Anne's Bower of Apple Blossoms

Image by TheFunky.pixel from Pixabay

It's Friday afternoon and I'm whiling away the rainy day by revisting my blog archives. I enjoyed finding this excerpt in a post I'd written in 2010. For you ardent fans of L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, I'm sure you remember when Anne caught her first glimpse of the lane of apple trees in full bloom that day Matthew Cuthbert picked her up from the train station and then drove home to Green Gables.

"They had simply rounded a curve in the road and found themselves in the 'Avenue'. The Avenue, so called by the Newbridge people, was a stretch of road four or five hundred yards long, completely arched over with huge, wide-spreading apple-trees, planted years ago by an eccentric old farmer. Overhead was one long canopy of snowy fragrant bloom. Below the boughs the air was full of a purple twilight and far ahead a glimpse of painted sunset sky shone like a great rose window at the end of a cathedral aisle.

Its beauty seemed to strike the child dumb. She leaned back in the buggy, her thin hands clasped before her, her face lifted rapturously to the white splendour above.

. . .It's the first thing I ever saw that couldn't be improved upon by imagination. It just satisfies me here—she put one hand on her breast—it made a queer funny ache and yet it was a pleasant ache."

L.M. MONTGOMERY, Anne of Green Gables

I've never had the personal pleasure of passing under such a vast bower of beauty, but that lovely photo above certainly gives, as Anne herself would say, scope for the imagination. Aren't you glad for the gift of your imagination? Maybe a larger question should be....have you ever witnessed something that so satisfied you in your breast with that queer funny ache, and it was so breathtaking it could not be improved upon by imagination?

I sure hope you have a lovely weekend.
Wishing you glimpses of heaven in unexpected places,

Heart hugs,
Brenda

xox

From My Book Shelf: Sharing The Journey

" Every morning just before dawn, I rise, make myself
a cup of coffee, and sit quietly in a wing chair in the living room
for about an hour. Waking early without effort is one of the genuine
pleasures of getting older. Life has fewer days in it, but nature
compensates by allowing you to greet them sooner. "
PHYLLIS THEROUX, excerpt from her essay 'On Keeping a Journal'

As you may know, I have been browsing my book shelves with you in mind—looking at titles I think you might enjoy and then sharing an excerpt or two. Pressing my books into service is my small online contribution to helping create community in isolation.

I'm happy to present this lovely volume of memoir essays Sharing the Journey, Women Reflecting on Life's Passages from the pages of Victoria Magazine. It's so nice to find many of my favourite articles from the magazine in this attractive hardcover collection. Even though I still have all my old Victoria magazines, there are times I want to read a certain essay and can't put my hand on the right issue right away; chances are it's in the book.

Originally published in 1997, it was republished in 2007. In it you will find writings by such distinguished—and probably familiar—authors as Diane Ackerman, Catherine Calvert, Madeleine L'Engle, Susan Minot, Francine Prose, Phyllis Theroux, and others. They have written about the phases of a woman's life and include themes such as childhood, motherhood, sisters, home, rituals, solitude, and remembering the past.

If you are interested in exploring further, you will find an online table of contents along with several essays HERE.

Sharing the Journey: Women Reflecting on Life's Passages

edited by Katherine Ball Ross (1997, 2007)

Victoria's former editor, Nancy Lindemeyer, wrote the Foreword, and it's her insightful words that I share as the first excerpt. I was especially drawn to her observation that memoir is about discovering the mystery of the commonplace. Thank goodness for that—my life growing up wasn't high drama, but there was life to be lived and lessons to be learned, and in the end, it can all make fodder for sharing.

"Memoirs are the distillation of life's lessons. They are experiences 'recollected in tranquility,' and they needn't be dramatic experiences. Life, after all, consists mainly in our routines, our rituals, commonplace things that everyone shares. But the memoir writer discovers the mystery in the commonplace. She bites down on a tiny seed and—open sesame!—the essential oil bursts forth, more intense than we could have ever imagined. . . .

Collected here is a celebration—a sampling of the best original writing that appeared in Victoria. Many of the writers represented are well known to you; others will be new acquaintances. So take this little book to your chosen snuggery and curl up with friends, old and new. I promise you fresh insights on familiar scenes, a candle in the dark, a friendly word to spur you on home."

* * *

The second excerpt comes from a piece written by Catherine Calvert and is entitled Porch Swings, Old Novels, and Memories of Summers Past.

