35 Comments
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Elizabeth Gelfeld's avatar

Congratulations, Frances! Your weekly thoughts are some of the best that I find on Substack, a platform that is growing problematic for me, so I'm grateful to be able to connect with your wisdom, clarity, and confidence. My region is about to get snowed in this weekend. I hope you can have your cake (and eat it) soon! And I echo Maria: may you have many more anniversaries.

Frances Ray's avatar

Hello and thank you, old friend. Argh, snow coming your way this weekend, too. Now the real winter arrives. Spring seems such a long time away tho thankfully the light is increasing at about the rate that we're freezing, a zero sum game?

I agree with you about substack. If you find a platform less prblematic, please let me know.

Make soup, stay warm and cuddle with your Tjikko.

xx

Elizabeth Gelfeld's avatar

Yes, the returning light is welcome, and yes, we're freezing here, too! I'm making vegetarian chili this weekend, and yesterday I baked brownies. I have a really good recipe to make them from scratch. You stay warm, too!

Linda S's avatar

Congratulations on two years and that you plan on continuing 👏! Thank you for all you do for all of us readers. I will pretend I am sharing some cake and tea with you and our other friends here in Substack. Enjoy the snow!

Frances Ray's avatar

Thank you, dear Linda. What a lovely image you share of us all sharing cake and tea...and so very much like you.

xx

Maria's avatar

Congratulations Frances on your two

year anniversary!

Tea and cake all together is a lovely image

Real tea leaves though brewed in a China teapot with China cups and coconut cake ( or Victoria sponge )on China plates

How about freshly baked scones also with jam and clotted cream ?

Thank you Frances for your weekly thoughts , stories and musings , warmth and humour

May you have many more anniversaries

Frances Ray's avatar

Ah, thank you, Maria. Wouldn't that be fun to have tea and treats together! I only drink loose leaf real tea in my 'good' cups and always serve cakes on good china. It's been years since I've had scones with jam and clotted cream...mmm. I made myself go out this morning to clean the snow off the car and get a coconut cake. It was not from a bakery but a grocer. It's frozen and slices can be cut and back it goes into the freezer. My neighbor who subscribes is gifting me some sunflower seeds for the birds so all will be happy and well fed. I wish you could be here.

xx

Maria's avatar

I wish I could be there also eating coconut cake with you and watching your bird friends enjoying their special treats this winters day

Yes wouldn’t that be fun

Linda S's avatar

I love coconut cake!

Frances Ray's avatar

Your slice is waiting...

xx

Back Stories: Karen Jacobs's avatar

You deserve cake, for sure! Hope you treat yourself soon. I recall being prodded by a friend earlier today to go into town and was feeling down in the dumps for no good reason. But getting out was just what I needed! It’s so easy for those who are fine with solitude and a good book to neglect the need to get out and about occasionally. I’m a southern girl and have had my dose of snow and wind during our many military moves. But now it’s hard to get me out when temps are below 60! Spoiled, aren’t I? Loved the snow photo and poem!

Frances Ray's avatar

We don’t know one-another well but you will discover that as much as I appreciated being snow-bound yesterday, as the weeks slog on, I’ll begin to whine, reaching an annoying timbre by the end of March. I have to remind myself to put a lid on it. Meanwhile, more unrelenting snow today into tomorrow so again, no cake for me.

xx

Back Stories: Karen Jacobs's avatar

As we speak, I’m culling through my digital journal copies trying to clean out at least some of the ‘whining’ parts! Behind every optimist, there’s a lot of effort! Two years! I don’t know if I’ll make it! So easily distracted, but I do appreciate your encouragement. It’s meant more than you know!

Kathleen Conway's avatar

Congratulations and I am heartened that you'll continue, Frances. I would bake you a cake—just bought several new pans, part of a small kitchen refresh. Many of your posts have stayed with me, and I am happy to have introduced you to new readers.

