Jan 30 Stone (A fistful of pebbles)

 

 In the sea loch, look at the mud, smooth, dark and shining from the outgoing tide.  It is an attraction to the feeding golden eye, the curlew and a heron.  Seagulls and terns check it out for prey.  And, fortunate one day, I watched an otter continue through the river as it flowed its way from shore, through banks of mud far out to the furthest edge of the turning tide itself.  With humped back, he galumphed the squelchy mire and disturbed the birds, who raucous, punctuated his every move with their scolding.



Seeing what is not there and hearing what no longer has sound,  s(he) played patience.  There inside the patterns of the numbers, suites and the cards, (s)he could find structure and control close enough to  grasp; could remember as (s)he wished and not be troubled for a response.  The sound of the cards gave all the appearance of activity that satisfied all watchers.



On a rock in the midst of a blue frozen river an otter surprised a sea eagle. The eagle might have made it a meal but the otter ducked back beneath the ice and swam for his life to the next breathing hole.


Forests, deserts, gardens and plains can all be seen in miniature colourful amongst  the lichen and mosses that populate a rock.



(Jan 30 stone)
 Clouds in lines blow bubbles in the east of this cold afternoon.  In the south west the sun  is pulling the cloud-curtain across the daylight. A bright night will soon be here and we shall have the glint of stars to pattern a black blanket sky.  On a glittering carpet we shall step with care, as frost sparkles and crunches beneath our feet.  There may be snow tomorrow.