We had a nice quiet Thanksgiving at home with a few friends last week. It was perhaps not the most traditional meal, as we ate collard greens, black eyed peas, and barbecue rather than turkey and stuffing. We did have sweet potatoes, and there was cranberry sauce made by Beatrix, apple pie made by Gabriel, and pumpkin pie made by my friend, Rachael. (She told us later that she actually used butternut squash. I never would have guessed it.)
I only admired Gabe’s pie, though I was told it was delicious. He even makes his own pie crust. I think that skill will take him far…
This was the morning after Thanksgiving. Somehow, I ended up with four kids in my messy bed eating bacon. For those of you who remember Beatrix as a toddler, I thought you might like to see that her wild hair is still going strong.
This photograph is the epitome of Mabel: pure joy and abandon. Of course that can quickly be followed by intense desperation when she needs something (and needs it immediately). She says to us, “I need you!” And she says it all day long, our cue to pick her up and give her a tight hug and then carry her along as we attempt to go about what we were doing. Of course, it’s best if we drop what we are doing all together and focus every bit of our attention on her. (Her new yellow dress was a gift from Maria at Roaming Threads. She’s very pleased with it.)
We are still having lovely mild weather here, and last Sunday I desperately wanted to, “play outside,” I told my family. There was Mass, followed by grocery shopping for hours and then home for less than an hour before having to run Keats to a rehearsal. I took my forty five minute window, and Jonny and I went out to explore the woods where a family of beavers has recently changed the landscape. A creek has been re-routed, a new dam built, and what was already a marshy area is now a shallow pond. Seth would like to try to discourage the beavers, but we’ve asked that he not. I told a friend recently, that while we own nearly forty acres here, I don’t feel a real sense of ownership when it comes to the land. It doesn’t belong only to us. We will probably take efforts to prevent the beavers from damaging some of the larger trees surrounding their new pond, but mostly we are glad to allow nature to take it’s course. (I understand that there are situations where beavers would not be wanted, but we have no real reason to try and discourage them.)
Speaking of nature, I’m listening to (affiliate links) The Yearling right now on audiobook and am so engrossed in it, though only partially for the vivid descriptions of the Florida backwoods. It’s a truly beautiful book. I’ve read it before, but the narrator brings the story alive in a new way, and I relate so much to the child in the book, Jody Baxter.
“He went to bed in a fever and could not sleep. A mark was on him from the day’s delight, so that all his life, when April was a thin green and the flavor of rain was on his tongue, an old wound would throb and a notalgia would fill him for something he could not quite remember.” -The Yearling, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
I don’t usually have much to say about a book beyond whether or not I like it. But this story keeps gripping me and I can’t seem to shake it. It’s like I’m twelve years old again, rather than a grown woman on the cusp of 41. Stories are so powerful in the way that even a fictional character’s thoughts, childhood dreams, heartbreak, and loss can bring our own to the surface and validate them somehow, making us feel that someone out there understands. Maybe we all understand deep down? The Yearling has long been one of my favorite books. Right now I’d call it my favorite of all time, even above My Antonia and Kristin Lavransdatter. I’m finding a new appreciation for it this time around. It’s such a beautiful story, though painfully tragic. I am aware that there are plenty of folks out there who don’t love it as I do, or who found it too sad a story. But there is so much more than sadness there. My kids have enjoyed listening to portions of it with me, but I wouldn’t recommend it as read aloud to young children. Seth read it around the age of 12 or 13. Anyway, I’ll stop rambling on about it. (But, If you are a fan of the author, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and The Yearling, you might enjoy this movie about her.)
I’ve been listening to The Yearling while finishing up the last of my projects for one final shop update, and I hope to have it live on Friday, probably noonish ET. If I do, I’ll get a blog post up to let you know Friday morning, but definitely check the shop on Friday. I’m working on cotton gauze neck scarves, a little bit of yarn, and I ended up dyeing another batch of playsilks because mine sold faster than I expected (which is wonderful!). I’m actually hoping to get the playsilks listed later today ahead of everything else.
karen says
Mabel is a cuite!! I babysit a 2.5 yo and she is super funny. She calls me Mrs. Karen unless she is angry, then she calls me Karen, I find her spunk delightful. I wish I could cry like a 2.5 yo when I get stressed or angry 🙂
Molly R says
I love love love that picture of Mabel. What pure joy! It’s infectious, just to see the photo! Also, never read The Yearling, but I have enjoyed your other book recommendations, and the passage you quote is beautiful, so I will give it a go, right after I finish A Gentleman in Moscow. Finally, this is a hilarious read about “dam” beavers. https://viralhatch.com/index.php/2018/01/30/read-guys-hilarious-response-state-environmental-agency/
AnnaMarie says
I just came across your blog last week. I am a mom of six in St. Louis and always looking for a little inspirational from other Catholic moms. You take beautiful photos. I am still trying to figure out my “fancy” camera. Thank you!
Bindy in Australia says
So many lovely things, Ginny. Mabel is just gorgeous. And your thanksgiving with friends sounds just right (to an Aussie with not much idea of ‘right’ thanksgivings). Lovely, as always, to hear from you.
