RSS

Tag Archives: Jenny Joseph

New Book, New Recipe and Cake

Many of you will know Jenny Joseph’s wonderful poem about growing old, “Warning” which you can read here. When browsing, I came across another of her books, not poetry this time but all about her garden and it came in the post today. As the title suggests it is about the smells and scents of the garden and I am really looking forward to reading it.

A couple of weeks ago I spotted a recipe in the paper that I fancied and cooked it tonight – Rukmini Iyer’s Mushroom, Spinach and Leek Tagliatelle with Pangrattato. I used vermicelli and it was delicious!

I’ve made a cake for us! Most of what I make is for others – today, the Heligan Pineapple Cake is for us as a birthday cake for my lovely Mr S tomorrow.

 
7 Comments

Posted by on January 31, 2024 in allotment, books, Food, poetry, Postaday 2024

 

Tags: , ,

Paper Roses, Musical Cloud, A Poem and Kath

I still have on the mantlepiece one of my birthday cards six weeks after the event. It is so lovely, I think it may be there all year!

Paper roses

Paper roses

I have at last found somewhere pleasing to hang my musical cloud, a delightful birthday present from last December – and it looks just lovely.

Musical cloud

Musical cloud

I have loved the poem, ‘When I am an old woman’ by Jenny Joseph since I first read it many, many years ago and I have been remembering it recently, thinking, when I am an old woman, I shall wear purple and lime green and pink and turquoise and yellow and orange – and all together!

Walking without crutches 7 weeks after my second hip replacement

Walking without crutches 7 weeks after my second hip replacement

When I am an old woman by Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Today is the birthday of my beautiful friend Kath whose too-early death inspired this blog. She also was going to wear purple and we did both practise in good time. We enjoyed singing and laughing together, sharing recipes and good food together, being in France in their Meyssac home, and always supporting each other and she is much missed. She would have loved my blog.
 

Tags: ,

Contrasts, Rhubarb and Jenny Joseph

1   The Cornus Controverta Variegata leaves contrast beautifully with the new Fennel growth.

Cornus Controverta variegata

Cornus Controverta variegata

2     We have picked our first sticks of Rhubarb and what a glorious colour they are.

Beautiful rhubarb

Beautiful rhubarb

3    Jenny Joseph is well know for her delightful poem, ‘Warning’ which is well known and begins

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.

Today’s poem in my Poem for the Day is also by her and pleases me greatly.  Here is “The Sun Has Burst The Sky”

The sun has burst the sky
Because I love you
And the river its banks.

The sea laps the great rocks
Because I love you
And takes no heed of the moon dragging it away
And saying coldly ‘Constancy is not for you’.
The blackbird fills the air
Because I love you
With spring and lawns and shadows falling on lawns.

The people walk in the street and laugh
I love you
And far down the river ships sound their hooters
Crazy with joy because I love you.

This is for the lovely Mr Smith whom I met in late October 1966 and married fewer than 10 months later in August 1967.
 

Tags: , , , ,