January afternoon — gold that cannot be bought.

Last week I just had to take a photograph of the wonderful colours in the NE sky and gold cast upon the slopes beyond the house.
A magical painting could not have lifted me more than this Divine art.
Yesterday a fall of snow stopped us going to a funeral. I found that sad. But this is an emotional time of the year and things are happening in our lives far beyond our control. Last night we received news of the death of one of our nieces. More sadness, as much for their parents as for their child. She was born with Downs Syndrome but no one could have received more love and care. And so the cycle of life goes on throughout the world. Tragically, life is far shorter in some parts of the world. We easily forget how blessed we. We don't need material riches when beauty is showered upon us. Yes, snow stopped us going where we really wanted to be but later that day the sun came out and spread its glory to warm the earth.

Of Jam and Jerusalem.

Yesterday, after harvesting our cherry plums (see post) I looked up how to turn them into jam.
Here it is! Complete with stones as it did not seem worthwhile straining them out. Anyway, they are easy to remove when using the jam, and gives the spreader of jam something to suck on — less calories than a sweet!
Being Monday, we got the cleaning done first, plus a bit of washing.

I miss our cleaner. She was a lovely woman and more of a friend. We really should get someone else but I guess I find it hard (emotionally) to have her replaced. She told us last year that she had cancer. She died less than two months ago. I hoped she would recover but my experience of deaths in the family and also of friends dying with cancer, I knew it to be unlikely. So I think of her as I clean and feel nothing but admiration for how quickly she got the job done, compared with us. She will always be sadly missed.
But I guess we will have to get help soon, my knees are not happy!


Magpies Nest Publishing has been brought up to date with my latest novels.
See Wrinkly Writers for a spooky picture of a cat
See Writing For Joy
My Space to hear Ann sing (Any Dream Will Do) while the photo carousel turns. And read a few posts there. (mostly my poems and short stories)
Read about my books at Gladys Hobson — Author