I love children’s picture books. They are short and sweet, sometimes silly and sometimes when you least expect it, a lesson comes a knocking as you engage with the words. Their images collaborating in sync to the content, the short and brief narrative capturing the attention of your heart and mind, taking you to places with a wisp and a will. At the same time, I am always struck by the title of the book. How in the world does the author/illustrator come up with the title and front image?! It is like a hook, a lure even, to get you to pick it up and enjoy.
So I am doing my early morning walk three days ago and I see a little library standing at the corner of the house I pass by if I am going down by the harbour. The owner has kindly built a wooden post (kind of like a country mailbox post) to hold atop a wooden box with a miniature glass door which encloses a few books that anyone can take out, replace, for anyone’s leisure. Such a gesture of kindness. I have not peeked in lately but what might it hold. Any children’s books?
Because I have been paying attention, literally, to my walk and my preparation to go for a walk. So why my walk and books? Well lets just say recalling the imagination of the author Judi Barrett and her crazy wit in her book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs speaks to me. Why? Why? Why? It may be a bit dotty but so apropos to the musings of the author and my feelings towards the November weather here on the island. The notions of food being the precipitation of the day coming down in droves providing plenty of meals for the townspeople. But oh my, like anything else, the bounty of large buckets of food falling with its specific kind of ingredients causes chaos and upheaval as it intermingles with the ordinary and mundane routines of the little town.
For the last two weeks or maybe even longer, as I might have to look at the historical data of weather in November (haha not funny), it has been cloudy. Dark, gloomy, ominous clouds blanketing the sky each and every day with rain interspersing to create the tale of woes to Cloudy with NO Change of Sun. Yep. And don’t get me started with the wind sweeping in. Brrrrr its cold.
So what is the short narrative to the grey and black images of the daily lives of the inhabitants of islanders? Well, break open the closets people and get out the fall winter trappings and paraphernalia because the events of the daily are grin and bare it. The unexpected beauty of the dismal kind of weather is up and running. So like my older sister says, suck it up buttercup. LOL.
Yes the weather has been quite noticeably bleak. I mean yes November marks the slowing down, the time of remembering, the gathering of seeds and nuts for the living creatures, the shorter days and longer nightfalls. But, according to whomever, there is a sad case for the lack of vitamin D as is recommended. And for the record, I am not under any circumstances swallowing ingesting gulping even sipping, in any form, cod liver oil. Eew! That is such a cruel and unusual punishment! Sorry mom but I can refuse now as a grownup in my defense. Hmmmm
Sun. Sunlight. Rays. Beams. I know the sun is not beating a warmth like the summer hazy lazy days but goodness and all that is holy, Lord, please shatter the gloomy. It can’t be good. So while I await the season of Advent which is all about preparation and joyful hope, I am going to have to weather the weather, whether I like it or not. For that is the narrative. Each day is a page to open and begin anew, regardless of cloudy or sunny or a shower of meatballs. Today is going to be, as I look out my window with a silent quiet sigh and half smile, titled Cloudy with a Chance of Sunny Awesome (or no cod liver oil for me). Blessings.
Let us pray for those who are in need of our prayers and for those who suffer during these long days of darkness. Amen.
PS. Instagram Perks
Enjoying the beauty of nature’s grey palette.
Capturing the serenity of a cloudy landscape.
Let the clouds be your canvas. ( I like this one)
Cloudy days are the perfect excuse to cozy up and relax.
Embracing the moody vibes of a cloudy day.
Karenpondering 