A is for Autumn

I rather like autumn.  I don’t enjoy getting wet feet, I don’t like seeing the end of summer colour, and I don’t look forward to the heating bills.  What I do enjoy is a season when being at home is a choice which I can make entirely guilt free.

In the summer I feel as if I ought to be doing something or going somewhere, in the winter I try and do a project.  And in the spring, I plan.  But autumn gives me permission to do absolutely nothing.  And I am very good at doing nothing.  When someone asks, "What are you doing today?" I can now answer, "watching the rain."

I rather like changing to my slobby autumn and winter clothes.  Sweatshirts which can be washed and don’t need ironing.  Thick comfortable tights.  Warm, lined skirts.  My warmer clothes will be delighted to be reunited with me.

Soon Jack will come and sort the garden to be left for the winter.  We’ll have the last of the tomatoes and beans and the one, single butternut squash. 

I’ve started to fill my freezer with lovely soups which will also be used to persuade Jack to come.  Porridge is back in business. Apples need using.

And evenings are glorious.  Curtains closed. A heated throw to snuggle up in.

And absolutely nowhere I need to be.   In fact, I can have a perfectly wonderful day without getting dressed properly. 

(I'm doing my usual "thing" to get back to regular blogging - an alphabet of post.  This series will all be about autumn.)

Exit August

 

Phew, what a scorcher!  Our hottest day here was 13th August at 35C, well short of the 40C I recorded on 19th July 2022 but the heat has been much more prolonged this year.  Most of the cereal harvest was harvested in July, weeks ahead of the usual time.  And it has been much too hot to sit in the garden except in the evenings.  

But I have managed to do a few things.  I had planned days out at nature reserves and National Trust properties but couldn't risk the heat.  The best thing has been restarting swimming - we had to stop when oil prices meant the pool couldn't be heated and somehow we hadn't restarted but we have now - I've swum four times during August.

I've bought a new Trundle Truck.  This is a folding jobby which I will be able to take on some public transport, including trains.  I'm keeping the old one too as that is more robust and better suited to nipping around Caistor.

I've met with friends for coffee or lunch on eight occasions.  I'm definitely a lady wot lunches!

I went to a barbecue to celebrate the marriage of D & S.  I babysat D's brothers the night he was born over thirty eight years ago.  He was very ill and needed urgent surgery as soon as he was born so this was an occasion of real joy.

And I am again in demand to lead worship each Sunday.  It's the third time I have covered when this particular group has been without a regular vicar and I really queried if they wouldn't prefer a different priest rather than an old crock like me.  They are lovely: someone comes to help me carry my gear from the car and they put several chairs in strategic places so I can sit down when I want to.  In several churches they put a table so that I don't need to go up and down steps to the usual altar.  Preaching still brings me deep joy and I thank God for the care, appreciation and generosity of these lovely congregations.

Psalm for a home

May your doorbell ring as a welcome,

your home keep a couch for the weary,

and your table be open space

 for those out of place.

 

 May the kettle on in the kitchen be just boiled,

your living room rock with laughter,

and your phone be sometimes out of reach.

 

May your clothes be handed on,

your plants remind you to water them,

and the compost bin become your daily sermon.

 

May your car give people lifts

(may your neighbours names be known)

And your carbon footprint be gentle

whatever the road that rises to meet you

 

May you cherish each quiet space

and the paths you take into each day.

May goodness and mercy follow you

down each and every way.

 

(By Martin Wroe)

 

I found this in “Rooted in Love” by Diana E Carroll

August

 Each month the National Federation of Women's Institutes offers a drawing class on its website.  And each month I join in.

Yesterday the tutor led us in drawing a "fantasy" vegetable garden.  We drew peas, courgettes, lettuces, leeks, carrots, beetroot, spinach, kale, tomatoes and runner beans.

I'm no artist and I suspect Jack would have opinions to express if my garden looked like this, but I enjoy the session.  Maybe looking for all those veggies in my picture can be my equivalent of "Where's Wally?  

I've been thinking about wheelie bins

Well, my mind is never blank but my thoughts are sometimes rubbish!

I think it's about twenty years since I got my first wheelie bins and very glad I was to get them.  The black bags we had used previously were not exactly rat proof and any recycling had to be taken to a recycling site.  They were a great improvement.  