Helena says
Ah, The Yearling–I love it for the beautiful writing, but don’t reread often because of the heartbreak. I love her book Cross Creek as well, for it’s beautiful descriptions of the region as it was then, but the racism in that book is hard to take. I was lucky enough to go to college very near Cross Creek (and really, I’m not that far away now) so was able to go see her home in all seasons. This time of year is my favorite there, actually–the rangers decorate it for Christmas, it’s not hot, and the citrus is ripening in the grove.
Ginny says
I have Cross Creek, an old vintage edition, but haven’t read it. I would love to visit her home!
Anna says
I just got The Yearling from the library to re-read. It really moved me the first time I read it as an adult. Your paragraph on the book is lovely, and so is your blog. Thanks for sharing your beautiful, sensitive personality though your writing in this space.
Anna says
*through
Elizabeth says
such lovely pictures! I totally get what you are saying RE: Beavers! lots of love to you!!!
Jen says
I actually thought that it was Larkspur stirring the pot! I had to go back to make sure that it was actually Bea. How fast they grow!
Helen says
Your comment about the beavers reminded me of my uncle who many acres in Wisconsin in the late 60’s. During a visit he was driving us around to see the roads and other improvements in his woods. Along the way he pointed out a wonderful beaver dam and it was impressive. A short while later he slammed on the brakes, pulled a shovel out of the back of the truck and went over to a culvert the beavers had decided to ‘close off’ by filling it with branches to clear it as it was causing the water to flow over the dirt road. My uncle could be heard to be cursing, “Damn beavers.” So it goes from beaver dams to damn beavers. lol
Ginny says
Too funny!!! I suspect that, “Damn beavers,” is a phrase often used!!!
Marilyn says
Ginny I love Mabel’s hair in the picture with all of her mini ponytails. Happy that you all had a HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Marilyn
Joan says
Speaking of beavers,I had a friend who owned a farm in Pennsylvania and had continuous problems with beavers. Cute but frustrating critters.
Joan
Marion says
That picture of four of your children in your bed reminds me of vintage books that always showed numerous children in one bed. You have beautiful children.
Marion
Eileen says
I’m going to have to revisit The Yearling, I know I’ve read it , but for the life of me I can’t remember one thing about that book.
Your Thanksgiving sounded wonderful! Go Gabe with that pie! Mabel is so beautiful and full of life, love seeing pictures of her as well as all your children.
Emily says
Love, love, love the picture of jubilant Mabel!
Donna says
Hi Ginny, I bought one of your Play Silks. My youngest granddaughter Cadence is attached to her raggedy old receiving blanket and loves to drag it around. I have sewed it several times because it has aged and been washed countless times. I thought that just maybe she may want to trade up to this silky Play Silk. Gonna give it to her for Christmas. It will be interesting to see how she reacts to this new ‘blanket’. If not, she will have a new play thing. Worth a try.
Ginny says
I do hope she loves the playsilk, but as a child, I wouldn’t have parted with my tattered favorite baby blanket for anything!!!
Jo Shafer says
Perhaps The Yearling should return to my reading list for winter! Thank you for bringing it to my mind.
Emily DeArdo says
Annnnd now I need to read The Yearling. 🙂
Ginny says
Yep! 🙂
Kathlyn says
I also tried reading Yearling as a child but my brain didn’t have the capacity for the sadness (still doesn’t). Nor did I have the maturity to grasp the eloquence of the writing. So thank you adding that beautiful paragraph, it made me cry. I’m off to a book store to get a copy – I will skip the sad and underline the beautiful.
And yes I also want a dress like Mabel’s. I will have to make it since I’m in the Grama stage of life, a bit trickier to construct (negotiate the curves :-). But it’s too cold now where I live to play outside, so it will be indoor play.
Ginny says
You really could skip the sad chapter and still get a lot from the book!
victoria says
Your mention of beavers reminded me of a book that my son is reading. EAGER: The surprising, secret life of beavers and why they matter by Ben Goldfarb
Very interesting. I’ve only read the first chapter or so but there is a lot to know about beavers of which I only know a couple of teaspoonsful.
Britta says
I tried to read the Yearling as an adolescent, but never could get into it. I now live near the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings state park (her homestead), and should probably re-try the book! You’ve inspired me!
Helena says
Have you read Cross Creek? Some parts are hard to read (mostly due to the racism), but her descriptions of the region are lovely, and if you’ve been to her homestead then you’ll recognize a lot of the things that remain the same.
Ginny says
I think it’s better read as an adult! How neat that you live near her homestead. I want to visit it!
Lou says
That picture of Mabel—I want to do that each and every day! To see such joy captured in a moment like that is priceless. Wonderful! And her dress is so beautiful. I want one and am hoping they make them for adults. The Yearling is sooooo sad and not sure I can re-read that one but I will check out the movie about the author. Thank you for brightening my day, Ginny!
Lisa says
We love The Yearling! My husband read it to all of our kids a couple of years ago, and they still talk about it. (Of course, the movie was a disappointment after loving the book so much!)
Ann says
For some reason when you mentioned grocery shopping this thought popped into my brain to share with you. My daughter recently became a big fan of the WalMart grocery plan where you order your groceries on line, arrange for a pick up and drive by and they put them in your car, for FREE! She said, I’m never taking kids grocery shopping again. I just had this vision of you and kids roaming through grocery stores and thought this might work for you too!