The Soldier, poppies and forget me not

I love books and it seems perfect to read a while after a long day in order to unwind. Our bedroom is perfect for such and we make the most of it.
Sitting there, propped up against lots of pillows, our Corgi on his bed (tucked under my vanity table) and with a soft light it enable us to really enjoy reading or just talk about what the other has just read.
The only rule is if the other one is going to read the same book, we do not spoil it for the other! No matter how often we get excited in our tell telling! Hints yes, nothing else is allowed.

Serious discussions have actually started this way, questions arise and yes we even promise ourselves we will do a search engine the following day if we are unsure of something!
We each have areas of knowledge: I like History and Geography and my husband is much more knowledgeable in Religion and Sciences.

We both like poems however and have our favourites. Coming from a military family I found WWI poems especially related to the Flanders and its poppies meaningful. My Grandfather served in the trenches for 4 years. On his grave are planted Forget me Not and they remain along with poppies my favourite flowers.

This poem by Rupert Brooke however speaks of another part of Europe close to my heart:

If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

Rupert Brooke, 1914

I always feel a connection somehow, it just speak to me!

As for my husband favourite poem, well he has not made up his mind as to that as yet!

Living today and dreaming of tomorrow

Yesterday I send for my passport renewal and I must admit to be cutting it short: 7 weeks to departure! Let's just say "one day at a time" seems to be my motto these days and it appears it is not always practical!

I decided to shake myself up somehow and do something productive. I always seem to feel better after a throughout cleaning of the house and however small the change such as tossing things I have no use for (here the motto is "if it is not an heirloom or used once a year it goes!") it makes me feel better. Thus I went through the kitchen, the storage room etc...

My wardrobe was next: out to Goodwill it went (3 bags to be exact) and again I felt such a relief! I just know someone will have better use for these items than I will! It is amazing what one collects along the way and how little use it seems to be in the long run!

Since we are planning our overseas trip I reminded my husband of our hope to make it to Jerusalem one day. When we travel it is of course to visit family first of all. Now I must admit we do not have this excuse in regard to Jerusalem (I would be there yearly for sure!) but we have often spoken of just having the chance to be there once in our life, to feel and experience first hand where IT all begin.

Thus I live today but always dream of tomorrow....

Dreams are not everything

I often hope for things that cannot be and set myself up for disappointment. Perhaps it is just in the human nature after all.

I would like to believe I am able to face ups and downs but perhaps age is catching up with me. This was a week for hard truths and rude awakening. I am nothing but human and God willing, I can find the patience to weather the storms.

I try counting my blessings and I find myself lucky compare to many. My daughter taught me many things this week (again) and I realized I must have done something good sometime, somehow because in my saddest moments she told me "it's okay Mum, I am here for you!" She then proved it by actions not just words which is just what I needed.
Thus surrounded by family and friends alike I promised myself to keep trying at being a better person.

I visited a different church with a special friend this week and met with members of a Relief Society. Young and old alike worked together to make beautiful quilts and baby items to be send to their distribution center. We shared a potluck and listen to old time hymns sang by Missionaries and I found some measure of peace.

News from an old friend added to my contentment. I am lucky, so lucky!

I am still dreaming though...

My Dream Corner

Dreaming is possible anywhere but I must admit this is one of my favourite spots! My daughter's discarded laptop is put to good use here! This is where I keep in touch with friends and family, HAIN (Heavenly Angels in Need), SIC (Seamen Church Institute - Christmas at Sea program) and where I use this wonderful tool, search engine! Oh the things you discover and dream about!
Books, recipes, movies, photos, knitting patterns, all come to life around this little spot.
I made this corner my own with Granny's old Turkish rug, the Irish stoneware and of course flowers! I love flowers and I would gladly skip anything else just so as to have a few flowers on the table!
Our island home is nestled in the woods and I can see the birds and the deer from my window! Just imagine that! I love the wildlife around our home especially when I can hear the seals barking and the surf rolling!

Land of Dreams and Second Chance - Until We Reach Home

Until we reach home is the title of the book a friend loaned me recently and I am hooked! Written by Lynn Austin it tells the story of 3 sisters living in Sweden. After the death of their parents they determine to journey to America, the land of dreams and second chances.

The harsh reality of crossing an ocean in steerage, their arrival at Ellis Island immigration center and their many tribulation in Chicago in 1897 test their love for each other and their faith in God. Lynn Austin storytelling is compelling and I must admit I had a hard time putting the book down each night.
She tells of a way to communicate between two total strangers stranded on Ellis Island who could not speak in each other language yet share their trust in God.
Lynn Austin makes a believer out of you! I never thought of it yet it is so simple!
Her research into the fate of immigrants reaching Ellis Island and subsequent arrival in America allows us to feel every step of the way for these people who left everything behind in hopes to find a better life.
In reading the book, you will find that Elin, Kristen and Sophia after crossing a seemingly endless ocean in search of a home also find love, faith and a brighter future.

If you wish to read an excerpt of the book I recommend checking www.lynnaustin.org and perhaps sign up as I did for Lynn's Behind the Scenes newsletter. Hidden Places (also a movie in the Hallmark series) is next on my list of books to read!