At first we had just two: a blue one for glass and plastics and a black one for everything else.  Both got pretty full despite the black one being emptied weekly and the blue one fortnightly.  

Then we got a green one for garden rubbish.  I used mine a little bit but I had a compost heap which I preferred.  These days I no longer have a compost heap (very small garden) and, even though we have to pay an annual fee for green bins, I'm very grateful for it and pay willingly.

Next was a black bin with a purple lid for paper and card.  We'd been putting card in our blue bins for a while but the fortnightly emptying had meant they didn't get over-full.  Now our plastics-and-glass bin would be emptied once every four weeks and the paper-and-card one also four weekly.  

Then came food waste caddies.  Weekly collections for these but mine never gets anywhere near full.

But, to get back to my thinking about the bins, I don't think any of them are getting as well fed as they used to with the exception of the paper-and-card jobby.  Somehow, almost imperceptibly, the amount of waste I create is diminishing.   I honestly think that it would take at least two months, possibly longer, to fill the black and blue bins.  (I'm not suggesting that for general waste which could get a bit smelly.)  The paper-and-card wheely wouldn't last nearly so long but I'm less worried by paper waste than plastic.

Has anyone else noticed this very long-term trend in waste reduction?  I'm not aware of any great change in my habits, just little bits and pieces.

PhD's for sale

Revd Elaine running the stall

I never thought I would write a title like that!  Not sure that I approve of my own blog.  

I belong a knitters group associated with several local churches and I knit scarves for homeless people while others knit blankets and twiddlemuffs for care homes, baby clothes for the local neonatal unit or teddy bears for the emergency services.  I'm not sure how many knitters are (loosely) connected with the group but it must be around fifteen to twenty.

Many knitters have a second hobby: acquiring wool or other craft stuff with the excellent intention of making something but somehow that never really happens.  The main result of those projects is a guilty conscience about a Project half Done (PhD), also known as an UnFinished Object (UFO).

So a sale of such things sounded like a good idea and we took a stall at a village fair to raise money to buy thermal clothing for homeless people and toiletries etc. for a women's refuge.  I sent some of my stuff.  Unfortunately I came home with wool for another hat!  Oops!

The first lady to come to the stall didn't buy anything.  Instead she gave a very generous donation and said, "Thank you for doing this.  I had to go to a women's refuge.  I could never thank them enough."

Made me think.

Bye bye, July.

"Magnetism - the line that runs from pole to pole beneath our feet"

I don't do hot!  Cold, I can cope.  Retreat to the hibernaculum, put on a few layers, have a hot drink, cold I can cope.  When it comes to hot there is a limit to how many layers I can remove.

Church-wise I've been a bit busy.  Every Sunday has found me on duty.  Then there was a midweek service, home communion and hosting and co-leading zoom services.  

I've had to visit Louth several times.  Louth is a market town about twenty miles from Caistor.  I'll do some posts about the place soon but here's a photo of a pavement!  Louth stands on the Greenwich Meridian, the intangible line which separates east from west.  I've discovered that there are four markers in Louth: maybe I will find them one day: this one is in the main shopping street.

I've had my usual round of lunches with friends.  Few of my friends live in Caistor so we go out and take advantage of lunchtime deals.  

My friend Diana Carroll has written/edited a collection of materials about love which has been published by Wild Goose Publications and I've been dipping in and out of it.  I also attended the launch (which was on-line) and a reading as part of the Wolds WordFest. 

But if I'm really being honest, what I've done most often is pretty well nothing.  Far too hot.  And I don't do hot.  

Twenty five years ago . . .

  . . . I was Chaplain to the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire. 

The "pirate" behind me is the High Sheriff, next is an usher, the presiding judge is red robed followed by the Chief Constable and a District Judge 

You may not have realised that such people as High Sheriffs exist!  It's one of the oldest  public offices, dating back to well before the Norman conquest.  These days it's very much a ceremonial office.  It's an honour to be chosen and it is unpaid - they can't even claim expenses which are not inconsiderable.  They serve for just one year before handing on to the next person.

