Thank you Jeffrey, it is so rare that I manage to link my sightings to anything mythological or literary as you do—I am always in awe!—but these two ravens couldn't be ignored... I am delighted you enjoyed them.
Raven sized crows sounds quite alarming, do they have much legend attached to them in Japan?
I just woke from the strangest dream. I was at an old-fashioned barn dance, where tiny lights looking like overworked fireflies hung from sturdy beams. I was wearing a “floral floaty dress” a bit nightmarish, because I am not a floral dress kind of girl. Yet there I was, somewhat cold without my jeans, though the hearth in the center of the makeshift dance floor kept the chill of the barn comfortable enough. But that is not the strange part. As I stood by myself something—no—not a someone, asked me to dance. I felt its warm damp breath on my face and a faint scent of green wafted up my nose. A gentle breeze that swept me off my feet making my dress fill out like a summer umbrella—and suddenly I was face-to-season with Spring. There I was in full blush, dancing one dance with Spring. Then I woke up. Dew still clinging to my face, I ran to the front door, opened it and there was Winter, still in full glory: 3’ on the ground, snowflakes falling and temps hovering at 8°F. Phew! Though I am not quite ready (not by a long shot) thank you for a taste of Spring. One dance with your Hill—spinning across the dance floor in the shape of your words. (Interview with a hill, indeed!) My new favorite word, cuz I did not know there was a name for what I do on a daily basis, though I am switching it to a verb: solivaganting.
You do make me smile Lor! I think in this case, given your deep abiding love of winter and all hibernal things hidden in deep snowbound drifts, your dream might be better terms 'a nightmare'! I am so glad you woke before it became too gory—although yes, the floral floaty dress is gory enough—and snowflakes greeted you at your widely flung open door! Ouph... what a relief!
Given that we now have a new verb, I will use it often; this week I have not solivaganted at all, Rosie has been my companion in all outdoor activities for the last beautifully springlike, so warm week—believe me I am grateful for the respite, clearing land has been the main event, the ground was a quagmire of soggy decay, in places impossible to tread even! We are victorious though... what a team!
Enjoy your wintry solivaganting dear one, a thousand thanks for being here, for smiles! xx
You and Rosie, dancing through your yard. Now that is a perfect out door barn dance I would love to attend. Give me a minute while I grab my work gloves and loppers. May I have this dance!
Ah Susie, such beautiful poetry as always. I am sorry for my tardy reading and tardier reply - I half read to the milky way falling and the distractions pulled me away until now, and I have finally savoured these words and moments and images that you gift to us so generously. Much love my friend x
Dearest Emily, truly, I never notice 'tardy' being so very professional at it myself, I am just delighted to see you here whenever you have a moment to arrive! I know well the distractions life deals us—often hourly, much as I wish they weren't!
This last week my daughter has been home with us, they have been beautiful spring days marred only by my wretched limping—I have finally conceded to seeing a doctor though I hate to do so... one thing always seems to lead to ten others—but now she is returned to the bright albeit artificial lights of Toulouse. A short few hours to myself if I ignore the ironing pile of course... 🙈 there is always something isn't there?
Much love to beautiful soul, I hope Sunday afternoon is gentle xox
Ah, the laundry-a bottomless pit I know so well. We had two days of spring and now we’re back to rain rain rain. Although right now there is fog fog fog, which is a momentary improvement. Sending wishes for continued spring days xx
It’s looking like a similar scenario here also Em; grey, damp and this weekend maybe even winters last stand, there are snowflakes on my weather chart! I spoke too soon it seems which leaves little excuse for not finishing the ironing! Enjoy your week, smile at the sky regardless! xx
If I could hold this entire letter in my teeth like a cherry tree branch, I surely would feel its buds stirring toward blossom. So beautiful Susie! May you find endless paths where time “forgot to be linear.” 🌸
I am thinking of you and this dear Kimberly; Somewhere, in the depths of an old leather suitcase hidden amongst many other memories I cannot bear to part with, is a photograph of my very young mother with a sprig of cherry blossom clutched between her teeth...
