A Haven for Vee

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Newsy Little Nothing Post

Little pot of johnny-jump-ups

Maybe that title is promising too much with "newsy." I so enjoy newsy posts that others write that I thought I might try one myself.

It rained all night with intermittent thunder showers. I slept very well and whenever I did wake to a clap of thunder, I'd snuggle back down into my covers and against my beloved and say to myself you are so blessed and it is so cozy here.

We enjoyed a quiet Saturday morning. Nan has been sleeping much longer of late and, yes, we know what that bodes. John read his paper and I my library book, another of Elizabeth Goudge's only this time much lighter reading. The Little White Horse was written in 1946 and won the Carnegie Medal for children's literature. (I believe that C.S. Lewis must've taken note because The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe has some similar elements and was published in 1950. ETA: Yes, of course, I find upon some further research that this is true. Not only that, but that this book strongly influenced the writer mentioned next.) The Little White Horse is one of J.*. *owlings' favorite childhood reads. I enjoyed it very much, too. Especially so in light of the second line of this paragraph and the final paragraph of The Little White Horse. Dear reader, you know that I am always vague. Somehow I'm hoping that if you've not read it or not for a long time, that you'll pick it up once again out of sheer curiosity as I did. So if you enjoy reading about homes and hospitality, great adventures and odd happenings, you'd love this little fairy tale. Anyhow, this completes my marathon of Goudge books for a while.

Yes, I did complete Laura Bush's book and would recommend it as insightful, which makes for interesting reading. Some have described the book as insipid. I would not. I found it lyrically written with a pleasant flow. It maintained my interest from the first page to the last. Mrs. Bush did far more during her husband's presidency than I had imagined and I am impressed with how well she used her time and for what causes. The most notable, in my book, being her stand for women's rights in the Middle East and in particular Afghanistan. Her work actually continues to this day as a very recent Google search reveals.

Enough of books!

My mother is doing well and had supper with us last night. We ordered out and had haddock dinners with a side of fried shrimp. It was a welcome change for us all, especially for John and me as we are dieting. No! We are not dieting. We are making yet another "life change." Right. I'm convinced of it. Kinda.

***

Since I left off writing this, my grandmother has wakened, been bathed, has eaten, and is sitting in the living room reading. My mother has arrived for lunch and John returned from a morning's activities for lunch. It was a rainy day and you know what that means (window washing), but now a weak sun is shining so John, feeling personally blessed by that sign, has skipped off again. Mother left just prior. She is at work packing her home and preparing for its sale. I don't like to think of her doing this work on her own, but there's no one available to help her and she is adamant that it must be done now.

So the remainder of my afternoon activities are to push the laundry (there's always a lot of laundry with my nan) and to wash up the dishes, which is challenging since there's so much laundry and so little hot water as a result.

And I'm going to pluck the chives blossoms and make some vinegar that Nadine at Nadine's Nook told about right *here.* Oops! Guess I'll have to dry those blossoms a bit first.

Some fine day, I shall hope to be less newsy and more interesting.

Have a lovely afternoon...

17 comments:

  1. This is my very favorite kind of post. It is the kind of conversation we might have sitting on your deck or mine chatting away.

    I picked up an Elizabeth Goudge book at the Library this week. I have never read anything of hers so I look forward to starting it soon.
    It is interesting to read how she has impacted the literature that I so love by C.S. Lewis.

    We are experiencing nearly daily thunderstorms. Some we enjoy...some are just scary.

    Praying for your Mom and Grandmother. So much on your plate and yet I sense the grace with which you are managing.

    Becky K.

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  2. I agree with Becky - I love this kind of post and it is just like catchign up with old friends over a cup of coffee. Love it! It is also a glimpse of your real life, Vee, and that is a pleasure for us too. I understand. And I also know about the hot water. I have started boiling a kettle for the dishes in desperation.
    Have a peaceful weekend, my friend.

