Five on Friday: This Week Small...

"What is small?

Children are small.

Seeds are small.

Moments are small.

Yet of these the whole world is composed."

Reclaiming Quiet, Cultivating a Life of Holy Attention

Sarah Clarkson

Sometimes a person pulls a book from a shelf looking for something. In this case, I was looking for a line of inspiration that I could open with. I flipped through Sarah's much underlined book, hoping something would pop out. That's when I found those lovely lines above. 

It's been another full, busy week and my offerings today are small. A few thoughts, scraps, really. But in the spirit of Sarah's words, I hope you will find a measure of cheer... the lilt that lifts the soul a little.   

One. Small Lights 

As soon as I saw it, I knew this photo was joining today's post.

The candle drew me in with its comforting wick of light. I could

almost feel its warmth. I'm grateful to live in an age when

candles and twinkle lights are so readily available to fill dark

corners with cheer as winter approaches.

Oh, and I love how the pink rose peers from the dark background.

Another lift for a soul longing for a thing of beauty.

Two. Little Pockets

"Joy doesn't cancel out heavy things but it

gives you little pockets of strength to carry on."

from Sharecare on Facebook

Three. Weather Changes

The weather has switched gears—I could feel the chill of winter

in the air yesterday. Which means, in my corner of the world,

this will wrap up my last autumn-y post for the year. And signals

the season of creating cozy nooks inside our homes and souls.

Four. Reading Pile

Looking forward to dipping into these books new to me:

 

Book of Lives, A Memoir of Sorts (2025)

by Margaret Atwood

Dearly (new poems, 2020)

by Margaret Atwood

The Queen Who Came in from the Cold:

Her Majesty The Queen Investigates

by S.J. Bennett

(releases on November 11th)

*

I'm now planning to re-read

Reclaiming Quiet, Cultivating a Life of Holy Attention

by Sarah Clarkson (2024)

I've started to gather my cozy reads for the

coming season—will share soon.

Five. Remembering

Remembering those who gave their lives for others.

May their sacrifice never been in vain.

November 11th

And I want to add that there have been a

couple of people recently, who I only knew through their

social media presence and who poured so much goodness here,

who unexpectedly passed away.

Two Canadians who cared and made a difference,

whose posts filled my life with light and hope,

especially on those days when the world felt dark and grim.

To Stan and Darren. RIP

❦

As I wrap up, I glance out the window to discover that winter has arrived on the wings of snowflakes. Already rooftops are covered and evergreen branches are sugar dusted. And with that, the air shifts. I begin to feel that 'certain' something swirling around me... I must go find my twinkle lights.

❦

Hoping your days are pleasant whatever you're up to,

Brenda

Photo credits:

(top) by Thomas Wolter from Pixabay

(one) by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

(two) by Валерий Григоренко from Pixabay

(three) by iPicture from Pixabay

(four) by by Alana Jordan from Pixabay

(five) by Kevin Graham from Pixabay

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays

Daybook: October Edition

"We must become friends before this coffee cools."

TOSHIKAZU KAWAGUCHI

Today's post was meant to go up yesterday - the last day of October. But my week ran out of time before my 'to-do' list was finished. I had a couple of writing projects with deadlines. And there were the usual tasks and commitments that needed attending to. Not to mention that I couldn't very well drop my usual couple of hours of scrolling everyday for 'important' news and entertaining feeds to keep me sane (wink).

I have been wondering if someone out there, instead of turning up the heat as the days get cooler, has accidentally jacked up the speed of the universe—for the weeks keep flying by like shooting stars.

Here is my October Daybook. I hope you enjoy.

TODAY

Outside my window...

Watching dull grey morning skies

turn into pale autumn sunshine.

I am thankful for...

- Moments of peace in the middle of chaos.

- Inside jokes that I can giggle about with

someone without explanation.

- Deep breaths that do help me relax.

I am currently reading...

Louise Penny's latest Gamache mystery

The Black Wolf - sequel to The Grey Wolf.

If you are looking for something cozy

to curl up with, this is not the book

(it's a nail-biter).

I recently read and loved...

A Flute in Mayferry Street

by Eileen Dunlop (1976)

It's a delightful children's story that, for me, has a

feeling of Once Upon A Wardrobe by Patti Callahan,

as well as a hint of Elizabeth Goudge.

It's a new forever favourite.

I am wearing...

Black jeans with an olive green cable knit shell,

tiny pearl-like earrings, and a spritz of rose scent.

I am writing...

a memoir that I started more than 10 years ago.

It's working title is Waiting for Love, the journey

between a prayer and a proposal.

At this point in time, I am writing it to my dear

girlhood friend, Linda, in installments like letters.

Her time here on earth is short and she so wanted to

read my story. We were girlhood friends.

