Monday, November 30, 2009

Like the old days...




When my family lived in Kenya and England, listening to the radio was what we did.   In England we had a telly, of course, but in those days it didn't start until mid afternoon and it ended at midnight.  No endless, mindless talk about nothing, so in the mean time, we listened to the radio.  There were comedy programmes, quiz shows and mystery stories and plays. I remember sitting on the arm of my father's chair, while he had his one glass of whiskey, listening to the "beep, beep, beep", of the BBC World Service, as it sailed across the planet, from London to Nairobi.  They still do it, but it's slightly different.  Of course, as soon as the news started, I started talking and my father would shush me and I would leave......being told NOT to talk while the news was on.  We listened to the Goon Show, and  even the Olympics from Rome, I think it was.....have to check on that!!!( Yup....thanks Wikipedia)  One got to use ones' imagination and you could make of it what you wanted.  As a teenager, in England, I listened to "the pop music" on a tiny, tinny-sounding transistor radio, and on Sunday nights would go to sleep to the "Pirate Station", out in the English Channel, that played the Top 40.  There is now a movie about this, (the pirate ship, not me going to sleep!!!).  I haven't seen it and probably won't until it shows up on the  free movie channels, early one morning.  Anyway...when I came here, I missed the radio a lot.  I had one, but there was only talk and news and sports, and I found only one station I listened to.  Getting married and having the boys, radio got lost and TV took over.  But I always remembered the radio in the background. Recently, on my trip around the blogosphere, I landed on someone's blog, don't know who, after many links, and there was a link to the BBC iPlayer Console.  Thinking it probably wouldn't work, I clicked, and lo and behold, I heard voices.....familiar voices, even after all this time.  It was the Archers.....a radio "soap opera" that, to my surprise, is still playing.  It is only 15 mins long, and who can't listen for that length of time?  And then I discovered BBC Radio 1 thru 8.........what a find!!!  So, now while I am in the "room on the left", I switch on the "radio" and listen once again.  Here is the link......(I hope it works, 'coz I haven't linked to anything yet)....and I hope you find something you enjoy!!!                  

After the dishes are done and the dust has been banished, and all the other things that take up our time, like work and family!!!, sit and listen, rather than watch.  You can sew or hook without having to look away.......it's really "neat".

Yes, that is really me.....

and this is Daddy listening to the Football Pool Results.....
another time I would choose to talk!!!




Edited.....First of all, I know these are terrible images, but I don't know how to fix them, so this is what I have right now.
And I remembered the photos after I wrote this post.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Sunday sunshine





Got up this morning before sun up
and when the light was streaming
through the door
I saw this


doesn't everyone have their necklaces stored in the fruit bowl



and this
the little oil bottle that my dear friend gave me yesterday

 
 
and this last one really caught my eye...
light and shadow
and a very good indication that some Sunday Clean up is in order.

So I better get going!!

Have a sunny day,
even if the sun isn't shining where you are.


Friday, November 27, 2009

it's silly friday...



My husband bought me a camera

just so

I could do this...








        










ain't I a lucky girl?

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Turkey Day



Be thankful for
.
family
.
friends
.
eachother
.
food and shelter
.
happiness
.
health
.
life
.
and all the little things
especially the little things
.
they make it all worth while
.
they are the riches in life

Sunday, November 22, 2009

LEISURE by W.H. Davies

With my apologies to W.H. Davies........



What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?




No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows,



No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.


No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like stars at night,



No time to turn at beauty's glance
And watch her feet, how they can dance.




No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.





A poor life this, if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

life in the room on the left




i do not hike

i do not bike

i do not float upon a boat

i do not fly high in the sky

or travel far inside a car

i mainly sit upon a seat

upon that bit

half way between

my head and feet

i sit and knit

i sit and sew

i've been known to make a bow

i read a book to fill my head

i string some beads upon fine thread

i fill the day with this and that

and inbetween
.
.
.
.
.
.


 i feed the cat.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Another visitor





who stops by in the early morning is a heron, who fishes off the bank.  I can't get a closer photo of him because he sees me..... hanging out of the door, as I have to, to get this.  I have thought of hiding behind a tree and hoping he comes by, but I think the neighbours might call the men with the white jackets and the net, if I do. So this is as close as we can get, for now.  Right after I took this, the rowdy ducks arrived and completely pissed him off.  He slowly rose and flapped away. He too is more regal.

Friday, November 20, 2009

A small body of water




is what I can see from the kitchen


while I cook.
It is only small,
but it is enough.

The life on the lake
keeps one in touch
with Nature,
as the ducks swim around
and dive for whatever it is they
find under the water,
and nip each other
if one gets too close.
There is one we call
 the Joker,
because he sounds like
he's laughing
at his own jokes.

The Canada Geese
fly in,
and stay over for the night,
or a few days.
They are so much more
regal than the ducks.


First Entry

Hello. This will be me, doing what I do. No big deal, nothing exciting! Just me, here in the "room on the left". I called it that because the room I spend most of my time in these days is on the left side of the house!!!

My husband recently gave me his old computer and we set it up on my desk, where I do what I do. I like to make things, like so many others, here in the blogosphere, and now that I can spend as much time online as I want, I wander round and look at all the incredible creations people make. It is amazing to see the creativity out there and how much of the old things have made an appearance once again. I have discovered that, at my age, I belong to what is now called the "Vintage Era"!! Things from when I was much younger, coming back and being considered new again. For instance, crochet is now all the rage and everyone seems to be doing it. Knitting, too. But the difference is, it's new and fresh and so much prettier! Who would have thought crocheted dish cloths and face cloths could look so good?! I even made some and intend on giving them to friends. The blankets and afghans out there are enough to cover the planet by now. But what is important in all this, I think, is that the "old crafts" are being picked up again and aren't being lost. And with the internet so available to everyone, teaching and learning is so easy. ain't hi-tech amazing!?

So, here I am, in my room, joining in with the all the rest out there. You are most welcome to stop by and visit anytime. If you do, let me know, so I don't think I am talking to myself.....

'til the next time...

Marilyn