I'm working on finalizing another anthology. It's taking an inordinate amount of time. But good work, just like good trouble, is very gratifying.
I was fortunate on Sunday with a nearly 5 hour brunch with my daughter. My family are incredible talkers and I am so glad that she and grandgirl have inherited this trait. For example when my siblings were all here we often sat over dinner for 6 or 7 hours with occasional stretches and never ran out of conversation. We cover everything, history, politics, religion, health and circle back again. Our sibling Zooms every Sunday for the last 6 years have us tearing ourselves off after several hours.
I know it's unusual as when I mention this to others their mouths fall open. They're of the gulp and gallop school when it comes to meals. I've often been left baffled in others' homes when everybody gets up after quickly ingesting.
The wee fledgings wake me up now at 3.30 a.m. There are many nests in the trees outside.
Then the dawn, sometimes drowning in colour even in the west out my window. Or a decent fog which shutters any other noises. I love fog. Always have.
The long summer days are so very good here in the northern hemisphere.
There's a list of us waiting for our spots in the greenhouse (above).
I am so very grateful to be living in this gorgeous spot.
Family conversation is for many, if not most, a lost art. Kudos to you for keeping it alive. When Miriam and I eat dinner (just the two of us) it tends to be quite a quick affair, but if we have company we can linger for a couple of hours without difficulty.
ReplyDeleteI agree David, a lost art. Many houses keep the TV rolling during meals.I was thinking of starting a conversational group with my writers - a monthly at a coffee shop.Whoever wants to come comes, no pressure kind of thing.
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We always set the table and eat dinner there. Almost without exception our TV is never turned on until 7:30 pm, and sometimes not until the 9:00 pm news on CBC.
DeleteThat would be my dad, and we always joked about it: come for supper, eat, and bolt.
ReplyDeleteMind you when he'd visit me, he'd have lunch and then sit at the table to visit with me for 3 hours. But I don't think anyone in our family ever believed it when I told them.
Comfy chairs make a big difference, I said.
I'm drooling over that greenhouse.
I love that your dad and you were the exception in your comfy chairs and conversation. My dad was a great talker and looking back our meals as children were all about conversation. And table manners! Each voice heard around the large table.
DeleteYeah, that greenhouse is amazing.
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Wonderful greenhouse, I'm quite green with envy over it.
ReplyDeleteWe do not do dinner conversations, but after dinner ... We eat and drink, then its time for coffee, tea, cakes and talk. Then for a walk and talk ... But yes it is an endangered form of being together.
I love what you do with the coffee and cake Charlotte. And the walking, very healthy. We need to restore the art of find conversations.
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I am not a talker, inherited that from my Dad, but my mum could talk the ears off a dead man! But...(there's always a but) sitting around talking after the meal just wasn't done. Conversation continued as the table was cleared and dishes washe, dried, put away, then tea or coffe was made and taken to the sitting room (living room these days) where the nattering continued unless people had to leave and go home. I wish I had conversational skills.
ReplyDeleteRiver I love how you celebrate the small on your blog, which always seems quite conversational to me. You notice everything, no matter how tiny. that would translate into good conversation as to what others notice.
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As a family over the years we've never lingered chatting at the table, Maybe at holidays or special occasions--maybe.
ReplyDeleteBut I must say that I too have always loved fog. If it's ever mentioned some folks look at you as tho your're nuts but there it is. There's something about fog-mysterious and soothing, Not when driving tho!!
Yes, Marge, I totally agree. I love how it blurs everything out and my imagination has the hill with its turret across from my window, now vanished, sailing across the Atlantic to Ireland. 😉
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I live alone so there’s not much talking before or after a meal, however I have a small group of friends and we go out to dinner once sometimes twice a week and our pattern is to order a drink and talk for a good 45 minutes of interesting conversation, and then order and eat.
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy good conversation anytime… at a meal over drinks sitting in the backyard garden, wherever. Mary
I've got Mercy to chat to, other than that, no one here at dinner time. I loved fog til I drove through some once and found it terrifying.
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