Old family treasures

Firstly, I should mention that this is not my book. Not yet, at least, and hopefully not for many years still.

Secondly, I have a fondness for old recipe books, and so far I have collected a few. The effort and time the ladies put into them back in the days and over the course of years make them special. Some young women continue to write in the same recipe book for fifty years or more, making it more similar to a diary showing the passing from unmarried to married, to being a mum or to become a grandmother.

This particular one belongs to my dad's mum. She brought it out from its hiding place when I asked if we could bake prior to Christmas. The book is almost 50 years old now. It was a fun day - and I got to spend wonderful hours with my grandparents. I love being home for Christmas.

My granny's old recipe book

A bonfire and a cave

My friends asked me to join them in camping out in a glitter cave this weekend. It was snowy outside, a bit cold - and yet, sitting in the cave at night, watching and listening to the bonfire after all the rest had gone to sleep, I loved it. I had some tea left, I had my book - and for a little while there was enough light from the flames to read by before it all got too late and I had to get some sleep as well.

An inspiration

Clumsy words

“You know that place between sleep and awake where you’re still dreaming but it’s slowly slipping? I wish we could feel like that more often. I also wish I could click my fingers three times and be transported to anywhere I like. I wish that people didn’t always say ‘just wondering’ when you both know there was a real reason behind them asking. And I wish I could get lost in the stars.

Listen, there’s a hell of a good universe next door, let’s go.” - E.E. Cummings

Picture source

Credit to this blogger, where I first found this quote.

In memoriam ♥

~ Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there. I did not die ~

                                                                  Mary Elizabeth Frye

A Cobwebby poem

Cobwebs can be magical things. The glittery strands you can see an early morning often seem to be out of this world...like as if maybe faeries really do exist.

Sometimes you find old treasures hidden in old, dusty shops - this little book with nature poems for children truly is more than it looks ♥

My library contains more than books

Amongst the books residing in the shelves of my library you can find a great many other things. If I like something, it will fit in here somewhere - that is the greatness of a room full of rare, strange or funny items. My library is a testimony to my somewhat eclectic taste - a sanctuary for all the weird things I have collected over the years.

Some items, like this puzzle, are perhaps not so eccentric, although very pretty in itself. 

A puzzle with the most vibrant colours!

A surprise!

Today, the 4th of November, I could actually go outside and cut another couple of roses from my garden. This is a novelty. Normally, sitting by the kitchen window at this time of the year, the garden flowers are pretty much gone and there are only some vague reflections of the glorious summer colours left.