The High Sheriff is the King's main representative for law and order in the county and is appointed by the King.  S/he welcomes the High Court judges, s/he encourages respect for the legal system and recognises the work of the police, fire and rescue, ambulance, prison and probation services.  S/he may also spend time visiting charities, youth groups etc.  In everything s/he represents the Crown, attending civic events, remembrance services and royal visits within the county.  They are not judges, they don't run the police service, they have no legal powers.  

And each has a chaplain which is where I came in.  In this county there is a Cathedral service each term in Lincoln for the opening of the Crown Court.  It was my duty to lead the prayers at that service and then process to the nearby courts to witness the formal opening.  I was a little shocked to find myself seated on the bench with the Judge!  The only other duty was to say Grace at lunches when the Sheriff entertained in his official capacity.

It was fun!  It afforded me the opportunity to see the administration of justice from a place which few people have seen.  I watched proceedings from a very privileged place and whenever we retired from the court the judges were very happy to answer my questions and help me understand what was going on (and why).  When my year was complete I left the role with great admiration for the work of the judicial system.

Normanby Hall and Park

It's a long time since I went to Normanby Park.  There are lots of villages in Lincolnshire which are called Normanby and this one is near Scunthorpe.  Today has been a near perfect day so my trundle truck and I paid a visit.

Normanby Hall is an elegant mansion built around 1825.  It stands in a large park with wonderful, shapely, mature trees which have ample space to show off their beauty.  

One of the best things (from my point of view) is the robust paths through some of the woodland.  It is a real treat to be able to ride my trundle truck through woods.  The paths have a hard, man-made surface which means that even if there has been rain, they can still give a wonderful opportunity to wheelchair and mobility scooter users.

This bit is for Kirsten from "Letter from home".  Recently she wrote about some cardoons which had been saved from the builders who are making alterations to her house.  I thought she might like to see the wonderful specimens being grown at Normanby.  

I will be going back to Normanby as I have bought a season ticket but I feel slightly miffed.  They don't have single person tickets, only doubles.  I feel this is another singles "tax".

It's a while since I posted . . .

 . . . so I wondered if you'd like this list I found.  It's things I've found out since I "matured".

I’ve learned that it takes years to build up trust, and it only takes suspicion, not proof, to destroy it.

I’ve learned that whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.

I’ve learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to others - they are more messed up than you think. .

I’ve learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.

I’ve learned that artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

(These are from a file which I have had on my pooter for a very long time and some are not my original thoughts.)

Hi, July!

 A whole new month!  I'm still in my salad days  but a new month is still a new month.

I'm booked to take services every Sunday this month.  This is usual for the holiday period.  My friend E and her husband have a narrow boat so they are floating around on a canal somewhere.  I'm not taking all her services as she sometimes does two and I prefer to do just one although I will exert myself in an emergency.  I've also promised to take a midweek service.   Although this is an informal service in a village hall, it takes a lot more preparation than the Sunday jobbies.

A friend has written a book so I am hoping to go to the launch.  

I've got several lunches planned and will enjoy those.

I do not believe that I have shrunk with age, no matter what the ruler at the doctor's surgery says.  Rather, I think the distance down to my feet has increased considerably.  I have therefore decided that someone else can care for my feet for me and I have my first session booked with her.  I'm rather looking forward to that.  

I'm continuing to find UnFinished Objects to donate to the knitters' group stall, raising money to buy various thermal garments for homeless people.  I am rather ashamed of how many I have found but I am rejoicing in getting rid of them.   

So that was June!

 I know we Brits are for ever talking about the weather, but June has been amazing!  A bit chill in the middle then a heatwave at the end.

I took a cousin out for brunch to celebrate her birthday, met up with another cousin for coffee and cake and lunched in the local ice cream parlour with a third.  I like to stay close to my cousins: other than my nephew who has now moved from Bruges to the Welsh Marches, they are my closest relations.  

I've had "on-line morning coffee" with various friends.  One lives in Dorset and I doubt if we will ever again meet up face-to-face but these zooming jobbies are great.

I've been sorting my craft stuff to give materials to my autistic friend and Projects half Done to a sale of such items in aid of homeless people.  There's still a long way to go!

I've done "emergency" dog sitting as Holly's regular staff has been in hospital.

I led worship on just one Sunday but then led two services.