"Though many a house has sheltered me in the course of summers past, one memory serves to tie them all. It's early afternoon and all is sweet peace. Just a shift of the pillows set the porch swing swaying gently—pillows covered in faded chintz with the slight musty scent that attests to their long winter's nap in the shed. The book lying tented across my chest is slightly musty too, foxed with the brown spots of age, since it was left downstairs in the bookcase thirty or forty years ago. You may be sure there's nothing in it to tax the brain: It's a romance and Cressida and Percy are settling their futures over a game of tennis. But I shall simply revel in the pleasure of the present, listening to the burr of the lawn mower down the road, watching the hornets busy themselves with their nest, biting into the slice of lemon I've fished from my iced tea.

Ah, the joys of a summer place! Unlike year-round houses filled with serious furniture and serious concerns, this is the house that transcends utility, that summons up the joys of summertime when you cross the threshold. Shuffle off your shoes and pad across the cool floors, search out the porch (there has to be a porch with the traditional blue-painted roof). Count the beds, with their white counterpanes and sagging springs—all is as it should be, as it was, and ever shall be. The proper summer house exists out of time and has a sort of parallel life to our own workaday existence." 

* * *

Lucky you, I've pulled a third excerpt today for your reading pleasure from the essay The Romance of Old Books by Patricia O'Toole. This has been a favourite of mine ever since I read it in Victoria years ago.

" A half hour of steady rain is all it takes for the mood to wrap itself around me. Why this should be, I don't know, but when the world's clatter disappears in the thrum of the rain, the tranquility that settles in pulls me toward the pleasures of browsing among old books. Not rare books, and not classics necessarily just books that have been around for awhile.  Books that used to belong to someone else.

Books that look cherished—as if they've been read more than once and passed from friend to friend.  If my longing strikes on a busy day, I settle for a visit to the used-book establishment across the street. There is no way to keep the bell on the front door from waking the cat drowsing on the window, but the cat declines to protest. He either goes back to sleep or commences a browse of his own, in the alcove given over to architecture and opera..."

Wishing you a beautiful day.

Heart Hugs,

Brenda

xox

Weekend Doings

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life

" The earth laughs in flowers. "
RALPH WALDO EMERSON

It's Monday morning, the start of a new week. It's a holiday here in Canada. I always call this the Victoria Day weekend, but many call it the May Long Weekend. Victoria Day was established as a holiday in the Province of Canada in 1845 and as a national holiday in 1901 to honour Queen Victoria's birthday. It is now informally considered the beginning of summer, also known as  'let's go camping' for many families. Plus, it is high season for garden centers and anyone eager to finally get plants in the ground. I popped over to one of our favourite greenhouses just moments after opening hours, and the parking lot was already full to the brim, with lineups. I decided not to wait but I'll try again soon. I am looking for shrubs and trees, and they don't have online shopping for them.

We had a lovely weekend—great weather and a chance to parking lot and front yard visit with family and friends. It was so sweet to see faces in person. The weather was perfect. We sat outside and felt the warmth of the sun on our cheeks and the breeze in our hair. We each brought our own drinks and snacks. The no hugging policy made it feel more than a little odd, especially when we waved each other off without so much as a nod, only air kisses. Still, it was wonderful.

" Don't cry because it's over,

smile because it happened. "

DR. SEUSS 

" Life's a pudding full of plums."

W.S. GILBERT

After a recent dig through the freezer, I discovered a bag of frozen plums that needed using up. I made a Plum Cake for tea yesterday afternoon. Needless to say, we consumed our piece with great delight. It seems I bake a lot more these days. Maybe that's why flour and yeast are hard to come by in the stores—everyone else seems to be doing that as well. Here's the recipe:

Quick Plum Cake

8 x 8 inch greased pan

Preheat oven to 350 F

Cake:

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 Tbsp butter

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup boiling water

2 cups pitted fresh plums, or if frozen, thawed

Beat sugar and eggs.

Add dry ingredients.

Add butter, vanilla, water.

Mix thoroughly.

Pour batter into prepared pan.

Layer plums over top.

 Crumb Topping:

1 Tbsp flour

6 Tbsp brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 Tbsp butter

1 cup finely chopped nuts (opt)

Blend flour, sugar, cinnamon in small bowl.

Cut in butter with fork until crumbly.

Add nuts.

Sprinkle over batter and fruit.

Bake 30 minutes or until done.  

Note: The recipe is easily doubled

for a 9 x 12" pan, baking for 45 to 60 minutes.

* * *

We had a sad moment in our garden this morning as Rick had to chop down one of our small spruces. One always waits as long as possible in the springtime to ensure something is truly dead before doing the chop-chop. In this particular case, the sad little tree was yellow-brown and getting browner by the day, with piles of needles at her feet in mourning. Thankfully, the two spruces next to her seem healthy and are busy setting their new buds.