Frances Ray's avatar

Ah, thank you, dear Dutchesse (you'll always be that person to me...elegant, urbane, sophisticated and always telling it as you see it). Did you mention baking a cake? I'll be forever grateful to a multi-layered coconut cake, please.

I'm so glad you're here.

xx

Barbara Graver's avatar

Congrats on you 2 year anniversary Frances. I love your publication!

Frances Ray's avatar

Thank you, Barbara. Your kind sentiments mean so much.

xx

cate kerr's avatar

Congratulations, Frances! I am so happy to have found you!

Frances Ray's avatar

And I, You.

xx

Emily Lovegrove's avatar

As I’m not a paid subscriber I can no longer add my appreciation for your very lovely contributions on Substack, but please know they are the thing I turn to first and always very much treasure. Thank you Frances. ❤️💐

Frances Ray's avatar

What? Let me look into the app. They are becoming difficult, to say the least. I want to be able to 'speak' with people who haven't subscribed which are all but the one paying one.

Emily Lovegrove's avatar

Oh phew!! I felt a genuine sense of loss!!

Frances Ray's avatar

That I won't have!

If I could find a better platform than this one,I would job ship...er, platform . But so far this is really the best and I'll just rage against the machine.

xx

Sandy Hancock's avatar

Congratulations

Judith Oakland's avatar

Dear Frances, I too feel so encouraged by your writing here, and like a few others of your readers and growing increasingly displeased with Substack… the commercialization the marketing, there doesn’t seem to be as much genuine expressive writing for the sake of communicating! I love your personal authenticity and vulnerability and wisdom! I feel I can learn more from people who are my age or older now, and I’m a bit critical of women in their 50s who talk about aging!!

I love Emma Thompson so I watched down cemetery Road, but the character of her sidekick drove me absolutely bonkers what a silly female character she played! I don’t know how she could stand it!! and the violence was too brutal for me as well – – I will try the night Manager. I’m looking forward to it… I don’t know if you get Apple TV, but there is a lovely series, season 2 of drops of God just landing one by one… season one is excellent.. I’m enjoying the slower pace of mid 70s mixed with still doing clinical work in my Small beautiful silent mountain community.!! deep dreams to you too, dear fellow traveler🙏🏼☺️

Frances Ray's avatar

I just came in from venturing out on the roads to pick up some things for neighbors and much to my delight, the roads were plowed AND I had your comments on the post before this.

I do stream Apple TV and have started watching on Drops of God which I am enjoying. I haven't had a TV in years but don't miss a thing I'm interested in b/c of being able to stream to my laptop.

Your community sounds wonderful. You made an excellent choice, methinks.

xx

Allan Zola Kronzek's avatar

Hi Frances, Congratulations on two years. What discipline. I just started watching The Night Manager season one, and will get to II on your recommendation. Stay well.

Frances Ray's avatar

Ah, Allan How are you? What a pleasure to hear from you.

Thank you so much enjoyed you congrat's.

Am quite certain you'll enjoy Night manager. And if you haven't seen Tehran which I stream on Apple, that's another seat-of -the pants thriller.

Be well and wishing you big Dreams.

cate kerr's avatar

My dear friend, congratulations on your second anniversary. Shall we get together for tea and little cakes, perhaps scones? We could look out on the garden and watch winter birds visiting feeders and dancing from branch to snowy branch.

Frances Ray's avatar

Cate, I could think of nothing better. And pleased bring Beau.

Thank you for your congrat's.

If you have a chance, please email me.

xx

Sarah Barker's avatar

Oh Frances I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy Down Cemetery Road. I did love the dialogue and how well the female characters were so interesting and strong. Xxx congratulations on two years it’s been so lovely to meet you here xxx

Frances Ray's avatar

Oh, Sarah, never mind me. I might have known had a recalled I’ve tried but never made it through “Slow Horses”.

Your presence, Dear Sarah, has been an enduring gift.

xx

Luna's avatar

Happy Substack Anniversary!