Cranberry green tea with a tiny sprinkle of nutmeg and a couple of raisins and an almond dropped in. We were served spiced drinks like this in Stockholm one December.

I bought the Alessi coffee spoons at The Hepworth gallery lovely shop. Simple, with a nice weight to them and perfect for scooping out the juicy raisins and almond.

Simple pleasures for the darker months.

..but not in a good way!

Travelling a lot on public transport and having quite a sensitive nose, I feel assailed and almost overcome sometimes with the smells of all the chemicals we put on our bodies -

soap, bodywash, shampoo, conditioner, hair food (!? have just spotted an ad for this), hair spray, body spray, foot spray, aftershave, deodorant, perfume, make up, moisturiser, toothpaste, breath freshener, mouth wash, washing powder, fabric conditioner, dry cleaning fluids.....

I want to shout 'People! You do know that all this goes into your bloodstream don't you?'

But I don't.

:-)

Some pollution is self inflicted!

This morning when I came down to the sitting room the combined smells of lilies and quince were enchanting...

I am still enjoying EatTo Beat Disease (see this post) but it is such a tome that
I went through the index and listed all the foods recommended to help my eye condition (macular degeneration) and put the list in my purse to refer to when I am shopping.

Instead of listening to the news I put on some Mozart.

I photographed these flowers at the University of Glasgow last week and wore my winter coat for the first time today.

I loved hearing about what you are up to and what you are mad (in a good way) about.

Thank you.

(in a good way!)..for lilies.

Big shop, stacked another delivery of wood, defrosted freezer, cooked soup for said freezer, cooked dinner, and am still waiting for the special delivery for the drive...

What are you busy with?

And what are you going a little mad about?

I think I stalled in my review of Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules For Life at Rule Six because it was the hardest to read (hardest in the sense of painful). It deals with suffering and malevolence.

Rule Six is Set Your House In Perfect Order Before You Criticize The World.

He quotes one of the Columbine High School killers who wrote;

The human race isn't worth fighting for, only worth killing. Give the Earth back to the animals. They deserve it infinitely more than we do. Nothing means anything anymore.

I thought when I read this of David Attenborough saying that human beings are A plague on the Earth. And of a man discussing how young men come to be radicalised - You are a young man seeking adventure. Do you want to stack shelves in Wolverhapton or be a Desert Warrior?

I admore people who are willing to bravely address the tragic aspects of life.

Around the time I was reading Rule Six I heard on Private Passions (my favourite programme on BBC Radio 3) barrister Sarah Langford. She is a defence lawyer representing criminals - from thieves to child abusers.

Articulate and honest, her insights into lives most of us can hardly imagine, were riveting, if painful to hear. She has written a book called In Your Defence.

I don't know if I could bear to read it.

In his very dense chapter, well worth reading, Peterson gives examples of people who emerge from terrible pasts and do good, not evil, and he ends with two pages of advice to those who think they may be heading to despair and nihilism.

I am full of gratitude to people who do difficult work with in Sarah Langford's words the mad, the bad, and the broken.

Rule Seven will be light relief!

If you can access it Private Passions with Sarah Langford can be heard here (and I loved her choice of music!)

..at how my body's defence systems actually work!

I am really enjoying this book. It's a big read, but not a difficult one.

The author describes how our body's five defence systems work to protect, heal and regenerate,
and explains how foods are now being tested in the same way as drugs to assess their effects on diseases.

It's specific and detailed (which accounts for the size of the book) and I am finding it fascinatng.

Along with Eat Right For Your sight by Jennifer Trainer Thompson I am using it to refine my diet bit by bit adding more and more beautiful (normal and readily available) foods!

Another source of inspiration is the Blue Zones newsletter.

There is lots of good news out there on the health front. YouTube is a good place to start I would say.. you can listen to Dr William Li on Ted Talks and at medical conferences - it's all on there.


(I've not forgotten the 12 Rules For Life reviews....just got a bit behind!)

..and enjoying Autumn.

Some repair work and cleaning up under a new-this-year swallow nest, getting ready

for the first delivery of wood.

and swapping summer textiles for the winter ones

None of them new - just brought out of the cupboard and greeted like old friends!

i'm thinking now about stocking up with food. Home cooked meals in the freezer or at least the ingredients to make a good meal for guests, tins of beans to bulk up a stew or to have on toast for an emergency meal (ie when I've run out of food or am too tired to make anything).  Covent Garden lovely soups freeze well and are only £1 in the supermarket just now, and I will make more of this easy recipe from my friend Lynne while there are still courgettes available
Cook courgettes, frozen peas and a good handful of mint in some stock till soft. Blend till smooth and drizzle with single cream or a tiny amount of truffle oil to serve.

Any other storecupboard ideas most welcome.

As you know I live a long way from the shops and sometimes I get lazy about shopping and put it off till I have run out of food...

Must do better!

I hope you are enjoying whatever season you are in where you are.

I really like it!

And I am waiting impatiently for the delivery of the finishing touch....