Another truly sad moment came yesterday afternoon when the news broke that one of the Canadian Snowbird jets crashed shortly after takeoff in BC. They were on the #OperationInspiration mission to do flypasts over communities across the country. What was meant to cheer people up turned into tragedy. One pilot, Captain Jennifer Casey, died as a result. I felt sick at heart. Condolences to all involved.

As often happens in life, there's a mix of bitter and sweet—life and death—going on. Sometimes we find ourselves having to live with happy-sad in our hearts at the same time. I've learned to do that over the years, celebrating good things even as sad things are being mourned. If we let it, joy seems able to mingle with comfort.

" When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate.

And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow. "

SHAUNA NIEQUIST

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life

Good news following sad, our orchid burst into bloom this weekend. We were so thrilled. We had repotted her about a year ago, and there had been no sign of growth over the months. It took this long to re-establish herself. Then, one day buds began to form, and now this. ↑

* * *

As I'm wrapping this up, I heard one of the song sparrows, they must be just arriving. Not sure which one, but it sounded as if he was out of practice—he was a bit wobbly in the warble. Made me chuckle. He'll have to do better if he wants to attract a nice female.

On that note, I'll be here on Wednesday with a book post. Wishing you a beautiful week ahead. Keep safe especially now as things open up more.

Heart Hugs,

Brenda

xox

Five On Friday: A Prayer And Five Lovely Book Quotes

Image by TProud from Pixabay

" Lord, give me an open heart to find You everywhere,

to glimpse the heaven enfolded in a bud, and experience

eternity in the smallest act of love. "

MOTHER TERESA

Before I share those lovely book quotes I gathered for today's post, there's something else I feel the need to say. The other morning, I was reading a passage from Common Prayer, A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. Centuries earlier, Catherine of Siena, a 14th century mystic, had written down the words she felt God had spoken to her. And now these very words, preserved through the ages, speak to me (I've written them in my own journal):

"Beloved daughter, everything I give to you comes from the love and care I have for (you). I desire to show my mercy to the whole world and my protective love to those who want it. My care is constant. I did this so that they will know me and rejoice to see me forever."

That italicized phrase really grabbed my heart. It's exactly what we need in these times—His protective love. Yes please, I want it and need it. I want it not only for myself, but for every single person I care about. That, dear friends, is my heart prayer for you as well these days.


So now back to our regularly scheduled programming....

While we go about our days doing what we need to, possibly caring for those who need care, coping with unusual routines, I believe it is so needful for us to always come back to a place where our own souls can be refreshed and renewed. I find I have sweeter sleeps on those days when I take a deliberate few moments to fill my mind with beautiful images and lovely, hopeful thoughts. Refreshing words from the Psalms. Comforting words from familiar stories. Delicious, evocative words from books and blog posts that make my heart leap for joy or cheer.

That is why I am so grateful for the poetic language of certain books, for the beautiful imagery, photography and artwork found in magazines and online, for the familiar handwriting of a loved one in an old cherished note of encouragement. Sometimes we just don't have the words we need, but aren't we glad when we find someone else who says it perfectly for us. Perhaps the words from Catherine of Siena do fit into this blog post after all, for they have given me life and light this week.

In difficult times you should always carry something beautiful in your mind. So said 17th century French mathematician, philosopher and theologian, Blaise Pascal. How often these days I have taken this now familiar line to heart. And so, it's with those words in mind that I offer Five on Friday: five lovely book quotes I take delight in, paired with photos I took when we were in Oxford (UK) a few years ago. I hope you enjoy....  

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life

one

" Maybe this is why we read, and why in
moments of darkness we return to books:
to find words for what we already know. "

ALBERTO MANGUEL

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life

two

" She reads books as one would breathe
air, to fill up and live. "

ANNIE DILLARD

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life

three

" You know you've read a good book
when you turn the last page and feel a
little as if you have lost a friend. "

PAUL SWEENEY

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life

four

"Poetic language is a way of giving the sense
of an answer, just a sense of one,
that the story itself is unable to provide. "

EMILY RUSKOVICH

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life

five

"Reading gives us someplace to go

when we have to stay where we are. "

MASON COOLEY

* * *

Wishing you a beautiful weekend. Stay safe.

Heart Hugs,

Brenda

xox

This And That Tuesday

Image by Gudrun Becker from Pixabay

"Spring grew on (...) and a greenness grew over those brown beds, 

which, freshening daily, suggested the thought that Hope traversed

them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps."

CHARLOTTE BRONTË, Jane Eyre

When I was a working girl, I used to long for the days when I wouldn't have to rush every morning to get to work. I was fine once I got to the office, because I liked my desk and the office environment, but I really disliked the early morning rush to get there. There was always a kind of angst to it. So now that I can live my dream of slower, more peaceful mornings, I never take them for granted. There's time to wake up without an alarm clock; time for quiet thoughts before breakfast, write in my journal, listen to the birds. Time for little morning chats with my sweetheart over coffee. I wouldn't trade all this for anything!

