You can find the most wonderful virtual treasure on Project Gutenberg. Take for example, the treat I have for you, this morning: Dream Blocks: a collection of children’s poems by Aileen Cleveland Higgins, with illustrations by the Brocante favorite, Jesse Willcox Smith…
WITH dream-blocks I can build A castle to the sky. No one can shake it down, Though he may try and try, Except myself, and then, I make another one, And shape it as I please. This castle-building fun Nobody takes away, And what I like the best– The dream-blocks change each day.
WHEN I woke up and saw the rain In blurs upon the window-pane, I said I hated such a day, Because I couldn’t run and play, Out in the sunshine and the grass. It’s queer how such a day can pass So soon, before you know it ‘most, And while I eat my milk and toast, Before I go to bed, I think I’ve never had a day so pink. Without the sun to make the shine, This whole day long has been just mine And Mother’s, in the fireplace glow.– Because it rained, it made it so.
THE dainty frills upon my frocks Make me all twinkly smiles inside. I want to take my sweets around,– A something in me says “Divide.”
I run to give my mother dear My nicest, clean-face kiss. I feed the sparrows on the steps, And think what others miss.
I put some water on my fern; To every one I want to say Nice velvet things. It is so queer That we can dress our moods away!
YOU think my home is up the street In that big house with lots of steps, All worn in places by our feet– With tracks that look like mine and Jep’s.
You think it’s where I always eat, Where I can find my spoon and bowl, My napkin folded clean and neat, And milk, and sometimes jelly-roll.
You think it’s where I always sleep, Where I get in my puffy bed, And fall right in a comfy heap, Some nights before my prayers are said.
But that’s not home–just roof and walls, A place that anybody buys, With shiny floors and stairs and halls.– My home is in my mother’s eyes.
DEAR God, may I not dream The Dragon-dream tonight,– And please do not forget To make it light On time again For me. Amen.
I TAKE my broom and sweep my step, To make it smooth and brown; Then I sit down and wait with Jep Until the sun goes down.
I think some day that I may see A little brownie elf Peep out of there, and speak to me, When I am by myself.
I like my roses at the side, Much better than the flower-row Along your path where people ride. I leave my roses just to grow.
I like the place that’s broken, too, With splintered edges all around, And grasses growing right up through, That smell so fresh like dew and ground.
Your steps are nice, but then my own Seem nicer somehow, just for me; Pine steps are more like home than stone, For once they lived and were a tree.
Create your own Brocante Life Book, plan Christmas, set up routines and rituals or live life the BrocanteHome way with my guided workbooks and planners.
So asks the blurb on the back of this little ode to housekeeping. This and… whose footprints are on your floor? If the kitchen is the heart of the home, what is the heart of the kitchen? If the purpose of cleaning…
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Heather Bailey makes me feel happy. It is, I suspect, the joie de vivre in every pattern and the longing for a life ruched in coral and olive stripes… Be an early bird and go visit Heather’s scrumptious new store before the…
Yes, drapetomania: the urge to run away. Aren’t words wonderful? For what an absolute pleasure it is to discover a word that encapsulates an emotion so concisely, so absolutely perfectly. Once the word used to describe a pseudo mental illness apparently suffered…
!Delicioso! Have your children join in the fun on baking day! It is such a wonderful way to spend some quality time together and a great way for them to learn a few “real life” skills. Whether they are cracking an egg,…
This, I am ashamed to say, is my current recycling system. Pretty flowery bag for paper and red string bag for everything else. Hanging on the back of the laundry door, so everytime I go in, I get smacked in the face…
I loved January in review. After reading your post, I sat down and wrote everything I accomplished this month. It was surprising everything I actually DID get done rather than what I did not. Thank you, Alison.
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Thanks..enjoyed these!!
Thank you so much! My 7 year old daughter will be thrilled to find new poetry on the Kindle for her.
Oh how absolutely divine! it reminds me of my favourite book from childhood ‘A childs garden of verse’ so nostalgic,thank you Alison xx
I loved January in review. After reading your post, I sat down and wrote everything I accomplished this month. It was surprising everything I actually DID get done rather than what I did not. Thank you, Alison.