I feel the weight of it. I also feel the rightness of

writing it to Linda. One day I hope to publish it.

First things first.

I am smiling...

My sister shared a bit of conversation she had

with our 90-year-old mom, who had been looking

online for a new cardigan, because her old black

one made her feel like 'a little old lady'.

(There is not a woman on this planet, however old

she may be, who wants to feel like a little old lady.)

A favourite link...

Today the link happens to be for a post I wrote last October.

Observing Trifles... or the Spectacle of the Ordinary

In it, I share about a lovely book I read on walking.

And observing the world around you. The author

mentions her joyful insights when she walked with a dog,

when she walked with her toddler. She saw the world differently.

 Rick and I walk most days, so I thought it would be fun

to revisit that inspiring book. If you've never read it, it might

just be what you need to inspire your own legs to get out there.

A favourite quote this week...

"You must do something to make

the world more beautiful."

BARBARA COONEY, Miss Rumphius

A glimpse from my walk...

I love the white bark of birch trees. They have been

a favourite since I was a little girl.

Closing note...

"Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead

has never watched them dance on a windy day."

SHIRA TAMIR

❦

Wishing you a beautiful week ahead,

Brenda

Photo credits:

(Pumpkin cups) Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

(Typewriter) Image by Joanna from Pixabay

(birch tree) Image by Brenda Leyland @ It's A Beautiful Life

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays

Nothing Today - Will Post Tomorrow

 

I'm sorry I don't have anything prepared so far this week. It's been a busy one—I had two projects on the go, and both had deadlines. BUT, I am now working on a post for tomorrow.      

Hope you'll come back.

Enjoy this last day of October!

Brenda xo

 

Photo: Image by Ylanite Koppens from Pixabay

A Little Small Talk

"No matter what's going on in the world, have your tea,

make your list, plan your meals, fold the laundry, bake

something for the family, and be a light for your home."

The Sprouting Homestead on Facebook

Today I feel a little like Jane Austen when she once wrote, "I do not know what is the matter with me today, but I cannot write . . . fortunately I have nothing very particular to say."

As I sat and 'proverbially' chewed the end of my pencil, I thought of one thing I could mention. I bought an autumn-themed grocery store bouquet for our dining room table last week. When the flowers started fading, I placed the above sprig of bronze-golden chrysanthemums into a smaller vase. And set it on the coffee table in our living room. This morning while we were enjoying our coffees the sun suddenly brightened and beams fell on the flower petals 'just so'. Making an ordinary spray look most glorious as if it were posing for an artist's paint and palette. I love how my photo turned out.

I could also tell you about the tasty Butternut Squash Soup I made for supper last night. Served it with hot buttered toast. Yum! The ingredients were simple: a package of already-cubed squash (approx. 4-6 cups), a chopped onion, a chopped MacIntosh apple, 2 cloves of garlic diced, a fresh sage leaf chopped into teeny pieces, a sprig of fresh thyme, and a teaspoon of diced ginger. I sautéed everything first for about 10 minutes, then added enough broth (I used chicken) to cover the ingredients, simmering until everything was soft. A quick whirl in the food processor. A sprinkle of salt & pepper to taste. That's it. A simple, easy meal.

When you don't know what else to chat about, there is always the weather. So, how has it been in your corner of the world? We've had a lovely few days. Sunny, blue skies with lots of clouds drifting in and out. Windy. It's definitely late autumn now. Many trees stand like skeletons against the sky. Surely they exude something more romantic than skeletons but it's the image that popped up first. Probably because Hallowe'en decorations are everywhere now.

Speaking of Hallowe'en, do you get many kids for treats at your door? We get maybe 30 or 40. I was thinking about what to hand out this year. I handed out cookie packs last year, potato chips the year before, and chocolate bars the one before that. What about packages of hot chocolate or hot apple cider along with cookies? If you were a trick or treater, would that interest you? What was/is your favourite treat at Hallowe'en? I used to love molasses kisses and old-fashioned popcorn balls. It's been decades since I have eaten either - they were so yummy. 

Do you remember a favourite costume you wore? We'd have our party at school and go all dressed up for the day. It was so exciting to dream about what costume we'd wear. I wasn't very old, maybe Grade 2 or 3, when Mom sewed me a nurses uniform from white crepe paper along with a cute nurses cap to match. I think my favourite was the princess outfit she put together from her old pretty dresses, maybe from the soft chiffon bridesmaid dress, that were in the dress up box.

I think I will find myself in the mood for Agatha Christie's Poirot mystery, Halloween Party. And if I can find it on YouTube, I wouldn't mind watching that old Cary Grant movie Arsenic and Old Lace. That was such a great old movie - just plain silly and fun.

