Sunday, June 22, 2014

Lavender and Nuns

 We've been away with our bagpiper and his dear family and I'll tell you about that soon.  It's nice to be home again.  Yes, home is best.  
I was told that lavender doesn't come back here in the high country, but mine did!  By the chimney, the delicate blooms pictured above have shown themselves.  
 After too many meals of grilled and fried this and that, I had to go to the grocery and buy some real food.  Apricots and pears are so perfume-like this time of year.  
 I am absolutely smitten with this book by my new favorite writer, Rumer Godden.  I had never heard of her until I read The Doll's House.  I do love her name (like you, Sandra) and her writing is exquisite.  She writes in a direct manner, informative and with sharp intellect and the story, the plot, is full of high thinking. There is no show off-y humor or off-putting wordplay.  She had a lovely and clear gift and I can see why one reviewer on Amazon said that she had read this book three times.  

I am fascinated by nuns.  Of course I loved the nun parts in The Sound of Music and I was a grade school child when we watched The Flying Nun on television.  My love for nuns resurfaced when I viewed the three seasons of Call the Midwife.  In This House of Brede is a deeper look at the religious life.  
I bought this to listen to while I walk (and while I type):
Rex Pacificus:
The Epiphany of Christ the King
 
Benedictine Nuns of Notre-Dame d'Argentan

It's so peaceful.  I have no idea what they are singing and I love it.

26 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

i had 4 aunts that were nuns. :) glad you're enjoying home, again.

Between Me and You said...

Nearest I ever got to nuns was watching 'Sister Act'!I love the sound of the book though and did you know that Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's eldest daughter is named after Rumer. I love the name of the person who did the introduction to the book - you couldn't possibly make that name up, it's delightful! Happy Week to you my friend. x(Have you heard of one of our programmes called 'Call the Midwife'? I think you'd like it - it's got lots of nuns in it too!)

ann said...

I have never been able to get lavender to winter over, so I have planted it in pots that I I'll bring in this winter, we shall see.

Beth said...

I love the smell of lavender and the color is so beautiful!
The book sounds very interesting!

Kit said...

I lost one of my lavenders (in the ground) and one lived which was in a pot. Sounds like you are having a good summer so far. :) Kit

Lisa Richards said...

You hooked me! I'll be checking out that book. And the bookmark looks so...familiar! ;)
Glad you're home and consuming lots of luscious fruit. And what a treat that your lavender survived the winter!

sandy said...

I LOVE lavender. Though I don't grow it, I have a wooden scoop full of lavender buds that I scoop up and take a whiff of for a relaxing feeling whenever I need it.

We have a convent in our community and I had the opportunity to do some volunteer work alongside many of the nuns who lived there. They were all just delightful and lots of fun to work with!

I don't usually like fiction, but you've interested me in this book. I'll have to check it out!

Amy at love made my home said...

I'm glad that your lavender came back!! Well done you! It is nice to go away, but lovely to return home isn't it. xx

Farm Girl said...

I too was always intrigued by nuns. You should have seen my Dad freak out when I told him I wanted to be one. :)
I love that name and I am going to have to find this book too. Rumer Godden has such a lovely sound to it.
I can tell by just the things you have said, I would love it too.
I think in that book by Elisabeth Goudge and Green Dolphin Street, I am always so drawn to the nuns as well.
So glad you had a nice time I can't wait to hear about your trip.

GretchenJoanna said...

In This House of Brede was the first book I read by Godden, and then I went on to read at least one other. Now because of you I have A Doll's House coming in the mail. I didn't read Black Narcissus yet, but I really did not like the movie based on it.

Stephanie Faris said...

It sounds like a charming book--I love the cover. So classy!

Granny Marigold said...

Lavender and nuns....that has to be one of the most intriguing blog titles ever. I love Lavender, it is my favourite scent and we are fortunate that it loves our climate. It grows so well that after 4 or 5 years the plants have become overgrown and have to be replaced. I also am quite fond of nuns having had them (mostly) as teachers in school. They were so kind.

Fat Dormouse said...

