Library love....

To say that I go to the library often, would be an understatement.
I go often enough to know that sometimes, books don't seem to
leap out at me and I return with a couple of luke warm choices.
Where as at other times, I skip away with an above average
stash of books under my arm.

Sometimes this stash can be so good that it has the power to
chart my day- and possibly even my week, on a different course.
The other day was one of those lucky days!

I discovered as if by chance The Gentle Art of Domesticity
by Jane Brocket. Quite why, in blog land I hadn't stumbled upon
this before, I do not know. But what a wonderful treat it is!

I looked through it in wonder- it was almost as if it was written
specifically with me in mind! With a combination of so may things
that are dear to my heart. Knitting, sewing, cooking, reading
(Persephone books) vintage movies, history, art, poetry...

It is in a lot of ways, such a wonderful affirmation of home-making.
Almost a thinking woman's guide to domestic life. Full of beautiful
photos, recipes and various works of art, depicting domesticity.
I must say I wallowed in it! In fact I swooned over several quilts,
paintings and in particular this beautiful poem Winding Wool.

::Seeing the light::

I think that the first year in a house is always a bit exciting.
You just never know how things will be in each new season.
Unexpected bulbs and blooms in the garden, new families of
birds to watch and for us at the moment, little adventures
in changing light.
As the angle of the sunlight changes, delicious shafts of light
appear in unexpected places. We find ourselves at the
breakfast table, with beautiful fresh morning light, shining
on a vase of roses. Suddenly there is a twinkling sunny
patch on my bedroom wall.
It feels a bit like my life at the moment, somehow full of
promise, with an open-ness I haven't experienced in years.
An open-ness to new perspectives and new friendships appearing
as if by magic, like this new light in our house.

An expedition-of the finest sort!

There is something about creating your own entertainment
that is, I think almost magical-in a wonderful tailor made
kind of way. There is something fluid about it, how
you can never quite predict how things will turn out....... and
yet sometimes, the quest develops a life of its own
and becomes so very beautiful.



Like a couple of Sundays ago, when I found myself in fine
company, sitting painting on a tartan rug, whilst being showered
in a carpet of purple petals....and listening to poetry read aloud.



Perfect! And just what I needed.....although I didn't realise it
until that very moment.

On the Cusp.

Could it be that Autumn has crept in?? That almost before
we know it the nights are pulling in, and the fall of the year
has begun. I love this feeling of being on the cusp between
seasons. With all the fullness of one and the promise of
another.
With this beautiful rain and coolness, suddenly my focus
changes. I start thinking about cozyness, soup, knitting
and the beginning of winter's inward journey.
Happy early autumn to you!

My little venture

There is a most wonderful satisfaction in
achieving something which has been a long
held dream. So it feels for my little business
venture.
There is such a sense of all that has gone before,
somehow leading to this. The toys that we
have, the books I have gathered, the philosophy
that I felt drawn to long ago-have all in a way
led almost effortlessly to this point.
All has somehow ripened in the fullness
of time. Just when I needed it to.

And to my delight, I find myself with
a beautiful little group of children, coming to my
door each week for a Waldorf home kindy.

For a bit of baking, singing, playing,
storytelling and general merrymaking.

For me it has been a most powerful lesson

in believing in myself. Our house is modest,

the garden small (and very much a work in

progress!) and yet somehow it has all come

together. On my kitchen window sill I have

little quote, which I have read often over

the past few weeks:

Magic is

Believing in yourself,

If you can do that,

you can make

anything happen.

Goethe

It is of course early days, and I am still feeling
my way, teaching in the Waldorf philosophy......
and working with one of my own children(!!!)
But it feels so very right and good.