Yesterday was very, very cold but the sun was shining its bright light all day long. There’s nothing prettier than sun bouncing off snow. The house was flooded with light.
Today, we will begin a warming trend; though as I write this, the weather app says it ‘feels like’ 2 degrees out there. I’ve been up for two hours and my hands are still cold.
The sansevieria/snake plant is blooming again. Every time I post a picture of the blooms, people say they have NEVER seen one bloom, as if I’m either mistaken about the plant identification or imagining things. But it does bloom and the scent is lovely. Don and I stop by the plant a couple of times a day to inhale the scent, which is rather like night-blooming jasmine. You know the story of this plant. It was my parents’ plant and I remember its early days in their home in Dearborn. Meredith has the other plant, purchased by my parents at the same time. We know they are now at least 50 years old. After my dad died, I loaded the pot in my car and brought it back to New York.
And yes, Meredith’s snake plant blooms, too.
I like to think it’s a little hello from my parents.
I’m all over the place in my reading. I spent part of the morning yesterday catching up on Wolf Hall, so that I would be ready for this week’s assigned pages. I’m also reading The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang. And today, I opened a book of short stories by Kate Atkinson (a favorite author) entitled Normal Rules Don’t Apply. I’m normally not into short stories, but in this case, I’m very happy I decided to give it a go. I’ve read the first two stories and enjoyed them thoroughly. I checked it out from our library system. I’m pretty sure the book was published very recently.
Today, I have to package up another Etsy sale. I listed two more pieces of McCoy on Saturday. However, I’m fast running out of pieces I’m willing to sell!
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
How are you enjoying Wolf Hall? You know I love it, I hope you do too. I also loved the Poppy War trilogy so excited to hear your thoughts. I’m reading War and Peace and Wolf Hall with Footnotes and Tangents. Then I’m reading A Place of Greater Safety that I’m really enjoying and Long Island, the follow up to Brooklyn by Colm Toíbín. A lot going on!
I love Wolf Hall, Catherine! I can’t wait to get back to it later today. My schedule was off last week as I had to travel for work. But I’m back on schedule now.
I’m about 65 pages in to The Poppy War and find it fascinating. I’m not usually a fantasy fan, but I love her writing so much that I’m committed to reading this book.
You know, I’ve never read Brooklyn and I should! Thanks for the reminder on that one.
Stay safe.
Congratulations on your snake plant’s performance! I inherited one that bloomed occasionally in an office that I took care of for years, and then one day it vanished – I hope whoever couldn’t resist it has been taking good care of it.
Ceci
The bloom is always so unexpected and lovely.
Stay safe, Ceci.
Mine has been re-potted twice, I now have four of them in pots and some planted outside my back bedroom window, they bloom and after a bit of an adjustment they reroot and are happy. I think they are closer to 60 years old, I remember them when I was very, very little and Dad has been gone longer than we think :(.
Maybe 60, but I don’t think it’s quite that as I seem to remember being older than 11 when those plants appeared. Probably at least 55, right?
I have no place for other snake plants so this one has not been repotted.
Dan has been gone for over 8 years. It doesn’t seem possible.
Much love, sister. Feel better soon.
I love your parents’ plant. Little late but I just finished Tom Lake by my daughter’s favorite author and Horse for my book club. Loved them both. I just ordered 8 books from Thrift Books but couldn’t tell you the titles now. I didn’t read in the fall but seem to be making up for it lately. I think I have a stack of books upstairs that I was sure I needed to read so I’d better check them out. Loved learning about Louise Penny and The Thursday Murder Club from you.
Keep warm. Love,
Eileen
Winter seems to be the time I read the most and it sounds like it’s the same for you, Eileen.
Stay warm in beautiful Northern Michigan, Eileen.
xoxo
At least you have sun! But we’re warming up here (24 right now) so maybe it will be headed your way.
I love your plants. I can’t seem to get one to stay alive in the house very often so well done on that longevity! Keep cozy!
It’s supposed to hit 37 today.
We’ll see. Doesn’t seem possible!