I started this post yesterday morning. It was the kind of morning that didn't seem sure if it should rain, snow, or break out into sunshine more grey. But when I woke this morning, it had decided—the sun was shining brightly and the skies were clear blue. I felt a little grin forming on the inside as I thought about the possibilities for the day. It would all still be in isolation, but it would be in sunny isolation. A big difference, wouldn't you agree?

I've gathered a few moments from the last couple of days and a few pics....I hope it all pieces together into a post that gives you a moment of pleasure and gladness that you stopped in. I also hope things are safe and well for you and your loved ones.

Out in my world...

Rick and I went for a drive in the countryside on Saturday. Brilliant spring greens were bursting in treetops everywhere--I wanted to fly into them. We found a pond filled with waterfowl and parked by the side of the road for an in-car picnic, all the while serenaded by frogs, red-wings, the odd coot, geese, and mallards.

Not to forget the young fellow on the hills nearby brrrrmmming on his dirt bike. I used to get irritated when that kind of intrusion happened on a quiet scene I was trying to enjoy. But feeling far more gracious these days, I thought good for that young man; he's out enjoying a spring morning and, no doubt, feeling a bit of freedom from his own Covid-19 isolation.

In my kitchen...

Wanted to make blueberry muffins with lemon zest. Having finished off the eggs a couple of days earlier for breakfast, there weren't any in the house (we only shop for essentials once a week these days). Turning to my baker expert sister for advice, she suggested using 1/4 cup heavy cream in place of the egg, which I had, fortunately. She warned the batter texture would be different but should work fine. Yes, it worked fine—the muffins were delicious. We had one with coffee early this morning.

On my night table...

I am slow reading two lovely non-fiction books right now: House Lessons: Renovating a Life (memoir) by Erica Bauermeister and Placemaker: Cultivating Places of Comfort, Beauty, and Peace by Christie Purifoy.

I ordered these two books on separate occasions, not realizing that when they'd end up on my bedside table together, they would be perfect 'soul' mates. Both are similar in beauty of language, and each author shares in her own unique style thoughts about the importance of home and place, and the ways our spaces affect us as people. Does your soul ever long for a place where you know this is home for you? Here are two authors who recognize that amazing feeling too. Both are gentle reads, thoughtful, and soul-searching—perfect for this upside down season when so many of us are sheltering physically and emotionally in our homes.

For online excerpts, you can find Erica's book HERE and Christie's book HERE. 

In my journal...

I picked up my fat pencil yesterday to spruce up my journal entry with a wee sketch. Even though I'm not an artist, perhaps with a bit of regular practice I could learn how to sketch some simple images. So every morning, at least this week while the shiny idea sparkles, I'm going to sharpen my pencil and see what comes forth. The above is Day #1.

Image from Amazon Prime

I watched (and loved) the movie...

Love At First Dance with actors Becca Tobin and Niall Matter (Canadian). We saw it on Prime but it's available on other channels, including Hallmark.

With so many movies out there that are violent, sad, filled with broken, messed up characters, here's a movie with likable characters working through complications and struggles without screaming fits, swearing, or someone dying. There's a nice, gentle chemistry between the main characters. And, it has a proper ending, that is to say, it works out right. If you liked You've Got Mail, I'm pretty sure you'll like this one.

An interesting tidbit, although the story takes place in New York, some scenes were filmed in Victoria, British Columbia. The story line: "Hope is tasked with teaching Manhattan's former most eligible bachelor how to dance for his extravagant wedding. As the dance lessons progress, complications ensue when feelings begin to develop between the student and the instructor."

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

Memory about Strawberry Tea

The other day, my sister mentioned she was making a homemade strawberry cake for Mother's Day. Oh yum! The very mention of strawberries on a spring morning made me think about the annual Strawberry Tea the ladies of the United Church would host every spring. It was a big event in our village. During high school, I worked at the local grocery store on weekends. Eddy, our lovely boss, would tell the clerks that we were to take turns going to the Tea. I still remember walking down the street with my co-worker Dora, laughing as we enjoyed the sunshine, happy for this break from work, not to mention the delicious anticipation of what we were about to enjoy. I never thought of it as a 'special' memory until this very moment, but it really was. A lovely interlude on a Saturday afternoon.

My mom just told me that, when she'd worked at the store as a clerk years earlier, Eddy gave her the very same opportunity. Now it's even more special.

* * *

" Although the world is full of suffering

it is also full of the overcoming of it. "

HELEN KELLER

* *  *

Wishing you a beautiful day. Keep safe.

Heart Hugs,

Brenda

xox