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  3. it was wonderful to visit with you and to catch up on the goings on at your house. sounds like all is well and you have managed to find the blessings amid the struggles, you are an incredible woman :)

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  4. A delightful and wonderful newsy post! I look forward to more!

    LaTeaDah

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  5. I very much enjoyed your post! Be as 'newsy' as you choose to be - and always delightful!!

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  6. Hi Vee,
    I love newsy posts because i am a nosy person. I enjoy reading how a persons day is going or went. As a matter of fact one of my favorite, and you have a way of making me feel as though I am right there with you.
    I am so glad to know your mother and nan are doing well.
    I also read your post about the trellises,looking forward to seeing how they come out. Thanks for giving me a glimpse into your world. Enjoy your weekend.
    Hugs,
    Sue

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  7. i loved your newsie post and am
    happy that you had a lovely thunder
    shower and lazy saturday morning.

    glad to hear your mom is doing
    better.

    have a lovely sunday,
    lea

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  8. Hey, I think we got even more than you promised.... enjoyed it! Thanks for the tip about Laura's book... I'll have to look for it at the library.

    And I love C.S. Lewis.... I was crazy about him about 20 years ago and looked for everything I could find of his... well, maybe not Everything, but you know, as much as I could fin.

    Wonderful newsy visit... happy evening.

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  9. I enjoyed reading your newsy post. :-)

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  10. 'Newsy' posts rock! You said so yourself. :-) And since none of us in Pretty Blog Land, are film stars or rock stars ~~ what else is our style of 'Newsy'? But happenings around/in our little circle of life. So, what else could we/you wish for?

    Ahhhhhhhhh, she said it herself! She is "always vague." ,-)

    But, does she believe it?

    Or is it just that I keep telling that she is vague?

    "Does she or doesn't she? Only her hair dresser knows for sure."<--OK, how many readers here, are old enough to remember that add line? ,-)

    Yikes, you are making yet another "life change." Oh come on. You simply can't throw that morsel out here, and not expand upon it!

    You can't!

    You can't!

    You can't!

    Phuuuuulllllleeeeeeeeeeeze... Details. Just a few details. Inquiring minds [ours] want to know.

    ^_^

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  11. I have a library hold request out for Laura Bush's book -- good to know you enjoyed reading it, Vee. I'm always intrigued by a former First Ladies' "behind the scenes" accounts of their White House years. I know as a former Librarian Mrs. Bush took a great interest in literacy.

    My chive blossoms are fading ..I'll have to see Nadine's blog to find out if it's too late to make vinegar with them?

    PS I didn't buy any cookbooks this time but I have bought a few Ms Slotnick in the past -- The Settlement Cookbook and Irish County Cooking.

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  12. Vee, I came scrolling down so that I could leave you a comment. I adore your mosaic for Mosaic Monday, what a nice gesture that you had marked it no comments to people could just pop along. You are like that you know, so thoughtful.

    I am glad that your Mom is doing well, and that your Grandmother is comfortable. Each day is such a blessing.

    I hope you have a lovely evening.

    Karen

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  13. Vee, This is a wonderful post!

    I'm sitting here worrying with you about your mother doing her packing. I hope she only does what she feels able to do.

    Prayers for you all.

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  14. Like the newsy post, love reading about your life and it certainly sounds hard. You are an angel working away there.

    Your takeout becomes a takeaway here. Not something we do though but lots do.

    The Peony is just beautiful and the yard flowers blooming well.
    Blessings to you Vee.

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  15. Hi Vee,
    Catching up with you is always fun and intereting! I don't know the book, The Little White Horse. So, now I am going to look for it the next time I go to the library. Love your pot of Johnny-jump-ups....

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  16. 6/07/'10 08:50 pm

    Hey Hon, you still have your Comments turned off!

    And not only did you post a precious pic of your surrrrrrrprised kitty, you also put a new pretty composite Header up. And I can't Comment there, to tell you so.

    ^_^

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  17. Such a wonderful post. I felt as though we were having tea and talking. Have a Happy week...m..

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