Saturday, December 26, 2020

The end of the year Draws Near...

 December 26th, 2020

The end of the year draws near, and I ask myself, "do I look forward to this next year, and what it will bring as I age?"  In another seven days I will be 96, and although I have good health and still a wondering outlook on life, sometimes I feel my physical strength draining slowly away.....

Well, it has always been my motto 'to keep right on to the end' and I guess I am not going to collapse now - or ever!

Still, some days I feel more energetic than I do on other days, and some days my spirit is not as jolly and confident as I would like it to be!  Some days I find myself being somewhat confused, and very much aware of this, - and that's not the end of life I look forward to!  I suppose the answer is to keep each day as sinple as possible, and as well ordered (which is not hard, as apart from visits from children I am quite alone and have no events or persons to complicate my life).  But I have to be aware, at all times, and indulge myself with notes and reminders in my daily book.

It is a strange way to be living, these days, what with the pandemic and nothing really happening as it usually has, - there is no church, no singing sessions, or ukulele hours, - I haven't been to the store since last March, and I am so thankful to have space outside and a garden to wander in, and the plans I make for spring when it comes time to plant a bit and watch for little scarlet buds swelling through the rain - soaked earth.

I am so thankful that when Charles and I were first engaged and dreaming dreams of family life when we married on his return from Overseas, during the war years  - so thankful that we decided we would have six children (which we did) who are such a blessing to me now that most of my friends have passed on to the next life that awaits us, elsewhere!!!

I think it might snow tonight, - and I look forward to that, although people who have to drive probably don't anticipate snowy roads!!!  I was thinking tonight about prairie winters, in Edmonton, where I lived from the time I was born until I left to be married.  We skated every day, - and started early in life, on bob skates and a backyard rink that my father faithfully built and watered for the little ones in the neighbourhood.  As we got older we advanced to the Alberta Avenue rink, which still survives, and the band that played for skating on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons.   I think fondly of winter walks in the snow, as it crunched under your boots, and the blue sky and sunshine that was so prevalent on the prairies in Alberta.

The holidays have been lovely, (although nobody has been inundated with family and visitors) but I look forward to January and dressing the looms so I can start creating again, and throwing the shuttle!

I think tomorrow I will wind a linen warp and prepare it to put on the LeClerc, and then I will gather up some hearty wool and weave a krokbagd rug, and I will be back in the swing of things, after all the December holiday days.

Lovely thought!  I will ;post a picture when it is finished...




6 comments:

The Weaver of Grass said...

Your winters are of course colder than ours Hildred - here it is usually rain and last might heavy flooding in the south of the country. Agree about getting older - I am 88 and feel as you do. Here's to 2021

Debby said...

It is wonderful to be able to warm ourselves with lovely memories. Your post was very poignant to me. Even at my own age, I am discovering that my life is happier lived simply and orderly.

Have a good day.

Ellen D. said...

I have noticed that more memories have been coming back into my mind as I have spent more time at home due to COVID. I think the calm of staying home and not being taken up with the busyness of rushing around shopping or running errands has given me more time to quietly reflect. It has been pleasant and with my daily walk outside (weather permitting) I find that I often enjoy staying home.
Here's to a happy, healthy 2021!

Chris said...

I hope if you do have snow, you'll be toasty warm inside. I read back on your blog, some beautiful garden photos and sweet memories.

Hill Top Post said...

I enjoy your writing so very much. I do hope you will continue to write throughout the coming year. You have really been on a roll with it for awhile, so your 2020 yearbook should be a good one!

Country Cottage said...

Hildred you are an inspiration to me - have a lovely new year and a very, very Happy Birthday. Please keep on posting in 2021, I so look forward to reading your words. With best wishes Viv xx