This morning I was leafing through the latest issue of Christian History. The issue's theme is health care and hospitals in the mission of the church. Did you know that one of the jobs in the medieval hospitals was kettle keeper? That's certainly the role that I'd choose. I would like stepping to a sick one's bedside with a rustle of my roughly woven wool skirt, my hair in a (red) kerchief, my eyes focused on their tired face. "It's time for your tea, my dear." I'd pour out (I'd be Mother, Angela!) and carefully pass their cuppa to them while saying a prayer, "Make them better tomorrow, Lord." Oh, that would be a good task, wouldn't it?
What kind of a kettle will you have, kettle keeper? Copper? Cast iron? Electric?
I think you'll pour a cup for someone today. Maybe that someone will be little old you. Our son Brad is a tea drinker and he has found a local tea shop where he often shops for unique teas. He and April bought themselves a Brown Betty. Before Jeff left for Costa Rica last Saturday (language school for six weeks) we went to his favorite wing restaurant (he's crazy for hot wings) and I spied a tea shop nearby. I shall go there today and report back to you. I'll take some photos, okay? Now, PIXIE talk! Angela at Tracing Rainbows acquired a fine pair of pixie boots and now I consider her a true pixie. I have not found my soft red wool yet, so I have not started knitting my pixie hat. I will. I drew a pixie for you.
You like? I shopped for pixie boots using Google Images. These are nice!
I cannot wear pointy toes. I chose this pair.
Oh, I want the pixie advent doll VERY much and I shall consider this possible purchase for a good month and then maybe I'll order one and I shall share her with you. Floss will do a Pause in Advent again, I bet.
Our maple tree experienced a rough shake with the snow on Wednesday. She's shedding her leaves and they are floating down, little by little. I've already placed some of her offerings in my new book (Building Academic Language by Jeff Zwiers) even though I've not read the book yet. I couldn't put leaves in my Kindle where I am reading No Idle Hands: The Social History of American Knitting. It is fascinating and makes me feel knitty and desirous of a sit with my Elizabeth Zimmerman DVDs and to knit a row or ten.
With the two wheelbarrow system, Bill and I were able to stack all the wood in a swift hour and a half! We're a bit stiff today.
Not to get all bossy, but do you suppose that while you are playing the role of kettle keeper you could read a few pages of Little Women aloud to someone who wants to listen or to your dear old self? I will.
If we have a fire this afternoon, I'll be Badger. He's brooding in his den, a bit disgruntled that Ratty, Mole, and Toad are traveling without him. They should be arriving in the woods of Minnesota any time now. Lisa will keep them warm. I feel sure she's a good kettle keeper.
My sweet sister sent me her The Wind in the Willows book. Isn't that a sacrificial gift? She received the book for Christmas in 1964 when she was just five years old. She is not as obsessed with it as I am, so she mailed it to me. It smells of mold, a delicious aromatic fragrance that reminds me of the woods we grew up in. Thank you, Queenie. (We had strange woods- dwelling imaginary friends: Pook, Sone, Pinkie, and Queenie.) This is the last weekday of my fall break, but I don't mind. I look forward to getting back to my adorable eleven year old students. Halloween is Monday and then my favorite holiday is coming. November holds a lot of hospitality, cozy feelings, and home and hearth. I send you warm simple love, good kettle keeper. Here's a little something I found on YouTube. Let me know if you like it like I do. I like the click, click, click of needles and the shared opinions.
Bye bye New England! We'll travel all day tomorrow and it's supposed to snow in Denver. Cozy. Thursday our firewood comes so we'll be busy loading and stacking and that's a good thing. Thank you for coming to Maine with me.