Her heart was as big as yours and her empathetic soul as beautiful... I love that you remind(ed) me of her and the photograph.
Ohhh, I especially love your photo capturing the sun painting the edges of the young branches. ♥️ I read of your hill in wonder. I am always astonished and I admit outright envious of people living in places where spring emerges in February, or even January! Why was I born in an icebox. 🥶 We might be six or even eight weeks behind you—but how utterly glorious when it bursts forth! Wishing you the loveliest holiday imaginable, Susie! xo
Dearest Carmine, I love that you picked out that photo! When I took it I tried to explain to my son what it was I was seeing; the magic of single last sunbeam on the slimmest of trees was not obvious to him until he saw it on a screen... he is learning as am I.
Alas, so often here spring arrives in puff of fluffy white clouds and pink blossom only to be chased away again by a wicked winter squall or three and we lose all the setting early fruits, especially apricots and cherries and all the early plums so perfect for tarts... Mother Nature knows what she's doing I am sure although there are moments when I admit I fail to understand her... again, I am learning!
My holidays are done ☹️ tomorrow my ears will be ringing with the sound of 25 seven and eight year olds and by the time the day is over it will feel as if there was no holiday at all... though I am always deeply grateful that there are. 😅
I hope your weekend has been kind, a huge heart thank you for reading xoxo
What a magical place you live in, Susie. Spring is opening up in my neck of the woods, and the weeds are having a field day (pun). There were two tiny yellow butterflies in the yard this week, and our cherry tree has started blossoming. Should be full this week. How I dread summer, but maybe we’ll have more than a couple of weeks of spring to enjoy before then. Take care, dear Susie. xx
The weeds are having a field day here too, I love them! As much as I love your pun dear Louise... Yesterday evening even in a light shower of rain, there were beed busying themselves in the abundant blossom of a Mirabelle plum. They are early to rise from winters depths and I worry for them greatly—both bee and fruit—we have a cold spell returning, hopefully not too cold but certainly a last reminder that winter is not so far behind us!
I have read that summer will be another stifling affair here, above normal temps and drought will be widespread—when isn't it?—which makes me question whether to even begin a vegetable garden, then I notice the price rises due the orange mans illegal war, the shortages already multiplying on the shelves and I know, regardless of a predictably poor harvest, I have no choice. Food is food and it is necessary, so I begin, and hope that summer is not as the meteorological office predicts. It is all I can do.
Sending love on a grey Sunday dear Louise, to you and mouse xxx
Having a garden is a must now. I’m afraid ours will end too soon. Everything will wither by the end of July but with two months left to produce after that? Last year, the heat was awful. This year, there was too little winter rain, so droughts in our area are possible. Here, we have enough on the shelves, but it costs so much as almost everything is imported from somewhere else.
And still we rise.
Holding kind thoughts for you, Susie, for all of our furry friends, and for the world. xx
Thank you Louise, the world needs kindness right now, the news is not making happy reading today, or any for that matter. Love back to you and yours also! xx
Thank you Mary Beth, isn't there so much hope held in those first lime green leaves to burst open! Here, the mother of all other oaks has her first spray on a low branch on display just this morning, my joy is immeasurable! 🍃
Our flowering red currants surprised me by already being in full bloom! I had been away for a week and it is their time... made me very happy as I emptied my kitchen compost. :)
Mary I have a great love for the flowering current, those fabulous, almost fuchsia pink, blossoms hanging so prettily from every available bare stick but try as I might I cannot keep even a small bush alive here in my little corner of SW France. One again this year my hopes have decayed into the earth with winter rain and snow… I love that yours brings you so much joy! 🌺
A beautiful read Susie! I can see you walking down towards the field and stopping to take lovely pictures to share. Makes me yearn for spring to show up here, so I can be a 'solivagant' also.
Today the temperature in my part of Canada had gone up to +8 with sunshine! It was glorious! The snow and ice were melting, alas, it seems that a naughty winter fairy was playing games with us, as the temperature will go down to -13c and tomorrow night it will plummet to -23c! In the meantime, je vais me régaler de vos histoires printanières, chère dame! Enjoy your well deserved two weeks holiday, Susie!
