Autumn

Autumn is with us at last. Every year I forget how much I love it: beautiful trees in gorgeous colours, abundant fruit hanging or falling off trees, log fires and brisk walks in the pale sunshine thanking God for the beauty he surrounds us with. If He makes this beauty for our short years on Earth, what must Heaven, the permanent home He planned for us, be like?

Jam Making

As Alex has discovered his inner cook late in life, he has further discovered his inner jam maker! He loves making jam and marmalade. As we are a small family he only makes small amounts at a time, and he always gives some of it away. A few weeks ago he felt a jam making mood come on him. We only had a handful of plums, so he used those and got a few fejoas off a neighbour's tree, found some frozen berries in the freezer and made a small pot of jam out of them. It is delicious and tastes like, and has the texture of, strawberry jam even though its label says "Plum, fejoa and berry jam". As I write he is making crabapple jelly from the crab apples in our garden. He always makes his jam outside on a gas ring he bought for that purpose. It is an idyllic sight from my window, the sun shining and the jam bubbling away happily and Alex pottering and stirring. I think he's really enjoying it. And we'll both enjoy the result.

Prison Parties

Our 8 year old granddaughter, has a very enquiring mind, and wanted to talk about prisons for some reason. Among other questions, she wanted to know was what happens if you are in prison and it's your birthday, do you get a party? She was horrified when we told her no. We defended the mean attitude of the prison authorities, "You have done something wrong, you are being punished, you're not there to have a good time." She conceded that but obviously thought it was unthinkable cruelty "But still...it IS your birthday.'

We advised keeping out of prison. I think she will...now she knows the awful facts!

Glory Days

It is supposed to be well into autumn here, but instead we've had the most beautiful weather; warm, but not too hot, blue skies, sunny and still. Perfect weather to reflect the glorious joy in our hearts.

Alleluia! He is risen indeed!

Garden grace

Ar church I was asked to go on the roster for laundering the altar linen. Last week was my first experience. A big responsibility!

The instructions say "Do not pour the wash water down the drain, throw it on your garden. God will bless the garden for sure." As it contained detergent my husband was not keen for me to pour it on his newly planted winter veges so instead it was deposited on the rather raggy front lawn. I am expecting great things!

A Great Gift.

My dearest friend is 80 today. We first met not long after my family arrived in NZ and she introduced me into the hidden customs of Kiwi life. One custom she taught me was that when you visit a friend you never go to the front door, you go to the back door. Only strangers go to the front door. She also taught me that when you are asked to 'bring a plate' to a social event, you are expected to put something tasty ON the plate!

M. and I hit it off straight away. I was in my mid thirties and she was in her early 40s when we met. Both of us had 3 children, and we were both very family and Catholic minded. Over the years we have shared many joys but some very traumatic times. We've laughed and cried together, and we can talk for hours. We are very different in temperament; she is very calm, faithful, seldom questions but accepts people and situations as they are. I am very impulsive, analytical and emotional.

I can't believe she's 80, a very fit and active 80 although she has had a lot of illness in her life. But she's always positive about her health. I've threatened that on her tombstone I'll put "I'm a bit better today" which is what she always says when she's ill!

Happy 80th birthday M. I thank God daily that He brought us together. A best friend is one of God's greatest gifts.