Two delightful books I am enjoying right now are The Country Commonplace Book by Miranda Mills and A Year Unfolding, A printmaker's view by Angela Harding. Both include seasonal sections that help create the right ambiance for this time of year.  

I do wonder if Miss Austen found on that day she had nothing particular to say, once she got started, there were all kinds of bits and pieces that became entertaining fodder in her letters. Speaking of Jane, I recently finished Lucy Worsley's autobiography Jane Austen at Home. It was a really good read. Lucy had some wonderful insights and ideas about this famous lady, her life, and the times she lived in.

Look at that, a few paragraphs done, and I have a blog post nearly finished. On that note, I shall bid you a pleasant goodbye.

❦

Wishing you grace for the week ahead, and may

there be beauty in its many details,

Brenda

 Photo credit:

Brenda Leyland @ It's A Beautiful Life

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays

Some Favourites (In No Particular Order)

“Isn't that the only way to curate a life?

To live among things that make you gasp with delight?”

MAIRA KALMAN, My Favorite Things

Surrounding ourselves with our favourite things can turn ordinary moments into special ones. Favourite things add sparkle to our lives. They come in many categories—favourite authors, beverages, things to eat, songs or poems, colours, holidays, and seasons. Not to mention bookshops, cafés, family traditions, certain garments or jewelry, and times of day. As you see, I could go on and on, the categories themselves are endless.

Our favourites usually tickle our fancy; they suit our tastebuds or satisfy something on the inside of us. Sometimes we can say why a certain thing is our favourite; other times we find it hard to peg our feelings to the right words. All we know is that when we happen upon them (or deliberately plan for them on occasion) something shifts and suddenly we know we can face our day—even with a certain joie de vivre. 

I think it must have been Julie Andrews singing her famous song in Sound of Music who started the trend all those years ago. Many of us loved her lists... 'whiskers on kittens and warm woolen mittens'. Our faces lighted with smiles when we recognized our own few favourites in those lyrics.

I recently came across this list that I wrote on a blog post a long time ago. Reading it over, I find it's still current; I've added a few new things. Here it is, in no particular order. Hope you enjoy.

Foggy mornings

Children laughing

Getting into one's jammies and reading in bed

Condensation on a glass of ice water

Raindrops on rose petals

Dark chocolate

Kitty cats

Bees humming in the Sedum

Lovely old bookshops

Vintage stores

Notebooks dressed in pretty covers

Tiny sandwiches with tea in China cups

People watching

Sunshine glinting off snowy rooftops

The smell of coffee brewing on a cold morning

Colour combo of indigo blue and white

Walks in a park in autumn's quiet

Giving a friend a gift 'out of the blue'

Laughing with someone until you can hardly breathe

Wrapping paper and ribbons

The words “I love you” and "you're my favourite person"

Walking into an freshly cleaned and uncluttered room

Blustery autumn days

Re-reading favourite books

Browsing beautiful magazines

Snuggling under the covers at day's end

Holding hands

Visiting the library

Pencils, pens, paper

English country anything

Hot buttered toast

A good mystery novel

Happy dogs out for their walks

The scent of earthy autumn in the air

Honey lavender lattes with pretty designs on the top

Pictures of my favourite people around me

Bridal bouquets

Walking through crunchy leaf piles

The word 'cozy'

Persuasion by Jane Austen (book or 1995 movie)

Days getting shorter

Watching for the Harvest Moon

Getting snail mail from a friend

When the Soprano scales the High "C"

The cacophony of an orchestra tuning up before a concert

Writing blog posts with my beautiful readers in mind

❦

Wishing you a beautiful day,

Brenda

Photo credits:

(Tea)Image by Penelope883 from Pixabay

(Leaf)Image by ZAIDoo Pro from Pixabay

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays

Hear Blessings Dropping

"God has two dwellings — one in heaven,

and the other in a meek and thankful heart."

IZAAK WALTON, Wikiquote.com

Autumn is that time of year that fills my soul with a sense of well-being, and on this Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, there is much for which I am grateful. The sky is blue and cloudless and sunny. And the grand brilliance of Autumn's palette has now truly muted into what Sarah Addison Allen describes as 'a world covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon'. Fields and gardens are mostly harvested. And the ponds around our place are now silent.

I'll assume many of us practice the art of gratitude and thankfulness all year long, but there is something extra-special about a day aside for counting our blessings. One Thanksgiving years ago, I started a list of what I was grateful for, and upon reading it to Rick, he said he'd add Brussels sprouts. Well, each to their own. Sure, I can be grateful for this cute cabbage-like ball of a vegetable—they are lovely roasted with pecans and a drizzle of maple syrup—but let's just say, I'd have to be running low on favourites before I'd ever think to add them to a list.