Oh Jeannine, Quel horreur! Je pense que je périrais complètement dans une temperature aussi basse que -23c 🥶
I do hope it is a minor tantrum on the part of Mother Nature and that she will be filled with the joys of spring again very soon... if not already!
My holidays are all but over now, I still can't quite believe how kindly we have been treated in terms of both sunshine hours and temperature for the duration, especially as I see sleet and snow returning for the weekend to come... there seems to be something very fickle and unpredictable afoot and the switch , as always, is not within our reach. My father would have said, 'what can't be cured must be endured' but I admit to being somewhat fatigued by having to!
While I can, I send you a blossom filled sunny hug dear lady... thank you, as always for being here. xox
I love Robert Macfarlane's quote. The Light is my Spirit and I gladly follow her everywhere I see her glowing precious even if it's just a sliver. Your photos are always beautifully special, each one is cherished in my soul. Hugs to you and Spring Sweet Susie. PS: I cherish my "solivagant" moments and feel especially blessed that I am able to walk out my door each day wrapped in its embrace.
Hello sweetie, I don't remember if you've read Underland? I know you would devour it if you were to... MacFarlane's prose is captivating (enviably so) and his knowledge incomparable... I loved every word of this unburying of the buried!
I have not been solivagant for this last week, Rosie has been with me and mostly Seth too... this evening will be quite different of course. I cherish my alone time also — you know well as do I.
Love and light beautiful, I hope your Sunday is gentle and kind — It has turned cold here, a reminder that winter is not so far behind us yet! Big love xoxox
We are so happy that your break from term time has coincided with the sparkling invitation of Spring. We too have had the warmth on our skin, t-shirts instead of layers … deer grazing in the field a stone’s throw from our potager (which they will raid in due course). The smell of mown grass and the backbreaking work of setting up compost and raised beds. But worth it for the hopefulness of a new season. And your words, as ever, transport … thank you.
Spring most certainly is sparkling — what luck to receive such a gift bestowed by a kindly weather god… I was beginning to wonder if they’d all forgotten us!
I have been watching the two roe deer I mentioned every day… it may be just wishful thinking, but I sure they are becoming quite used to my presence — a rare thing as I am sure you know — what is strange though, is that they are always together when usually the stag will have many females, it is not as if there aren’t plenty more to choose from!
I have yet to brave the mowing, I know once I begin it will be a constant until September at least… time enough for that yet!
Sending thanks and wishes for another gorgeous, not too back breaking week!
I feel your joy here Susie! Thank you for sharing your taste of Spring. I have many floaty and floral numbers and would love to lend you one as we frolic in the hills!
"white poplar tree catkins dot the hillside like thousands of candles in a shining light-display " - beautiful. ❤️
"Solivagant" - I learn something every time from you Susie. I do that every day and oh how wonderful it is. 💖
“to understand light you need first to have been buried in the deep-down dark.” ― Robert Macfarlane. Love this quote and if I may I will use it sometime.
Beautiful post as always dear one. Thinking of you as we process the news of Josh. So so special you were able to meet him and Veronika with Rosie. 💔🕯️
Jo thank you from my heart, as always your attentive reading gives me enormous joy and the courage to continue here when all else seems to drag me elsewhere... I feel I would be touching a void if it weren't for that need we spoke of last week, or was it the week before? of needing to write for us, to cleanse the heart and soul and clear out the cobwebs!
I am heartbroken for Veronika, for the seemingly limitless cruelty of this life that takes good folk before bad. Josh will not be forgotten by either Rosie or myself, I will feel always honoured by our evening together.
I am certain you have been solivagant for many years without knowing the word, and really, who needs the word just to be...? I love this word, not least because it reminds me of 'vagabond' which I always translate to drifter... not so dissimilar really.
