Thoughts.

Simple Woman's Daybook: 8th November 2011

Outside My Window ... grey, damp, raw cold. Funereal cold which was fitting as I attended the funeral of a parishioner today. He would have been 102 in a few days time.

I am thinking ... about the TV programme we watched about Christianity in Europe. Still available on iPlayer & here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01785f8/Our_World_Europes_Christian_Exodus/ 

I agree with some one who said that it wasn't so much they were against Christianity but against the man made church. It is all the regulations, who can and cannot take communion, the rules nowadays that seems to say that every service must be Holy Communion/Mass/Eucharist. Who decides? Why no morning prayer any more? Who decides about all the extra bells that jangle away during the services? Services? Surely they have become a performance sometimes with much annoyance if not everything is done 'right'. Although I cannot sing, I enjoy hearing hymns and 'sing' them inside myself if that makes sense. This links in with my theory that the fewer the congregation the longer and drearier the hymns - and no the theory applies to both modern and traditional hymns.  As an ordinary Anglican in that broad church I wonder if we have drifted away from what Jesus taught and those commandments about loving God with all your heart and your neighbour. Maybe it is me having doubts, for example, I no longer believe one goes to Heaven after one dies but as Wordsworth said "Heaven lies about us in our infancy" and maybe in all our life if we can see it. To me Heaven can be the views of and from Richmond Hill, it can walking and holding hands with my husband, or the scent of a rose in our front garden in November. 

From the learning rooms .. as Ian is not studying maths. at present he has been grabbed to make things for a Christmas tree. It has been decided that each group at church will decorate a tree and these will be around for all of Advent. Ian is well known, and rightly so, for his model making and woodworking skills so he has to make miniature hymn books for the choir tree. Not sure whether other decorations will be required but a brilliant prototype is ready for inspection.

From the kitchen ... we are about to prepare supper. We purchased locally produced Italian pasta from Waitrose so will be trying that. I intend to stew cooking apples.

I am wearing ... black East dress, charcoal grey Uniqlo cardigan and coloured scarf.

I am creating ... Hexipuffs. I have purchased new needles, then a new cable as the spare cable I had was just so long. Have abandoned temporarily the complicated cardigan. I had made an error and could not face unpicking about 16 rows. It happened at the same time as losing my hexipuff knitting, feel so upset still about that but exhaustive searches have revealed no sign of  the half completed hexipuff on magic loop in cotton yarn.

I am reading ... Henry's sisters, by Cathy Lamb. The first few chapters are not encouraging but I will persevere. This "worst read librarian" (quote) needs to read more fiction.

I am hoping ... the Cox's apple Pippin that we planted will prosper and grow. It was an offer from Copella Apple juice to encourage more of us to grow and eat English apples. Just had to purchase three bottles of Copella products, plus payment postage and packing.

 Tree soaking before being planted in the garden, mid way between two other apple trees.

Apple tree in the earth.

I am hearing ... Ian tapping away at his computer, as is his wont he is working on an Excel worksheet.

Around the house ... lots of clearing going on, have contacted Society of Indexers to see if my copies of The Indexer from 1981 can be of use to some one. Very friendly reply from the Society. Any one interested?

A Picture Thought I Am Sharing ...  about ten days ago we went on one of the Strollers walks around Puttenham, a village on the Hog's Back and part of the South Downs Way. It was a good, if slightly challenging walk for me but I managed it. (My lung capacity is just below 40%) A coffee break had been planned. After coffee at Manor Farm café, we looked in the Seale Craft Centre. Lots of beautiful items for sale, there was very little yarn about 8 balls of this Pure Jacob double knitting of which I bought these three. 

I was so delighted as the church in Seale was where my great grandmother was baptised in 1855. As the church was open I was able to see and photograph the font that must have been used for Frances Barnes. According to the literature in the church the font was medieval although the church was remodelled in the later nineteenth century. 

Lunch on the walk was one of the best. We had a copy of the menu for The Good Intent pub in Puttenham so orders were telephoned ahead for our party of 8 so when we arrived about 2pm our only other consideration was the choice of drink to accompany the excellent food. Only downside of the day was the heavy traffic jams we encountered on the A3 coming home and for me, rather achy bones for a couple of days. Worth it for the exercise, fellowship and laughter these walks give.

Well, I guess I've said enough, sorry for rambling on folks.

Simple woman's daybook written 20th December

FOR TODAY Monday 20th December

Outside my window...cold, grey, icy, messy.

I am thinking... about writing the last few Christmas cards to be hand delivered, already temperatures are dropping so won't be till tomorrow.

I am thankful for...being able to stay indoors, but have missed church, Nine lessons and carols and a party yesterday but just know it would not be wise to venture forth on the ice and in such low temperatures.

From the kitchen...haven't done so much Christmas baking this year. Ian for some reason I cannot fathom doesn't wish me to make mince pies so he has bought them instead. Will make trifle, brandy butter but they are not really baking. Only made cake, and that was Waitrose's Delia Smith with all ingredients ready measured. The banana loaf I made Saturday was a great success, added sultanas to recipe from my mother's All colour Cookbook. Such a classic, with lurid colour illustrations. The index is good, it is by recipe number rather than page number.

I am wearing...old warm grey trousers; blue striped Thomas Pink shirt, navy blue round neck M & S jumper and blue, pink and white socks. One day I may wear socks I have knitted myself, well that's the plan.

I am creating...pink beret with Rowan alpaca yarn left from jumper.

I am going...to be helping with Christmas lunch at our church hall for guests who would otherwise be alone. Either I or daughter will collect and return a client; Ian will drive a lady who will be happier in the Picasso, easier to get in and out rather than in a 14 year old Corsa.

I am reading...nothing at the moment, took two days to read the Saturday papers.

I am hoping...the temperatures will rise suddenly and so all those who wish to travel may.

I am hearing...husband talking to son on phone. Son's business closed early at 3pm, he works in a hilly area, transport is difficult.

Around the house... tree up and decorated; lights on when curtains are open.

One of my favourite things... yesterday evening as Ian out singing at church so it was a Mummy-and-Martha evening. She looked after me very well, we drank tea, she made toast from home made bread which we had with home made jam and watched TV including the tear jerking Noel Edmond's Christmas presents. Not my usual viewing, but loads of feel good factor and do gooding. Could knit at same time too. A good, relaxing evening.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Gas fire to be fitted tomorrow then tidying up and preparing for Christmas. Plans depend on the weather.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

View from back bedroom window, shows the pruning our trees had last week, completed just before the snows came.  Does make the downstairs lighter.

May I mention the Simple woman's daybook blog and offer a link back to the main page of this blog.http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ 

Christmas greetings to all, PixieMum