A happy escape

Posted on March 19, 2011 by freda

Yes – it’s that time of year again, and how lovely it is to see Misty’s eyes!

You have been saved from a post about the dreary and mundane fears that have been bugging me this week. (Nothing serious, just the usual moans and groans….) Tabor had the good idea of making a list of personal happy thoughts and good news, so I thought I would try to do the same.  Hope it sets you off too.

  • Remembering the family party and the group photo.
  • Remembering living in the Western Isles because of a TV programme about the southern isles.
  • Watching my way through the boxed DVD set of Upstairs Downstairs (1970’s) and reliving happy memories of how life was when I watched the programmes on TV the first time round.
  • Misty newly shorn for spring
  • Crocus and snowdrops in flower
  • R&R for HBTW means same for me (no sense dwelling on the nasty virus in the first place, he’s getting better now.)
  • 4 new books to read
  • Comfort food because anything HBTW can eat is OK
  • Lighter evenings and the promise of spring
  • Driving the car again to walk the dog – a long story of woe!
  • Paperclog cleared

Not a definitive list, just a few things that come to mind this cold Saturday afternoon, and much better than a rant or a worry over all the usual things.

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Happy St Patrick’s Day

Posted on March 17, 2011 by freda

An electronic card reminded me that today is St Patrick’s Day. A lovely thought, so here are a couple of photos and a memory about Ireland.

One of the hobbies I hoped to take up in retirement was researching my family tree. The trouble is that the days pass so happily and I often get distracted by books or other toys, then the summer comes and there are places to visit and people to see. All excuses I know. However, I did manage a little research and discovered that one of my mother’s ancestors had been born in Ireland prior to 1840, then moved to Scotland presumably around the time of the great famines. I kind of came to a dead end there as I had no idea where he came from, though I suspect it would have been from the more Protestant north of the country.

I’ve only visited Ireland a couple of times and each time have felt a strong sense of belonging – particularly in the south-west of the country, so find myself  motivated to try and find out if there are any connections in my family history to that area. Of course it could just be that the countryside is so similar to the west of Scotland where I have been happily settled for many years.

It’s wonderful to visit a new place and to feel immediately at home. I remember taking this photo of the sunset and feeling full of peace. Peace to you this day.

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What to say about Japan?

Posted on March 15, 2011 by freda

Sometimes I more or less ignore world events on my blog. On occasion I feel there is nothing I can add and at other times it is just so difficult to know what is appropriate. Just recently I’ve noticed other bloggers coming up with the same questions. The earthquake and tsunami are horrific and we are shown countless videos,  images and harrowing interviews with victims. Add to all of this the nuclear troubles and it all seems too much.

Lesley on her blog, has something really worthwhile to say about prayer in this situation. Have a look if you can, and let me know what you think.

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The Gathering weekend

Posted on March 14, 2011 by freda

This is the reason I have been quiet over the weekend. It’s the first time the family have all been together for nearly six years, and it counts as a plethora of Birthday Month Treats. (You have to look closely to see Misty balanced on HBTW and me.)

Highlights included: a marvellous meal with 6 bottles of champagne; snow falling outside and the consequent sense of coziness inside; a showing of Toy Story 3 on a huge screen (plus surround sound;) children laughing and interacting with adults; grown ups gathering in groups to share memories, photos and plans for the future; a wonderful sense of catch-up with the teenagers; Misty having lots of playmates…….. and loads more that come to mind as I am snoozing and getting my energy back.

Overall, I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude and thankfulness for this very special time. We hope to do it again in four years when it coincides with  50th, 25th and 20th Wedding Anniversaries. (If I am spared and well as my Granny would say!)

 

 

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Lent promises

Posted on March 12, 2011 by freda

This year I have been a bit behind with thinking what to do in Lent, in terms of spiritual discipline. In years gone by I’ve tried many of the usual things – giving up chocolate or coffee, for instance – and very hard they were too. One year I announced to my congregation that I was giving up guilt, but in a way that turned out to be a bit of a cop-out. I am far too guilty a Presbyterian for that to have much chance of succeeding.

This year I am trying something new. As I’ve got older it’s true to say that anxiety has become an ever-increasing problem. No amount of soothing inner dialogue makes this easy to deal with. So here’s the plan: whenever I am anxious I am going to visualise Psalm 139 where God says that he knows and loves us from when we were in our mother’s womb. Then, as that starts to calm me down, I am going to try and hear, with the inner ear, the voice of Jesus saying Don’t be afraid. I am with you.

I’ll try to keep you posted.

By the way, yesterday’s BMT was tea out in a tea shop and included a very large meringue. The tea was Earl Grey with bergamot and blue cornflowers.

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Fluffy Bunny Cairn

Posted on March 9, 2011 by freda

Here is Misty is drying off from a bath. Talk about fluffy! The bath is in honour of a family get-together over the weekend, when all 17 of us will be together for the first time since nearly 6 years ago. (And yes, there is going to be champagne.)