Have you read RMacF's 'Underworld'? If not, I recommend you do, not only is it filled with intimate and intricate tales of haunting journeys along the rivers of the dead which, in Greek Mythology, are apparently sufficiently common that they have their own collective noun: katabasis! Truly, the whole book is captivating!
With love right back to you, I hope your weekend was joyous. ♥️🎵xx
Thank you dearest one. I will add that book to my list.
So much here that connects with the heart strings, in your always generous replies. Yes cleanse the heart and soul, feel the heart break, spend time solivaganting (😊?!) and vagabonding !! Love and Peace Susie. xx💜
Isn't this pre-spring week wonderful? It's not exaggerating to say I feel like a new person. I would love to have a real spring, it seems like so often March especially, and even April, are greatly disappointing in our land.
Betty I can’t quite believe this weather after the last two months… one of the gods must have looked down and felt sorry for us! what unimaginable luck…
Oddly, when I check back in my journals, we quite often have a few warm days at this time of year… then, as you say, spring seems to turn into a damp and grey affair before the scorching days of summer… Maybe this year will be different!
I’m not even sure if I’d say “oddly” about that! I don’t keep a journal of the weather, but know I am nearly always disappointed by March, April, and some years even May! I don’t feel Aveyron has very nice springs overall and it’s worse where we are at 625 meters — it’s perhaps a little better out your way. The Covid spring was lovely, however.
I am inclined to agree about ‘Aveyron Springs’ Betty, with the exception of Covid year which you’re right was heaven from start to finish, I don’t recall one that was quite as hoped for, and that can run into June too here…
Yes for me too, that word 'Solivagant'. To wander. So wonderful. I however wanted to shout,
"I want to gallivant!" 😬 after reading your lovely piece, just to celebrate the hole in the clouds with you. Your beautiful photos help restore such calm into this world. 🫠
We also felt the Spring sunshine this week but it decided to bring its friend 'Pollen' with it. With a capital P!! The pine forest and valley now has a haze of yellow hanging above it and the once sleeping pine trees are bursting and hanging with rakes and rakes of what we call the Crispies!! Yes, just like the Kelloggs Rice Crispies, which we will sweep and shovel and use for compost as spring turns to summer. The flowering almond trees in the valley below are now barely visible from up here but we've had Hoopoe Birds already, out digging for worms and mites on the bancales!! Oh how wonderful it is to be able to rely on nature for some salvation.
Ahhh Sally I love that! To gallivant… yes, yes, yes! Given the time to do so I would do nothing else… especially at this time of year when everything is excited to be alive and bursting again.
I envy you the sight of almond trees, my own died last year in the heat, a cherry and the persimmon too… and crispies, yes, down in the pine forest they are abundant though I have never thought of gathering them for compost—now I will, thank you!—we too have pollen but more from all the catkins, willow, hazel, birch and soon to come ash, oak and walnut, my poor son has suffered all week.
We’ve yet to see any migrant birds return, they will be another few weeks yet, I wait the nightingales and the golden oriels with impatience every year though… they are always a sure sign that winter is finally behind us. Nature truly is salvation isn’t it!
Sending apricot blossom hugs Sally, this too is in full bloom! x
I have just spotted the first oak leaf to unfurl Sally… for me that is spring beginning and winter gone. Next will be the whole tree resplendent in green and all her children following because she has given the word. The migrants will be early this year…
Hello lovely, I think you would have loved the darkness of wilderness in the ravine, it is often where I go in summer when the sun is just too scorching. Even for me…
Thank you Holly, today, or this evening, precious golden light shone through the petals of each blossom so precisely I could see pollen on the end of their stamen… waiting for the bees!
I loved your description of the ravens flying overhead, Susie! No ravens here but the crows are raven sized and dominate the skies, ever watchful.
Thank you Jeffrey, it is so rare that I manage to link my sightings to anything mythological or literary as you do—I am always in awe!—but these two ravens couldn't be ignored... I am delighted you enjoyed them.
Raven sized crows sounds quite alarming, do they have much legend attached to them in Japan?