I received no compensation for this post. I just enjoyed this book!

Off island

Perhaps the most important thing to remember when you live on an island (with no way off but for the ferry) is to be sure when you go off, you make the most of the day and indeed yesterday was such a day!

I have this special friend, the kind of friend everyone needs in their life, someone who shares it all! We share readings, movies, thoughts, good times and bad times and she never judges. I'd miss her even if I had never met her.

Yesterday we took a day off, checked out the latest deals at a large craft store (yes, the yarn department was wonderful and I could not resist a few skeins), stopped by a lovely Asian restaurant (the food was delicious)and then we treated ourselves to a movie.

The Grand Cinema reminded me of my childhood, older, cozy and the movie "The Young Victoria" was just the stuff dreams are made of. It is certainly worth seeing, the acting was very good, the cast excellent, incredible costumes and shooting locations and it described the 18 year old Monarch fate as few know it. This is indeed a wonderful historical romance and one to be seen.

One spectator described it as "a feel good story". Indeed, we need to dream a bit more...

England

I wonder if anyone likes as much this hymn?

-Jerusalem-
(From a poem by William Blake)

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England’s mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England’s pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem build here
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land.

It always gives me a special feeling. This hymn is one of the best in the Church of England hymnal book and I never tire of it. I could slay a dragon after singing this!

I have been looking at fares as we will be visiting my husband's family again this year and humming this hymn. There is not a spot in the whole kingdom where History is not reflected, you feel it, it is tangent.

My favourite spot is a little place called Rye by the Romney Marshes. It has some wonderful bookstores and browsing through these is pure ambrosia! I wonder what I will find this year. I like strolling through the harbour also and checking out antiques and collectibles. A stroll through town, especially Mermaid Street makes me feel so good! Canterbury, Hythe and Hastings I hope will see us too.

This year I hope to find a few good yarn shoppes in Kent. I have just received lots of baby booties and hats patterns thanks to my posting on HAIN (Heavenly Angels in Need) Random Acts of Kindness list. I promised myself to knit lots of tiny Angels outfits this year again!

Yes, I am dreaming...

New Year

Every year I look forward to decorate our Christmas tree and put on our front door a lovely pair of skates I found one day. We do not decorate the whole house as some people might but I like to give it a festive look, bake special sweet breads and rolls including a Yule log, put on Christmas carols and wrap gifts, small gifts, many homemade and yes, I like to write Christmas cards and wish every one a wonderful Holiday Season. I never get tired of it!

This year I sent knitted items to the Seamen Church Institute (Christmas at Sea), HAIN (Heavenly Angels in Need), sponsored a Marine on Soldier.com and sent him/her a parcel and mail to share with comrades, and wrote 15 cards to Holiday for Heroes (the limit for 1 family) to be distributed amongst Active soldiers, their families and or Veterans. I only wish my budget would allow to do more! I am lucky to have a very understanding husband whom whilst cringing at the many postal rate increases does not mind mailing my many parcels, throughout the year! My house does not have Christmas lights but if I can bring a warm feeling to just one person, I feel good!

The sad fact however is that the Christmas tree has to come down sometime...and I was good this year, I took it down on 2nd of January! The first year we were married I insisted my husband buy a real tree and as promised he bought the largest one on the lot. I kept it until Kings day (6th of January) and we still found needles in July...

I recycled some lovely Christmas cards as book marks and store a few in my "special" box as souvenirs. I now am looking through the windows and spotted daffodils growing already and yes, I heard a robin singing...

I have already started on some needed spring cleaning and gave a warm and cheery look to our living room with a flowered tablecloth and a couple of April Cornell pillows found at my favourite thrift store!

I cannot bring myself to say completely Goodbye to the Christmas season and so I still read novels with a Christmas theme. My daughter thoughtfully supplied me with many of these from her own favourite thrift store.

I just do not want to let go of this special feeling you experience during the Holiday season! And I dream, and dream...

2010 Dreams

As I child I was often criticized for being a dreamer and if often caused me to being in trouble. So when I contemplated a name for my blog, it seemed natural to choose this title (also based on my favourite song). Starting a blog at age 55 might seem a tad odd to young people whom I understand have numerous blogs (however do they keep track of what is what and manage the time to work on these?).

I am a lucky homemaker who retired from the workforce 3 years ago to be at home. That said please do not think I stopped working. Phew! I am however reminding myself daily how lucky I am not to have to say "yes Sir, yes Mam". As for time management, well, I am still working on that but I am trying!

I have 3 majors interests: Cooking, (and no, cleaning and waxing DO NOT come after that), knitting and my first love, reading! I said major because I am easily interested in most things but this does not mean I stick with it being a dreamer...

Therefore I will be posting much of my dreams and the many subjects and ideas I will find interesting along the way!

This blog will reflect most of all my love for my little family: I have a very understanding husband, 2 grown ups children whom I am proud of and a wonderful Corgi, my great love!

I like to volunteer and I will share some of my work here and post some photos. I might even share some of my cooking skills and recipes and I will always be more than willing to share with you my latest book!

Blessings on all for 2010!