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Sunday, January 30, 2022

~ Quiet ~

 We are making our way through January aren't we?
We've had some wonderful snow storms
and some crazy wind
which actually blew the porch cover off the entrance 
to our house!
I won't go into the silly things that have been done
to this sweet old farm cottage in which we live.
There are better things to dwell upon.
Our temperatures being true winter temps.,
have put a hush on area.
It's one of those quiets you can hear. 
I actually like winter months and long evenings,
though I do miss our wood heat.
And by March, I am among the first chomping at the bit
to be out playing in the dirt.
But for right now I have plenty to do.
I would call this
"the time to keep."
In keeping our homes, there are so many tasks.
It's funny how easily they are overlooked when we are on the run,
but slow down for a few minutes or sit a little longer in the evening and you begin to notice.
How did that happen?
Or, when did that get there?
I will tell you, I have darned 5 pairs of socks
 and have 4 more pair yet to do!
I also saved what beans we harvested just to eat as beans
so have been shelling/cleaning those.
That has to be one of the most boring jobs ever,
but there's time to do it.
And I'm grateful for them.
We had such a strange summer with that "heat dome"
our garden and canning seemed off for the whole of summer.
I also finished the hand quilting
 of a quilt I started some time back.
I have 2 potholders to stitch the binding on and
another pair of socks started.
The first pair of socks I made (for me) fit my dad!
He likes them, says they are warm.  
I'm glad they were green and not pink and purple.
I am almost to the heal of the new sock.
The chickadees are still about and flutter around the feeder
where I can see and enjoy them.
We've now only traces of dirty snow where it was drifted.
Most of it is gone so everything looks grey.
It makes me want to sit and drink tea and read a book,
which I have done a little bit of.
I relish a good read and cup of tea time.
I've been reading "nice" books as a bit of a counter 
to all that is heard elsewhere.
Near my chair are:
"Country Chronicles" by Gladys Taber

"The New England Butt'ry Shelf Almanac" 
by Mary Mason Campbell

"Southern Jack Tales" by Donald Davis

I might start the second book in "The Little House" series.
I read the first book which was good.
I learned that she had originally written it for adults with a lot more description but was told by publishers that it was too dark.
So she rewrote it as she did aimed towards children.
Though dark, it makes me wonder if those original manuscripts still exist somewhere.
Her life wasn't easy.  What lessons we could learn.
And what gratitude it might provoke.

And lastly, I have open to read online, 
"The Lady's Annual Register and Housewife's Memorandum Book
for 1838" by Caroline Gilman
This is an interesting piece in that it will have a recipe,
a bit of poetry, instructions on how to clean a specific item,
information about a ladies' group, etc.
It seems very random but makes for quick reading if you only have a short time.
And since typing the above and having it nearly ready,
I came down with the virus.
It literally flattened me.
I am still recovering but am thinner and weaker at the moment.
I am slowly trying to get my house back in order.
It's amazing how those little things we do daily 
to keep the house all add up.
It will get there.
The perk of sleeping for 2 weeks straight is that I spent
zero dollars for 2 weeks.
Talk about saving money :-)
I am seeing how long I can go without any "extra" purchases,
meaning I will obviously pay our power or get milk etc. 
but no extra things.
We now have only 2 days until February 
and somehow as cold as the month is, 
it seems warmer with endearments since St. Valentine's Day
is a couple weeks in.
When the children were little,
we did an advent to St. V Day.
They loved it.
I've always liked St. Valentine's Day.
Love, Chocolate, & Flowers~
What's not to love?
I prefer to do my "Holiday" baking in February
because there is nothing else going on.
In December, we are always over extended so I don't like to 
add more to the list during that time.
Hopefully, I will be able to share what goodies 
I decide upon as it gets closer.
Until then,
keep well and warm dear friends. 



27 comments:

  1. I remember my mother and great grandmother rocking and shelling beans but it wasn't in January it was during the harvest season. How are they stored to enable good beans this time of year?
    Hand quilting is the TRUE back to basics of quilting therefore have never called myself a quilter, but only that I've made quilts. Sorta like the comparison between latch hook and traditional rug hooking.
    Had no idea you had the virus; while I could afford to lose a couple pounds surely don't want the virus in order to get there or to save money.
    Enjoyed your long-awaited post. Glad you are feeling better.

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    1. Needle and thread in my hand is like your hook in yours - it's just where it belongs:-) And definitely not the preferred method for weight loss or money saving 😁

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  2. I am so sorry to hear you were fattened by the virus. But so glad you are on the mend.
    I have a Glady's Taber book I need to read, and I have the Tasha Tudor illustrated cookbook you have too. I think I will pick up a Susan Branch book and reread that. I too do not mind Jan and Feb it gives us permission to slow down. I have been tracking what we spend in groceries, and it has given me a bit of a startle. I am hoping next month I can do better. We do not waste food and I am a scratch cook so no premade things. But still it was high for 2 people.
    I am hooking and just dug out my needle punch so happy to have hobbies.
    take care
    Cathy

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    1. Thank you~ And I think grocery prices are rising everywhere. Will be hoping for a good garden year!

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  3. Glad you are feeling better.

