"By March, the worst of the winter weather would be over....The snow would thaw, the rivers begin to run and the world wake into itself again...." --Neil Gaimon
HARMONY by Sir THOMAS BROWNE (1605-1682)
It is my temper to affect all harmony:
and sure there is music even in the beauty and the silent note which Cupid strikes.
Far sweeter than the sound of an instrument:
for there is music wherever there is harmony...
order, or proportion;
and thus far we may maintain the music of the spheres.
For these well ordered motions,
and regular paces,
Though they give no sound to the ear,
yet to the understanding they strike a note
Most full of harmony....
It is a.....
Shadowed lesson of the whole world,
and creatures of God:
such a melody to the ear, as the whole world, well understood....
Would afford the understanding......
Photographs 2018
Harmony excerpt from "1001 Beautiful Things 1942"
"The white snow looks beautiful, and covers everything my eyes can see..." -Craig Stone ( Life Knocks)
Spencer came early in the morning. He saw Howard. Howard liked leftover seeds. Spencer did not like seeds. But he liked Howard.
Spencer saw the finches. They sat on snow covered branches and peeped. Spencer watched them for a while. His tail swished in the snow.
Then it was dawn.
Poe watched Spencer from the front window. Orange. Like marmalade.LIke the sunsrise.
Trees hovered and quivered in snow. Gusts swooshed over the forest.
Thrushes trilled from stark branches. Winter still. Spring to come. Spencer padded onwards.
He saw the little black cat at his door. Poo stared. He was little.
Spencer roared his best cat roar. Poo didn't even budge. Then they stared at each other.
Satisfied, Spencer trotted over to see what the Stellar Jays were up to.
They were stuffing themselves with peanuts. Spencer swished his tail at them.
They didn't pay him any mind.
A year before, he and his brother Smokey would sit on the porch and watch all the flying snacks.
Today, Spencer found Raccoon tracks. Fun. He followed the tracks. There were a great many. Fun.
The sun warmed the snow. Spencer gazed longingly at the hummer. He was feeding high up . He would make a lovely flying snack.
Cordelia. On the fence. Observed Spencer . With calm and decorum. Spencer ignored her. She was far too pretty....
Spencer had found a Grackle. Screeching away in the cherry tree. Way up high.
Why oh why did snacks have to be so far away?
More Raccoon tracks. Sniff. Sniff. Deer jelly beans everywhere. Sniff. Sniff.
Spencer's paws were getting cold. Snow was cold. He sat on the covered porch and beamed.
Come out and play. He said. Come out and visit.
He left paw prints in the snow. Like his brother used to. . All those winters before......
"Deep in the winter, amidst falling snow, I feel you still here, such is the mystery to fear..." -Loreena McKennit
"I think baking is very rewarding. If you follow a good recipe you will get success." -Mary Berry (from the Great British Baking show)
SALLY LUNN
I love the name "Sally Lunn" . An old world style bread, made in a sponge format that is very light. Sort of like a brioche. One of my favourite quotes from a very old cook book I have says :" Sally Lunn is turned out to greet a hungry world......"
MIX: 1 tsp, ½ cup warm,2 ¼ tsp yeast
BEAT: ½ cup softened, 3
eggs, ½ cup sugar. Add yeast mix.
Beat all of this on medium.
ADD: 4 cups flour, pinch salt, 1 cup warm milk.
Put in greased bowl. Cover and let stand on top of a warm oven
till doubled in bulk.
"I think baking's far easier than cooking, and because of that, it's approachable." -Paul Hollywood ( from the Great British baking show)
POUR
into greased angel food cake pan
Let stand another hour till doubled in size.
BAKE
in 350 oven for about 40-50 minutes till golden
Turn out and serve to face a hungry world!
Very good toasted, and served with creamed honey and butter.
A 1780 guidebook to Bath, records tourists drinking two to three pints of Bath water
( supposed to be healing), then sitting down to Sally Lunn buns. In the novel " The Chimes" by Charles Dickens he mentions the partaking of Sally Lunn. SO it's a famous spongy bread, that seems to make the rounds.
Photographs 2018