Today I'm thankful for turkey dinner with stuffing and French apple tart. I am grateful for reasonable health and vitality. I am so thankful for my dear mom who truly has been the best mom in the world. I am over the top thankful for my sweetheart of a husband who is one of the kindest men I know. I am thankful for my dear siblings and their partners, my wonderful nephews and nieces, and my lovely set of friends who help make the journey through life bearable, enjoyable, and so worth it. 

Let's see... I'm also grateful for perfectly made latte coffees, cups of tea, my piles of books, and dark chocolate. And for roses, sweet peas, and marigolds and for eyes to appreciate their beauty and colour. I'm so glad for a nose that can breath in the scent of freshly baked bread, cinnamon buns, and apple crisp. And for plenty to eat, shelter in a cozy home, and peace in my heart and our friendly neighbourhood. I'm glad to be Canadian. There's no end to what I could add to this list.

And I must not forget all the wonderful blogging and social media friends I've met here who visit and leave comments, who share their own life glimpses, funnies, and thoughtful words. Thank you! Let me reiterate that it's my desire to keep this blog as free as possible from the woes of the world. It's not that I don't care, for I care deeply about the many sad and hard things going on out there. And I know many of you do too.

But it's nice to have a spot somewhere where we, for a few moments, can focus on something other than the horrid, cruel stuff. Besides, we cannot keep mourning. Our hearts are not made to mourn all the time. Joy is what gives us strength. I remain committed to keeping this small place in cyberspace a safe haven. Where we can come to rest a moment, think about everyday pleasures, as we carry on loving those around us and living our lives with grace and finesse. We keep searching for the hope, kindness, and beauty that is everywhere, sometimes hidden except to the most earnest of searchers. And we pass it along so others can enjoy and be cheered.

I say a wee prayer of blessing for good gifts to come to every person in this big old world. I sure hope you have a share of them. And I hope your heart can hum with gratitude - even a little bit, no matter what you are facing...

" For one moment quit being sad.

Hear blessings dropping

their blossoms all around you."

RUMI

 

❦

Wishing you glimpses of heaven in unexpected places,

With love,

Brenda

Photo credit:

Brenda Leyland @ It's A Beautiful Life

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays

A New Reading List From An Old Book Meme

"Autumn is for reading good books

in cozy little nooks."

PIPPI POST, as seen on Instagram 

And a Happy October to you! Lots of trees in the neighbourhood now stand leafless while others hold fast their greenery until that first hard frost (which we haven't had yet). With days growing cooler and shorter, 'tis the season for drawing closer to home (at least in our imaginations), for lighting candles or turning on twinkle lights, and for thinking about the books we might want to read as dusk settles in the corners.

Going through my blog archives, I came across an old book meme I once participated in (2009). Remembering it was a fun way to create a reading list, I started thinking up all sorts of titles - some are already on my own shelves, some I could borrow from the library, and others are on 'to be read' lists.

Here is my list. I hope it stirs up ideas for your own list of books to read this autumn. 

📚

A book with a 'profession' in its title

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

The Farmer's Wife by Helen Rebanks

A book with a 'time of day' in its title

4:50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie

The Clock Strikes Twelve by Patricia Wentworth

A book with a 'familial name' in its title

The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith

Feeding My Mother by Jann Arden

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

 

A book with a 'body part' in its title

The Seven Longings of the Human Heart by Mike Bickle

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

A book using 'one of the five senses' in its title

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge

Simple Acts of Faith: Heartwarming Stories of

One Life Touching Another by Margaret Feinberg

A book with a 'building' in its title

Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

House Lessons, Renovating a Life by Erica Bauermeister

A book with an 'animal' in its title

The Comfort of Crows, A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl

Mr. Poppers' Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

A book with a 'month' in its title

September by Rosamunde Pilcher

A book with a 'holiday' in its title

Halloween Party by Agatha Christie

A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas

A book with a 'character's name' in its title

The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh by Kathryn Aalto

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

A book with a 'famous person' in its title

The Story of Beatrix Potter by Sarah Gristwood

The Last Van Gogh by Alyson Richman

A book with a 'fruit' in its title

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

Save Me the Plums, My Gourmet Memoir by Ruth Reichl

A book with a 'vegetable' in its title

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney

A book with the word 'garden' in its title

A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson

War Gardens, A Journey Through Conflict in

Search of Calm by Lalage Snow 

A book with a 'girl's name' in its title

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Emma by Jane Austen

Finding Flora by Elinor Florence

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

A book with a 'boy's name' in its title 

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Stuart White by E.B. White

A book with a 'royal title' in its title

All the Queen's Men by SJ Bennett

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

❦

And four books coming out this autumn

to add to the list

Black Wolf by Louise Penny

My Beloved by Jan Karon

Death of a Diplomat by former first lady of Iceland Eliza Reid

The Queen Who Came in from the Cold: Her

Majesty The Queen Investigates by SJ Bennett

❦

Wishing you a beautiful day with hopes you've time to

curl up with a good book and your favourite beverage.

