Do you know, my husband commented to me the other day that I really seem to be “blossoming.” Partly, I think, he sees me taking full advantage ofthe workspacewhich he helped put together for me. It’s so much easier to follow through on creative ideas when there’s space to execute them.
I think he meant something else as well, though, and I’ve been pondering what it is he’s intuiting. We haven’t talked about his observation since he made it–at the time, he referred to my writing and sketching and travel planning and visiting friends–but I suspect it goes deeper than what I’ve been doing. I’m feeling some kind of shift in my “being,” a gathering of contentment and confidence and commitment. Too early to talk much about it, but given that I’ve shared some low times with you, it seems only fair to let you know when the view is sunnier. . . .
In this shifting, though, there’s enough new activity that I’m sorting priorities all over again, and as you’ll have noticed, I’m not managing more than two weekly posts here, nor am I managing a recognizable schedule for them. Nor as much substantive content as I’d like.
But I’m still happy to share through the shift, if you’ll indulge me. Today, more photos from Tuesday’s run (I posted a few others on Instagram) to an urban park (with a small,manmade lake) a few kilometres away (being able to run more, lately, if cautiously, may be part of the “blossoming”).
Some of the photos are from a walk this week, when I went back to get proof of just how big were the Amanita Muscaria mushrooms I showed you last week. . . .
Right? That Big!!
If you scroll through these
(hopefully) mood-brightening photos
of fall colours (and here, the red leaves that throw their shadows across the wall of this metal-clad building are also echoed in its bold colour). . . .
we’ll come back indoors, where I can point you to a satisfying meal I made for myself last night, the regular house chef being out of town again this week. I couldn’t find the recipe he follows for a Pasta dish he makes with brussels sprouts and walnuts, even though I know it’s one I found for him, years ago. A quick search online, though, brought me this recipe — I’m quite sure that Pater/Paul uses spaghetti or linguine rather than orecchiette; I think he slices rather than peels leaves off the sprouts; and I know his recipe doesn’t call for bacon. I didn’t have the Zesty Lemon Herb that Victoria calls for in her recipe, but I did grate the zest of one lemon and add that. In other words, you can treat the recipe as a concept and riff as you will. I think it would be hard to go wrong and the resulting dish makes a perfect fall meal.
And while we’re speaking of fall food. . . .
I couldn’t resist bringing home a kabocha squash and an acorn squash from the grocery store yesterday. Oh, to be in France or Italy right now, with all the wonderful fall offerings at the markets (Bordeaux’s Marché Saint Seurin, for example — as seen in my October post 2016).
And I haven’t been sketching much lately, but trying to make it happen more, so a very quick still-life with (fairly crude) pastels this morning. . .
Time for lunch here, but before I go, let me tell you what I have planned for next week. A few months ago, a reader proposed an idea that she thought might do two things: 1) help build community here on my blog and also, she generously suggested, 2) allow readers to reciprocate what she recognizes as a considerable effort on my part, the time and thought and effort that it takes to provide engaging content and to facilitate meaningful on-line conversations around that content, thus building a social network that we all enjoy.
Now, let me say that I already feel that the work I do here is well repaid in ways that are meaningful to me. But I’ve also found — as in the posts by Dottoressa that exposed us to Croatian cuisine, and in the several posts by gardening readers-turned-writers — that new voices add something energizing to the mix here. And, significantly, that they allow you to get to know each other better.
So next post, I’m going to introduce you to A. in London, whom you have likely already met in comments over the past several years. Or rather, I’m going to let A. introduce herself and then, following her suggestion, I’m posting her answers to the Proust questionnaire. I’m hoping that you’ll like the idea enough that some of you might volunteer to answer the questionnaire for a future post. But we can talk about that later. For now,
Happy last weekend of October 2019!
I love how much red there is in these photos – it's cheery and lively (as you have been!) I believe strongly that the space is SO key to finding creativity and quiet. I'm sure your new writing area is contributing to your mood and output in all the ways.
It is so nice to hear that Frances! Especially when Pater noticed the blossoming!
I believe that we all need to have some time to be with our thoughts and ponder where we are and where we want to go and how to get there-it could make us more happier indeed
Your photos are lovely,beautiful leaves….
I'm looking forward to A. in London's post- Hi A.!-it would be great to read about you,in your own words
Dottoressa
I find change in seasons is like rebirth. The cool Fall temps are invigorating. The Fall color in your photos is beautiful. What's not to like? All is well. Susan
There are so many phases in retirement – I was going to say life, but I think retirement or semi-retirement deserves a category of its own. Contentment may well be the hardest won state. From my own experience I do think a lot of it is to do with the physical space around us. So many of these phases have been unexpected. Other stages of life I was part of discussions about, but sailing out into semi-retirement seemed a solo venture. For that reason alone I'm grateful for the conversations here.
Another 'yakker' at the Yakety Yak French conversation circle I dropped back in on during my trip to Edinburgh this week was just back from a while in Bordeaux. I may have glared at him, I was so insanely jealous!
