The way we were

I am encouraged and warmed by the response to my last post - it seems there are quite a few of us who long for a simpler life and fervently hope that there are collectively enough of us around the world to make that difference because, let's be honest, there are many many more folk who are longing desperately for the 'old normal' to return.  It has taken this terrible pandemic to show how ugly and unsustainable the old life had become and how urgently we need to make serious serious changes to our lives.

The problem is, as I see it, is how we are now - during these present restrictions - is unsustainable too - we, due to the way the economy is set up, means we have to work. Which means most of the working population has to drive to their place of employment.

So immediately after lockdown is lifted, there will be mass movement again. Instantly reverting back to the original levels of pollution, noise, congestion, traffic, and just by listing these, my heart aches at the mere thought of it all returning.

I firmly believe that some folk will take stock of their lives and decide that their work to home ratio was imbalanced and they will take that step to change. They will decide that they prefer the sound of no traffic so will sell up and try and move out into the countryside, to smaller villages or purchase an isolated farm. Some will succeed and some may find the new solitude that had been so attractive before now feels isolating.

May be more folk will walk for leisure rather than resort to the ease of a car, cook for themselves rather than the take aways and garden more, grow things, feel the earth between their fingers, - however, all this may just be conjecture and short lived resolution.

I really really hope that there is enough of us take care of the earth, to love and nurture, change and quietly repair.

Bring on that steely determined gentle revolution - I am ready.

The new normal

Today,

the sun is shining a warm and comforting heat,

today,

the greenhouse is full of promising small green shoots, quietly growing and bringing hope,

today,

Eldest and GF are repotting all their plants, quietly chatting and laughing, sowing seeds and making plans,

today,

Youngest is working on his car, quietly giving it the attention it needs,

today,

Himself is tinkering with our van, chatting with a neighbour at the required safe distance, drinking tea,

today,

the cats have dozed in the greenhouse and the dog sat on the bench, happy to be with us,

today,

friends have rung, emails have come, texts and messages have pinged in - all sharing love and concern for each other,

today,

today, despite the unsettling greater outside world, despite the restrictions, the horror, the news and the awful virus,  we have discussed that 'what was' is not what we want to return to. We know there are those that are not as blessed as we are, and we feel for them and hope that things will improve soon.

This lock down has shown the reality of the excess, the commercialism and concentration that sadly we seem to have become benumbed by, desensitised and stupefied.

We want a simpler, quieter and more holistic life - we have quickly become used to the quieter roads, the wonderful bird song, the clear blue skies uninterrupted by jet streams. 

Is that too much to ask?

Friday Gratitude

Now, more than ever, we need to notice those small things that make our days that little bit better.

Now, that our world's have shrunk to the size of our homes and if we are lucky our gardens too, it is the small sparks of joy in our lives that help us through.

So, despite our 'new normal', those small gems that fill our hearts with love, make us smile or make us feel a little happier should be acknowledged and celebrated.

On Friday 17th April there will be 'Gratitude on Friday' post and link up - please do join in,  notice those small things that help you get through the day, share them and inspire us and spread the love.

And as a pre 'Gratitude on Friday', I shall share with you someone who fills my day with love, laughter and company - Moss

#staystrongfriday  #corvid19  #staystrongfriday

The A..B..C.. of my garden

A is for my Angelica sprouting up with bright green shoots,

B is for bumblebees - the big fat juicy bumbly type that bomb around the garden,

 the butterflies beginning to awake

and the birds who are busy building nests,

C is for the cats that keep me company,

and the crocus that make me smile.

 D for the Dicentra quietly nodding in the garden 

and the dandelions popping up,

 E is for the lime green euphorbia brightening up the darker corners.

F is for the frogs filling the pond with spawn and the air with welcome croaking

and the forget-me-nots that fill the flower beds.

G is for the little Grape Hyacinths that proudly stand

H is for the Helebores with their nodding heads,

I is for me,  working in the greenhouse with my apprentice,

J is for the Jacob's Ladder beginning to grow,

and K is for the kettle, which makes the brew we drink in the garden.

L is for the ladybird basking in the sun,

M is for Moss, who else could it be?

N is for the nettles I weed out regularly,

O is for the Ophiopogon planescapus Nigrasans 

(my favouritist ever plant name in the world!!!)

P is for the primula that shine when the sun seems dull.

Q is for the soil waiting quietly for the sun to warm

R is for the rhubarb I moved and for the stalks I harvested,

and the pudding we ate,

S is for the stack of snails and Snake's Head Fritillary 

T is for trays of seeds,  promising seedlings

who triumphantly grow

U is for the umbellifers the hoverflies love

V is the vegetable seedlings growing with vigour

w for waterbutts and my weed bucket, both usually full

X is the shape my secateurs make when they lie on the floor

y is for the yew at the bottom of the garden,

Z is for that lovely feeling of Zen

#staysafe #stayhome #gardening #gardens #abc

Disclaimer - not all photos were taken this spring but 90% were!

Two photos (O and Y - not mine, as I forgot to take my own photos!)