Early in the month I experimented with a couple of recipes: by the end making a sandwich was about all I could manage!

Jack has been a couple of times.  The garden looks good, I'm shattered.

I think I've kept a couple of ice lolly factories in business.

And while I was sorting things I found a picture of my mother and my sister, taken in June 1943.  G was born May 1943.  Being so untidy, I sometimes stumble across such things.

How about plan D?

 I was ready for today.  I had one very short service at 8am, (an offer made months ago to help a friend) then home for the day.  I'd decided that I wouldn't wear robes.  I rarely go without them, but I wasn't sure how long I would be vertical with them.  Country churchwardens are usually very accepting of such things.

Last night I was about to go to bed when an email arrived from a poorly vicar: could I take her service this morning?  Her two lay ministers were both elsewhere.  As number four on the list scarcely twelve hours before the service was due to start, I felt I had to say yes.  I was Plan D!

So today I went to two of my favourite churches.  Both stand in the most delightful churchyards.  Each has well kept areas around recent burials, but they also have areas which have been left to go wild.  This sign on one of them explains the philosophy.  I find it wonder-full.  

Mooching

Well, even mooching is hard work in this weather.  I haven't been here for ages but I have been rather preoccupied as a friend is ill and I am part of her support network, so you'll have to pardon me.  It seemed liked a good idea to do a post of somewhat random ideas.

Blogger continues to play up.  I think I'm finding most of my favourites but that's no thanks to my reading list.  I don't think my posts are appearing on other people's lists which is more than a little discouraging.  They take two or three days to appear on my own list.

This heat is pretty well unbearable.  I just don't do hot.  Cold, I can layer up but there's a limit to how many layers I can remove.    It's much too hot to sit in the garden.  I'm really glad of my new chair as I can relax and I've got a fan right next to me.

Oops.  I've just been checking a thesaurus and it appears that mooching has nuances of scrounging or freeloading for Americans, but this side of the pond it means rather aimless lazing around.  Read it the British way, please.

My knitting group is having a sale of UnFinished Objects or Projects half Done to raise money to buy thermal items for homeless people.  The organiser has been inundated with stuff as everyone wants to ditch the guilt so no offers, thank you!

Salad Days (2)

About the salads.

Cherimoya 

I'm trying to have as much variety as possible in my salads.  So far I've managed asparagus, banana, beetroot, blueberry, broad beans, carrot, cherimoya, cornichons, cucumber, , kiwi, lemon, lettuce, mangosteen, olives, peas, peppers, pineapple, potatoes, raspberries, red cabbage, red onions, rice, spring onion , star fruit, strawberry, sultanas, sweetcorn, tomatoes, watercress, white cabbage

Mangosteen

I've been lucky enough to find a new greengrocery stall at our local garden centre.  It's rather expensive so the lettuces, carrots, etc will be bought elsewhere but they have a few things I'd never tried before.  This week I had a cherimoya, or custard apple.  Can't say I was very impressed.  It tasted OK but there are large seeds to be spat out and the flavour wasn't good enough to compensate for that.

Star fruit

Last weeks I tried a mangosteen.  That was really nice but at £1.50 for a scant dessertspoon of fruit it won't be happening again any time soon.

I also had a star fruit.  I've had then before but not often bought them.  I thought they would look pretty on the plate.  They did.

Drawing June

Yesterday it was the monthly on-line drawing club with the WI.  Irises this time.    

I did a mindfulness session (also with the on-line WI) in the morning but I think this was probably more mindful than the mindfulness session.

Scams

 I go down a lot of rabbit holes on t'interweb.  Most are useless but I found one yesterday that I'd like to share with you.  

Take Five to Stop Fraud is (obviously) about protecting ourselves from scams.  They list over twenty different scams and give helpful advice on protecting ourselves.   They include three written-for-them Whodunnits, short stories inviting the reader to solve the crime by watching out for Red Flags.  

I've also been listening to some podcasts on BBC Sounds called "Scam Secrets".  Some scams are funny (well, not for the victim, obviously): try The Great Knitted Cardigan Scam!  All are serious and I'm getting better informed.  

Scams aren't funny and it's all too easy to fall for them.  Time spent informing myself is time well spent.