Heart Hugs,

Brenda

Photo credit:

Brenda Leyland @ It's A Beautiful Life

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays

Autumn in Full Throttle With Treats

“It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust

of brown sugar and cinnamon.”

SARAH ADDISON, First Frost

as seen on GoodReads

Well, I feel a little put out at Mr. Sun this early morning. It's grey and overcast, and on the day of my dear Mom's 90th birthday too! I wanted it bright and beautiful on her special day. No matter, thankfully there's a yummy Lemon Meringue Cake to look forward to this afternoon—the celebration will carry on, sunshine or no sunshine.

And a Happy Autumn to everyone here in the Northern Hemisphere! It’s been another lovely week, although when we went for our early morning walk the other day, there was a decided sharpness to the wind—let's just say we didn’t dawdle. But it made me feel like hauling out my autumn-themed ribbons and dishes, not to mention the pumpkin tablecloth on the dining table with a still life posing as a table centre.

What do you think about when autumn comes? Some people say autumn is a time of change. That it's a season of decline, transition. (Yes, there is that.) Other people say it's a time for letting go and releasing things that have been a burden. (What a good idea - I'm all for that.) When I think what autumn means to me, I think of this season as a time of new beginnings, like the beginning of a new school year and getting into new projects after the summer. Mostly, having grown up on a farm, autumn for me is harvest time—the gathering in of what was started in the spring of the year—potatoes and carrots, apples and pears and plums, and combining the fields of wheat, barley, flax, and oats.

Here are treats that have come my way this week... I so looked forward to sharing them with you today.

One

"Lace is one of the most beautiful fabrics, you know. All those

holes and gaps, but it's still complete somehow - still lovely."

Anonymous, Goodreads

I have been wanting a lace tablecloth for a while now for my dining room table. I wanted something so the dark wood table could still peek through. I giggled with joy at this gift that came into my life.

It came up on Facebook Marketplace this week, and I was astounded to see it listed for a mere $25. I know the value of something hand crafted, and this crocheted piece is exquisite. It fits a table that seats six. Pristine white, I could see that it had been beautifully cared for. The woman who was selling it said she now has a bigger table and so it was too small. I asked if someone in her family had made it—yes, a friend of her mother's had made it (I think that's how the story went—I was too busy admiring to really listen to her story, for which I now regret).

One day I will show it to you in its full glory...I didn't want to dismantle my autumn setting right now.

Two

"It's hard to find anyone who doesn't like letters.

We feel a thrill when we receive them. One of their

charms is that we can't see what's inside right away;

there's an anticipation in unsealing the mysteries held within."

JUHEE MUN 

This book The Healing Power of Korean Letter Writing was recommended a few weeks ago by my dear friend Barbara on her Small Moments blog. She had taken a break from her blog to read it. It sounded so beguiling, I had to order a copy for myself. At the time, I was told to expect delivery anytime after October 23rd. You can appreciate then why I was so surprised to have it arrive this past Tuesday. It had travelled all the way from a bookshop in Galway, Ireland.

The book itself is a slender volume that fits like poetry into one's hand. The author Juhee Mun is from South Korea and she owns a letter shop called 'geulwoll'. Which is a "native Korean word, a respectful term meaning 'letter'". The book, originally published in Korean, was translated into English by Clare Richards who lives in the UK. The author mentions how she rarely wrote letters, but in her shop she had 'encountered so many letter-devotees' that she searched out books about letter writing. She found two: Eight or Nine Wise Words about Letter-Writing by Lewis Carroll and Simon Garfield's To the Letter. I have read neither so you can guess that I'll be searching those out.

To that list I'd like to add another timeless book about writing letters. I received it as a Christmas gift in the early 1990s titled Gift of a Letter by Alexandra Stoddard. Packed with all manner of quotes and lovely ideas about the whys and wherefores of letter writing, it's a keeper.

Three

This book also arrived on Tuesday, and I was so excited. Anyone who follows Miranda Mills on YouTube knows this is her first book which came out this month. The Country Commonplace Book "is a seasonal touchstone packed full of quotes, book lists, artwork, recipes, and observations on the natural world to keep close at hand and to accompany you throughout the year." excerpt from Description on Amazon

As Miranda has explained, "[C]ommonplace books have been types of journals used to record favorite passages from books or poetry, anecdotes, extracts from letters, proverbs, lists, shared recipes, quotes, prayers, and lyrics, and they have been kept for centuries." Like many of us, she has collected her favourite quotes and passages for years, and it was a dream of hers to take some of her favourites and curate them into a kind of anthology, in this case using material that was about nature and the seasons in the English countryside.