..acorns on the young oak tree on my path to the shore.

Unlike most of the country we have had a few clear and calm sunny days. So beautuful.

This is currently for sale. Fabulous position on the shores of Loch Long. The beach above is just below the house.

Any takers?

After the Immersive Van Gogh experience, today I was immersed in the wonderful music of pianist Edward jCohen at the University of Glasgow where he played an unusual programme - here is part of the description from the notes...

Today's recital consists of pieces that have been chosen to move seamlessly from one to the next, without pause. Movements of exotic 20th century works, alternate with gems from the Romantic era....

(Liszt, Mompou,Brahms,Rautavaara,Schumann,and Hovhaness. I didn't recognize a thing but it was utterly marvellous!)

..are excellent!

As well as Salts Mill mentioned in yesterday's post, I visited for the first time Cartwright Hall with its very good Hockney Room, and The Hepworth in Wakefield which I loved.

The Hockney Gallery with its witty door! A good review of the artist's life and work. He is not a favourite artist of mine but I am a great admirer of his energy and commitment and think he has a lot of interesting things to say about art. I have a number of his books. He has done a lot for Yorkshire too.

Unusually for me I didn't take any photographs at The Hepworth but you can see images here aned here. I loved the architecture by Chipperfield and the way the building relates to the surroundings. There is a new garden, a very tempting shop and we had a delicious lunch in the restaurant. We went by train from York and there is a free bus from the station to the gallery in peak hours.

Rather special, and I will certainly visit it again. All these museums and galleries are free!

York City Art Gallery is no longer free sadly,(but worth a York Museum Trust season ticket - lots of concessions). Brilliant ceramics department.

Until  Jan you can experience Immersive Van Gogh in St Mary's in Coppergate, York. I wasn't sure how I would like this digital animation of the works of Van Gogh - an artist whose work I do love - but if you lie back in your deck chair (!) and just give yourself up to it, it is quite enchanting.

 
One of the wonderful things about all these museums and galleries is that they are not crowded, you can go at your own pace and the quality of the work on show is often first rate.

Can you recommend any such galleries in your area?

that holiday high.

One of the highlights of my stay in York was a visit to Salts Mill in Saltaire. My favourite part has always been the Hockney Gallery on the ground floor.

The strong structure, big space, large jugs of headily scented lilies, displays of gorgeous books (some titles to put on my wish list) and art materials, and most of all the loud opera (the first time I was there Wagner was being played very loudly). All this and the energy of Hockney's work bouncing off the walls leaves me feeling exhilarated.

It's sublime.

Remembering the feeling once I was back home it occured to me I can have lilies!

I can have music! (I checked with my neighbour today that I was not playing it too loudly!). Le Nozze Di Figaro is playing, loudly, as I write. I have beautiful books I have not looked at for ages and several blank notebooks and sketchbooks waiting to be used.

If you are remembering a good holiday feeling can you do anything to re-create the feeling now that you are home?  I'd love to hear any ideas you have about this!

Continuing Life Lessons From Phoebe.

Lesson nine : play every day.

Never ignore a ball that comes your way.

 
And if all else fails just run fast all around the house, hurtle up and down the stairs, dive  on and off the furniture leaping in the air and round and round in circles.

At least once a day, more if you feel like it.

Lesson ten : Just be yourself. This is maybe the best lesson of all. Phoebe is never anthing but just Phoebe.

Shall we just be ourselves and be content?
We are enough.
At least for today.

I became a copy-cat for a day or two so here is Lesson four from Phoebe : whenever you get up from sitting or lying down have a really really good s-t-r-e-t-c-h.

Lesson five : be sociable.

Pop through and see how the neiighbours are doing.

Yes, they're fine.

Lesson six : be curious.

Take a walk down the road for no particular reason.

I did, and found a lovely street market.

Lesson seven : take the time to watch the wildlife.

A small brown mouse was spotted here recently...

Lesson eight : ask for attention when you need it. Even if the person you want it from is rather busy and you have to remove her pen and walk all over her paper with wet paws! If you need a bit of affection now you need it right now!

I've been cat-sitting, and cat wathing and learning a few important things. We had an unexpectedly warm day and I watched Phoebe set out for a place in the sun, and with nothing urgent to do I copied her for a day. I lay on the grass in the sunshine and did absolutely nothing for an hour.

Bliss.

Lesson one : Lie in the sun when you get the chance.

Lesson two : eat when you feel like it

and stop when you've had enough.

Lesson three :when you decide to rest for a bit, wriggle and squirm about until you are in a completely comfortable position

then let go totally.

It seems that with practice you can learn to do this anywhere.

By the end of day one I was so relaxed!

More lessons tomorrow,,,,

I'm taking a blog break and leaving you with some recent magical Autumn moments. We have had some lovely days....I hope you have too!

I've been enjoying some of the podcasts on On Being. This led me to birdnote.org and Daily Things To fall In Love With (what a brilliant title!) and......