Stay safe, Jeanie.
oh, your home … all that pretty sunlight, yellow walls and other colors, shiny wooden floors, stella, the place where sugar-free apple pies and cloud biscuits are made with love … all beautiful!
beautiful plant and message, too.
congratulations on another sale.
went for my annual eye exam last week and the doctor found some drusen in each eye so i am now taking “areds 2” vitamins to hopefully prevent or at least delay the possibility of macular degeneration (which was thankfully *not* diagnosed last week). life …
on a happier note … as you know, my sister and i are reading “war and peace”. we are not sticking with the “one chapter a day” schedule of that read-along for enjoying the book very much. after four days of sporadic reading times, i am now on page 191. my knitting of hats has slowed way down, but i am happy to be reading and happy to be reading this book. :)
we are getting some sunshine and warmer temperatures this week and i am grateful for that … negative 11s and 17s (*not* counting wind chill) were tough. it’s supposed to get above freezing during the day, but drop below that at night so will watch for the dreaded re-freeze. you all please do the same!
hope you, don and everyone else have a nice easy day and stay safe.
xo,
kathy
Hurrah for enjoying War and Peace, Kathy. It’s not at all the imposing read I thought it would be. He’s a brilliant writer and a great storyteller. Enjoy.
Stay safe.
There is nothing like winter sunlight…it’s a special kind of light. Your kitchen looks lovely…good light for your plant, too. We just never seem to get enough.
I like the thought that the bloom on your snake plant, is a message from your dad. I have my mom’s Thanksgiving cactus, and even though it blooms for Halloween, I still consider it a ‘hello’ from my mom.
It is starting to warm up here…which is good considering the mess our city roads are in. But tomorrow 1-6 inches of snow, depending on who you believe…and perhaps freezing rain? I am over it. I am tired of being super cold, and walking as if on slippery pebbles.
I should be reading but I’m on this simplifying kick in our home…and it’s just taking time to pare down. Too much unnecessary stuff. I’m glad you are enjoying your books. Happy reading! ;)
Oh, I hope you don’t get a lot of snow, Donnamae. It’s slippery around here, too. I had to ask Don to salt the area by my driver’s side car door. A sheet of ice.
It is definitely warmer now – mid 30s – but it felt positively balmy!
Stay safe, Donnamae.
Your kitchen looks so pretty in the sunlight. We’re getting snow today. It just started. They haven’t predicted a real storm so we will see how much accumulates. Lovely you have your parent’s snake plant. I planted a piece of ivy from my wedding bouquet 47 years ago and it is still thriving. I love reading short stories. I’ll look for Kate Atkinson’s book at the library. Our library system was hacked in October and it is still not up and running. I really miss it. We are the largest library system in North America with 99 branches. I worked in the library for 12 years after I left my 21 year career with the Hudson’s Bay Company. Enjoy your afternoon. Hugs, Elaine
Are you unable to check out books, Elaine? Or is the online portion not working. Why would anyone hack into a public library????
Stay safe, Elaine.
No, we can still check out items (done manuall) but can’t access our accounts to put books on hold. Apparently the library have many, many trailers full of returned books they can’t check in. Personal information of current staff and former staff members have been comprised going back to the 90s. They have offered account protection free for two years to present and former employees. Apparently he ransom ware attackers wanted $10 million. It’s all very sad. Hugs, Elaine
Heartbreaking.
xo
My daughter has two special plants. One is a hoya that was my grandmother’s, and I’m 64, so that plants is probably getting close to 90 or 100 years old. The other is an azalea that mum struck from a cutting of a flower that was in her wedding boquet, back in 1953. It is still booming along and has masses and masses of white flowers every September (mum and dad’s wedding anniversary was Sept 6). We dug it up out of her garden when she went into aged care, and it has moved house a couple of times with my daughter since. Every time I visit my daughter I am reminded of my parents and grandparents, and either she or I take a photo of the azalea in full bloom to send to my siblings each year. It is such a lovely way to carry on their memories.
How lovely! Wonderful living memories of loved ones. Perfect.
Stay safe, Denise.
I was given my mother-in-law’s Christmas cactus and, unfortunately, it didn’t survive the cats’ repeatedly knocking it over and my apparently appalling care. Mom had African violets but nothing that survived very long. I’m trying to improve our family’s record and have a huge Yucca tree that’s moved with us from Maryland in 1990 back to Wisconsin and three residences since then.
We actually had melting today! It got up to 32 and snow was falling off tree branches. Hooray! Overnight we’re supposed to get 1 – 3 inches. Boooo!
Take care,
Kay
Bravo on the yucca tree, Kay!
Stay safe.
Always love a peek into your charming kitchen! Am I too late to chat about books? I have just finished Remarkably Bright Creatures(Shelby Van Pelt) loved it.Also,the last Ruth Galloway (Elly Griffiths)I can’t remember the title!Have you or any of your followers read William Kent Kruger”s This Tender Land? I am also making my way through the Thursday Murder Club series.I’m tempted to try War and Peace the way that you and Don did.So many books….xo
I’ve heard of This Tender Land, but haven’t read it yet. Did you like it, Annetter?
Stay safe.
This Tender Land is one of my favorites of the past year.
xo