Happy Changes In My Garden, Solar Lights and Standing Planter Box

 

Two of my Christmas gifts from my sons on display in my garden. The solar flood light and the peacock sculpture on the right are the new additions. The peacock on the left and the bird bath are long time garden features. The floodlight is actually subtle, not blazingly bright, and casts a romantic mood in my backyard. It is on from about 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. You can't see too clearly but the birdbath is about 30 years old and is made of cement with pebbles embedded in it. Kind of old school, I love it. Behind is an old pink rose waiting to bloom.

I have considered buying one of these raised planters for a long time but they are a bit pricey and a hassle to put together. This is another surprise Christmas gift from my sons. Yes, they do treat me like a princess. Now I can grow vegetables while standing up. No more kneeling or leaning over to garden for this senior lady. 

I soaked Chinese sugar pea seeds overnight and planted them. I have an old wooden raised garden bed that is one to two feet high that is close to falling apart and I changed it to a flower garden. This week I planted seeds of zinnias, knee high sunflowers and knee high sweet peas. I bought the seeds from Eden Brothers and they arrived quickly, within a week. Yes, I live in a temperate climate. Nights have been about 40 degrees and days are reaching 70 so I can plant some seeds. 

As I sometimes say "Gardeners and Christians are hopeful people." We plant a tree or a seed or share a Scripture and wait in hope.

Paintings That Bring Me Joy, and I Am Hosting a Zoom Group

 When I was in college I had a passion for visiting art museums and experiencing paintings and sculptures of great beauty, which led to my change of college major to Art History. I visited the Louvre perhaps 20 times, the Rodin studio, the oval room in Paris containing paintings of Monet's pond, the rooms in the Louvre full of tiny Netsuke sculpted objects, the Egyptian rooms at the Louvre. My husband and I discovered the rooms at the Tate Gallery in London with the Pre-Raphaelite paintings, and that group of artists became my favorites. Here are some paintings in several genres that I like.

This above artist, Sophie Gengembre Anderson,  is new to me, she is noted for her paintings of children and women. This painting is "Picking Honeysuckle" and Anderson was a French born British artist, 1823-1903.

I love horses and paintings so combine the two and I find this painting,  "Whistlejacket" painted by George Stubbs in 1762, a winner. The painting of the horse is life size.

 Do you like the above painting? "Rome, Castle Sant Angelo" by Camille Corot, 1826-1827. My  husband and I spent several days in Rome and stayed near the Castle so saw it often.

Above is "Pretty Baa-Lambs" by Ford Maddox Brown, 1852. When seen in person his paintings are jewel like and Brown is in the Pre-Raphaelite artists group I like so much. Each of their paintings has a story, often from history, fable, poetry, Greek and Roman myth, Shakespeare or the Bible.

The above is "Women in the Garden" by Claude Monet, 1866. I hope you enjoyed this journey through some favorite paintings by a few of my favorite artists.

ZOOM and me hosting

I didn't tell you before but I volunteered to host Zoom meetings for a group of three women. We met 14 months ago, as a Zoom group for women over 55 who were finding isolation hard. Then we started meeting outdoors in a coffee shop with a huge patio and gardens across the street from the Pacific Ocean. Then, in covid's erratic way, for safety we needed to meet on Zoom again. The woman who had hosted us on Zoom left the group. I did not know if I would succeed but I did. Not too shabby for this senior lady to figure out the Zoom hosting.

 

Pussy Willows and a Poem "Laughter" by Hafiz

 

Are pussy willows found all over the world? Many grew near my childhood home in Wisconsin, and I treated myself and bought two bunches at Trader Joe's. My friend told me they last a very long time if you do not put them in water, so I am doing that.

They are so soft, like velvet, like a kitten's paws, a bunny rabbit, or like my dog's ears.

Terry Hershey in his email newsletter "Sabbath Moments" (I get his newsletter for free every Monday) quoted Hafiz, a poet from Iran who wrote in the 1300s.  I found a poem by Hafiz I like and here it is. 

LAUGHTER

What is laughter? What is laughter?
It is God waking up! O it is God waking up!
It is the sun poking its sweet head out from behind a cloud
You have been carrying too long, veiling your eyes and heart.
It is Light breaking ground for a great structure
That is your real body, called Truth.
It is happiness applauding itself and then taking flight
To embrace everyone and everything in this world.
Laughter is the polestar held in the sky by our Beloved,
Who eternally says,
"Yes, dear ones, come this way, come this way toward Me and Love!
Come with your tender mouths moving and your beautiful tongues conducting songs,
And with your movements - your magic movements
Of hands and feet and glands and cells - Dancing!
Know that to God's eye, all movement is a wondrous language,
And music, such exquisite, wild music!"
O what is laughter, Hafiz?
What is this precious love and laughter budding in our hearts?
It is the glorious sound of a soul waking up!

Elizabeth Cadell, Novelist Who Lived in India, the UK and Portugal

 

I recently put a book "Game In Diamonds" by Elizabeth Cadell on my list of books to read. The plot sounds fun, mystery, family rivalry and romance. Those are great ingredients for a novel, I think.