There may be a jinx on the vehicles on this project! The builder's van broke down - 4 days hold up. The lorry delivering the gravel broke down - 2 days delay.

So we went to the beach and made a north point...

I am trying for a new take on Autumn (season of mists and melancholy for me).

OK I contradict myself! I said I love all the seasons but let's just say Autumn is my least favourite though I do find things in it to love..

Looking up Autumn on Wikipedia I found this rather good piece on Associations.

I chanced on this site and enjoyed My Autumn Happiness List

I will make one of my own.

I will try to take photographs about Autumn which don't involve 'feuilles mortes' no matter how beautiful they are.

It seemed a good idea to  listen to the song and I almost lost the will to live (only kidding!).

Yesterday's photograph showed decay but I felt there was also strength and endurarnce in it. I am looking for a feeling of resilience. As well as dead leaves falling  to earth there are also seeds with their promise of new life.

Another association which I like is that of a new term and learning something new. I've not decided yet what that will be ...

Instead of buying them a little at a time, I will stock up fully with candles and logs in preparedness for winter. I think just looking at my stash will be very satisfying. There may be some foodstuffs I can hoard in the same way. There are lots of brambles on my path to the shore...

I can also get some good preparations for winter and spring done in the garden. I want autumn to feel active and strong and probably pretty busy! I did think at one point I'd just like to skip it and go straight to winter but I guess that's not really an option!

Will you make an Autumn Happiness List too? (And do you know any cheerful songs about Autumn?)

A title for this photograph which I took on the ferry yesterday?

I do love all the seasons, and the fact that we have four, and I have always enjoyed changing things in my home to reflect the seasons,

I like to do it slowly. Incrementaly. The bowls of fragrant quince are on the summer rug - soon to be changed for the winter thicker one.

I've bought a new jacket and am wearing it with a summer scarf at the moment. Autumn is very much about textures isn't it.

Have you nade any seasonal changes yet? To your home and/or your wardrobe?

A lot going on today but not the work that was planned! - Angus's van broke down and the job is rescheduled for Monday. :-(

Thoughts start to turn to those hygge things - the kindly light of candles, the woodburner is lit in the evenings now, and one of my favourite smells greets me in the morning. I put quince fruits on the east facing windowledge in the bathroom  where the morning sun warms them and scents the room. It's hard to describe scents - the quince ripens in early autumn but still retains a cool llight and sweet fragrance that says summer! Which is lovely for somoeone like me who is still trying to hang on to that season.

Talking of which...

It arrived today and I hung it, adjusted it a bit, and lay in it for five sunny minutes - we shall see how much use I get from it while I resist the coming of autumn and winter for as long as possible.

I like my grassy driveway.

and treacherous!  Each winter seems wetter than the one before and the drive turns into muddy puddles (or puddy muddles as Scott put it) and the grass gets more and more slippery, so before someone is injured...

Angus arrives with his machinery tomorrow.

..of what's left of summer.

A glimmer of sunshine and I am out there for breakfast!

It is certainly autumn here, and raining as I write, but this morning with a sniff of the odd sweet pea or two, the late swallows twittering all around me and wearing a cosy jumper I savoured  breakfast out of doors.

I'm sure it tastes better. Would you agree?

Out of sheer desperation to avoid television I have begun painting again!

I'm only half joking. I have watched more television since Barry died than I watched in the previous 25 years!  We didn't have a television and didn't miss it. (I still don't have one but I do have my laptop and iPlayer.) Of course there are some very good things on television and I don't criticize anyone for watching it, but I always had this uneasy feeling that it was like living at second hand and, for me, just not worth the time it took up out of my life.

A few days ago I spent some time with a friend who is a writer who is not writing and I am a painter who is not painting so we decided to encourage each other by discussing why we are not doing it....and why we had tried and failed to take it up again. It was an interesting and deep conversation. One question we asked was If we were working what would it - our practice - look like? And could we set it up anyway.

I decided it would be part of my every day and that I would work as I had at the beginning of my life as a painter twenty two years ago - at the table, even if that meant clearing it off for every meal.

I feel more like myself already.

I have a lovely memory of Barry leaning against the door of the studio watching me work on a series of collages after a trip to Harris, and when I glanced up enquiringly (because he usually left me alone when I was working) he said with a warm smile 'You really love this don't you?' He supported me in everything I wanted to do. I know that if he exists  in any shape or form he would be smiling at me and supporting me still, and that comforts me and makes me feel peaceful. Peaceful enough to paint again.


Are you a singer who doesn't sing?

A dancer who doesn't dance?

A poet, a baker, a potter, a knitter, a woodworker, a creative of any kind who is not creating?

If you believe your creative self is your true self, and you are not being true to yourself can you ask yourself why? And take a tiny step to set up the situation in which you can be that creative person? Perhaps you need a new mindset or you need some materials - I bought a small set of Designer Gouache paints because I have been thinking for years about playing with the contrast between translucent and opaque watercolours....

Here goes!