I loved "In this House of Brede" & must buy myself a copy...but even better, in my opinion, is Rumer Goden's "Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy" (link to review: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/605592.Five_for_Sorrow_Ten_for_Joy)

I bought a second hand copy (hmm, where is it, I wonder?) and read it often. I think it may be time to find it and read it again.

Thank you dear Pompom for the lovely note you wrote me. So kind, so sweet. I really appreciate it. God bless you, my dear.

Anonymous said...

We have lots of lavender in our garden - we pick it in the late summer and hang it up to dry. I haven't read any of Rumer Godden's books - I shal have to have a look on my Kindle.

Martha's Favorites said...

Sounds like a great book. I will have to read it. Have a great week. Blessings, Martha

Anonymous said...

Hi there toadstool sister, yes there s no place like home,its nice to go away,even lovelier coming home . I just downloaded the dolls house on my kindle,after your review,it looks right up my street :) I'll let you know how I go. looking forward to seeing that jump rope ;0) Thankyou for your visit. happy week lovely,xxx

Attic Clutter said...

HI POM (:)
oh fun bagpipes..
nuns LOL
I have a good friend who was schooled by nuns.. funny stories..strict ..but she was taught well..
hugs,Patty

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Wow, so Rummer Godden is a new discovery - enjoy! There is an old movie of this book out there, you might want to look for it. In fact, there are several of her novels made into movies if you can still find them these days. The Peacock Spring, The River (about India, not that film of the same name of a couple decades ago), Black Narcissus, This House of Brede, and I think also The Battle of the Via Fiorita. She also wrote a two-volume autobiography. A fascinating life.

Jeannette said...

Hello Pom Pom,
You have reminded me that somewhere in my garden is a little bundle of lavender I cut before the heat chased me inside. Now the wind is up so I could venture out again.

I surely know what you mean about eating out and else where and then how strong is the appeal of simple foods .

Book suggestions are always welcome...
Happy little bit of June that is left...

libbyquilter said...

congrats on the return of your lavender.
you are right the fresh fruit of the season tastes and smells divine~!! we just polished off the last of some sweet juicy nectarines during dinner. i'll have to buy some more while they are begging to be eaten.
i love the ease of summer meals: a sandwich and fruit or some cottage cheese and a simple salad. tasty and light and oh so easy~!

:-)
libbyQ

Elderberry-Rob said...

Yes Pompom this lady is a great writer. On the subject of nuns, nuns featured in my early years, in those days if your family didn't attend church you got visited by a 'man of the cloth' and in our case some nuns were regular visitors in the hope of converting my parents - I have unclear memories of walking with them in their gardens about age 6 or 7, there must have been open days at a nearby convent perhaps, I was fascinated that they were all given new names, dropped their identity and became Brides of Christ - we had sister Elizabeth visit us many times, it didn't make me go to church but it definitely made a difference in my early years. So thank you today for reminding me of a childhood blessing! Betty x

Attic Clutter said...

ha..mousie (:)
well thanks POM
...but not very cute in this pic (:)sqeak sqeak !!
love the sink full BANNER too cute
hugs,Patty

Anonymous said...

Wherever we go it would be nice to reach home. You are following a good diet food of fresh fruits after eating fries!

Attic Clutter said...

Hi Pom..
oh I know the purse in the taupe colored yarn is perfect(:)
Hugs,patty

M.K. said...

The first Elizabeth Goudge book I read had nuns in it too -- Green Dolphin Street? I liked it a lot. Now I'll need to go get my copy of A Doll's House and read it. I bought it at a thrift store to add to my collection of Tasha Tudor (illustrator) books, but didn't READ it :) Shame on me!

Leslie said...

There are so many good things to read that it is quite overwhelming. I love listening to podcasts, too, and one of my favorite's is Steve Brown. He does one where he will interview people from different and often disagreeing theological backgrounds to his own and I recently listened to an interview he did with Phyllis Tickle. I liked her personality SO MUCH! It is worth listening to just to get a sense of her. If you are interested just google both their names and links to the audio will come up. Hugs from Texas, Leslie

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