Gladys Taber
Stillmeadow Seasons 1950
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Quote du jour/Gladys Taber
How much art there can be in all the small ways of living. Sometimes we get lazy, but I think the effort spent in putting an ironstone bowl of pine branches on the table is well spent. And getting out the fragile grandmother china is worth it too. Often we do not bother to use the small gracious touches, and it is a pity. For no matter what heaven may be like, there is no use just waiting for it. I'll take mine now, with an open fire and apples toasting on a stick and good friends gathered around the hearth. Bowls of popcorn, and nuts to crack while the talk is merry.
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Sounds like a fabulous gathering to me. Love your header photo. It makes me hungry.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does sound lovely. And those carrots are great. I so love the different colors, though they don't taste any different.
DeleteNan, your header shots lately are truly works of art....the variety of carrot colors on that red stonewear plate are at least equivalent to putting pine branches on the table...really a touch of heaven (and you can eat yours when you're ready for a new centerpiece). .
DeleteWhat a very nice thing to say. Thank you! I did in fact eat three of those carrots for supper!
DeleteI love that opening sentence about art being in the small ways of living. It's all around us, really, isn't it? It's just a matter of slowing down enough to appreciate the moment.
ReplyDeleteSuch a perfect quote! I've gotten out of the habit of using my pretty tea cups. Time to pull them out for some fall afternoons!
ReplyDeleteThose carrots are beautiful! I've never seen a white one.
What a nice idea! And then take a pic for your Wednesday posting. :<)
DeleteThe carrots all taste the same but I do love all those colors. This is the first year I've grown them.
Gladys did know how to live, didn't she? And your veg look wonderful. I also love the different colors.
ReplyDeleteShe really did. I love those colorful carrots too.
DeleteSo true and the theme of my post today too. It's the little touches that matter isn't it. I quite agree :)
ReplyDeleteI'll be over to see it. I've not been reading blogs, or writing my own, much this summer. Busy, in a good way.
ReplyDeleteIf I could choose a next door neighbor it would be, or would have been, Gladys. But then she's always been my neighbor, mentor, friend ever since I found her books decades ago. I think she must have been one of the wisest women ever and the kindest. To me, she is An American Treasure.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how she would have been as a blogger?
It seems to me that her books are like blog entries in a way. I believe many were written first as pieces in magazines. I feel exactly as you do.
ReplyDeleteSuch a perfect quote.......I'll take mine now, too, no matter what.....I've got to get over letting arthritis pains stop me from doing things I used to, things which gave such small joys to my days.
ReplyDeleteHer words give me such sustenance and direction in life. Might there be other joys that wouldn't cause pain?
DeleteAmen to that.
ReplyDeleteYes.
DeleteOh I do like Gladys Taber and her reflections on life... and yes, sometimes, a cup of tea and a biscuit served up in pretty bone china which once belonged to my grandmother (preferably on a tray, with an old embroidered cloth on it) is such a spirit lifter. And I like those connections with the past, with my grandmother, and my mother, who always uses nice china, and with Gladys Taber herself, writing her thoughts in 1950, before I was born. Thank you for the quote - I'm off to make tea, in my old china pot, with proper tea-leaves, which I have for 'treats' and special occasions.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, wonderful. Wish I were there.
DeletePerfect! Gladys always get it right, doesn't she, Nan?
ReplyDeleteWe were having leftovers for supper last night with a big salad full of what came from the garden to round it out. I decided to put out the nice dishes and it just added to the flavor. This quote seems to have been made for exactly how I felt.
By the way, last week, I wrote a post using the Rimbaud poem, The Cupboard, which I first read over a year ago on one of your posts. It brought out such touching memories of others, Nan. Thank you for that long-ago post. Penny
Yes, she sure did.
DeleteI have only one set of dishes - my Fiestaware, and they cheer me just sitting on the shelf.
I am very touched that you remembered the poem. I haven't read your post yet. I am quite behind in my blog writing and reading.
I agree with her special words
ReplyDeleteand love your new header :)
I bet you'd enjoy growing those carrots! Almost too pretty to eat. :<)
DeleteLove the photo, Nan. I thought of you when I recently purchased STILLMEADOW ALBUM at a book sale fundraiser for the college in our neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteOh, isn't that wonderful. My library has a copy that I read years ago, and I should go borrow it again. Thanks for the reminder.
DeleteOr placing root vegetables on a colorful plate. Indeed it is the little things that give such great joy.
ReplyDeleteI love how you connected the post with the new header. I never thought of that!
DeleteSimply perfect!
ReplyDeleteShe's a wonder, that Gladys girl.
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