Time for Things

In a letter recently, a friend reminded me to make time for the things I love. Not just the people I love, though they are important too, but the things. I’ve been reflecting on that this week, in quiet and retreat. I’ve been taking more time with my meals, making food lovely and good, reading books and focusing more on nutrition. I’ve been drinking more tea this week, and less coffee, praying more and walking slowing down the drive.

 

Today, with soup on the stove and bread in the oven, I sat down at my wheel again to throw pots destined for the slop bucket; pots that will remind my hands how to pull and form the clay, pots that will remind me that I can create. I left one on the wheel, a low bowl I might love. I’ll look at it again tomorrow, when I bake my slow-rising ciabatta and sit at the wheel again, with the little, white oven heating the room.

I like small espresso cups for late-night coffee. On these recent chilly nights, I like a small, late night cup with my books, my typewriter, or my nursing Petka. An espresso cup is the exact size for a night-time cup. Coffee with no cream, and maybe a small cup of vodka besides.

This week I managed to add in afternoon tea. The backberries are coming in, which makes a great addition to tea, bread, and cheese. The storm coming in this weekend might make it hard to accomplish things, but if Saturday is nice we have high hopes of making progress on the kitchen and planting the last of the autumn garden - though weather-wise, it feels like mid-September already. I don't like where this is going, another winter like last year would be a bit much for me.