down.

I'm still knitting my 'Fronds' nap blanket, but I've cast-on some socks, too. The pattern is 'Lace and Cable Socks' by Wendy Johnson.  I'm using Ivy Brambles 'Sockscene' yarn in the Secret Garden colorway. I'm obsessed with this yarn--it's all the colors of spring: moss, chartreuse, lilac, azalea, rose; sqeeeeee! I'll probably finish one sock and then cast-on a new project (my life is incredibly mundane, so I must insist on variety in my hobbies😁). I have an old skein of Dream in Color 'Starry' in the Some Summer Sky colorway that I want to knit into a Soft Sunday shawl by Suvi Simola next. When I'm finished with that project, I will knit the other lace and cable sock, and perchance get back to working on 'Fronds'. In between, I'll be painting rocks for our town's Kindness Rock Project (the ones in the photo above, however, are not mine; I tend to paint whimsical scenes and critters) and painting postcards and other little things. 

Easter was the strangest I've ever experienced. My older kids all had to work, so we didn't have dinner until quite late--after seven pm. We dined al fresco on the deck because it was 86 degrees (New England gets a few rogue summer days in the midst of our traditionally cool, wet springs). We colored eggs Friday evening, and I made Easter bread on Saturday. Sunday was sleepy and unseasonably warm. We spent most of the day lazying around and puttering in the garden. 

I'm reading aloud The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights by Sir James Knowles to my youngest (who is not quite eleven). It's an old and wonderful telling that has made me want to find a good novel about King Arthur to read myself. I've been looking at different books and series but can't decide. A lot of people like The Mists of Avalon, but I don't think it's for me. I love Mary Stewart, so The Crystal Cave is in the running. Are there any other King Arthur novels you can recommend to me? 

Thank you to everyone who commented on my last post. I intended to reply to each one, but time got away from me. It seems I rarely have the chance to be online for very long these days, which makes me wonder why I try to keep a blog at all. A great deal has changed in my life in the last few years, and in some ways blogging isn't the best fit anymore, but I really don't like Instagram. I do deeply appreciate everyone who takes the time to read here. ♥

  

  

 

In the last few days, the trees have burst their buds in a delicate display of chartreuse, pink, white, and lavender lace. Beside every fence and lane are bright drifts of golden forsythia and purpley-pink mounds of azalea. I've donned my garden gloves and tidied the flower beds and pruned and nourished the roses. 

Last Thursday the David Austin rose catalog arrived in my mailbox--I haven't put it down since. Do you receive this wonder? It is a coffee-table-worthy publication of gorgeous photos, beautiful descriptions, and lots of helpful information and tips on growing English roses. I don't have any English roses in my garden yet (I have two floribundas: Moondance and Sunsprite; and two hybrid teas: Falling in Love and Let Freedom Ring; none of which are particularly happy with our New England winters--makes you wonder why they sell these varieties here), but I've told my family that my Mother's Day wish is for two D.A. English roses: The Lady of Shalott, and Mustead Wood--even the names are delightful to me.

Last week I saw the most dazzling sunset of my life right outside my door. The sky was lit up in every shade of pink (the photo above is completely untouched). I stood there marveling at the awesome play of colored light, and for just a moment I was enraptured and forgot all the earthly things: the bills and bombs and health concerns and dead fish. The only thing of true importance was the way the sky flared pink as the sun went down.

I'm still knitting my 'Fronds' nap blanket, but I've cast-on some socks, too. The pattern is 'Lace and Cable Socks' by Wendy Johnson.  I'm using Ivy Brambles 'Sockscene' yarn in the Secret Garden colorway. I'm obsessed with this yarn--it's all the colors of spring: moss, chartreuse, lilac, azalea, rose; sqeeeeee! I'll probably finish one sock and then cast-on a new project (my life is incredibly mundane, so I must insist on variety in my hobbies😁). I have an old skein of Dream in Color 'Starry' in the Some Summer Sky colorway that I want to knit into a Soft Sunday shawl by Suvi Simola next. When I'm finished with that project, I will knit the other lace and cable sock, and perchance get back to working on 'Fronds'. In between, I'll be painting rocks for our town's Kindness Rock Project (the ones in the photo above, however, are not mine; I tend to paint whimsical scenes and critters) and painting postcards and other little things. 