Yes, Yatagarasu (八咫烏) is a key figure in Japanese mythology. He's a kind of crow god: Wikipedia https://share.google/CqonDcIURWzcdsx0B
I just woke from the strangest dream. I was at an old-fashioned barn dance, where tiny lights looking like overworked fireflies hung from sturdy beams. I was wearing a “floral floaty dress” a bit nightmarish, because I am not a floral dress kind of girl. Yet there I was, somewhat cold without my jeans, though the hearth in the center of the makeshift dance floor kept the chill of the barn comfortable enough. But that is not the strange part. As I stood by myself something—no—not a someone, asked me to dance. I felt its warm damp breath on my face and a faint scent of green wafted up my nose. A gentle breeze that swept me off my feet making my dress fill out like a summer umbrella—and suddenly I was face-to-season with Spring. There I was in full blush, dancing one dance with Spring. Then I woke up. Dew still clinging to my face, I ran to the front door, opened it and there was Winter, still in full glory: 3’ on the ground, snowflakes falling and temps hovering at 8°F. Phew! Though I am not quite ready (not by a long shot) thank you for a taste of Spring. One dance with your Hill—spinning across the dance floor in the shape of your words. (Interview with a hill, indeed!) My new favorite word, cuz I did not know there was a name for what I do on a daily basis, though I am switching it to a verb: solivaganting.
You do make me smile Lor! I think in this case, given your deep abiding love of winter and all hibernal things hidden in deep snowbound drifts, your dream might be better terms 'a nightmare'! I am so glad you woke before it became too gory—although yes, the floral floaty dress is gory enough—and snowflakes greeted you at your widely flung open door! Ouph... what a relief!
Given that we now have a new verb, I will use it often; this week I have not solivaganted at all, Rosie has been my companion in all outdoor activities for the last beautifully springlike, so warm week—believe me I am grateful for the respite, clearing land has been the main event, the ground was a quagmire of soggy decay, in places impossible to tread even! We are victorious though... what a team!
Enjoy your wintry solivaganting dear one, a thousand thanks for being here, for smiles! xx
You and Rosie, dancing through your yard. Now that is a perfect out door barn dance I would love to attend. Give me a minute while I grab my work gloves and loppers. May I have this dance!
This one and the next and the next! 💃🏻
Ah Susie, such beautiful poetry as always. I am sorry for my tardy reading and tardier reply - I half read to the milky way falling and the distractions pulled me away until now, and I have finally savoured these words and moments and images that you gift to us so generously. Much love my friend x
Dearest Emily, truly, I never notice 'tardy' being so very professional at it myself, I am just delighted to see you here whenever you have a moment to arrive! I know well the distractions life deals us—often hourly, much as I wish they weren't!
This last week my daughter has been home with us, they have been beautiful spring days marred only by my wretched limping—I have finally conceded to seeing a doctor though I hate to do so... one thing always seems to lead to ten others—but now she is returned to the bright albeit artificial lights of Toulouse. A short few hours to myself if I ignore the ironing pile of course... 🙈 there is always something isn't there?
Much love to beautiful soul, I hope Sunday afternoon is gentle xox
Ah, the laundry-a bottomless pit I know so well. We had two days of spring and now we’re back to rain rain rain. Although right now there is fog fog fog, which is a momentary improvement. Sending wishes for continued spring days xx
It’s looking like a similar scenario here also Em; grey, damp and this weekend maybe even winters last stand, there are snowflakes on my weather chart! I spoke too soon it seems which leaves little excuse for not finishing the ironing! Enjoy your week, smile at the sky regardless! xx
If I could hold this entire letter in my teeth like a cherry tree branch, I surely would feel its buds stirring toward blossom. So beautiful Susie! May you find endless paths where time “forgot to be linear.” 🌸
I am thinking of you and this dear Kimberly; Somewhere, in the depths of an old leather suitcase hidden amongst many other memories I cannot bear to part with, is a photograph of my very young mother with a sprig of cherry blossom clutched between her teeth...
Her heart was as big as yours and her empathetic soul as beautiful... I love that you remind(ed) me of her and the photograph.