Hello June!

 

A favourite month for so many people, especially those who like to watch Wimbledon (not me).

I haven't much planned for June, really just a few meals out.  I'm writing that down so I can look back at the end of the month and probably say, "Well, that didn't go as planned!"

And that's the sort of diary I like.  It means that, if a lovely day is forecast, I can go to a nature reserve, or the seaside, or a country house with its gardens or whatever I like.  Or I can sit in my garden and listen to the birds.  

And if the weather doesn't make those happen I can undertake a project indoors.  

An empty diary month?  Nearly!  A lazy month?  Probably not!

(Just after I wrote that I read Kirsten's post for Saturday.  She has been inspired by Rustic Pumpkin  walking to raise money for a charity and she (Kirsten) has increased her step count.  My average in May was just 2188.  I want it to be 2500 in June.)

Goodbye May

 

Well, that was a hot one, wasn't it!  Last Monday it hit 33C/ 91F here, hotter than July in most years.   So I've not been doing a lot.

My "salad days" have started.  Not many 74 year old ladies can say that!  My salads this week have included asparagus, banana, beetroot, blueberry, broad beans, carrot, cornichons, cucumber, haricot beans, lettuce, mangosteen, olives, peas, peppers, pineapple, potatoes, radishes, raspberries, red cabbage, red onions, seeds, rice, strawberry, sultanas, sweetcorn, tomatoes.  I make that twenty two different ingredients.  And  haven't started with fruit salads!

A lot of fabric has found its way out of the house to be used by someone else.  

I've had several meals out with friends.  We are all definitely Ladies Wot Lunch.  It's my best way of socialising.  Sometimes it's just coffee but lunches save me cooking.  Hurrah!  I've also cooked a couple of meals for friends at home.

I treated myself to a made-to-measure riser/recliner chair.  It was an arm-and-a-leg job financially as well as design wise but I spend a lot of time in my chair.  

Jack has been twice to sort out my garden.  He's a busy chap!

I've done a new fix for my energy.  I don't know how I've done it but my new direct debit (£70) is £15 less than last year (£85).  Which was £19 less than the previous year £104).  Don't spit at your computer - it would make a mess.  All three years are from the same supplier.  And I don't understand it but I'm happy!  Although this is a "fix", it is linked to the price cap charge, (just lower) so I expect it to rise during the year.  And I've had a £113 refund on last year's payments.

We had our annual Open Churches Weekend, although the church I was involved with is actually open every day.  Our jigsaw project was very successful.

I've done some doggy day care.  

On the other hand, blogger is still doing strange things with my reading list so sorry, I haven't commented as much as usual.  Sorry.

Salad Days

 It has been a little warm these last few days!  

G, Holly's regular staff, went to London on Monday to fetch her daughter's dog so Holly Dog summoned the relief staff - me!  On Sunday Holly and G  visited me and poor Holly was panting so badly that I gave her frozen gel packs, (often needed by my knees), for her to lie on.  G and I just collapsed like sweaty puddles.  

Anyway, I went to Holly's house and we spent the day avoiding the sun. Unfortunately she likes to sit as close as possible which doesn’t make keeping cool very easy.   Fortunately the house is largely stone-built with not-too-large windows so the heat isn't as uncomfortable as it would be at home.  

While I was there I photographed the tree.  It really is in a magnificent place and is now in full leaf.  I took this photo whilst standing in the porch.

My Hare Days have ended.  It should have been "Hare Today, Done tomorrow" but I did disappointingly little.  I gave away a lot of fabric and some other things but there is still a long way to go to get a tidy house.  I've had to accept that I cannot spend a long time decluttering.  Physically it is too demanding and also I am too easily distracted into looking at books, pictures, unfinished craft projects etc.  My best bet seems to be twenty minute sessions several times a week.  

My Salad Days have now started.   I was inspired by by Ang from Tracing Rainbows who wrote a brilliant post about salads.  I can't claim still to be in the "salad days" of my youth, but I can eat salad!  Over these next few weeks I want to try as many different salad ingredients as I can and to eat them in a variety of places.

And I've celebrated this new "season" by changing the decorations on my indoor tree.  I haven't got vegetables to display but I like my bees and have added daisies.

