Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee,
Whether summer clothe the general earth
With greeness, or the redbreast sit and sing
Betwixt the tufts of snow on the bare branch
Of mossy apple-tree, while the nigh thatch
Smokes in the sun-thaw; whether the eave-drops fall
Heard only in the trances of the blast,
Or if the secret ministry of frost
Shall hang them up in silent icicles,
Quietly shining to the quiet Moon.



Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Tagged!


I was tagged recently by liZZie so here are my answers to the questions. I've dotted a few photos around to make it a bit less boring for you{:)

What is your current obsession?
I don't really get obsessive about things but I suppose family history might come under this heading - the photo is me aged three.

What is your weirdest obsession?
No weird obsessions that I can think of.

What are you wearing today?
Dark brown jeans and a cream T-shirt.



What’s for dinner?
Chicken and broccoli pasta bake

What would you eat for your last meal?
The oak smoked salmon rosti that I had at Betty's in Harrogate a couple of weeks ago followed by the homemade Key Lime pie I had in Virginia a few years ago - together they rank as the best food I've ever eaten.



What’s the last thing you bought?
Two skeins of embroidery silk.

What are you listening to right now?
One of my favourite sounds - silence.



If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Tucked away in a quiet corner of the South Downs. I've travelled a good deal but never found anywhere I'd rather live than England.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
To the little cafe on top of the Kasbah in Hammamet, which looked out over the sea on one side and the Medina on the other, to drink Turkish coffee and eat little honey cakes with the same small group of people I was with when I first went.

Which language do you want to learn?
Italian, it's a beautiful language and I love to listen to it even though I don't understand what is being said.



What’s your favourite quote (for now)?
The wonder of the world,
the beauty and the power,
the shapes of things,
their colours,lights, and shades;
these I saw.
Look ye also while life lasts.

The photo is Bourke's Luck Potholes in Blyde River Canyon, South Africa.

What is your favourite colour?
Turquoise

What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
A three piece set of primrose yellow trousers and strappy top with a floaty short sleeved shirt in shades of primrose, peach and soft sage green.

What is your dream job? The one I have - housewife.

Describe your personal style? Classic



What’s your favourite tree? Er - Rowan?


What are you going to do after this? Put the ironing away


What’s your favourite fruit? Ripe English strawberries



What inspires you? The beauty of the natural world, in this case a South African sunrise.

Your favourite books?
Too many to mention but would include all of Dornford Yates' Berry books

What are you currently reading?
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey, Jonah and Co by Dornford Yates and The Garden Cottage Diaries by Fiona Houston.

Go to your bookshelf, take down the first book with a red spine you see, turn to page 26 and type out the first line:
...as 1250, and the rate may have originated in the bailiffs' power to...
from The Parish Chest by W.E.Tate. Not very exciting I'm afraid, it's one of my family/local history text books and is about rates and rating - to be precise it is talking here about the local levies of labour for the maintenance of sea walls in Romney Marsh. Now I'll bet you always wanted to know about that didn't you?



What delighted you the most today?
The scent and sight of wild honeysuckle as I walked in the woods this morning.

By what criteria do you judge a person?
I go on pure instinct, I've learned over the years ago not to judge on appearances. The first lesson was when I was waiting at a bus stop on a deserted street in Chester many years ago. An old man with, I kid you not, a stick over his shoulder with a bundle tied up in a large red spotted handkerchief attached to it, came and stood next to me. He looked like a gentleman of the road and I was a tad nervous. He was chatty and my mum always taught me to be polite so I replied. He turned out to be a delightful real old countryman and one of the most interesting people I've ever met. I was quite disappointed when the bus eventually turned up!


What is your earliest childhood memory?
Being in my cot next to my parents bed, I must have been about 18 months old. I'm lucky and can remember a lot of my childhood very clearly.


The question I'm adding is 'What is your all time favourite film?
Mine is one that is visually beautiful, a lovely gentle story and has a happy ending. It's called 'Enchanted April'.


The rules:
1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag eight other people. As ever I'm not tagging anyone as not everyone has time or inclination, I found it interesting to do though so if you want to have a go then please do.

15 comments:

Wanda..... said...

That was an enjoyable read Rowan...
I loved your favourite quote.

Anonymous said...

una bambina molto adorabile

Strawberry Lane said...

Rowan,
How delightful to read about you. Fascinating how a person can emerge in my mind just from your answers. I'd say you are ... peaceful, the kind I'd like to join in that stroll through the woods.

Jenny said...

Hi Rowan,
Sorry I haven't been by in ages- your posting has gone through the roof while mine has slowed considerably! I enjoyed reading your answers- it's always fun to learn a bit more about someone. I love the smell of honeysuckle too, and could certainly do with a bit more of your favorite sounds these days. :o)

PAT said...

Enjoyed this Rowan!

Janet said...

I always like learning more about you. This is a good meme and one I might do.

Gracie said...

Thanks for letting us know you a little better. And thanks for quoting italian as your favourite language.
Grazie molte.
Gracie at http://mylittleplace.blog.com

Jo Potter said...

Hi Rowan,
I enjoyed reading your tag. Your chicken & broccoli bake looks yummy!:)
I know it takes a while to do a tag but you are right it is a good way to get to know people better on blogger.
Travel is a great thing but when I lived abroad for a while I really missed the English countryside. I also love English history too.
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a nice comment on my tag!
Jo.x

Unknown said...

Hello Rowan,

Good to see how down to earth you are - putting the ironing away! I haven't seen the Blyde Canyon Luck Potholes. Something for another time!

Morning's Minion said...

The photo of the rowan tree is the same we know in the US as an ornamental--I don't know of these occuring naturally. I think our New England hardwood ash is, as you mentioned, a very different species. A bit more thought on that which I'll send directly to you--when I have a moment to think.
I enjoyed learning more about you.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Delightful to learn more about you- it was all very enchanting.

Thimbleanna said...

What a fun post Rowan! Dinner looks delicious -- as does that gorgeous thatched roof. You have my dream job too!

Rosie said...

I've enjoyed reading your answers to all the questions - The Parish Chest is the local historian's bible I think, such a useful book:) Daughter of Time is one of my favourites - as is Enchanted April. The broccoli bake looks tasty and your meal at Betty's sounds lovely. I think I might have a go at this tag later:)

Julie said...

Dorothy,

Like "Enchanted April", this was enchanting! I learned so much about you and really like what I learned. You are a cool lady!!

Must check out some of those books.

Hugs, Julie

Lila Rostenberg said...

I enjoyed reading about you, Rowan.
I started to read "Daughter of Time" and didn't "get it" (perhaps because I know so little of English history?). However, I do love "Enchanted April".
Thanks for all you share!