Always with love and thanks 💞x
Ohhh, I especially love your photo capturing the sun painting the edges of the young branches. ♥️ I read of your hill in wonder. I am always astonished and I admit outright envious of people living in places where spring emerges in February, or even January! Why was I born in an icebox. 🥶 We might be six or even eight weeks behind you—but how utterly glorious when it bursts forth! Wishing you the loveliest holiday imaginable, Susie! xo
Dearest Carmine, I love that you picked out that photo! When I took it I tried to explain to my son what it was I was seeing; the magic of single last sunbeam on the slimmest of trees was not obvious to him until he saw it on a screen... he is learning as am I.
Alas, so often here spring arrives in puff of fluffy white clouds and pink blossom only to be chased away again by a wicked winter squall or three and we lose all the setting early fruits, especially apricots and cherries and all the early plums so perfect for tarts... Mother Nature knows what she's doing I am sure although there are moments when I admit I fail to understand her... again, I am learning!
My holidays are done ☹️ tomorrow my ears will be ringing with the sound of 25 seven and eight year olds and by the time the day is over it will feel as if there was no holiday at all... though I am always deeply grateful that there are. 😅
I hope your weekend has been kind, a huge heart thank you for reading xoxo
What a magical place you live in, Susie. Spring is opening up in my neck of the woods, and the weeds are having a field day (pun). There were two tiny yellow butterflies in the yard this week, and our cherry tree has started blossoming. Should be full this week. How I dread summer, but maybe we’ll have more than a couple of weeks of spring to enjoy before then. Take care, dear Susie. xx
The weeds are having a field day here too, I love them! As much as I love your pun dear Louise... Yesterday evening even in a light shower of rain, there were beed busying themselves in the abundant blossom of a Mirabelle plum. They are early to rise from winters depths and I worry for them greatly—both bee and fruit—we have a cold spell returning, hopefully not too cold but certainly a last reminder that winter is not so far behind us!
I have read that summer will be another stifling affair here, above normal temps and drought will be widespread—when isn't it?—which makes me question whether to even begin a vegetable garden, then I notice the price rises due the orange mans illegal war, the shortages already multiplying on the shelves and I know, regardless of a predictably poor harvest, I have no choice. Food is food and it is necessary, so I begin, and hope that summer is not as the meteorological office predicts. It is all I can do.
Sending love on a grey Sunday dear Louise, to you and mouse xxx
Having a garden is a must now. I’m afraid ours will end too soon. Everything will wither by the end of July but with two months left to produce after that? Last year, the heat was awful. This year, there was too little winter rain, so droughts in our area are possible. Here, we have enough on the shelves, but it costs so much as almost everything is imported from somewhere else.
And still we rise.
Holding kind thoughts for you, Susie, for all of our furry friends, and for the world. xx
Thank you Louise, the world needs kindness right now, the news is not making happy reading today, or any for that matter. Love back to you and yours also! xx
Oh these are such gorgeous images, Susie. I am a sucker for signs of spring!
Thank you Mary Beth, isn't there so much hope held in those first lime green leaves to burst open! Here, the mother of all other oaks has her first spray on a low branch on display just this morning, my joy is immeasurable! 🍃
Our flowering red currants surprised me by already being in full bloom! I had been away for a week and it is their time... made me very happy as I emptied my kitchen compost. :)
Mary I have a great love for the flowering current, those fabulous, almost fuchsia pink, blossoms hanging so prettily from every available bare stick but try as I might I cannot keep even a small bush alive here in my little corner of SW France. One again this year my hopes have decayed into the earth with winter rain and snow… I love that yours brings you so much joy! 🌺
I’m a long time Solivaganteur. 😉
Thank you for always showing up here Ben, me too! And hoping to be an old age solivaganteur! 🤞🏽
A beautiful read Susie! I can see you walking down towards the field and stopping to take lovely pictures to share. Makes me yearn for spring to show up here, so I can be a 'solivagant' also.