Plan B springs into action

I wasn't too surprised to get a call from my friend Rev. E on Friday afternoon (we often chat), but I was glad it was a video call as she had just about lost her voice.

This is not a good weekend for her to be rendered silent.  Well, it never is, but this is a very heavy weekend church-wise, and E is relied on heavily although she too is a "volunteer vicar".  This weekend, as I said yesterday, is our Open Churches Festival and E is very involved.  Quite apart from that and the usual Sunday worship, there is the annual  service in the memorial woodland in one of the parishes.

We had a quick discussion on the possibilities.  E feels well enough to be around and rotas of welcomers have been arranged for all the churches.  I would lead the "normal" services for Sunday and lay ministers would be roped in for the memorial but she would attend as much as she felt able.

So today Plan B swung into action.  It's good to be part of a team.

Open Churches

 It's West Lindsey Open Churches Festival this weekend.    Churches and chapels of many denominations are open and it's an opportunity many people take to go on a church crawl.

To be honest, most of the open churches are Church of England  because, although almost every village has an Anglican church, it's just the larger villages which have other buildings.  

I shall try to visit a few churches but I will be most involved at St Peter's, Normanby le Wold.  Here's what the brochure says.

"Something different for all the family…. A Jigsaw Festival. Completed jigsaws on display and available to buy.  Help us to complete jigsaws - we’ll need as much help as we can get! Children’s jigsaws - lots to see and to join in. Jigsaw ‘Bring & Buy’ - bring along any you no longer want, provided they don’t have pieces missing, and buy a new one. Local history and displays… including Parish registers information dating back to 1561. Light refreshments available."

I shall do my best to get to Thoresway and the brochure says, "St Mary’s nestles is a sleepy village among fields of sheep. It has a Romanesque arch from an original tower, 13th century arcades in the nave and seven floor stones dating from an earlier period. There is an exhibition on the history and origins of the village together with stories of local residents and their lives. A warm welcome awaits those who come to sample our homemade cakes and savouries, including our popular gluten free and vegetarian offerings."  

What the brochure doesn't tell you is that the "cakes and savouries" are produced by a celebrity chef who lives in the village and they are truly scrummy.  Not that I am going there just for the nosh, you understand!

Drawing May

Once again I joined in the monthly drawing session in Via, the on-line learning site for the Women's Institute.  No-one is pretending we produce great art but we have a quiet hour drawing something seasonal.  Personally I don't find adult colouring books help me lose myself, but following the instructor's guidance is very restful.

This month we drew rhododendrons.  Last year it was cherry blossom and bluebells. I'm building up quite a collection.

(My blog reading list still isn't working properly.  I'm trying to find other people's blogs but it ain't easy!)

Not sure why I am writing this post

 as I don't know whether anyone can read it!  

There is a problem on Blogger at the moment.  (I know, there's often a problem on Blogger.)  This time it's the blog feed which isn't happening.  I am being notified of very few blog posts and I'm not even notified of my own posts!  I don't think many people are being notified of my posts as I have less than ten per cent of my usual number of page views.

Other people are complaining that they can't post comments on the blogs they read. 

So, please bear with the bloggers on Blogger.  We are doing our best.

Trauma teddies

The pattern used by many of our laides.

 Yesterday I went to lunch at our church cafe.  We were joined by another knitting group from another group of churches.

Both groups started around 2018 when many churches were asking for knitted poppies to form displays to mark the centenary of the end of The Great War.  Now both groups knit for charities.  

Saturday's lunch was organised so that the other group could hand over their garments for our leader to distribute.  We send stuff to Women's refuge, the Salvation Army, premature baby units, care homes and the Emergency Services.   

Emergency Services?  What would they need with our knitting?  Well. several ladies knit trauma teddies.  These small bears are kept in police cars, rescue vehicles and ambulances to give to children at accident scenes as a small comfort when really unpleasant things are happening around them.

One lady told the story of her son and grandson.  They were involved in an accident and her son was rendered unconscious.  Her three year old grandson had no physical injuries but he must have been terrified.  The first policeman on the scene gave him a teddy.  We all went a bit quiet when we heard this.  

I think various knitting needles may be clicking even quicker with even more determination from now on. 

