In praise of fresh air

 In praise of fresh air

Only when you don't have it do you appreciate it.  This truism applies to many things including that ultimate of life's necessities ; air to breathe.
 No I am not suggesting that I have suddenly or for a few days been deprived of oxygen, rather that I have been in enforced "in-doorism" (couldn't find an exact word, so if in doubt …make one up!).  Even with the odd window open, several days spent without access to fresh air makes me crave that cold draft with which no wine could ever compare.
The impact of central heating seems to make the lungs feel grainy and the throat dried, as if in need of water.
When me and my couple of sticks pit pat pit patted along the concrete path into the on coming west wind heavy with sleet, I drank deep of the rich cold sweetness of the air.  I had no need to think of gratitude or pleasure.  I was gratitude and all was pleasure.  I was tasting fresh air.

just thinking

 just thinking...

packing up  and getting ready
back to the usual or change
on the horizon

all that lives, like seasons,
suffer alteration
every thing around rumbles
on, relentless

suffer, endure it
embrace it or exult
choose which we will
no choice - for chaos
is perpetual
and time
moves
on.

Weather

Changeable weather:-

a high sky, though the sun's still low in the south
a shine of sun rays through grey-white cloud
the snow's disappeared from the gullies of hills
the rain clouds will gather again in the west

Past and present

Sunday 19th Feb 

Old calendars and diaries are not just useful as reminders of birthdays, facts or events:  they also trigger memories and forgotten details, even if the words are sparse and prosaic.   Reminiscences need not be nostalgic indulgence or, worse, a misplaced hankering for the past;  they can  remind of pleasure and joys when perhaps the present is in need of such  positive emotions.

 

 

 

 

Finally it snows

Feb 18th

Snow, at last.  In fact stinging hail at the point we decided to go for a walk.  Higher on the hills there is a covering of snow, cleansing and refining the damp depressed grasses of winter and on the tops reflecting light back to the sun when it breaks spasmodically from the snow shower clouds.  These clouds roll with speed and unexpected ferocity to drench the unwary who do not look behind them for today's prevailing weather.

A dog, released from  the indoor captivity of the last few wet and miserable days, bounds joyously into the heather and grass to roll in the snow and hail that is lying between the tussocks.  The dog,  free of its confines, rushes to lap ice-cold water from streams, bogs and ditches full of the rains of the last few weeks.  A snow shower advances but the dog happily trots on, shaking flakes from its coat.  Only when the wind whips hail stones into its face does the dog consider it time to seek a place of shelter.

Yesterday (17th)  was a day to hunker down by the fire, to look at photos of summer bright plants from years ago.

Showers and rainbows and a few more flowers

Feb 16th  

A day of light showers, dropped from visibly finite dark clouds.
Sunshine surrounded and re-appeared from behind those clouds.
Rainbows flourished and faded, as the sun struck  drops of water.
Rainbows more oily, in puddles and streams from peat in the water.
And no wind blew.
Not for a moment or two.


My poor misguided dwarf daffodils are all in bud and one flower has bloomed.  I fear the north wind will bite and tear at the tender petals or frost freeze and break the fragile yellow.  Should it snow, they may be crushed but might survive that better than their full sized relations, which are also beginning to flutter glimpses of yellow from the green flower buds.


I love the way that that when flowers are allowed to revert to their wilder origins, like daffodils and primroses, they seem to have scents that their over-cultivated cousins have lost, even crocuses have a delicate aroma, though they do loose depth of colour and strength of texture in their petals and leaves.

water, weather and flowers

FEb 14th

 in praise of the soothing and pain-relieving effect of a warm water shower :)


FEb 15th
 The weather forecast has bad news for the fresh green daffodil shoots,  for the rock dove posturing for his lady and for the blackbird carrying a twig to a nest box… the winter may yet be to come: it could snow over the weekend.

The north wind doth blow
And the forecast says snow
But rain is more likely we know.

 
Admiring my valentine's gift: 
delicate white tipped with the palest pink, the tulips cast their lantern shapes against the wall in the light of the evening; 
carnations sprays in bud are light yellow tipped with an orange frill. 
Flowers hold in themselves such beauty that they lift the spirit through their appearance alone. 
The texture of petals, the freshness of leaves and stems brighten our world. 
When flowers have a scent, then they pervade our environment with richness.