Today the temperature in my part of Canada had gone up to +8 with sunshine! It was glorious! The snow and ice were melting, alas, it seems that a naughty winter fairy was playing games with us, as the temperature will go down to -13c and tomorrow night it will plummet to -23c! In the meantime, je vais me régaler de vos histoires printanières, chère dame! Enjoy your well deserved two weeks holiday, Susie!
Oh Jeannine, Quel horreur! Je pense que je périrais complètement dans une temperature aussi basse que -23c 🥶
I do hope it is a minor tantrum on the part of Mother Nature and that she will be filled with the joys of spring again very soon... if not already!
My holidays are all but over now, I still can't quite believe how kindly we have been treated in terms of both sunshine hours and temperature for the duration, especially as I see sleet and snow returning for the weekend to come... there seems to be something very fickle and unpredictable afoot and the switch , as always, is not within our reach. My father would have said, 'what can't be cured must be endured' but I admit to being somewhat fatigued by having to!
While I can, I send you a blossom filled sunny hug dear lady... thank you, as always for being here. xox
I love Robert Macfarlane's quote. The Light is my Spirit and I gladly follow her everywhere I see her glowing precious even if it's just a sliver. Your photos are always beautifully special, each one is cherished in my soul. Hugs to you and Spring Sweet Susie. PS: I cherish my "solivagant" moments and feel especially blessed that I am able to walk out my door each day wrapped in its embrace.
Hello sweetie, I don't remember if you've read Underland? I know you would devour it if you were to... MacFarlane's prose is captivating (enviably so) and his knowledge incomparable... I loved every word of this unburying of the buried!
I have not been solivagant for this last week, Rosie has been with me and mostly Seth too... this evening will be quite different of course. I cherish my alone time also — you know well as do I.
Love and light beautiful, I hope your Sunday is gentle and kind — It has turned cold here, a reminder that winter is not so far behind us yet! Big love xoxox
We are so happy that your break from term time has coincided with the sparkling invitation of Spring. We too have had the warmth on our skin, t-shirts instead of layers … deer grazing in the field a stone’s throw from our potager (which they will raid in due course). The smell of mown grass and the backbreaking work of setting up compost and raised beds. But worth it for the hopefulness of a new season. And your words, as ever, transport … thank you.
Spring most certainly is sparkling — what luck to receive such a gift bestowed by a kindly weather god… I was beginning to wonder if they’d all forgotten us!
I have been watching the two roe deer I mentioned every day… it may be just wishful thinking, but I sure they are becoming quite used to my presence — a rare thing as I am sure you know — what is strange though, is that they are always together when usually the stag will have many females, it is not as if there aren’t plenty more to choose from!
I have yet to brave the mowing, I know once I begin it will be a constant until September at least… time enough for that yet!
Sending thanks and wishes for another gorgeous, not too back breaking week!
I feel your joy here Susie! Thank you for sharing your taste of Spring. I have many floaty and floral numbers and would love to lend you one as we frolic in the hills!
"white poplar tree catkins dot the hillside like thousands of candles in a shining light-display " - beautiful. ❤️
"Solivagant" - I learn something every time from you Susie. I do that every day and oh how wonderful it is. 💖
“to understand light you need first to have been buried in the deep-down dark.” ― Robert Macfarlane. Love this quote and if I may I will use it sometime.
Beautiful post as always dear one. Thinking of you as we process the news of Josh. So so special you were able to meet him and Veronika with Rosie. 💔🕯️
Jo thank you from my heart, as always your attentive reading gives me enormous joy and the courage to continue here when all else seems to drag me elsewhere... I feel I would be touching a void if it weren't for that need we spoke of last week, or was it the week before? of needing to write for us, to cleanse the heart and soul and clear out the cobwebs!
I am heartbroken for Veronika, for the seemingly limitless cruelty of this life that takes good folk before bad. Josh will not be forgotten by either Rosie or myself, I will feel always honoured by our evening together.
I am certain you have been solivagant for many years without knowing the word, and really, who needs the word just to be...? I love this word, not least because it reminds me of 'vagabond' which I always translate to drifter... not so dissimilar really.