If you click on the title in the first paragraph, the link will take you to a 2-minute video trailer about it. By the time you finish watching, you'll be wanting to add it to your shopping cart (if you haven't done so already).

Four

I took this photo eleven years ago this week—it appeared on my Facebook Memories. It was a delight to see it again after all these years. I still remember that September day when I had met long time friends for lunch. It was so warm we sat out on the patio, and what a lovely time we had.

At some point 'just because' presents were exchanged—none of us have birthdays in September. The little notepad with my name on it is long used up as is the pen. The fabric on the right side is actually a long narrow silky scarf in an 'old letters' motif. I've loved wearing it; it always makes me feel chic. The book Learn by Heart Poetry sits handily nearby on my poetry shelf. As I reach for it right now, it flips opens to page 71 where I find a few lines by Emily Dickinson. They happen to match the season, as if I had planned it. Let me share:

"The Morns Are Meeker Than They Were"

The morns are meeker than they were —

The nuts are getting brown —

The berry's cheek is plumper —

The Rose is out of town.

The Maple wears a gayer scarf —

The field a scarlet gown —

Lest I should seem old fashioned

I'll put a trinket on.

Five

Happy Birthday, to my Best Beloved Mom!

We love, love, love you.

BTW, as I wrap up, the sun has come out.

It must have heard me whining.

Here's to sunshine...and cake...and beautiful Moms.

Life is good.

 ❦

Wishing you all a beautiful week ahead,

Brenda

Photo credits:

Brenda Leyland @ It's A Beautiful Life

(Bottom two) Autumn Bouquet by Kathy Hillacre

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays

Five on Friday: Autumn Thoughts and Treats

"Celebrating Fall . . . with bouquets of

sharpened pencils, pumpkins, and cozy autumn

vibes straight out of Shopgirl and Joe Fox's world."

STORYLINEBOOKSHOP, as seen on Instagram

In the words of my dear blogging friend Janet Martin, "I love September mornings, where shadows sprawl, tall across the waking land".  Oh yes. It felt very autumnal today on our early morning walk. Cool and crisp with those long shadows sprawling. And with Fall Equinox arriving this weekend, we officially bid Summer farewell as we open our arms to Autumn.

The dahlia photo above was one I took at the St Albert Botanic Garden last week. It tugs at my heart. I love the shades and hues of its autumn colours. I love the starburst pointed petals. I want a painting of it.

Yesterday we went for coffee with dear friends. I opted for my usual small decaf latte, not even noticing their larger-than-life sign that they were now serving pumpkin spice lattes (along with a mini slice of pumpkin pie). TO think I missed out on that treat. We've had such really warm summery days these past few weeks, and even though the neighbourhood was afloat with falling leaves, my brain never did quite wrap around that we were already well into September.

Although I have not watched it now for several years, it was my ritual to pull out the lovely 1998 movie You've Got Mail with Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) and Joe Fox (Tom Hanks). It never failed to put me in the mood for Autumn and getting cozy. Time to rewatch it. 

It's been a busy week. I'm getting it a little late out in the day. I thank you for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy.

One. Downton Abbey

We went to the theatre on Sunday afternoon to see The Grand Finale of the Downton Abbey series. What a treat! Loved the movie. It was great to see the Crawley family again, albeit all a little older. Even Rick, who wasn't keen on going, said he enjoyed it. There were funny spots, poignant spots, and in my books, they gave us a satisfying wrap up to the whole series. Everyone, including Lady Mary, can now get on with their lives.

After the movie, we went out for dinner. The hostess who seated us asked if we were doing anything special for the evening. I mentioned that we'd just come from the Downton Abbey film. She looked blankly at me. And I realized ten years had passed since that last series on PBS, she probably would have only been nine or ten at the time and no doubt she wouldn't be watching such a story. Then our waitress came by asking for drinks order, and she also asked the similar question what we were up to. Although she'd never watched the series, she at least knew what we were talking about having studied the series in high school, mentioning it being 'historical fiction' which she thought interesting. Who would have thought what I still consider a current series would suddenly put us in our place, the series itself was also back there in the historical fiction section. Haha.

—Photo taken in 2016 on our trip to Great Britain, which included a visit to Highclere Castle. There was something quite special about walking up that laneway that grabbed my heart.

Two. Reading

This year I didn't get around to making an autumn reading list. Summer seemed to linger (for which I was happy), and even though autumn leaves were falling, I didn't quite have those usual cozy autumn vibes. For you'd often see us sitting on the front patio drinking cold drinks and watching the bees humming in the Rudbeckia and Joe Pye Weed blossoms as clouds floated past clear blue sky. A deep summer activity, in my books.

