Hello! I'm so pleased you have time for a cup of tea ... And a little wistful that it's the last time the lovely Abi will be able to host this warmly companionable meme of hers, but you are all the more welcome for that :). Oh, don't worry about the damp leaves coming in with you on your shoes, I'd tell you smilingly: that's my fault for not clearing the path. When the sun peeped out from behind its cloudy days-old shroud, and my kind brother came to look after Dad for the weekend, it seemed more important to be up, up and away, out on the hills for a walk with Himself ...
But, I can hear myself say, let's not talk weather in our so very British way! How do you like your tea? Indian? Herbal? Or I can offer you some coffee from freshly ground beans brought all the way back in my little rucksack from Costa Rica, if you like. Might go nicely with one of those little oaten and ginger biscuits. And if your eyes strayed to the board of russet-toned squares alongside, I'd explain that this is homemade gluten-free tomato bread - oh, yes, do have a little nibble if you like, though they're better with something savoury ...
And as we settled ourselves into chairs and cushions near the patio windows to make the most of the November light, I'd be wondering how things are with you (feeling very out of touch) and how all your creative projects are going. Do you find you have seasonal cycles? An urge for stitching or knitting at a particular time of year? A waning of energy for scrapbooking? It's the lack of light for photographing that stymies me, I'd explain - a succession of dull, misty days is like living at the bottom of a murky pond. And as I poured you another cup and you helped yourself to a little something, I'd be itching to know if you are intending to record December in any particular way? I'd show you where I was up to with mine ...
Inspired by Julie's super and current series over at Notes on Paper on recycling an old book for collaging, I've been reforming a battered copy of Education Since 1800. If you had an interest in learning and teaching, we might giggle together about how therapeutic tearing out pages from an intellectually weighty tome could be. We might even wonder idly how many subversive ways we could find to expand on the chapter heading Education Experts. (All contributions welcome! I'm liking 'Education Experts ... Need To Go Back To School'). How am I getting on with my photobook of recent adventures with my delightful daughter? Mmm, I keep getting distracted just looking through the photos and remembering ...
And I'd be keen to hear how things are for you, how you balance different parts of your life, and what gives you joy and energy right now ... Are there things you realise no longer serve you and you want to let go of? Are there new things to invite or to look for? Will you be choosing a word to keep you company next year? Are you feeling prepared for the month ahead? Ours is going to be busy, I'd tell you, for we have our wonderful son, daughter-in-law and the two Littlies arriving this week for six days. Last time, we made up 'low-down' beds, which proved perfect for our six-year old bookworm to sprawl on ...
... but this time, we're keen to know if he might manage the high-up bed that was his beloved Aunt's and under which my craft desk lurks. Is there much shifting around of things when you have guests, I'd ask? Do you manage to do any scrapbooking or sorting of photos while they are with you? I never seem to be able to! And before we knew it, you'd be looking at your watch or phone, and it would be time to leave. We'd keep chatting, of course, right to the very last minute! as you popped your warm things on, checked you had everything with you, walked up the path, and turned to wave. I'd watch you go, full of gladness you'd come, sadness you'd gone, and holding the memories close ...
Thank-you so very much, Abi :).