I guess we shouldn't be surprised that it's still raining - but we are. It seems as if the last month has been one heavy and unrelenting downpour. The lake that formed at the end of the potato field by the salt pond has now swollen to the size of two football pitches. A variety of seabirds paddle, contentedly, in its muddy waters. The rain also means that 'Puppy' is now being taken for walks on a lead. The farmers wife has finally despaired at the wee things exuberant delight at running 'free range' across the fields and traipsing gloop into the house. The latch that secures the gate into the farmhouse garden has been repaired to ensure it can't be pushed open by enthusiastic paws. Puppy, as you can imagine, is not happy at having her freedom curtailed.
Despite the rain some routines continue . The kitchen store has finished its Christmas window display. The owner is standing on the pavement and looking at it with broad smile on her face. We congratulate her.
As she's open we go in and ask for some long matches of the sort that give you enough time to light a couple of candles before your finger tips are engulfed in flame. It seems that post Covid epidemic supply chains are still causing problems. We've tried the supermarkets who have plenty of short matches but no long ones . The kitchen store has also sold out but the owner disappears into her stockroom and emerges with a jar of the things. 'There you go ! That should do you '. She promises to save us a couple of boxes when they do eventually come back in. We have found that the quickest way of getting the new dining room up to a cosy temperature is to light half a dozen candles half an hour before we sit down for dinner. There is something reassuring - and warming - about dining by candle light while a storm rages on the sea outside.
There are three kilt shops in town. The one by the fountain is gearing up for the Hogmanay rush with a splendid selection of new kilts.
By the time we've had a coffee and picked up a couple of books the sun has made a brief but welcome appearance. The towns stonework turns from grey to yellow. Near where we've parked the car we see wreath on the site where a martyr was burnt at the stake in 1542.
It's rather a fine wreath made of holly and rowan and something blue - possibly Periwnkle ? We both agree that it's rather charming to live in a town where history is quietly present and memories quietly and mysteriously honoured.
10 comments:
Nobby is quite upset to learn the Puppy has had her freedoms curtailed. Gail greatly enjoyed this morning's music choice - a favourite of hers.
Both Gail and Nobby are heartily fed up of all this East Coast rain. We even went across to Torridon for some sunshine at the weekend!
WFT - we now check the puddles in the garden to see if it has stooped raining. If they're calm and raindrop free we rush out and try to get in a walk before the deluge starts up again. How sad is that ?
I've never seen matches in a jar before. What a sheltered life I have led.
Hari OM
I agree the music choice is another delight to the ear... candlelight, particularly as the skies lower, has something special, so I'm glad the matches were discovered! YAM xx
Such exhilarating music to begin my morning! The window display is well done. Too early for me but "Frosty the Snowman" was playing while I shopped for groceries yesterday. It seems that summer just ended.
Ordinarily, I would complain about Christmas decorations being already up on November 15, but this year, I am enjoying them all. We took Charlie up to the old perched village this morning and the playground/boule court/dance area is suddenly full of Christmas displays - Santa, reindeer, polar bears, an igloo, many nutcrackers and on and on. I can't wait to go back at night. I was also surprised to see on last night's walk in our neighborhood that the local funeral company has put up Christmas lights - it's normally a very gloomy place, but we saw the whole family working there on Sunday and this must be what they were up to. In Japan, there are a lot of Christmas decorations but most of them are very corporate - France is clearly different.
I never imagined that candles could provide warmth as well as light.
A delightful place, I will make it there one day.
I recognize that this does not have the charm of three inch candles in a jar, it will work well with the candle lighting. You two truly live in a delightful town.
https://www.amazon.com/BiC-Multi-Purpose-Lighter-Value-Flexible/dp/B00X2EPA24/ref=sr_1_3?crid=191LJ881GUQ46&keywords=long+lighters+bic&qid=1700065830&sprefix=long+lighters%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-3
Jabblog - We must live a quiet life when the most exciting thing in our day is the purchase of a jar of 3" matches
Lisa in F - Nothing like the lights going up in a French undertakers window to tell you that Christmas is on its way.
Sharing your downpours here in South Florida. Today, November 15, we are just two weeks away from the end of our 6-month annual hurricane season which has spared us this year. And yet tropical squalls are moving across the southwest Caribbean to remind us that nature is never done. Joey not crazy about "comfort breaks" in the rain.
Post a Comment