    I have found that snow muffles Winter sounds in a way no other condition will. Rain does not, but gives a steady cadence to the day.

    And it is indeed true that being "trapped" inside gives us the opportunity to do the tasks we would otherwise not find time for.

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    1. I love your description of the rain and snow :-)

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  4. Beautiful post and photo. So sorry that you got Covid, but am relieved to read that you are feeling better now. It's so true what you said about all the housework we do on a daily basis. Enjoy your baking. Your socks look lovely.

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  5. Ahhh...there you are! You've been missed. So very sorry to read that you've been ill and I do hope you are back to 100% soon. You should be so very proud of your hand quilting. When I first tried my hand at quilting, we started with a little pillow square and the hand quilting nearly did me in....even though I truly enjoy hand sewing. The thought of hand quilting a large quilt would be overwhelming to me. But it is sadly becoming a lost art. That last book sounds fascinating....the Housewife's Memorandum. Unfortunatley, I can not read books online comfortably. What a unique idea to do your baking in February. You are so very right about it livening up the long winter months and taking away some of the holiday "pressure." A true win/win. Yes, please do share with us what you decide on!!! I look forward to living vicariously LOL. ~Robin~

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    1. Some of the most talented quilters I ever knew have passed during the past decade & sadly not many picking up the art. My skills are not stellar, but I enjoy it.

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  6. What a wonderful blog post. I love that you describe winter as 'the time to keep.' Eric Sloane (author and illustrator of many wonderful books on historical Americana) says it was often called 'the season of the hearth' but 'keeping season' is lovely too.

    I'm sorry you got so sick, but am happy to hear you are recovering. You're an inspiration with productive you've been this winter, in spite of getting sick!

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    1. I like E Sloane, didn't remember him calling it that. I like it!

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  7. Glad you are on the mend. My husband and I also had it the first of the year, but didn't have it too bad, thank goodness. I must be a weirdo, as I actually enjoy shelling beans! I often listen to something, or sometimes watch a movie while doing them. Hand quilting is something I've never attempted. Yours is lovely!

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    1. Thank you~ and next year, I will send my beans on over for a spell (heehee).

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  8. Sorry to hear you were sick. My father-in-law often talked about getting beans from the hayloft and shelling them. He hated the job. I love hand quilting, but it is very hard in my wrists. Your post was a fun read. I try to read in the winter. Our librarian's head must spin with my choices as they are extremely random. My all time favorite book is Foxglove and Hedgehog Days.

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    1. Thank you - I just added that book to my list. :-) I have to ration myself.

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  9. How terrible that your porch got blown off. Wind can be so awful at times!
    I love the quiet you write about that comes with the cold. And it is a nice time to
    stay in the warmth of indoors. Your quilt looks so pretty! The colors are lovely.
    How wonderful that you can knit socks. I have always considered that and art work!
    I am so sorry you came down with the virus. I hope you will feel better and stronger soon!
    Holidays are so much more fun when we have little ones around. The valentine candy seems
    to always be the best!
    Stay warm and get much rest!

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    1. Little ones do seem to make the holidays special. We like the quiet ones too but the excitement is at a different level ;-)

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  10. I'm glad to hear your feeling better now, Lady Locust.

    Take care.

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  11. I like that slow tending and warmth also :-)

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  12. As I always do, enjoy your posting. I like the longer quieter days of the early winter, and by now have said Uncle! Bring on the springtime, we are having a snowy blustery day, I've lit the hurricane lamps, which are so charming, and a few of the beeswax candles I have left, to warm,cheer and provide light should we need it. I'm sorry you were sick, and I get it flattened you, as it did me also, I'm still catching up around the house, at my speed and I've set boundaries because the battery runs down pretty quickly. I hope that you are feeling better and getting more energy.

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  13. ps. I'm going to check around for the Ladies Memorandum book, it sounds like it's right up my ally. Thank you

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  14. Beautiful color on your new socks. They look super warm...mohair? Unlike you, I really dislike winter, the cold, the snow, the awful short days and long dreary nights. I've been on count down mode til Spring and am most unhappy with the Ground Hog. Warm a varmint. 6 more weeks. Thank goodness we leave town to get away from some of it, it sure helps my mental health.

    The quilt is lovely and ohhhhhhhhh the flowers are so pretty. So nice to see color to help ward off the ugly that is winter and all it represents.

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  15. I found you on Historical Ken's Passion for the Past blog. I am having a hard time finding bloggers who actually post. Then, to find people who like the same things I do. I have followed Ken a long time. I live in my ancestors' 1816 log home in south central Alabama. I also can't wait till spring. This year the sunflowers and gourds are going in. The old part of the house is all primitives. The addition is Empire/Old South. I hope to learn a lot by reading your blog! Marshel in Alabama ( retired Latin, French, English, and History teacher, and antique collector and dealer. )

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  16. That sounds like a rough two weeks being flattened by the virus. I heard a doctor who got the "mild" virus say it was not mild, it was brutal. Those roses and your quilt are so pretty.

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  17. I’m so glad you are feeling better. Being flat out for that long sounds exhausting.
    Take good care as you build your strength back.
    Love all you’ve shown - quilt, knitting roses - all lovely!

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