Wendell Berry’s words have shown up on several of my favorite blogs recently, and I have, on loan from our Katy, his novel, “Jayber Crow”. It is one of several books that I am currently halfway through.
Does this ever happen to you; this juggling act of two or more books at one time, born out of an insatiable appetite for the written word?
There I was, at the Indian Prairie Library, looking for “One Souffle at a Time” by Anne Willan, when this Wendell Berry gem, “Roots to the Earth”, appeared in the new books section. I was drawn first to Wesley Bates’ woodcarving on the cover, then pleased to see more wood engravings accompany several of Berry’s poems and a short story, The Branch Way of Doing.
From Wendell Berry’s poem, The Current – ‘
Having once put his hand into the ground,
seeding there what he hopes will outlast him,
a man has made a marriage with his place,
and if he leaves it his flesh will ache to go back.
“Roots to the Earth” is such a lovely book. While it has the outward look and feel of a children’s book, it is a really a more mature book and an homage to the earth and soil.
I read “Roots to the Earth” this afternoon, in the company of a few tasty gingerbread men and a steamy cup of coffee.
Attendees to the Naperville Garden Club’s annual Christmas house walk, tea, and market, A Cup of Cheer, receive a cup and saucer to take home. Each year, for over 50 years, the cups and saucers have a new design. I think this year’s are particularly beautiful.
Beautiful cup! Your tea and book sound so cozy, especially the way you tell it 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Janet. If you click onto the second photo, you can see the slice of lemon painted inside the cup. I’ve had a graving for lemon squares since seeing it.
LikeLike
You always find such wonderful books… or perhaps they find you, Penny! 🙂 “Roots to the Earth” sounds like one that truly touches the heart and stirs the soul. The wood engravings are so poignant. I am often immersed in two (or more) nonfiction books at the same time. It’s wonderful to have variety… and there is so much to learn! Such a lovely tea cup, filled with warm memories! Wishing you happy December days, dear Penny! ♡
LikeLike
I think they find me, Dawn. 🙂 I thought it was a children’s book when it first caught my eye. The engravings are evocative of all things agrarian and hang on Berry’s words so beautifully. Thank you. This annual walk and all it exudes has me in the holiday spirit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so adept at turning the simplest things into the most charming blog posts. I could smell the coffee and the gingerbread!
LikeLike
You are too kind, Karen – and I appreciate it. Thank you. I usually have a cup of tea mid-afternoon, but, yesterday, when I came in the door on a cold and damp day, and smelled freshly brewed coffee, I just “had to have” some and these cookies. I haven’t started my baking yet, but, these are from Trader Joe’s and are quite addictive. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love thinking of you doing this. Just wonderful.
LikeLike
I thought of you as soon as I started reading this little gem, Nan. Although these are only in black and white, they brought to mind Mary Azarian’s artwork.
Then, there is Wendell Berry. 🙂 Thank you.
LikeLike
[…] via Woodcuts and Coffee — Lifeonthecutoff’s Blog […]
LikeLike
I love the cover of the book and it does remind me of Azarian’s work. I used to get a seed catalog that always featured her woodcuts on the cover–I enjoyed looking at her art even more than buying seeds!
LikeLike
I did not know Mary Azarian did illustrations for seed catalogues, Adrienne. I would have enjoyed those. You might like this book for the engravings and for the words as well.
LikeLike
The cups and saucers are exquisite reminders of each year. You do find all the new books that I want to read!
LikeLike
It is a certainly a nice tradition for this club to keep, and I am more than pleased to have a few. I especially like this one, Marilyn. Not something I would necessarily choose for myself, but, so happy to have.
This book is just perfect in every way. I hope all is well with you. Snowing here now.
LikeLike
I almost always have a couple of books going — right now it is a bio of Harriet Tubman and an Agatha Christie . Depends on my mood. I have been trying to find Jayber Crow at the library — but it is either always out or they’ve lost it.
LikeLike
I have borrowed Jayber Crow, from our daughter Katy, twice. It is such a lovely book, but, one I can’t seem to get though in a timely manner. It’s interesting that it is always out at your library.
What a good contrast in books; a biography and a mystery. I was thinking you probably had more than one going at a time as well, Sallie. 🙂
I hope you are continuing to heal.
LikeLike
I’m going to have you meet you someday, Penny. I go to Cup of Cheer every year and just got done baking about six dozen spice cookies. Not the same as gingerbread cookies, but somewhat similar in flavor and ingredients. I’m going to take my cue from you and actually USE those pretty cups. Mine sit in my china cabinet and on bookshelves.
LikeLike
I would love to make that meeting happen come 2017, Susan. A chance encounter with you at the Cup of Cheer would have certainly made my holiday even more cheery and bright. 🙂
Do use the cups, Susan. They make for an especially nice late afternoon treat.
Susan, I have not yet begun my holiday baking – and best get crackin’ on that. The gingerbread in the photo are actually from Trader Joe’s – a dangerous obsession at Christmastime. haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, and I’m constantly reading, and often more than one book at a time. Currently I’m reading a mystery by Martha Grimes, The Anodyne Necklace.
LikeLike
The Anodyne Necklace has shown up quite a few times in my on and off-line conversations. I will put that on my wish list. Enjoy this mystery with a “cuppa” in one of your Cup of Cheers cups.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, this looks like my kind of book Penny. I love Wendell Berry, and the woodcuts fit his themes very well. I love those words from the poem. I’m getting ready to teach my online Sacred Earth course in February, and I prick up my ears at anything that speaks to the theme of earth connection. Off I go to the library again! Thank you, my best book advisor, or as you put it, one who has ‘an insatiable appetite for the written word’.
PS the cup & saucer is most elegant. Do you crook your little finger when drinking from it. I think you must, with a set like that!
LikeLike
You will, I am sure, enjoy this book, Juliet. It was the woodcuts that first caught my attention, then seeing it was Wendell Berry’s words sealed the deal, as the saying goes. These poems and essay are very much earth connected and honored. I hope you can find the or that your library can order it. It is a fairly new release. I also hope I can check it out again as I know our daughter Katy will enjoy it when they visit.
Haha. I’m not sure if I do. I’ll be sure to pay attention this afternoon over my “cuppa”. I probably do. Love that thought, Juliet.
Thank you and have a good weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] I could do better at hygge. In one of my favorite blogs, Life on the Cutoff, Penny writes, “I read Roots to the Earth this afternoon, in the company of a few tasty […]
LikeLike