Monday, December 28, 2009

what i've been up to

Things have quieted down at the manor, now that one of my little
ships has left port. A wonderful time was had by all. Thank you all
for your dear holiday greetings. I'll slowly be making my way down
your street in the bloggyhood this week, but right now, I'm
recuperating, in my woolly socks, in one of my favorite spots; curled
up in front of a toasty fire with my good friend, Edna St. Vee.

Here's one of my faves:


Winter Night


Pile high the hickory and the light
Log of chestnut struck by the blight.
Welcome-in the winter night.

The day has gone in hewing and felling,
Sawing and drawing wood to the dwelling
For the night of talk and story-telling.

These are the hours that give the edge
To the blunted axe and the bent wedge,
Straighten the saw and lighten the sledge.

Here are question and reply,
And the fire reflected in the thinking eye.
So peace, and let the bob-cat cry.


Edna St. Vincent Millay

56 comments:

  1. that sounds like the perfect place to be willow...love the pics...i can feel the glow...

    peace and let the bob cat cry...

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  2. This time between Christmas and New Year's Day is perfect for reading poetry by the fire.

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  3. Ahh Yes, a beautiful poem that I do not have to beat my head against a wall to determine it's meaning!

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  4. A lovely poem--poetry by the fireside sounds nice!

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  5. I have always found the days after Christmas to be some of the quietest. But not so for us today. Today is Marcmas and the core family descends from Dallas and Colorado for a multi-hued celebration.

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  6. I am not a poetry person, so I know very little about it. I thought this was lovely. Thank you for expanding my world a little bit.

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  7. Merry Christmas, willow. Nice how a poem and photo can conjure up the glow of hearth and home. Blow on the embers of the poem and warm woolly socks the world over!

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  8. Aaaah! Think I'll curl up with a good book, myself. And great little poem :)

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  9. She is also one of my all-time favorite poets. How lovely!

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  10. Love the poem, Willow. Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Yes after several days of food and family, which I love both to death, it is nice to have some quiet time.
    Love the poem.
    QMM

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  12. Enjoy your wooley sock day, Willow! You deserve to relax : )We're doing the same.

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  13. it sounds like we are all snuggled in to recuperate from all the festivities. i'm enjoying every minute of it. one puppy on my lap and the other at my feet. this is heaven!!

    ((hugs)) to you willow and enjoy your quiet time!

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  14. by the fire in the woolies, perfect place to rest and recoop. Thanks for the poem.

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  15. Your fire looks so inviting, Willow - I think I'll go get my new Neruda book and do a little snuggling up to my pseudo-fireplace.

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  16. The Christmas season:
    "The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, nor witch hath power to charm, so hallowed, and so gracious, is the time."

    "So have I heard and do in part believe it."

    ("Hamlet," Act I)

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  17. A hot fire, a cool poem, a cup of hot cocoa: I like this spot.

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  18. Two little babes still with you then, Willow, enjoying the family time. I bet it is idyllic.

    Enjoy yourselves

    x

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  19. Super poem
    new to me
    and I loved it!

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  20. A perfect poem for snuggling by the fire on a cold winter day. Thank you for sharing!

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  21. Willow, beautiful poem. Enjoy your day and relax. We are with family in Chicago, enjoying the snow and a warm fire!

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  22. That was very beautiful.

    Willow, did you know
    Edna Vincent Millay
    Lived in Rockland Maine.
    Also lots of great
    artist's. Enjoyed that.

    Yvonne

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  23. Hi! Willow,
    Holidays Greetings!...
    To you and your family!...

    I hope that the coming Year...
    Is Filled With Hope, Happiness,
    and that you and have a Happy New Year too!
    The poem that you chosen to share with your readers, by Edna St. Vincent Millay,is beautiful too!

    Thanks, for sharing!
    DeeDee ;-D

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  24. Rephrasing: I hope that the coming Year...
    ...Is Filled With Hope, Happiness,
    and that you and your family have a Happy New Year too!

    DeeDee ;-D

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  25. Wooly socks, a fire, a lovely book...and I bet you are getting some snow right now too...aahhhhh...I love it.

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  26. Same here Willow, we waved goodbye to one of our 'ships' too yesterday afternoon. The other one will be sailing off on Wednesday. But before he goes, he & his other brothers have volunteered to help with the big yearly chore of trimming the Laurel Hedge (the real one not the blog!). With 2 long street frontages it's no light undertaking, but with all hands to the power tools, we should get through it in under a day. Your spot by the fire sounds scrumptious, enjoy every flickering flame.
    Millie ^_^

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  27. It goes so quickly, doesn't it? Hope your Christmas was toasty, Willow. Ours is a wonderful memory now...lovely pointsettias!

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  28. I wanted to wish you a Merry Holiday Season (since I missed a Christmas salutation)! I'm on a different trajectory, book wise. I'm rereading The Zen of Motorcycle Maintenance. It's not quite as good as it was in the 1970s but it takes me back!

    I've been out of blogville lately due to my new job and the pain in my neck (see my blog for details). I'm hoping things are looking up so that I can visit my bloggy friends now and again.

    Best wishes for 2010 and I hope to be by more often.

    Denese

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  29. Willow,
    Great fire, Great fireplace, Great coziness! Love your poinsettia picture! Fabulous daaaling. The snow is still falling.. fluffy and beautiful... about 5 inches now.
    Tell WT hi for me! I made apple dumplings today.. yummy!
    The Bach

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  30. I love Edna, from the time I was required to read her works in high school. very appropriate by the fire side reading.

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  31. I feel the same way...I need to sit and do nothing for a day...or two! :)

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  32. Ah, yes! Vincent the Bohemian! A wonderful passage to share. -J

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  33. So glad you had a lovely holiday. Isn't it nice to have a bit of "refueling" time? Enjoy your woolies, the fire, and Ms. Millay.
    "The hours that give the edge..." yes, indeed.

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  34. Oooo that is a great poem. I love the pics.
    Glad you had a fabulous holiday.
    Enjoy yourself by that fire.

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  35. I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying the holidays. All the best to you in 2010! ; )

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  36. Ahhhh....I'm relaxing right by that fire witcha! :) And wonderful poem.

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  37. Nothing beats the afterglow of lovely time with family, woolly socks, sitting by the fire, and soaking in gorgeous words. Thank you for sharing them, Willow!

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  38. Sounds good to me - glad you had a nice Christmas.

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  39. Oh Willow dear, your Chrisrmas sounds divine. I wish we had the need for woolly socks and fires, at this time of year with temps. hovering around the 100F mark, fire is the last thing we can use.
    Bless you with your nose in a book of poems...

    Skip lightly into the coming year and have never ending days of gentle joys.

    Hugs, Arija

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  40. Wonderful verse for a toasty fire and the peace and contentment that comes from having spent a loving time with family.

    Enjoy your rest!

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  41. Lovely peaceful poem. A Happy New Year to you willow.

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  42. Millay is one of my favorite poets, but I've read mostly her sonnets (I even memorized a few that were just so good. Do you know the "Love Is Not All" one?)

    Obviously I need to branch out with her.

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  43. There are few things so precious as a little time for yourself at Christmas. I'm happy to know you are enjoying it Willow!

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  44. J.G., yes I know that one! Millay's sonnets are so rich and wonderful. I really must post on them sometime soon. They are treasures.

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  45. All of her poems are so much more beautiful because I read her bio. Thanks for that.

    Glad you're snuggled in and recovering. Well done, you!

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  46. willow good for you to settle back with the big woolly socks. it's one of the very best body comforts. reading edna - well joy knows no bounds!!!! have a sweet day at the manor. steven

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  47. A "night of talk and storytelling".
    Right up my alley...stay mellow!!

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  48. a bob Cat's cry is anything but peaceful- sounds like a woman being murdered...Lovely warm fire, Willow- Needing that as our furnace blew three days before christmas eve...Bloody cold here! happy new year- same as the old year...Looking forward to more of your fabulous posts.
    LOVE!

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  49. recooperation! No doubt; the holidays are more tiring than a week at work. Fun, sure, but i'll be glad when the new year begins.

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  50. Wicked-cool poem. Could feel the cold air coming in around the door.

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  51. Mahala, your cherokee great-great-grandmother really looks like Johnny Depp

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  52. Toasty is always good in my book!

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)