But I did read one seasonal book: The Fortnight in September by R.C. Sheriff (1931). Recently republished, it's the gentle and charming tale about a family of five who set out on their cherished annual holiday to the seaside. It's the two weeks in their lives when they are mainly free from the cares of every life and work. And they are squeezing out every minute they can with those small pleasures of holiday life. This was a book that author Kazuo Ishiguro had proposed people should read during the pandemic - he described the book as 'life-affirming', 'delicate', and 'magical'. I agree with his assessment.

If you haven't read it, I recommend it. But maybe save it for next September early in the month. 

Three. A Beautiful Life

I came across Robin Sharma's Facebook page the other day. I was drawn in for he had a list of what makes life beautiful for him. It resonated, it would basically be my list, too. 

(If you're wondering why his name is familiar—I did wonder—Robin Sharma is a Canadian writer, best known for his book series The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.)

Robin's List:

Art

Books

Nature

Work that serves

Fresh food simply prepared

Deep conversations with real people

My list:

In relationship with God and people

Books

Nature and Gardens

Creative work to make a difference

Being kind

Conversations with family and friends over coffee

Four. Ribbon treats

I went back to Michaels (craft store) and found a few more rolls of autumn ribbons. As you can see I stocked up. At this moment the rolls are sitting in a prim row on the credenza in my study. Waiting for a creative adventure. I'm loving looking at them, just as they are, but I look forward to pressing them into service soon. 

 Five. A volunteer

Our garden is winding down. But there are spots still furiously in bloom. And this single thick stem of sunflowers is a bold example. A stray seed from the birdfeeder sprouted in spring and has now grown into a plant with several blossoms of sunshine. Its beauty buoys my spirits when things feel a little dark out there.

 

❦

"After all, Anne had said to Marilla once, "I believe the nicest

and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid

or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple

little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."

LUCY MAUD MONTGOMERY, Anne of Avonlea

❦

Wishing you a beautiful day.

Be kind to yourself and your neighbour, too.

Heart hugs,

Brenda

Photo credits:

Brenda Leyland @ It's A Beautiful Life

(Book and apples) Image by Katrina_S from Pixabay

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays

It Would Be His 96th Birthday: An Essay

Me with my dad and little sister

Although I no longer remember the actual moment when we posed in this photo, the picture is a forever memory, my having first spotted it as a little girl in Mom's photo album, and now taking up residence in mine. It remains one of my favourite pictures of my dad. So young and handsome. I love that he had such a happy smile in that moment posing with his girls. This is probably the age I would have been when I played with my invisible playmate, Barry (you can visit my previous post to learn more HERE).

The following essay was written about a year after my dad passed away in the early 2000s. It became part of the healing path as I waded through the grief and sense of deep loss I felt at the time. It was such a comforting piece to write. It helped me to put things in perspective, I think. This September he would be celebrating his 96th birthday. His brother, my uncle, just celebrated his 100th and we were so happy to think of Uncle's long life. We think wistfully what if Dad could have had that same length of life. . . . however, such is life, we don't choose when we arrive on this planet and we don't choose, not usually, when we leave it. Especially if we believe God holds our lives, times, and seasons in his loving hands.

Hope you enjoy... 

❦

Beautiful Hands

"A father doesn’t tell you that he

loves you. He shows you."

Attributed to DEMITRI THE STONEHEART

WHEN WE WANT to convey our affection and esteem to someone, gifts, flowers, and Hallmark™ cards have become accepted (even expected) tokens of our love. Like many, I avail myself of these most agreeable traditions, and I admit my eyes light up with pleasure at the sight of a parcel, florist bundle, or card addressed to me. Now, I am the daughter of a man who did not express his love in these traditional ways. My dad was quiet and reserved, and for reasons only he knew, he kept his emotions and counsel close to himself all his life. It was not easy for him to initiate a hug or say words of love or commendation, even when he was proud of us. And he usually wasn’t one who stood by the card counter to pick out the special occasion greetings for the people he cared about.

Still, growing up I never doubted that Dad loved me. Maybe as a child, I just assumed my parents would love me. I took it for granted. And there wasn't anything to disprove that belief in my experiences growing up in our family. All my material needs and many of my wants were provided for in ample measure, and when I think about it in retrospect, his hands (in tandem with his heart) articulated a love that no store-bought gift or card could have done more eloquently than the countless acts of service and lovingly hand-made offerings he presented to me and my family over his lifetime.

Dad's hands were strong and brawny. With freckles on them. Sometimes dirty with good old farm dirt or machinery grease if he was fixing the tractor or combine. They were the hands of a farmer, a builder, a gardener. They were always industrious and resourceful and never harsh, although he could give a sharp whack to a stubborn sow's rump to get her moving. When I was little, I would sometimes take hold of his hand and marvel at how small my own hand felt in his. I could feel its strength. It was nothing for him to open a stubborn jar of pickles or haul a couple of five-gallon pails filled with grain or potatoes.