Have you read that book, or others by her? I read a couple of her books and found them entertaining, perfect reading for the sadness that sometimes arrives. My friend texted me that "we widows have a hard time in this pandemic with isolation." So true.

Do you sometimes hear about someone you would like to know more about? When I read that Cadell was born in Calcutta, India in 1903 that sparked my interest. During WWI she went to London to prepare for a career in music, but decided to return to India where she married and had two children. Widowed ten years later she returned to England. 

Cadell wrote 52 humorous and romantic novels, and her daughter is bringing them back to readers by publishing them. Cadell's story was not over; in 1960 she moved to Portugal. I like her spirit of living in different countries. She wrote many novels set in Portugal, lived there for 29 years, and died at the age of 85. She must have been an adventurous woman; I haven't found a memoir or biography of her. 

Rumer Goden is another author whose writing I admire, who lived in India and the UK. Any authors whose personal lives you find fascinating?

Disraeli TV series, Ian McShane and Bougainvillea

 Above is the young Ian McShane starring in the 1978 4 part mini series "Disraeli: Portrait of a Romantic". He is so handsome in this, I have a bit of a crush on him. This photo shows McShane as Disraeli (1804-1881) when he styled himself proudly as a young dandy who loved beauty, wine, women and song. Note the rings worn on top of his gloves, cameo pin on his neck scarf and diamonds everywhere. When he entered politics he was told by a mentor no one would take him seriously dressed like that, wearing diamonds and green velvet coats. He toned down his dress and faced a rocky road to success. Right after reading the novel "Ayala's Angel" by Anthony Trollope, I saw this photo and understood more Ayala's earnest suitor who dressed like that.

I do recommend watching this show. Disraeli succeeded with difficulty; he lacked family and fortune, was Jewish, and seemed to be quite an honorable man who became devoted to his wife in a time when love matches were not common. Would Queen Victoria accept him as advisor? Did he become Prime Minister? Watch the show and find out.

A block away from my house I admire this bougainvillea bush in my neighbor's yard. Yes, it is in full bloom today in January. I would say it is 10 feet high.

I do love walking on crisp winter days as Bounce and I patrol the neighborhood and check out all the gardens.

Mystical Snow Scene and Nine Fabulous Books

 

I grew up in Wisconsin, land of gorgeous white snow in winter. The cold beauty of icicles hanging from our roof. A perfect murder weapon (ha ha), use it and then it melts so no evidence. Has that ever been done in real life or in a mystery novel? As children my sister and I made snow forts, snow angels, ice skated for free in local parks where rinks were created, and walked to school on the plowed streets. Snowflakes sparkling in the sun. Can you tell from mynostalgic ode to snow that I have now lived half my life in a part of California where it does not snow? In addition to its white glory, I do admit snow can be ugly slushy gray and conceal slippery ice. Anyhoo, above is a photo of a mystical snow covered bridge.

I did not want or need anything for Christmas so I treated myself and bought 9 books. I feel rich in books at the moment. I bought them online at Powells Books so I did not feed a mega monster store owned by a billionaire. Powell's Books has a huge selection, new and used, and they had every book I wanted.

I quickly read one of these books, The Bookseller by Mark Pryor. I am very happy this is the first book I read in 2022, it is brilliant with very high quality writing and plot. The main character is Head of Security for the American Embassy in Paris and he has crimes to solve. Good news that this is the first in a series. The bookseller is an elderly man who has a book stall along the Seine; I spent many happy moments browsing in those bookstalls, when I lived in Paris for two summers, so this book is a mad nostalgic read for me. Plus murder and mystery.

In case you can't read the titles in the photo, I bought two books by my favorite novelist, Anthony Trollope: Castle Richmond and Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite. This will bring my total of books I read by Trollope to 30. Love that man. His books were set in the 1860s, 1870s and 1880s, when he lived and wrote. I am reading Sir Harry Hotspur now, it is about Sir Harry and his 20 year old daughter, and who will she marry.

What books are you reading in the New Year?

Magic of Snow in California Christmas 2021 and a New Year Is Here

 Happy New Year to you all.

One event was a highlight to my Christmas of 2021. Actually all of Christmas for my family was upbeat. The highlight was that my adult sons asked to go to our church Christmas Eve candlelight service, and my younger son's girlfriend wanted to come too, so that made it even more fun.

 

 

We got there early and talked to my friends and introduced people all around. About 200 people came to church, all masked per regulation. Young and old, lots of songs sung, a meaningful message from the lead pastor. It just elevates the spirits to gather with like minded loving people, united to worship and strengthen friendships. We collected money that night for two local charities. The lights in church were turned out and each person was given a candle to light. After singing a hymn in the dark lit by our 200 candles we all raised our candles up high, illuminating the darkness. Light always wins against the dark.

A magical moment came when the minister talked about snow ball fights after church. I didn't know what he was talking about; where we live in California it does not snow. Lo and behold as we walked out after the service big snowflakes drifted down from on high right outside the church. I played in the snowflakes and felt like a child again. 

Hidden up high on a balcony was one of our ministers hand cranking a snow machine. It was such fun, especially for the little kids. And the adults got to play too.

 

Below is a photo I found online that I couldn't resist sharing: reindeer, little fur friends, a lantern and snow.

 

 

Happy New Year friends.