Is there any more delicious treat than a mailbox stuffed with a manilla envelope containing a much-awaited book? As a little Christmas present to myself this year I located four of the published volumes of a new favorite author, Alice Van Leer Carrick. At 3 to 6 dollars a piece–one of which was inscribed by…
That’s what a friend’s grandmother calls this sad post-Christmas season. I couldn’t agree more. For the past several years I have looked forward to January as season of self-imposed quietness, of dormancy and rest. I have required little of myself, and indulged in gentle, thoughtful pursuits that allow me to enjoy the coziness of my…
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righeousness, those that remember thee in thy ways…" Isaiah 64: 4 I know all…
“But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” Luke 2:19 My sister-in-law had a very sweet post this morning on the pleasures of this quiet week after…
"Many merry Christmases, friendships, great accumulation of cheerful recollections, affection on earth, and Heaven at last for all of us!" Charles Dickens
Through the clear wintry sunshine the bells this morning rang from the gray church tower amid the leafless elms, and up the walk the villagers trooped in their best dresses and their best faces—the latter a little reddened by the sharp wind: mere redness in the middle-aged; in the maids, wonderful bloom to the eyes…
Mamma has been so busy around here that she hasn’t had time to post, so we thought we’d just pop in and let you know what she’s been up to. The house is full of wonderful smells, and there’s greenery and ribbons everywhere for us to play with! Two days ago two pretty ladies…
Here is that touching little snippet of Mrs. Miniver’s life that I alluded to earlier. It’s especially dear after an evening of wrapping Christmas presents by the fire…
But after all, everyone says that two kittens are easier! 🙂 I think they’re certainly happier…and we’re completely taken with these new members of the family. Introducing Mr. Wemmick and Master Pip… Philip says that everyone should have kittens at Christmas! 🙂
The season of Advent is all about anticipation. It is a looking-towards, a longed-for event. Children should not be the only ones who can hardly contain their excitement at Christmas. We are celebrating what hundreds of years of God’s people could hardly dare to dream about, and the excitement building up to this blessed time…
Dear Sallie at Two Talent Living has been an on-line mentor for me in many ways…from her first post that I read, Practicality and the Death of Beauty, I knew that I had found a true kindred spirit. Right now she’s running the loveliest contest over on her site, the ‘2005 Blogs of Beauty’ awards. …
There came a grim day in November with nothing at first to distinguish it from other days. But in mid-afternoon Gentleman Tom gravely got down from the cushion of Great Grandfather Nehemiah’s chair and looked all about him. Judy and Pat watched him as they made the cranberry pies and turkey dressing for Thanksgiving. He…
Just in case anyone has been waiting with bated breath for my impressions on the new Pride and Prejudice: We went last Wednesday night with two other couples, bearing high hopes for an enjoyable evening with friends, if nothing else. (And the fact that my mother tapped me on the shoulder from behind was…
I love Thanksgiving. Such a simple holiday, so unassuming and amazingly free of the mercantile trappings of other celebrations. As much as I yearn towards the Christmas season each year, I am always sad that a day set aside for no other reason than to say ‘Thank You’ to God is often overshadowed, if…
I am a big proponent of self-devised holidays. My friend Rachel in Australia invented the charming notion of ‘Blossom Day’ for her daughter as a festivity of their down under spring-in-November. Years ago ‘Joy Day’ was instituted by my sister and me as an excuse to celebrate one of our favorite friends; another of our…
Philip and I absolutely love this article by Sam Torode on the wisdom of Winnie-the-Pooh!
My mother read me a passage from the newest Jan Karon book the other day; it was actually a quote from an old and somewhat obscure volume of sketches that we both love very dearly: Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther. It was like hearing good news of an old friend and a warm sense of…
…this morning over the ankle-deep piles of amber leaves at the foot of my oak trees and the delicious autumnal wind that drives down yet more in its friendly gusts…over acorns with funny little caps like tiny brownie men of the forest and prickly balls of chestnut pods already raided by the squirrels…over the perfume…
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