In some ways, this is the time of year I enjoy.  Winter is the time of year I like to close the world off and enjoy the gifts of home and nature. I must admit I am not a shopper.  To go out and fight people in the malls would not be on the top of my list of things to do.  The first "to do" after Thanksgiving is to make sure the outdoor tree is lit and must admit this year I got a gift. The blue spruce that my mother and I planted about 15 years ago has grown to the point that you really can't reach to string the garlands of outdoor lights.  I managed to get it done last year with the help of two or three people, latters and the back of a pick-up truck.  I didn't take the lights down because it would have been as big of a job as putting them on. I think there was a little of the subconscious working on me - the hope that when I plug in the outdoor cord that the lights just might come on again. Low and behold.....luck was very much with me.  The lights all came on.  So faithfully at 5 o'clock, I turn on the outdoor switch and enjoy this lone tree that sits on the knoll. It brings back so many memories of my mother and my childhood.  Christmas was her favorite season.

 

One of the rituals of Christmas when I was a child was that we each got a box of Barton's chocolate. Since we each got a box, it was something we didn't have to share which was a big thing.  And of course we got all the clothes we needed such as pajamas, play clothes, shoes or boots.  Mom usually knitted us the sweaters, gloves and hats.  And we always received one other non-utilitarian gift.

 

But Christmas is about having the green table clothe on the table, Christmas music, a real live Christmas tree, a well-conceived Christmas dinner with family and finding those spiritual moments to be thankful for life and the gifts to the soul that all too often we forget.

 

Winter is also the time to catch up on my reading.  I fear we don't read as much as we should.  It really takes a concerted effort to get into the habit of reading and I am thankful for the gentle nudges of "The Bookbag," and Bas Blau. And of course Amazon Books and an assortment of other book club reminders and friends. Consequently I am much more diligent about my reading and always keep a few near the kitchen table.  I am more a morning reader than a night reader so like that little pile of books near the table or bench.

 

And lastly, my little black spider.  Most of you know that I keep most of my orchids in the kitchen on a large garden cart.  Of course plants can have all kinds of plant flies and aphids which you are always on the lookout for.  Anyway, several weeks ago I noticed a black spider on the wall behind the plants. My immediate reaction was to get the vacuum cleaner and dispose of him in short order. Then it came to me that spiders are wonderful when it comes to the little creatures that can destroy your plants.  So this little guy lives amongst my orchids and disposes for me all those unwanted creatures.  He's not the dandy long legs variety but a short black squatty one  who is quite content to live among my plants.

 

Well my friends, be well.  Bittersweet in the hills.

Well folks, Thanksgiving is almost here and I need to pick up my turkey. I figured I'd do that tomorrow as well as pick up all the ingredients for my side dishes.  I have as much fun planning for the side dishes as actually doing the turkey.  I spend a lot of time thinking about my stuffing, sweet potatoes and vegetables as I do the actual turkey.  And of course, the gravy is important. But for starters, I do have the bittersweet picked. I'm trying to figure out how I can make a small wreath for the table but every year we end up removing everything from the table except for the serving dishes.

 

Well I did get a very nice picture of Sydney except that I can upload it to this site.  I've loaded pictures before but just can't get it to work.  I'm going to try again as soon as I finish writing this entry.

 

I finished reading another of Rumer Goddens novels, "Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy."  Almost as enjoyable as "In This House of Brede." It is amazing how she can draw you into the characters that reside in a convent/cloister. I very much enjoy the praying rituals as background, her character development, her beautiful prose and the unexpected endings.  Her novels are certainly classics and I'm looking forward to reading "Black Narcissus."

 

I've just started reading a book I never thought I'd pick up. Clarence Thomas's book "My Grandfather's Son."  Several weeks ago I saw him being interviewed by Croft on 60 minutes. I was very taken by the man I was meeting and changed my perceptions of him.  Then I was scanning C-Span and caught the book signing party that was hosted by one of Thomas's friends. Again I was taken by this man; his charm, his personality, his voice and the things he had to overcome while growing up. So I bought the book and it doesn't disappoint. Justice Thomas is my age, and I remember listening to the confirmation hearings and was very much swayed by Anita Hill. It truly was a situation where - who do you believe? Today my answer probably would change but at the time, women's rights, consciousness raising, women entering the professions and women's self-actualization all played a part.  Getting back to Mr. Thomas, the physical poverty, the emotional poverty, being raised by very strict grandparents, and constandly fighting racism was just mindboggling. The biggotry when he was a seminarian, followed by the biggotry at Holy Cross and Yale Law School would leave you dumnfounded. And then after having graduated almost at the top of his class, finding he couldn't get a job.  Finally he got a job with Dansforth who was the state Attorney General from Missouri and later to be Senetor from that state.

 

His grandfather's words to him when he went into the seminary was don't disappoint me.  When he left the seminary, probably because of the racism, he returned home and was thrown out of the house by his grandfather. From that point on he was on his own.  He managed to get a scholarship to Holy Cross but every dime, every penny was worked for while going to school.  He tells a funny story.  He took out college and tuition loans that he was still paying for when he became a Justice of the Supreme Court!  He was a very angry, angry young man. And that is as much of his story as overcoming the poverty, the racism and coming to terms with the back person's role in society.  This is a man who was raised on "self-reliance," who very much struggled with the pros and cons of affirmative action.

 

Anyway, I do hope to make my way back before Thanksgiving but in case I don't, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.  Blessings from the hillside.   Bittersweet

 

 

My niece and family were up and it was a great visit. I hadn't seen the little guys for 2 years and it was amazing to see how much they had grown.  But they enjoyed playing on the newly cut fields, rolling down the back slope, playing baseball with their Dad, and going to the apple orchid.  And of course there was time to paint, watch cartoons annd play with Sydney.  I must admit, I was exhausted. I couldn't believe how tired I was.  But seeing them was a treat.

 

We've been having an unbelievable nice autumn and now they are talking snow flurries for Wednesday and Friday.  Ouch. Thanksgiving is usually when we see our first snow but then again, our worst storm was October 7, about 20 years ago.  We were without power for 8 days.  The first day you laugh and just camp out and think it is fun....by the eighth day, you can't stand yourself and you get pretty tired of cooking on a woodstove.  But I must admit, we did survive. Melted snow, for water and had either a stew or chili going and even toasted bread on the top of the stove.

 

An update on the orchids; I initially had 4 that were in bloom when I brought them into the house. I have two new ones that are sporting flower heads.  I am excited about what I might be getting since I have no recall on what they were.  I've lost some of the markers.....a no, no in the orchid world but it does happen.  You repot an orchid and take the tag out and set it aside, and all of a sudden you say....." which one did this come from?" You can count on this happening when someone offers to help!

 

Miss Sydney is 7 months old.  Still in puppyhood but I'm hoping miracles happen in the next few months.  I hope to post a picture of her in the next day or two so you will see what I mean.  Sweet and loveable but far from obedient.  Anyway, I hope all is well.  Enjoy the last of autumns colors and look for that first snowflake.  Bittersweet.