HOME – what a huge topic. I love it!
As I have wandered more into the world of art, subjects of home hold the greatest appeal. Ordinary things can become beautiful when one takes the time and attention to reproduce them on the page.
When I look closely at the things in my home and think about homely activities, I gain a sense of contentment and wealth. Significance can be found in the smallest of things, the humblest of activities. So today, a few images and a poem (written in 2014) that represent HOME to me.
“Welcome Mat” – Sketch journal entry for Jan. 16/19 (© 2019 V. Nesdoly)
“Potatoes” – Sketch Journal entry for Jan 20/19 (© 2019 V. Nesdoly)
Making Soup
When I boil those leftover bones
to loosen the flesh and eke out
every bit of gelatinous goodness
—the kitchen a damp, steamy womb of a place—
I feel like I’m part of the marrow of motherhood
answering the call of nature to nurture.
When I chop the carrots, onions
celery and cabbage, add the meat
scour the fridge for halves of potato, tomato
tubs of leftover veggies, the cup of last week’s chili
add lentils and quinoa
season with bay leaf, basil, cumin and salt
I feel like the Proverbs woman
who brings her food from afar.
This is no Dickens gruel
grey, thin and greasy
or the meatless tin-bowl ration
of a concentration camp
but the savoury red pottage with which Jacob
lured Esau to trade his birthright
and I, the temptress, add soup
to my stock of quilts and afghans
knitted slippers and crusty breads
flannel sheets and apple pie
—the seductions of home.
© 2019 by Violet Nesdoly (All Rights Reserved)
“Dinner” – Sketch journal entry for Jan. 30/19 (© 2019 by V. Nesdoly)
‘Dessert” – Sketch journal entry for Jan. 15/19 (© 2019 by V. Nesdoly)
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5
The sketches, above, are from my sketch journal. I try to do some art in it every day in an attempt to improve my drawing skills. This journal has its own Instagram account: @vi_nez.daydraws. Visitors welcome!
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This post is part of Spiritual Journey Thursday, hosted today by Donna at her blog Mainely Write.
Violet Nesdoly / poems 
Karen Eastlund
February 7, 2019 at 2:31 pm
Violet: Thank you for this wonderful enriching post. I admire your art and your quotes. Lovely!
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Violet Nesdoly
February 7, 2019 at 4:42 pm
Thank you, Karen. It was fun to put together.
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margaretsmn
February 7, 2019 at 3:14 pm
Beautiful post. Your art is definitely feeding your soul.
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Violet Nesdoly
February 7, 2019 at 4:40 pm
Thank you so much, Margaret! … and you could say, food is feeding the art! I love tackling the commonplace things.
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Carol Varsalona (@cvarsalona)
February 7, 2019 at 3:36 pm
Violet, your post is rich in scripture that balances your life. I especially like the poem you wrote that uplifts simple tasks to a higher calling: “I feel like I’m part of the marrow of motherhood
answering the call of nature to nurture.” I always enjoy seeing your artwork, Thank you for sharing.
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Violet Nesdoly
February 7, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Thank you Carol! Often simple tasks are the higher calling, aren’t they?
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Liz Steinglass
February 8, 2019 at 9:58 am
Everything about this post is beautiful.
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Violet Nesdoly
February 8, 2019 at 10:32 am
Why, thank you, Liz! And thanks for dropping by. 🙂
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jama
February 8, 2019 at 2:49 pm
Love this post! Your soup poem is my kind of poem — and your journal entries are amazing.
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Violet Nesdoly
February 9, 2019 at 6:17 am
Thank you Jama!
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haitiruth
February 9, 2019 at 11:31 am
Such a lovely post! I love how you seduce through your housekeeping arts! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
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Violet Nesdoly
February 9, 2019 at 3:06 pm
Thanks so much, Ruth! Which reminds me, the freezer is running low. Time to get some more temptations baked up!!
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dorireads
February 10, 2019 at 8:37 am
Vi, your drawings have such a lovely, homey character. It’s been a while since I’ve been here (or anywhere else!) and I can see how your work is changing and becoming more nuanced. I enjoyed savoring each moment. My old blog is still there, but I’ve migrated my SJT posts to my yoga blog. I think I’ll be more successful at writing in it this way. Shackleton is still there, too. Hopefully I’m going to find some balance in my life this year and get back to work on it. Thanks for asking. And! Congrats on making progress on your novel!
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Violet Nesdoly
February 10, 2019 at 4:26 pm
Thanks, Dori! All the best in your busy life. I don’t know how you do it all.
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