Dad’s hands seemed to enjoy making surprises for us: wooden tops, whistles carved from tree branches, little knitting devices created from Mom’s leftover cotton thread spools. In the days before mega-toy stores, it was nothing for my dad to fashion scraps of metal and lumber into some great play things. I don’t remember asking for a swing, sandbox, or seesaw, but there they were one day. And, oh, the countless hours of fun we had playing on them. There was also the time we came home from school to find a newly-built desk, just our size, sitting in our bedroom. Too small for adult legs to fit comfortably under now, it still has a place in our family, that little red-hued mahogany desk Dad lovingly built for us.

Yes, Papa’s hands could rummage through junk piles and find the neatest treasures at an auction or garage sale. They were hands clever enough to recycle bits and pieces into a ‘brand new’ bicycle, strong enough to dig fence post holes with a hand auger, and, in later years, they were coordinated enough to use a small needle to hand stitch the many family quilts Mom sewed. Whether he designed a go-cart with his young son or birdhouses with his grandsons; woodworked oak shelves for Mom and doll cradles for his granddaughters; whether he refurbished and fortified work-worn wheelbarrows for kids who now had gardens of their own (often painting them in his favourite jolly red or John Deere green)—these deeds all represented Dad’s own brand of 'I love you'.

Dad’s hard-working hands also knew how to be kind, and they never struck us in anger. They were safe hands. As a young father, he cheerfully changed wet diapers and crawled on his hands and knees, so my little sister and I could play hairdresser with his reddish blonde hair. Later, as a grandpa, his hands would joyfully reach out for toddling grandbabies, settling them on his knee and planting big fat kisses on their chubby cheeks. Dad never felt nervous or shy around the little ones. Perhaps small children posed no threat; they made no demands for conversation, happy just to play with his reading glasses and sit on his quiet lap. He never grabbed out to them when they weren’t quite ready for his bear-hugs, but often you’d find a youngster tucked in the crook of Grandpa’s arm as they both snoozed in the big La-Z-Boy recliner.

As a girl, I accepted my dad’s quiet and unassuming manner and was comfortable with it. However, as I matured into adulthood, my own secret desire for more affirming words and physical expressions made me long for something less restrained, maybe even more ‘traditional’ from him. And then I came across a book by author Gary Chapman entitled, The Five Love Languages. Based on his own research, Chapman explained that people tend to express their love in five basic ways: words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, gifts, and acts of service. It suddenly dawned on me—Dad had always been telling me he loved me, every time he filled my pantry with sacks of potatoes and vegetables he had grown in his garden; every time he responded so willingly, almost eagerly, to my requests for something from his workshop or help with building a new fence.

His gifts and acts of service took on a whole new meaning for me. This was how he said, “I love you”. I now understood the love language he used. And I translated that into what was my own key love language: words of affirmation. I let his actions speak the words I had wanted to hear. Finally understanding, I settled into that knowing. Gifts of love don’t come only in the shape of flower bouquets, greeting cards, or beribboned packages from department stores; they come to us in as many creative ways as there are people in this world. Although I always appreciated what he did for me, I came to truly cherish the kind gestures, generous deeds, and quiet ways my dad chose, maybe even dared, to show his affection. I quit looking for something Dad could not give and received with joy what he could.

The character Jacob in a movie I saw years ago (the Hallmark film Sarah Plain and Tall), responded to Sarah when she observed that he wasn’t good with words. His reply: “Sometimes words aren’t good enough”.  Perhaps Dad would agree.

At the writing of this, it's almost a year since those busy and loving hands were stilled. Despite the dreadfulness of my dad’s illness, something quite wonderful happened during the last couple of years of his life, and especially the last few months of his time here on earth. Some of the barriers and reservations with which Dad had guarded his inner life began to fall away, and we began to catch glimpses of the man behind all that reserve. Oh, he still didn’t say much when we visited, but there was less restraint, a new easiness between us. He liked it when I read a favourite Bible passage aloud as I sat by his bed. His hand was content to rest in mine when I’d reach out to hold it. Hugs were eagerly received and given. It was good.

Jesus once said that people will know we are His disciples by our love. Surely Dad’s crown must shine brightly for all the ways, seen and unseen, he expressed love and kindness to me and my family and also to the many others who crossed his path. Those strong, beautiful hands . . . they spoke of a love I shall always cherish and of a man I shall never forget.

❦

Happy Birthday, dearest Dad!

Sending heart hugs to everyone reading this,

and thank you for stopping by.

Brenda

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays