What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare? - William H. Davies
After a month away from home, and now a month back home, I have caught up with many of the essential things left on the back burner. I do have a few letters to reply to ... posted seven yesterday; those seven being the main backlog.
Today and sat and stitched; after completing the ironing ... do you iron tea-towels and pillow-cases? I still do, no doubt a relic from being the daughter of my Mother who ironed everything, and this with irons heated on the coal range, and using starch on supper cloths and the like. Which reminds me of the one time I used starch early in my marriage ... ooops ... a rather stiff cloth!
A supper cloth, or a morning tea or afternoon tea cloth are more relics of the past; of an age when conversation around the teapot filled many a happy half hour. Cups and saucers, the teapot warmed, loose tea spooned into the warm interior, and the wait until the tea was drawn. In the interim milk was poured into the cups of those who desired it. Mother poured tea, passed cups around, offered scones, biscuits, slices and cake, all home baked in the aforementioned coal range, and the family and visitors settled down to catch up on news.
Yesterday when we checked the mail box a letter from the electricity company told us important news. Electricity will be off 9 am to 3 pm on a Sunday in May. Almost a whole day with no electricity! We were advised to switch off appliances that might not perform as well if there is a sudden surge of power. They have warned us, and forewarned is forearmed! Definitely no ironing or using the washing machine, no vacuuming nor cooking toast in the toaster for a snack.
The computer and the sewing machine will lie idle ... a day for some hand stitching? A day for a little knitting, or reading? This Sunday in the middle of May promises to be blissful. While I have had a slight attack of the guilts today because of my lack of tackling glaring tasks like raking up the endless leaves that drop from the gumtrees near the house, on this Sunday in May I can happily spend hours engaging in some of the age-old hobbies that help make life a creative inspiration.
I think we should all bring back afternoon tea.It is such a social/family time. It's becoming very popular in the UK hotels. And of course there is nothing so good as a Devonshire cream tea with scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam!
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