Easter was the strangest I've ever experienced. My older kids all had to work, so we didn't have dinner until quite late--after seven pm. We dined al fresco on the deck because it was 86 degrees (New England gets a few rogue summer days in the midst of our traditionally cool, wet springs). We colored eggs Friday evening, and I made Easter bread on Saturday. Sunday was sleepy and unseasonably warm. We spent most of the day lazying around and puttering in the garden. 

I'm reading aloud The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights by Sir James Knowles to my youngest (who is not quite eleven). It's an old and wonderful telling that has made me want to find a good novel about King Arthur to read myself. I've been looking at different books and series but can't decide. A lot of people like The Mists of Avalon, but I don't think it's for me. I love Mary Stewart, so The Crystal Cave is in the running. Are there any other King Arthur novels you can recommend to me? 

Thank you to everyone who commented on my last post. I intended to reply to each one, but time got away from me. It seems I rarely have the chance to be online for very long these days, which makes me wonder why I try to keep a blog at all. A great deal has changed in my life in the last few years, and in some ways blogging isn't the best fit anymore, but I really don't like Instagram. I do deeply appreciate everyone who takes the time to read here. ♥

Last weekend we had a beautiful snowy day. I had a lot of fun watching the birds and taking photos. Luke had a great time sledding with one of the neighbor children on the little slope across the street. 

Amy, Emmeline, and I have been busy baking our traditional cookie favorites. Amy took this platter to work this morning.  

This week there were peaceful days of snow, and birds, and long starlit nights. There were also hectic days of holiday preparations and work. I have cleared my calendar of appointments next week and am looking forward to a restful Christmas holiday filled with books and games, movies, treats, letter writing, and maybe some knitting and walks in the winter woods. I haven't had time to knit at all this season, and Seth has been asking for a new pair of slippers. I want to knit myself some new mittens for my birthday in January. I am hoping that after the holidays I will have a little more time to do those things and also post here more often.

From my house to yours, wishing you a bright and blessed Christmas!

 

Two weeks into Advent and nineteen days 'til Christmas. I love the tradition of lighting candles for Advent. The first Advent candle is for hope and expectation. The second is for the coming peace. The third is for joy that the promise is almost fulfilled. The fourth is for the love that God has for mankind. 

Yesterday it snowed! It was just a dusting really, but it made everything sparkly and pretty. 

Presley watched the snow out the front window, and then contemplated the meaning of it all. Besides being a pugilist, he's also a philosopher. He is very fond of Christmas and extra treats.

Monday was a rare day--my oldest children all had it off from work, so we went to our favorite Christmas tree stand and played among the dark and spicy pines. Then, we fed the 'Christmas goats'. My favorite was the little blue eyed black one that had no horns.
 

Emmeline wore the hat I knit in fisherman's rib for her last year. Pink is her favorite color.

Inside the Christmas shop, it was warm and toasty and full of glittering wonders. We oohed and ahhed over miniature houses for the tiniest elves and needle felted Christmas mice dressed up in wee fair isle scarves.

In the greenhouse there were Christmas cacti 'trees', bright poinsettias, and a friendly bear who was giving out hugs.

 

Afterward, we had cups of cocoa and gingerbread. It was pretty wonderful. We really needed a happy day together after a month of too many doctors' appointments and problems and just overall gloom in the world. The news and internet have become so negative that I had to take a break from both for several weeks and remove myself from the clamoring voices.  

I need Advent more than ever this year: a season to reflect, repent, and prepare for the Lord's coming. 

♥ Mornings spent in quiet prayer: What fills my heart?  Have I loved God and neighbor with all of my heart, soul, and mind? Are the aims and intentions of my life informed by Sacred Scripture and Tradition or by the whims of the world? What false narratives have corrupted my mind and made my path crooked?

