Winter came swooping in overnight and the temperature plunged to 20 degrees. It plans on staying there all day. So I found myself this morning settled in with a cup of coffee and a copy of Jean Hersey's book, The Shape of a Year. I have been faithfully reading this book - month by month - containing Ms. Hersey's observations of life in and around her Connecticut home and small farm. It was published in 1967.
I was enjoying her comments on the colors and fragrances of November and how she put together a terrarium made of moss, tiny ferns and plants, and a bit of lichen-covered rock or bark picked up on a walk in the woods near her house. I was tempted to try my hand at making her recipe for herb bread.
And then the lights went out. And the heat.
It didn't take long for my house to become quite chilly. And it was just a bit too dim to continue reading.
After about 45 minutes, power was restored. Then it went off for another 20 minutes and then came back on. Finally, I picked up Ms. Hersey again and in a moment, this is what I was reading:
I am thankful for light -- all kinds, man-made and natural. How lovely is dawn light, starlight, sunlight on green grass, candlelight, house lights on stormy nights, or on any night, street lights, and firelight. And the first streaming sunlight after a week of gray days and showers.
There is the magic of shining car lights on wet pavements on rainy nights. The mysterious lights on bridges like necklaces of diamonds in the gloaming. One of my favorite lights is the yellow beam of our outside light that greets us from down the road when we have been away for the evening.
Well, I couldn't agree more. And what a pleasant meditation to read after sitting in the gloomy morning waiting for electric light - and heat - to return.
You're such a bad influence! My library doesn't have Jean Hersey's book, but an Amazon seller does. One-Click makes it far too easy. It should be here by Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Gladys Taber's books? My mother was a huge fan and I have a bunch of them. They're a bit like Hersey's. She describes her life with her friend Jill and their dogs at their Connecticut farmhouse and her cottage on Cape Cod.
Glad to be of help in filling your bookshelves, Joan! I have only read Ms. Taber's 'Mrs. Daffodil'. Here is what I had to say back in January 2012:
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I found her to be delightful. I love vintage books that celebrate the seasons and everyday activities.
Some nice serendipity there. I would add: Christmas lights as you drive home from work in the dark!
ReplyDeleteGood one, Kathy. Thanks for adding to the list!
DeleteHorrible when the lights go out in winter! It's very cold here, too: not usually this cold for Thanksgiving. I love Gladys Taber and I'm sure I'd like Hersey, too. I need some charming reading: usually it's pop on Thanksgiving, but maybe I'll read some more Taber, which I have. Maybe Hersey for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteKat, you introduced my to Gladys Taber. Thank you for that. I just can't find many of her books, except for 'Mrs. Daffodil' which the library had. Hersey is just as charming (if not quite as humorous). She raises orchids! Quite exotic. And her recipes are very tempting.
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