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Semi on topic - a bit of writing that conjured the most wonderful image

Most of you know that I love to garden. One of my favorite garden writers is Beverley Nichols. This is from "Garden Open Tomorrow". Nichols is speaking of his friend Marius during a walk at Kew Gardens. (Marius is a character much like Mycroft Holmes doing something unknowable at the Home Office."

"And Marius's third quality - kindness, especially to myself. I have a rag-tag and bobtail mind, as disorderly as a muddled work-basket. Blunted needles, skeins of bright thread all tangled up, piece of fabric with designs begun and abandoned. When I am with Marius he makes me forget these shortcomings. He solaces me, and imparts to these lacunae of ignorance an element of virtue. 'You should not distress yourself, my dear Beverley, that you are not a scholar. You are something more important - a story teller.'"

There is so much in this little passage - the comfort of a friend and just as strongly, I see that workbasket, much like my own some days, and long to be a story teller.

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak
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Wouldn't that make a lovely motto for a sampler (with motifs illustrating it)?

Marg

Reply to
Bob & Marg Whittleton

What a beautiful passage. It conjures up the same kind of feelings in me. It must be wonderful to be able to use so few words to say so very much.

Lucille

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Reply to
Lucille

Lovely quote that I just had to share with my best (female) friend. It reminds you what friendship is all about.

Phyllis Maurer

Reply to
Phylis Maurer

My all-time favorite quote is from the Velveteen Rabbit, the passage about being REAL.

Without going to find the book to quote it exactly, I remember something about "all the hair being rubbed off, and looking pretty shabby, but you are loved."

As I grow older, it becomes more relevant all the time. Maybe one of these days I'll design something specifically for that quote. And then worry about copywrite issues, or just keep it for my personal collection.

Phyllis Maurer

Reply to
Phylis Maurer

(snip)>>

Yes! the worketbasket with the skeins twining out to become vines and flowers and maybe a book or two!

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

The depth of the understanding between Marius and Nichols is lovingly shown through out many of Nichols' books. We can all only hope for such a friend.

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

If you have a good library, they can get you these books some how. I never tire of reading Nichols. Even when he is at his most acerbic, he makes me happy.

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

I just read a quote the other day that's stuck with me and would be great for a sampler. It's from Anne Lamott's recent book, "Plan B." It's a story from the Judaic Talmud tradition.

Someone said, "Inscribe the words of Scripture upon your heart."

And the question arose: shouldn't it be, "keep it *in* your heart?"

"No, said the rabbi..."ON your heart, so that when your heart breaks the words will fall in."

I just thought that was such a wonderful image.

Sue

Phylis Maurer wrote:

Reply to
Susan Hartman

I read a really nice essay by Diana Coogle in her book: An Explosion of Stars. In it, she talks about learning to stitch/sew as a child from her mother and grandmother & being eager to go out and play. Following that, she speaks about picking up an old half finished tablecloth of her grandmother many years later and of the peace and enjoyment she feels when taking up where her grandmother left off. It's a very nice essay and realy captures the feeling that many of us get while stitching with the memories of those who have gone before or teaching those who have followed. :-) Liz from Humbug

Reply to
Liz from Humbug

I have one!

30 years later, great minds still think alike.

I finally tracked down a dear friend from high school, Emilie. The black gal has an orange cat named Karen, and the redhead has a black cat named Emilie.

Is that a hoot, or what?

And, yes, the cat *is* named for the person, in both cases.

Reply to
Karen C - California

That is funny!

In your case - go read the Nichols books on Cats. All cat lovers should read them

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

Liz,

How do I get my hands on her - Amazon shows her as OOP. I found a few essays on line and I want to read MORE!!!!

If you like nature essays, try reading Roger Swain's books.

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

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I did a search on Metacrawler (couldn't bring myself to "Google for Coogle) and found her web site, which has contact information. You could try your local library also. I love all three of her books but some of the essays stay with me more than others. Liz from Humbug

Reply to
Liz from Humbug

I checked half.com. They currently have "Living with All My Senses: Twenty-Five Years of Life on the Mountain" for $2.74.

I've used that site a few times now (purchasing college textbooks) and have had pretty good luck.

HTH!

Joan

Reply to
Joan E.

I'm swinging by the library tomorrow to see if they can find them on ILL....

Baring that, I'll pony up and get them!

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

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