Saturday, January 21, 2012

Sunshine and Canaries

Today's sunshine and fresh snow reminded me of the times I visited Tasha Tudor at Corgi Cottage. Canaries and the chorus of the other birds, parrots, diamond doves, floated upstairs to where I slept in her canopy bed, covered with a lace spread. I really didn't want to leave the comfort of the feather bed, but I also wanted to be a helpful guest. Because I kept goats, chickens, oxen and sheep, I wanted to assist with chores or at least throw more wood on the fire. So I hopped out of bed, threw on my dress, patterned from one that Tasha gave me, and added an extra petticoat.

Of course, Tasha was already up, milking her goats and the oatmeal was simmering. We always ate near her fireplace, so I set the small tray that served as a table. Sometimes Tasha would ask me to feed her canaries, other times I hauled in wood, one of those never-ending jobs that also tracks in sawdust and wood chips. Hense a good sweeping follows a filling of the wood box.

And soon Tasha and I shared breakfast, hot oatmeal and brown sugar, and steaming cups of tea. She liked her with warm milk, but I prefered mine black. Sometimes we made plans to go to town, or to search her trunks for a certain piece of clothing so I could make a pattern. Compared to my life at that time where every weekday I jumped into home schooling my sons, visiting Tasha offered me a delicious calm, filled with her wisdom and laughter.

32 comments:

  1. A lovely memory Joan! Thanks for sharing:-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Joan, I love hearing about your visits, can just imagine how wonderful they were.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Will try this again, Joan. This is a real treat for us Tasha fans...such a personal look into her life. Thank you so much...I will be following your stories so kindly shared.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Just as your respite from your real world was then, so is your writing about it to us now! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Joan, Thank you for sharing these wonderful stories with us. How I love to read about our dear Tasha.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you, new and familiar friends. I plan to post more snippets through the winter and hopefully add some of my person photos, so please tell others that might enjoy these tidbits about Tasha. I certainly miss those wonderful hours shared with her.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a lovely memory, thank so much for sharing these special thoughts with us. BTW, I noticed from your profile picture you play the harp. I would love to hear about that!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you for asking about my harp. I've played Irish music for about 30 years, first on the Irish button accordion and now mainly on a follk harp with nylon strings. I love way my harp vibrates against body and the music flows out into the room...sometimes our piano begins to hum! Sometimes I play lively dance tunes, other times I switch into slow airs....playing the harp gives me great joy

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love the sound of harp music....and Celtic music is one of my favorites! I love this story of your sleep at Tasha's. I remember how sad I felt seeing her handknit grey sweater and glasses laid on that canopy bed in her room when we visited Corgi Cottage this past October. I can just picture the two of you sitting by the fireside eating your oatmeal and sipping hot tea. Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you, Karen. I would feel sad, too, if I saw the sweater without Tasha. Sometimes I still pinch myself when I think of the wonderful times I had at Corgi Cottage.

    ReplyDelete
  12. starting the website.One of the most used areas of the internet site for folks seeking Quaker parrot data could be the FAQ page, African Greys

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am not really wonderful with English but I get hold this very easygoing to read . parrots

    ReplyDelete
  14. One of the first projects she got a part of in order to help other persons having an fascination with these birds was the Quaker Parakeet mailing list parrotlets

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for this wicked post. I am wondering if you were thining of publishing similar posts to this. .Keep up the excellent posts! อ่านมังงะแปลไทย

    ReplyDelete
  16. macaws, and parrots. However, believe me when I tell you that almost almost any bird that you will be interested is for sale anywhere on the internet. pet birds for sale

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi, your site is really well done. thanks for all the information. I’m sending my friends to read this article. Andrea Natale

    ReplyDelete
  18. I read the actual write-up along with totally go along with You. Your own reveal is wonderful and I will probably reveal the item along with my friends along with fb connections. Only has a website in your area of interest I would provide you with a link exchange. Your content need more coverage along with trust my own bookmarking can help you get more traffic. Great write-up, again ! ! Cardiac Electrophysiologist Andrea Natale

    ReplyDelete
  19. What i do not realize is actually how you’re no longer really much more smartly-favored than you may be right now. You are so intelligent. You recognize thus considerably in the case of this topic, produced me personally consider it from numerous various angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be fascinated until it’s something to do with Woman gaga! Your personal stuffs nice. At all times maintain it up! on page seo

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow Da weiss man, wo es hingehen muss Viele Grüsse Mirta Cost of LabVIEW 2020

    ReplyDelete
  21. starting the website.One of the most used areas of the internet site for folks seeking Quaker parrot data could be the FAQ page, Parakeets

    ReplyDelete
  22. There are lots of subjects you can learn about such as for instance knowledge and studying their intelligence, how to appear after baby Quaker birds Finches

    ReplyDelete
  23. There are lots of subjects you can learn about such as for instance knowledge and studying their intelligence, how to appear after baby Quaker birds Finches

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow Da weiss man, wo es hingehen muss Viele Grüsse Mirta For sale LabVIEW 2020

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow Da weiss man, wo es hingehen muss Viele Grüsse Mirta Cost of Ansys Electronics Suite 2021 R1

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I¡¦ll be grateful if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers! Infrastructure Design Suite 2021 Ultimate cost

    ReplyDelete
  27. There a few intriguing points at some point on this page but I don’t know if all of them center to heart. There exists some validity but I’m going to take hold opinion until I investigate it further. Excellent article , thanks and now we want far more! Put into FeedBurner likewise Plant Design Suite 2021 Ultimate cost

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thank you for give very good informations. Your website is goodI am impressed by the information that you have on this blog. It shows how well you understand this subject. Bookmarked this page, will come back for more. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched everywhere and just couldn buy steroids online

    ReplyDelete
  29. Once I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now each time a remark is added I get four emails with the identical comment. Is there any way you can take away me from that service? Thanks! buy steroids online

    ReplyDelete
  30. You see, this attitude bugs me so much, and I haven’t even criticized some of the weird stuff they present us in this movie. human growth hormone for sale

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have been checking out a few of your posts and it’s nice stuff. I will surely bookmark your site. buy steroids

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you, I have recently been searching for information about this topic for ages and yours is the best I’ve discovered till now. But, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you certain about the source? Infrastructure Design Suite 2021 Ultimate cost

    ReplyDelete