Farewell April

Hasn't this been a glorious month weather-wise!  Well, maybe not where you live but in my corner of Lincolnshire it has been wonderful.  

April saw the end of the hibernaculum project for this year.  It was a great idea and I shall do something very similar this year.  And as the hibernaculum time ended (Easter Sunday) my Hare Days began.  The theme for this period is "Hare today, done tomorrow" and it is proving to be a much more active time than the relaxation of hibernaculum days.  Nothing much to show you yet as bags packed for the charity shop, bags for recycling and (sadly) bags destined for landfill, don't make for pretty pictures.  

For the first half of the month I was covering for a priest friend who went on an eleven week cruise.  I enjoyed doing my bit to help, which was quite demanding as it included Holy Week and Easter.  Another friend (who is to retire shortly) is rather ill so Plan B (aka me!) is again stepping in.  One day the congregations will say I am too decrepit to take services, but at the moment they seem happy to welcome me and I am happy to go.  I conducted funerals for a friend and for a cousin.  It's good to be able to do that one last thing for them by offering comfort to their loved ones. 

Only four days dog sitting this month but they were four very nice days.  Holly and I get on very well with each other.  

Drawing April

 I do wish I could draw something original but until that day happens, I'll join in the monthly drawing class with Women's Institute on-line.  

I forgot to show you this month's creation.  Easter egg hunts are but a distant memory now but I have preserved the memory for you

.  

April

 Sue from Suffolk mentioned a poem about April in her post today and it sparked the memory of a poem I learnt when I was at school.   Enjoy!

Home-Thoughts, from Abroad

Oh, to be in England

Now that April's there,

And whoever wakes in England

Sees, some morning, unaware,

That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf

Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,

While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough

In England—now!

 

And after April, when May follows,

And the whitethroat builds, and all the swallows!

Hark, where my blossomed pear-tree in the hedge

Leans to the field and scatters on the clover

Blossoms and dewdrops—at the bent spray's edge—

That's the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over,

Lest you should think he never could recapture

The first fine careless rapture!

And though the fields look rough with hoary dew,

All will be gay when noontide wakes anew

The buttercups, the little children's dower

—Far brighter than this gaudy melon-flower!

Robert Browning

Caistor Heritage Centre

 

I remember the first time I went into the building which is now Caistor Heritage Centre.   I went to my aunt's wedding there around 1960 when it was Caistor Primitive Methodist Chapel.

A few years later the chapel closed and the congregation joined up with the Wesleyan congregation as Caistor Methodists.  The building then became Caistor Youth Centre but eventually it became very little used and a local group applied for (and got) lottery funding to create a wonderful centre including a cafe, an exhibition room and our local library.   

That was around 2012 (I think) and the centre is still well used today.  There is a paid manager but most of the work is done by volunteers.  There's a charity shop in Caistor which raises the necessary funding and the coffee shop does a very nice line in tea, coffee and cakes.

The centre is really important to our community.  The library is a lovely place to go and books are supplied by the county library service but the library is staffed by volunteers.  Volunteers do most of the work in the cafe too and I can vouch for the deliciousness of the cakes!

Today I went to see an exhibition and sale of artwork by a local artist.  Charles Blake is autistic and non-verbal but his artwork is stunning.  He does all sorts of crafts as well and I was delighted that he has accepted my commision to decorate a very tatty old table of mine with decopatch.  I'll show you when it's done.  

The (outdoor) tree in April

"My" tree

 Once again Holly Dog has invited me to stay so I have been looking at "my" tree.  I chose it back in January but I wasn't too sure what it was!  I thought it was probably a beech but didn't want to commit myself.

Anyway, I've now been close up and have looked at the bark.  (It would have been dangerous for me to walk across the rather soggy grass in January.)  And now I've looked at the tree, the leaves and the bark and have decided that it is, indeed, a beech tree, Fagus Sylvatica f. purpurea.

The bark of "my" tree

It's a copper beech (that's the purpurea bit), one of my favourite trees.  The leaves are currently only half formed but they are so lovely.

In Celtic mythology, Fagus was the god of beech trees. It was thought to have medicinal properties – beech leaves were used to relieve swellings, and boiling the leaves could make a poultice.  I think I will just enjoy my tree for itself.