Incidentally, the little dog is going to be clipped next week, so I am hoping it gets a bit warmer.

I’m not sure if bathing the dog counts as a BMT – it is certainly a grand event. Preparations have to be made in secret. Firstly the special shampoo is fished out of the cupboard and smuggled through to the bathroom with a mixing jug. Misty has a selection of towels but the one of choice for a bath has to be the large cream bath-wrap. It has been warming in the airing cupboard all ready. Last of all the electric shower has to be set to Misty-heat. It took us a while to realise, but our little madam likes her bath to be warm to very warm. I guess it suits her joints.

By now, Misty herself, is looking rather anxious and is starting to creep under a chair. After much coaxing she is lifted into the bath and her attitude changes from resigned to marginally accepting. Gentle lathering is the order of the day and a good rinse. She is then wrapped cozily in the towel and rubbed down. This is followed by a blow-dry – again on a gentle heat.

Don’t worry, once she is brushed out she will look much better, though her eyes will probably remain hidden until the travelling beauty parlour comes next week.

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Gluten Free Cinnamon date rock cakes

Posted on March 8, 2011 by freda

As explained previously, HBTW has to have a gluten-free diet, so we have been trying to experiment with baking. Shop-bought Gluten Free cakes and buns are not a great success.

Today’s Birthday Month Treat was to try and devise a recipe for a kind of cinnamon and date rock bun. And in the end they turned out very well.

Recipe:

  • 300gm Dove Self Raising gluten free flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 100gm brown/demerera sugar
  • 40gm chopped dried dates
  • 40gm mixed peel or sultanas
  • 2 eggs
  • Milk to mix

Mix all the dried ingredients, add in egg and milk and use on folding setting on beater or stir well with spatula until mixture reaches dropping consistency.

Bake in around 20 small cake cases at 200C for 20 to 25 minutes.
Delicious! And good enough for Shrove Tuesday – even though they are not pancakes.



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Dreaming dreams

Posted on March 7, 2011 by freda

Quote for the day from The Gift of Years by Joan Chittister.

We must allow ourselves to dream about what life could really be life if eough of us demanded that it were.

In our dreams lies our unfinished work for the world. What we hope for is a guide to our present obligations to bring wisdom to the world. It is, of course, a wisdom derived from experience of all ilk: from our mistakes and our ideals, from our losses and our insights, from pain and from the little joys of our own past life and present situation.

Hopes, dreams, a reason for living and sharing and going on. What do you think?

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Sunday Treat

Posted on March 6, 2011 by freda

Talking of Birthday Treats – (sorry, it does go on a bit doesn’t it?) – this morning’s has been a good one. I managed to get to church for the first time in 4 weeks. Joining in via cd recording is a good substitute, but there is nothing like the buzz of actually meeting with people and being there for the service.  Looking round our small congregation this morning I realised that our Minister had 3 retired ministers worshipping – quite amazing considering we are part of a small country parish.

It is such a privilege not to be responsible for anything. Thank you to our Minister and thanks to everyone doing all the bits and pieces that make things go smoothly.

This week I have been thinking about the concept of 6 days work and then a day off or sabbath. It is totally artificially when one is retired, of course. So it has to be translated as 6 ordinary days punctuated by a sabbath for considering the great themes of life. I’ve also mentioned before that a proper Day Off is also required. Usually for me, that was a Monday and Mondays still feel special. Unfortunately this coming week is shaping up to be a bit busy with appointments, so a total “let-down” for the rest of today is in order. I don’t need much of an excuse to declare a holiday.

Happy Sunday to you and yours.

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Feel good factor

Posted on March 4, 2011 by freda

So far it is proving remarkably easy to have Birthday Month treats each day. Yesterday’s was in the form of a DVD. Mr Holland’s Opus has to be on my list of favourite feel-good films – the kind of film that makes you feel good about yourself and the world. And let’s face it, the way the world is just now we all need good news and particularly anything which offers hope for the future.

Richard Dreyfus gives a remarkable performance in this 1995 film. The plot begins with him as a budding composer who takes a job as a High School teacher as a way to save up towards a hoped-for sabbatical of full-time composing. Life being as it is things do not work out according to plan, however, in time his gifts as a teacher become evident and affect many of his student’s lives. His development as a parent and husband are examined honestly and critically, yet without cynicism or over-maudlin sentimentality.

I don’t want to spoil the way things are revealed in the film, but will say that hope and renewal are integral parts of the whole. You may well have seen it – if so I would be interested to know what you think – especially when it comes to the exercise of examining our own lives for qualities that make a difference to those around us. I found myself looking back over what for me are almost a series of lifetimes, wondering just wondering who will remember me……. But that’s a post for another day.

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