Heaven is Now Little pieces of deep happiness. I am watching the late afternoon of the sweet, tiny phoebe, swaying on a small branch, flashing after insects. In between her darting sorties she is simply resting, abiding in the soft late spring day. Now that she has eggs in a former robin’s nest attached to the back of my house, the annoying, raspy calls of “phoebe” have stopped. Surrounded by risk, she is fearful of attracting one of many predators—the …
The Gift of Handwork My beloved grandmother gave me gifts to guide me on my life’s journey. Her main wish was that I would practise a faith “because it would be a comfort to you”. And in my own way I work at that every day, and it has become my foundation. However what I am remembering here is that she also taught me to prize handwork, both as a survival skill and a steadying pleasure. Her own needlework came …
The Comfort of Fire Fire’s Burning, Fire’s Burning, Draw nearer, draw nearer. In the gloaming, in the gloaming. Come sing and be merry. (Girl Guides’ Song) Although I always longed to heat my house with wood, it wasn’t until we moved to Singing Meadow that this was possible. Eighteen years ago we believed this also was an environmental choice, although sadly I know better now. All the same, I will never forget the thrill of watching our wood stove …