Looking forward to your new posting venture. I'm conscious that I offered you photos of my garden for a post and then never got round to taking them in enough daylight. Now I'm thinking of starting blogging again to chronicle what I hope will be the garden's transformation.
Also looking forward to the Proust questionnaire. I've still not managed to re-read him, after dissecting him for my PhD!
This all sounds very promising and interesting. I look forward to seeing and reading what unfolds. We are having a beautiful autumn here – if more than a little wet – with so many greens and golds. Good for the soul.
I just love the photos of the Canadian fall!! Your post really cheered me up. So good to hear about someone who is blossoming and that it is being noticed.
I love that you are blossoming and that Paul is noticing, Finding a path of contentment and nursishing it with your passions is a satisfying place to be. Beautiful pictures from your run. Fall is finally beginning to unfold here!
When we moved back to BC years ago we thought we'd miss the beautiful fall colours of the Gatineau Hills and Algonquin Park. And I suppose we do, but your stunning photos show that spectacular autumn colours can be found here too! I particularly liked the last photo of the trees in the park and those showing the play of light on the red building.
I too am looking forward to next week's post.
Frances in Sidney
I've been so pleased that we made it home in time to witness our own fall colours here in Ottawa. Much as I loved being in Croatia… I didn't want to miss my favourite season back home. What a lovely and generous thing Paul said! Maybe retirement is like when you prune your apple tree… bit tough at first… takes a while for the blossoms to come back… but worth it in the end. And that's all the pseudo-profundity I have in me this Saturday morning! Ha. xo
I grew up in the Ottawa area, and my favourite season was Autumn. Just walking out the door was always magical.
At that point you had forgotten how wretchedly cold the winter would be. A drive to the Gatineau Hills was a treat, and it’s almost
impossible to describe the sensory overload of the colours. Seeing your photos brings it all back.
Thank you…
Ali
I have been remarking to myself that you seem ebullient! And I am so happy to sense your happiness.
How lovely that Paul noticed and commented on your blossoming. Tying it to your new workspace freedom seems completely reasonable. You no longer have to shut down your creative processes to clear the table.
Thank you for sharing your photos of bright autumn foliage. Ours has been a bit muted up to this point (drought related). Looking forward to hearing from Ali and others.
K: Thank you! I know you love red — your fabulous kitchen 😉
Dottoressa: Thanks — I was surprised and so pleased to hear him say that. And yes, I'm looking forward to reading A's responses as well.
And I love seeing readers here connect with each other.
Susan: It's true! The season's change stirs something in us, brings different aspects of our personalities to the fore.
Linda B: Yes, retirement is a big adjustment and compounded by a significant move (as with you and with me) it can take a surprising amount of time and effort. . . . Let me know if you end up blogging your garden's transformation — I'd be happy to link to it.
Annie: It can be such a beautiful season. Of course, once the big winds blow (as here on Friday) there are fewer and fewer of those colourful leaves . . . .
Givi: I'm so happy to know the post cheered you! You'll be heading into short days and much darkness now, I imagine, relying more on indoor comforts to warm the spirit.
Smithposts:And congrats on your 10k PB last week! This is such a good season for running. I hope I will be able to keep mine up, cautiously. . . .
Frances of S. While our colours can't compare with those in the East, when the conditions are right, we get a pretty good show. I've been wondering lately if this is better than I remember it being, and if so, whether that's because street trees have been chosen with fall colour in mind over the last 20 or 30 years. The liquidambar trees, for example, are splendid in the fall, and I don't remember them being around to the same extent in my first 50 years. Not sure how much I was paying attention though 😉
Sue B: I quite like that metaphor, thank you! In my case, the adjustments required by retirement were augmented because of our major move.
(and I do think it was very lovely and generous of Paul to say that and I'll tell him you (and other readers) thought so as well.
Ali: I remember visiting Paul one fall, during the years he worked in Ottawa, and driving out to Meech Lake — the intensity of the golden leaves, as if there were an immense light source shining out rather than simply being reflected.
Lisa: Thank you! I'm a bit superstitious about declaring it, and I know it doesn't preclude future dips, but for now, I'm there!
Mary: Yes, I think being able to leave things simmering on my desktop works much better for me, and I'm not constantly trying to talk myself out of a kind of shame over my messy process. . . .
So happy to see the cheeriness, in your words and in the lovely photos. You have been through much upheaval, and sometimes it just takes us longer to find our moorings, I think….I hope….. Well, anyway, this post makes me smile and smile and smile.
That blossoming comment is perhaps the most loving comment and the highest praise I've ever heard of from a spouse. You are lucky, not only to be blossoming, but to be with someone who notices it, appreciates it and doesn't try to stifle it.
Thanks Mardel, You know what I'm talking about, and you're getting there yourself, right? Smiling is good 😉
Taste of France: It's very true, I'm very lucky — it was very loving of him to notice and to comment. And there are ones out there who stifle, sadly true also. . .