On Comfy Morns

« While nibbling on honeyed treats . . .

On Comfy Morns

Sunday, January 18, 2015 by lifeonthecutoff

“When the girl returned, some hours later, she carried a tray, with a cup of fragrant tea steaming on it; and a plate piled up with very hot buttered toast, cut thick, very brown on both sides, with the butter running through the holes in great golden drops, like honey from the honeycomb. The smell of that buttered toast simply talked to Toad, and with no uncertain voice; talked of warm kitchens, of breakfasts on bright frosty mornings, of cosy parlour firesides on winter evenings, when one’s ramble was over and slippered feet were propped on the fender, of the purring of contented cats, and the twitter of sleepy canaries.”
― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

Posted in Books, Children's books, Food, Just for fun, Quotes | Tagged comfort food, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows, Toad from The Wind in the Willows, toasty mornings | 20 Comments

20 Responses

on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 1:28 pm | Reply Andra Watkins

We had a comfy morn today. MTM’s birthday at Buffalo River Farm in Summertown, TN. I’m grateful for this little respite before I head to New Orleans. 🙂

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- on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 4:55 pm | Reply lifeonthecutoff
  
  It sounds wonderful, Andra; for both MTM and for you, too. I hope his birthday was happy.
  Good luck in New Orleans. I sure do wish I could be there. 🙂
  
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on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 1:32 pm | Reply Perpetua

Toast is wonderful at teatime, Penny, and so are hot buttered crumpets. Mmmm… 🙂

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- on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 4:57 pm | Reply lifeonthecutoff
  
  Mmmmmm, indeed! I have never had crumpets, except in my imagination from reading. I need to remedy that soon, Perpetua.
  
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on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 2:02 pm | Reply marilyn r

Comfort reading to accompany comfort food with…”the purring of contented cats.” Just can’t be better than this combination. As many times as I have read Wind in the Willows, I do not recall this excerpt. Now I can look for it and make it a favorite passage.

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- on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 5:01 pm | Reply lifeonthecutoff
  
  Ah, you have the final component, Marilyn; the contented cats. 🙂 Right now, I have a quiet canary. (Not really a canary, but, a cockatiel. Good old literary license.) . This passage is from when Toad is in “gaol”. I think the chapter is “Toad’s Adventure”. The “Wind and the Willows” has so many good lines, doesn’t it?
  
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on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 2:09 pm | Reply Juliet

You had me drooling Penny, with this deliciousness. It love the butter running through the holes, ‘like honey from the honeycomb’. Like Marilyn, I don’t recall this passage either. Thank you for this tasty beginning to my day.

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- on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 5:05 pm | Reply lifeonthecutoff
  
  Isn’t it the most delicious quote, Juliet? As I mentioned to Marilyn, it is when Toad is in gaol. This morning was the perfect morning for posting it.
  You are most welcome. I hope your day is delightful, Juliet.
  
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on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 4:09 pm | Reply Janet (Country Mouse)

Poor Toad, dreaming of home while he is in jail or should I say gaol? The toast makes my mouth water. Whoever coined the phrase comfort food came up with just the perfect description for warm food that makes you think of home.

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- on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 5:08 pm | Reply lifeonthecutoff
  
  Isn’t it the best of phrases, Janet? I agree. Though it is warmer today, winter is the perfect season for comfort food. We had chicken soup the other night and I’m in the mood for a good, hearty beef barely, but, it was English muffins this morning and a bit of time with Toad.
  Hope you are doing much, much better, dear friend.
  
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on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 6:13 pm | Reply Sallie (FullTime-Life)

I loved that book! To be read to or to read out loud to others. And now I want breakfast for supper.

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- on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 6:25 pm | Reply lifeonthecutoff
  
  Breakfast is the “bestest” of meals for supper! We do it often. 🙂 Whatever you are having, Sallie, enjoy it – and maybe a bit of “Wind in the Willows” soon.
  
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on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 6:16 am | Reply Friko

And all was well in the best of all possible worlds.

What a lovely picture.

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- on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 6:36 am | Reply lifeonthecutoff
  
  I know, Friko; if only all could be in such contentment (and Toad is in gaol at the time). I’ve a habit of slipping into children’s literature when fantasy fills a need now and then.
  
  Thank you.
  
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on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 12:23 pm | Reply Karen Snyder

I sent a large, beautifully illustrated version of The Wind in The Willows to my great-granddaughter for Christmas, Penny. I must confess, however, that when I received it from Amazon, I momentarily contemplated keeping it for myself. 🙂

The thought of warm butter and English muffins…. Mmmm Mmmm!

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- on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 3:50 pm | Reply lifeonthecutoff
  
  Ah; I have just those sort of momentary contemplations myself, Karen. It sounds like a gorgeous edition.
  
  Isn’t it a toasty thought? I may have to make more. 🙂
  
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on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 6:39 pm | Reply Gerlinde

I am hungry, having a muffin dripping with butter would be so good, I might add some honey. I will have to read the book again, it’s been a long time!

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- on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 8:12 pm | Reply lifeonthecutoff
  
  it would be even better with honey, Gerlinde. Amazing how something so homey and simple can be so comforting – and told through the words of Toad, no less. I do hope these words gave you a small measure of comfort right now.
  
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on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 9:33 am | Reply bloggingfromthebog

The little bits & pieces I’ve read from “The Wind in the Willows” have been cozy, just like this. I can smell that English muffin through the computer screen! Delicious!

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- on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 4:29 pm | Reply lifeonthecutoff
  
  One of the joys of “The Wind in the Willows” is just that, Janet; you can read bits and pieces and find much enjoyment in them. Of course, reading the whole book is fun, too. 🙂 I was missing the WordPress snow. Nice to know that it now has smellovision. tee hee Thanks, Janet – and hope you have a buttery, toasty English muffin soon.
  
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