Have you read RMacF's 'Underworld'? If not, I recommend you do, not only is it filled with intimate and intricate tales of haunting journeys along the rivers of the dead which, in Greek Mythology, are apparently sufficiently common that they have their own collective noun: katabasis! Truly, the whole book is captivating!
With love right back to you, I hope your weekend was joyous. ♥️🎵xx
Thank you dearest one. I will add that book to my list.
So much here that connects with the heart strings, in your always generous replies. Yes cleanse the heart and soul, feel the heart break, spend time solivaganting (😊?!) and vagabonding !! Love and Peace Susie. xx💜
Isn't this pre-spring week wonderful? It's not exaggerating to say I feel like a new person. I would love to have a real spring, it seems like so often March especially, and even April, are greatly disappointing in our land.
Betty I can’t quite believe this weather after the last two months… one of the gods must have looked down and felt sorry for us! what unimaginable luck…
Oddly, when I check back in my journals, we quite often have a few warm days at this time of year… then, as you say, spring seems to turn into a damp and grey affair before the scorching days of summer… Maybe this year will be different!
I’m not even sure if I’d say “oddly” about that! I don’t keep a journal of the weather, but know I am nearly always disappointed by March, April, and some years even May! I don’t feel Aveyron has very nice springs overall and it’s worse where we are at 625 meters — it’s perhaps a little better out your way. The Covid spring was lovely, however.
I am inclined to agree about ‘Aveyron Springs’ Betty, with the exception of Covid year which you’re right was heaven from start to finish, I don’t recall one that was quite as hoped for, and that can run into June too here…
Yes for me too, that word 'Solivagant'. To wander. So wonderful. I however wanted to shout,
"I want to gallivant!" 😬 after reading your lovely piece, just to celebrate the hole in the clouds with you. Your beautiful photos help restore such calm into this world. 🫠
We also felt the Spring sunshine this week but it decided to bring its friend 'Pollen' with it. With a capital P!! The pine forest and valley now has a haze of yellow hanging above it and the once sleeping pine trees are bursting and hanging with rakes and rakes of what we call the Crispies!! Yes, just like the Kelloggs Rice Crispies, which we will sweep and shovel and use for compost as spring turns to summer. The flowering almond trees in the valley below are now barely visible from up here but we've had Hoopoe Birds already, out digging for worms and mites on the bancales!! Oh how wonderful it is to be able to rely on nature for some salvation.
Ahhh Sally I love that! To gallivant… yes, yes, yes! Given the time to do so I would do nothing else… especially at this time of year when everything is excited to be alive and bursting again.
I envy you the sight of almond trees, my own died last year in the heat, a cherry and the persimmon too… and crispies, yes, down in the pine forest they are abundant though I have never thought of gathering them for compost—now I will, thank you!—we too have pollen but more from all the catkins, willow, hazel, birch and soon to come ash, oak and walnut, my poor son has suffered all week.
We’ve yet to see any migrant birds return, they will be another few weeks yet, I wait the nightingales and the golden oriels with impatience every year though… they are always a sure sign that winter is finally behind us. Nature truly is salvation isn’t it!
Sending apricot blossom hugs Sally, this too is in full bloom! x
Oh yes Susie the nightingales and oriels!! Can’t wait to hear the first ones arrive again.
I have just spotted the first oak leaf to unfurl Sally… for me that is spring beginning and winter gone. Next will be the whole tree resplendent in green and all her children following because she has given the word. The migrants will be early this year…
That’s the magic of trees!
Beautiful images and a wonderful read, I felt like I was there!
Hello lovely, I think you would have loved the darkness of wilderness in the ravine, it is often where I go in summer when the sun is just too scorching. Even for me…
Sending love and spring hugs. xx
What a delight and a pleasure to follow your hill into this blossoming of brightness and spring!
Thank you Holly, today, or this evening, precious golden light shone through the petals of each blossom so precisely I could see pollen on the end of their stamen… waiting for the bees!