This morning was frosty enough to make ice in my garden fountain. I wore a thick wool sweater to church, and kept it on until I got home again five hours later and changed into my firewood clothes. Both the supply of logs near the wood stove and the nice rack I have in the garage needed replenishing from the stacks outside. I bring in a dozen or so logs at a time to dry out, and to have handy when it’s raining or just dark and I don’t want to go out.
Opposite that rack I have tubs and boxes and bags of kindling and newspapers, a place to split the kindling, and a bucket for collecting ashes. I don’t see how I’m ever going to make room for my car in the garage, which has been a minor goal for a couple of years now. That space serves as my pantry and laundry room and tool shed, and holds all the sorts of things that my daughter Pearl says you have to keep in the garage if you don’t have a basement.
The little guy below came in with a load of logs; the young house guests squealed and their mother scooped him out of the fireplace corner into a dustpan. He was trying to fall out of it, so I picked him up and tried to hold him in such a way that the children could look at him for a bit. But they would have none of it, and just wanted him out of the house, so I let him out the back door into the rain. I hope it washed him of all the woody litter.
The pewter wise men have arrived, after journeying across the table in my entry, to take up their worshipful positions in front of the Christ Child. I’ve removed a small amount of Christmas decor, mostly the fresh cotoneaster berries that weren’t fresh anymore. The redwood branches and candles remain, because they have life left in them, at least for today. And the faux tree will last as long as I want it to, which is, until I have some mental space to give to it.
For now, I have too many other projects going on. Writing thank-you letters to a few grandchildren, cooking soup for our women’s book group this week, and maybe a two hour trip to see my niece — just in this week.
At the same time, I am working on new habits. For more than a week now, I have taken a walk every day, outdoors, not on the treadmill. This was the scene on the bike path less than a week ago; can you see the leaves falling?
Since then we got a big dumping of rain, and the leaves aren’t so pretty anymore. One day I walked my old two-mile loop and it was quite delicious, because everything — the trees and earth and grass, and especially the air — was wet and refreshing and not cold. I wore my rain jacket and was prepared for a sprinkle, but when I was still ten minutes from home I got fairly drenched. Excitement like this has been adding to my general winter happiness.
Even before I read an encouraging article about the value of memorizing things, I had been planning to renew my effort in the coming year to learn some Psalms and possibly other poems by heart. “The Great Forgetting,” by Ruth Gaskovski, about “How ‘critical thinking’ and outsourcing of memory are withering culture, and how to turn the tide,” is giving me a boost.
Last year — or even before? — I had started to memorize Psalm 90 and 91 (89 and 90 in the Septuagint), and then lost my focus. This year, so far, I have noticed how my memorizing project coordinates nicely with my improved walking habits. I have the psalms written on 3×5 cards and can practice them as I stroll along — unless it’s one of those rainy days.
Here are the first few verses I am working on:
Psalm 89 — A Prayer of Moses, the man of God
Lord, Thou hast been our refuge in generation and generation.
Before the mountains came to be and the earth was formed and the world,
even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art.
Turn not man away unto lowliness; yea, Thou hast said: Turn back, ye sons of men.
For a thousand years in Thine eyes, O Lord, are but as yesterday that is past,
and as a watch in the night.
Things of no account shall their years be; in the morning like grass shall man pass away.
In the morning shall he bloom and pass away; in the evening shall he fall
and grow withered and dry.
The poetry of these verses, the rhythm of their music and the depth of meaning, as I tell them to myself phrase by phrase, is so beautiful to my mind and heart. Glory to God!
Gladsome Lights 
I have turned to swimming in our garden pool instead of walking: you seem to have some beautiful paths to follow. I like seeing your pewter wise men and the fact that they have been travelling to this point.
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No doubt some swimming at the pool where I have a membership would be really good! But — I’m trying to do the walking every day, and that is my only goal. So if it’s just around the block, 10 minutes, that counts. You are taking advantage of the season for swimming, and when your pool is right there, it’s the obvious choice ❤
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It’s so encouraging to read your words! I am at a season of life when my time is rarely my own, and little things, like daily walks, aren’t always possible. But! I can take time to memorize good, beautiful, and true things. God bless you in 2024!
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Your nativity is so beautiful, all together. I think it might be one of the loveliest I’ve ever seen. The lizard made me smile — I would have been a bit taken aback, too! Your wood situation sounds like a good one — a good area.
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I’d never be able to memorize while walking. There are far too many distractions all around; I’d constantly be losing focus. You do have a lovely area for walking, though. I’m looking forward to the reopening of a nature center very near to me, where I used to walk regularly. It’s been closed for months due to various projects involving things like the expansion of major water lines. Now, the equipment is gone, new grasses have been planted, and once all is stable again in the natural world, we’ll have “our spot” back.
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I know very well what you mean. For a couple of years I could not even *walk* while walking, I stopped so often to stare. Now that in this current phase I have different goals, really only one, I am not trying to walk at a certain speed, or cover a number of miles, etc. That means I can stop and stare, or pay attention to my cards, or hurry along with no goal but to escape a downpour. I am just so thankful that I could return to my old paths that I neglected for too long, because they felt like a “rut.” I suspect my better attitude has something to do with an inspiring homily I heard recently, but God only knows…
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Stacking wood here, too. That’s our only source of heat and it’s been a relief of financial dependency on the gas/electric companies. Work for sure, but great for our bodies, with all the exercise. Cute little fella!
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Love the pewter nativity. That is a lovely walking path and good for you for getting out for a walk. Memorizing scripture is one of my goals for this year. I’m starting in Colossians since that is the book of the Bible our pastor is preaching on. Happy New Year to you and yours.
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Colossians is rich!
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Your walking path looks inviting, at least it did when the leaves were still present. I did see at least one on its way down.
Good for you, memorizing while you’re still able to. I am now at an age where I have to keep going over the poems and scripture that I’ve known by heart for years. It has become very hard to memorize anything new so I’m really thankful for what I have in my head. *smile*
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Granny, You truly have been blessed by having a treasury of poems and scripture stored up in your mind and heart. I have a few things of that sort and they are now like part of my soul itself, and forever give back.
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You Californians with your leaves falling in January! I am sorry to hear the little ones didn’t want to see the lizard. What if he came in with the wise men? If other animals can see Baby Jesus, why not lizards? Poor fellow.
Anyway, it was a few years ago I had the thought and desire to memorize some songs or poems – have I done it? It would be such a good thing. Perhaps if I chose one or two per month and planned out the year. That might be what I need to get myself going.
By the way Gretchen, I am really liking the Chesterton Christmas book; you might, too. 🙂
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I bought the book! I will read it next Christmas season. Thank you so much for telling me about it ❤
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A beautiful post, Gretchen. I once read that memorizing while moving (walking) enables things to stick a bit better. When I did my French degree in my 50s I often studied by taking my 3 x 5 note cards on a walk, and I think it helped. Memorizing Scripture is so valuable, as the Spirit brings it to mind just when it’s needed for encouragement or caution.
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