♥ Evenings spent praying St. Andrew's Novena (15x daily from the Feast of St. Andrew--November 30th--through Christmas Eve):

Hail and blessed be 

the hour and moment 

in which the Son of God was born

of the most pure Virgin Mary,

at midnight, in Bethlehem,

in piercing cold.

In that hour vouchsafe, O my God!

to hear my prayer and grant my desires

(mention your intentions here)

through the merits of 

Our Savior Jesus Christ,

and of His Blessed Mother.

Amen

♥ Days spent removed from the noise of the world as much as possible, creating a 'Christmas mood' in my home: an atmosphere of light, good will, comfort, and joy.

♥ Re-aligning my path to follow the True Light. 

~*~*~*~

According to National Review, sixty students and some faculty members recently marched across the campus of Providence College to the president’s office, demanding action against English professor Anthony Esolen for writing an article published in Crisis magazine about the 'totalitarian diversity cult' that has taken over the university (a private Roman Catholic institution in Rhode Island). This is important because there is a growing intolerance for Christians throughout the world, particularly towards Catholic Christians who are being silenced, harassed, ridiculed, and persecuted in record numbers.  Peter Viereck († 2006) American poet, political thinker, and historian once commented that "Catholic baiting is the anti-Semitism of the liberals." 

Michael Kirke has written another eye-opening article on Garvan Hill about what is behind the moral shift and deconstruction of western culture in "No Phantom Menace--the real thing." It's worth reading, even if you believe that Christianity is responsible for everything that is wrong with the world. Why? Because if you don't know all of the sides of an issue and haven't given it careful consideration, then your opinion is uninformed, and you really don't know. I wonder how many people took the time to research both sides of the Dakota Access Pipeline project/protest before taking a stand? I wonder why it is that many vegans are also pro choice?  I wonder why Artists for Love left out whites, men, and Christians (the most persecuted religious group in the world) from their list of who they are "standing with" when their mission is "to remind others that we are standing together, united in love and acceptance" ? Their list is: 

We Stand With You:

Indigenous people

Muslims

LQBTQ

Immigrants

Alter-abled

Women

the disenfranchised

Refugees

All people of color

Veterans

Survivors

And anyone feeling alone or scared

 

We all bleed red when we are cut. We all have the same needs for food, shelter, clean water and air, work, health care, education, and love. Why can't we stand with all people? I see no difference between the "left" and the "right"--both sides are dominated by hate and greed no matter how often the word love gets tossed around. 

The world needs Advent more than ever--a change of heart towards God and neighbor.

But, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith upon the earth? (Luke 18:8)

The last tree in our yard to shed its leaves is a Norway maple that turns bright gold in November. Its shining beauty greets me every morning. And when the wind blows, it sings a joyous song. 

The woods are especially beautiful now. Spending time among the trees, rocks, and water helps me to remember that the world is good. Yes, life brings disappointment and hardship, but there is always joy and goodness to be found. Cultivating a spirit of reverence and gratitude for all of life gives me the courage to face whatever lies ahead with trust and optimism rather than bitterness and despair. God provides a surplus of grace--plenty to share with everyone I meet.

What is grace? It is unmerited love; it is help and hope for the day.

 

November is a month of celebrations at our house. Emmeline's sixteenth birthday was last Friday. Her older siblings took the day off of work so they could be with her. We gave her gifts, chocolate cake, and lots of love.

I haven't done any knitting at all this autumn and very little reading. I am, however, very busy with  mothering and homemaking, which are two things I love even more. So, today I packed up my knitting project (from the summer) and put it away for another time.

 

November is a month of storm clouds, lavender sunsets, and milk-glass moons. 

The other day around 4 o'clock in the afternoon, this sharp-shinned hawk landed in our tree. The moon was already rising in the sky.

 

Emmeline and I did the hard work of preparing the garden beds for winter. I am waiting for the rain to stop so I can finish mulching the roses. Then, anytime after that, it can snow. : ) In Finland, some of my favorite bloggers already have snow!