In lieu of trying to belong to any number of societies: Chesterton, Sherlock Holmes, the Inklings, and so on: I propose and establish one of my own. Don your intelligence cap at the door; dust off your logic and imagination; did you bring your inspiration and encouragement? We are shapers, my friends; lit lamps; light-bringers. Bring quotes; poetry should be uplifting and thoughtful, or witty and clever, (or both). Humor is encouraged; laughter is invited back. Pull up a chair. Anyone for tea?

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In the tree


"Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocketful of gold,
A treasure-trove in springtime,
Worthless in the cold.
Start from your doorstep,
Faces turned west,
Up the wooded hillside,
Over its crest.
Down among the giant stems,
Down across the glen,
To where the cattle feed and browse,
And uphill again.
Find a prelate in a pail,
A crown upon a tree,
Find the garden of a nymph,
And there find me."
 ~Spiderweb for Two: A Melendy Maze, Elizabeth Engright
I saw this out on one of my walks, and had to return with the camera for its picture...

Breath of Spring

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” ~C.S. Lewis
I had a similar picture a few posts ago... these are the books I have read since then.

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The weather is just delicious; I feel as if we are in May or June, rather than March.  Not only is the sun warm, but the breezes are warm as well, the ground soft, the air loaded with scents.  The birds are continuously calling and chirping—many have come back early.  The robins are back in earnest, already serenading us with their morning and evening melodies.  Various grackles and black birds are hopping and chirping, the cardinals are calling happily back and forth—such a cheery sound!—and I have even seen a finch or two, swooping about and enjoying the air.

I am outside as much as possible now, thoroughly ready to be out in the weather again.  I have been walking Silas these days, and enjoying it immensely.  There was a white fog yesterday morning (I like fog, and as I am in the middle of reading ‘The Tiger in the Smoke’ it is quite pertinent) . . . you couldn’t see more than a block, and the old Victorian houses were even more delightful in the mist.  I love walking around our really old houses here in town, the ones with towers and finials, and long history.

Every afternoon these days we sit out on our balcony deck to soak up the sunshine; I’ve already had to resort to brimmed hats to keep from getting sunburn!  A few of these days have gone up to eighty (I can hardly believe it!)  but the nights are still cool enough for sweatshirts and things.  It is my very favorite type of weather, I think.  I am so thankful for this breath of spring!  I needed it desperately.  It has given me new energy, not only physically (although that did feel good) but also mentally.  And being so often in my own head, this is important!

Here are some pictures from our last several days.  As you can probably tell, Katie and family are staying with us at present, until their new home is available.  So the days are busier (and perhaps a bit louder) but very pleasant, and I am so enjoying my sister's company—especially during the afternoon quietude, with news from Bree and all that.  It is splendid to craft and sew together again.  And I can always use a few irresistible baby-faces around! 




{sweet face}



I’m dreaming of spring and summer activities, flowers and leafy trees (here's a bit of spring-like eye candy if you feel so inclined); . . .  reading, writing a little, and the usual housekeeping and cooking for quite a few people.  I am also practicing for my piano recital in April and a choir concert in about a week.  It is my first choir concert ever, and I can’t wait! 
gluten-free brownie ... and mod podge.  Hooray and hooray


 sketching birds I've seen recently...
Katie, tea, and buttons.



Ben, I miss you!  Have an amazing time, and learn a ton, but I can’t wait to get my comical side-kick back again. ;)  Looking forward to seeing you and the friends in a few days!
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Geese fly North

By which I mean to tell the world that spring is truly around the corner!  Not only did I enjoy a very spring-like trip to Illinois, in which I got to hear frogs and wear short sleeves, but even here in our little town we are getting a taste of it.  The last couple of days have been in the sixties, with warm sun and pleasant breezes.  The geese are honking overhead, flying north-west in great V's.  I sat out on our little deck a bit last evening, blanket on my lap, a cup of tea in hand.  It was good to see the sky again and be able to drink in the air.  Silas lay by me a while, enjoying the weather while I wrote in my notebook.  Creative juices start to flow in the free, fresh air; and my energy gets a bit of a surge, like sap running in the trees.  It makes me want to run and climb trees and breath deep into my lungs; so I took the opportunity, and went out walking and jogging with Silas.  The sidewalks were wet from rain and melting snow, a robin was hopping and singing in the damp evening trees, and the ground smelled so good to me.
photo courtesy of Pinterest
I'm looking forward to summer.  Our winter has been rather mild... more like an English winter I suppose (and if I think that, then I don't mind it at all =) but I am ready for spring to come.  I am reminded of all the lovely things we do in spring and summer... So I'm planning my window-box/roof-garden, and various projects.  I remember how our whole town is perfumed during lilac season, and what a pleasant place to ride my bike.  And I'm dreaming about reading out in a tree again. . . .

February

 ~storybooks~


Gluten-Free little German Chocolate cakes for Pa's Birthday:

 cakes...  Greta was lots of help--she loves to cook.
coconut pecan...




chocolate ganache...
It's a party!
grandbabies enjoying the party..:)