Sunday, December 28, 2008


Sleep At All Hours

The three big Christmas trees continue to sparkle. The music, gauzy and classical, drifts through the old house like a mist. The sheets are linen and the blankets, wool. Down pillows are fluffed like marshmallows and clothing is warm and rather eccentric. The books, oh the books.... all crisp, all new...massive, slipcased and magically illustrated or small and utterly engrossing..... are stacked in teetering towers beside me. The drinks are hot and the food.... is pie. All responsibility has been banished - flown with a whoosh out the shuttered window, not to return for at least one week. I shall venture outside my wooden door for only two good reasons..... long, bracing walks with a furry dog in the cloudy cold, or a comfortable seat in a darkened movie theatre. And I shall sleep at all hours, whenever I wish.
One of the best weeks of the year!


.....Just as the spiniest chestnut-burr
Is lined within with the finest fur,
So the stoney-walled, snow-roofed house
Of every squirrel and mole and mouse
Is lined with thistledown, sea-gull's feather,
Velvet mullein-leaf, heaped together
With balsam and juniper, dry and curled,
Sweeter than anything else in the world.

O what a warm and darksome nest
Where the wildest things are hidden to rest!
It's there that I'd love to lie and sleep,
Soft, soft, soft, and deep, deep, deep!

From the Poem, Winter Sleep by Elinor Wylie

43 comments:

  1. We are eating pie too! I love this week of no responsibility.

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  2. Sounds like heaven to me, and so beautifully written! Enjoy the lucious lazy week! xo Isa

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  3. I hope your Christmas was very Merry. Enjoy.

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  4. Yes,isn't this bliss...Enjoy this little heaven..

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  5. I love this poem! Have a great week!

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  6. That sounds lovely. We are stuck going to get groceries though or else there will be no food. ;-)

    Enjoy!

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  7. Heavenly is right! It is a wonderful time of the year to nest, and recharge. Enjoy every morsel!

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  8. Have just found your blog via the Weaver of Grass. How beautiful - I love your writing and the wonderful art. I shall be visiting often. Thank you.

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  9. Sounds divine! I look forward to that day again when I can sleep at all hours... sigh... However the bracing walks I can do. And the books.

    Merriest of Christmas blessings to you and yours Pamela! I've no doubt you are having a wonderful holiday!

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  10. OMGosh, I so need a week like that! Pie, books, movies, long walks...sigh...not for me just now...perhaps later.

    Enjoy it for the both of us!

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  11. I am sooo enjoying your writing! Silky and inviting! You remind me of my dear neighbor, Joan, who writes THE MOST beautiful letters. I will be back.... hope you saw a good movie, or not...

    Hugs to Edward.

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  12. I just discovered this site and absolutely love the poem, the sentiment, and the artwork....this lazy week has always been one of my favorites too...I think it just feels lazy compared to the hectic weeks prior to Christmas. Enjoy! and thank you for sharing your thoughts...

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  13. Sounds like heaven to me! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. And Merry Christmas!

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  14. Oh Yes...me too, you are so right...and this is the week we can do this, it is like being suspended in time, maybe it is some magical gift woven between the New Year and the Old year, a sort of passage of time....enjoy.
    Thankyou for your beautiful words they always lift my heart.
    Happy New Year
    Lynn xx

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  15. Your words are magic to me.
    May the new year bless us with the very best.
    Love Jeanne

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  16. Your posts are so beautifully written Pamela - I love the description of your wonderful, peaceful, pie eating restful time :-) Enjoy!

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  17. Sounds delightfully cozy and self indulgent - how wonderful! And pie!? That is a lovely idea. I wonder if someone will make one for me?
    Happy week, Pamela!

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  18. I hate to disturb you there all cozy with your books and your pie and fluffy Edward. Now I see why you commented that you will 'think about it tomorrow' in reference to your desk! I'm laughing. Enjoy the wonderful week you have planned.
    Catherine

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  19. Very enticing and you make it even more so. At least I stayed in my PJ's and read the newspapers all Sunday morning as i did not have to go out.
    Basically just doing lots of walking too. (And computing)

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  20. What a wonderful, reasuring and comforting picture you draw with your words.Lovely poem too, thank you.x

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  21. Sounds wonderful!
    Enjoy your books and sleeps.
    I love the poem!
    x

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  22. sleeping or lying down in the quiet, contemplating, going out in the cold only for walks with Bella too.

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  23. bliss - pure bliss! - an oasis of time carved out to savor....

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  24. That is absolutely fantastic. Love the sentiment and description here. Ah...to sleep as much and whenever under marshmallow duvets and so on. Ah...

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  25. Sounds wonderful! My guests go today, so I will be happily joining you in your irresponsible time. I'll pass you a mince pie with brandy cream, and leaf through some books listening to Box of Delights which the radio had on over Christmas and darling hubby recorded for me.

    Have a wonderful week Pamela.

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  26. I also love the week between Christmas and New Year. Everything does seem to stand still and one can just BE!

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  27. Sounds absolute heaven, enjoy your rest - I love this week 'in-between' when you can just potter around and take it easy:)

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  28. I just like the way this all sounds over at the House of Edward. Perhaps next life, a dog's life it is for me, with thee. Sleeping and pie! What a great combo! Pie a la mode in bed!

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  29. Another beautiful illustration and poem!

    We have friends staying through the New Year, so we enjoy the laughter and chat. Pies and duvets will have to wait for some other time!

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  30. May you have a warm slumber filled with dreams of the yummiest pies and enchanting walks with Edward.

    Happy Holidays!

    Melissa

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  31. sounds wildly perfect ! and love the image too. Woof from Miss D (and her Mom)

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  32. What a very beautiful poem, I am going to google it!

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  33. What a lovely poem. I wish you all the sleep and books and pies in the world. Rest enjoy and refresh your soul and body with sparkling snowy walks with that king of dogs of yours!
    A very Happy New Year to you all, love Arija.

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  34. Winter hibernation is pure bliss! Now I would love to crawl into that bed on the illustration. To me a bed is not a bed unless it has a quilt on it. Ours has two now to keep out the cold as it is freezing now here in Holland. Just right for the festive season...

    May you New Year's be safe and 2009 see many of your dreams come true. Edward's too... :)

    Hugs ~
    Heidi

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  35. What a lovely way to spend the week!
    Enjoy your pie and your wonderful books.

    Happy New Year to you and Edward!

    xo
    Brooke

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  36. i'm right there with you on the nap thing!!! we've all earned the right to completely chill out and enjoy this time of peace and solitude.

    love the poem!

    happy new year to you and edward, pamela! presley sends doggie kisses edward's way!

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  37. I raise a cup of kindness to you, dear bloggy friend. Happy New Year!

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  38. So Lovely, Pamela!

    Happy New Year to you and Edward!

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  39. You always have the loveliest illustrations. Really enjoyed this post...one of my favourite topics.

    Wishing you a very happy and healthful, joyful and wonderful new year...best wishes for a fantastic 2009 for you and Edward your fabulous dog!

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  40. "The books, oh the books...all crisp, all new..." The highlight of my year! Beautiful inspiring words that you write. Thank you, Pamela!

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  41. Gorgeous 1930s picture and a lovely poem to go with it, I haven't come across Elinor Wylie before. Hope you enjoyed your walks, movies and sleeps:) Happy New Year to you and Edward.

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!