Siga Siga
little by little, a quiet heart
The walls in the cabin are not straight. This, I learned when the new kitchen cabinets were brought in and coaxed into place.
The floors, too, are not level. I am grateful to have knowledgeable and experienced people make the tweaks needed (“smoke and mirrors,” I say) to have everything feel and look beautiful.
Two months in without a working kitchen—or dining room, for that matter—I am thankful at least for a working range, even if it looks like another few weeks without a sink.
But the floors in both rooms are finished and I can begin the arduous process of (re)cleaning my dining room wall and ceiling completely of construction dust, one cedar panel at a time.
I can’t wait to set a table with real dishes and silverware again.
I had to rip out my knitting, again.
I am not a natural knitter. It is difficult for me to understand the visual of loops within loops and, sometimes, no loops at all within the row of loops. After knitting three non-pattern Zimmermann style sweaters, I attempted to find an easy pattern I could follow to make something new. All I really have to learn is how to do a “wrap and turn”, and I knew YouTube and fellow knitters would help me.
Still.
Rip, rip, rip….back to the ribbing I go, to try, try again.
Somehow I ended up teaching a Greek class. Not Biblical Greek, but current conversational Greek. According to my mother, I spoke it pretty well when I was six or seven.
There are a lot of decades between now and six or seven.
A young lady in my church family expressed an interest, and I offered to help her. Somehow, bits and pieces of words and phrases have bubbled up from the corner of my mind (cue Barbara Streinsand’s 1973 hit) and I find myself delighting in remembering and practicing and challenging my linguistic skills.
I bought books, including fictional ones, and found Greek YouTube channels. I called my mother, a native born Greek who immigrated to America and became a citizen. After she reminded me I showed no interest in learning Greek as a child (“We’re in America now!”), we got down to the business of checking my pronunciation and reviewing words.
It is a slow progress. The young lady I am teaching speaks Spanish, so I can also practice my Spanish with her mother. In my dreams I am going from speaking one language to three. Maybe that can happen?
I never intended to learn (or relearn) a couple of foreign languages. When I began reading one of the Greek books, I laughed out loud when I read, “Siga siga”.
It means, in essence, slow it down, take your time, little by little…
Siga siga is the lifestyle I most long to live out.
I see, now, how the Lord is and has been answering my prayers for a slower pace of life. For example, I have been unable to jump to the “next house project”, as nineteen months later, we are still not finished with the one we are on. I tend to not only make to-do lists, but endeavor to check them off as fast as possible.
This year, I am not even sure how much of the usual Christmas decor and traditions we’ll take part of. It’s hard to want to put a large tree in the living room amongst piles of dishware and pantry items. Methinks a very small living tree in the dining room—now that we have that room back—will have to do.
But there are other areas where the brakes have been gently applied, and for which I am appreciative. I came up with a list of practicalities which help me to stretch out time and to crush the rush. I’d love to hear how you stretch time, too.
scratch cooking, as scratch as possible…waiting for bread to rise, chopping up the pile of vegetables by hand, putting the soup on to simmer and then waiting…throw in a nice walk or a cuppa in between and I’ve found bliss.
It’s a delight to pick produce just steps away from the cooking pot. getting off social media has helped me have many, many spans of calm in my day, a real respite from the barrage of materialism, consumerism, FOMO, follow-yer-heart self help/influencers, Christianese (without the Word—or the gospel for that matter), and most of all, fear-peddling and anxiety-inducing “news” (is anyone else just over the constant outrage? After five years of “keeping up”, I’ve had more than enough of how it wrecks the well being of individuals, families, friends, and society in general. How about you?)
reading paperback books, even in public while waiting for whatever. I’m also currently enjoying Professor Horner’s Bible reading plan (here is one take), Hearth and Field, and revisiting old girlhood favorites. I found a very nice papasan chair (chair of my youth!) and now I’m just plain enjoying SITTING DOWN to “waste time” reading.
lighting candles. I don’t know why it calms and slows me down; it just does. So does keeping fires going in the wood stoves. I love this dark time of year for candle and other twinkly lights.
painting my nails, because I have to sit!
staying home as much as possible
reading out loud to my kids. This is challenging because my nonverbal children often make noises that compete with my voice, but I plow ahead. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of listening to a woman read to me. It was initially difficult to LISTEN; my brain wanted to hurry it all up so I could “get to” the next thing. It was yet another instance of my guiding my own heart for its own good, and I was very blessed by it.
playing vinyl records. I find pleasure in flipping them over and avoiding the advertisements and algorithms of streaming services. Plus I own them forever, until broken or lost.
Actually, vinyl really does sound wonderful. writing snail mail. I haven’t been here on Substack much because recently when I do find myself writing, I’ve been writing letters, mostly with a hot mug nearby and a candle lit. Benevolent Healer has been on the back burner, too. No one likes losing subscribers, but I’m not here to “grow a platform”; I’m here to think Biblically through how to remain sober minded in the times we are in, to pursue living a quiet life, to share what I know, and to practice the craft of writing well. Perhaps the Lord will allow me more time to write here as the children fly the nest (four more to go, and all too soon).
handwork. I already mentioned knitting but I’m also working on some stitching. I may or may not be in the market to pick up another spinning wheel, as I do miss that meditative movement and the pleasure of making yarn. I do still use my spindle, but I’d like to have more options.
art journaling—one of the few places I show up with no plan other than to play and get a little messy
time feeding and brushing my goats. I love spending time with them. They have no clock. If you have a pet, I’m sure you can relate with the pleasure of snuggling with your cat or with taking your dog for a brisk walk.
These gals are so funny! in-person gatherings. From weekly church service and small group, to potlucks and coffee dates and Housemoot luncheons, the opportunity to laugh and cry and hug with warmth is a wonderful way to slow the rush of life and make time for the people we say are important. I only wish my dearest friends lived next door!
preparing for Advent. This year, I am intentionally focusing on letting go of what I don’t need to get through the dark, cold months ahead. I am embracing the concept of “enough” and digging into what that means for me: how will I know when I’ve reached “enough”, whether it is about the lists that get checked or how big a garden I really want to manage or or or. There is much fodder for journaling, and that I think is where I will be hibernating most this winter. I was inspired to think on this after watching Jane of Snapdragon Life discuss it in her consistently gentle manner.
Part of the island came into the kitchen yesterday. I was hoping the base would be complete, but more time is required. I am still waiting on upper cabinets, doors, shelves, and drawers everywhere else. Once those parts arrive, I will paint them, one by one. But for now I have a working range AND a working sink so I am very happy.
I am very much looking forward to next week, baking and cooking in a semi-finished kitchen to prepare for Thanksgiving. I plan to serve everything on real plates, light candles, put a fire in the hearth, and watch Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving Special later with dessert. My plan is to cook all that week so that the job will be spread out, and get done little by little, siga siga.
Thank you for reading this corner of the internet. May the Lord bless your season with thankfulness and joy and especially a quiet heart, which is ever at odds with the world. May you consider your pace, discover what is enough for you, and truly enjoy His presence in it all.
The Lord bless you.
Thank you for reading Hearth & Field!
This was lovely to read! Thanks for the encouragement!