Isn’t it! Although it is an obsolete word now… not even to be found in the OED which seems such a pity. Thank you lovely, I hope your weekend is a beautiful one… 💚🍃xx
The grip of the virus on our household has been disruptive. By old covid disciplines they kept it away from me, which meant that work for the hedges and orchard ahead of nesting birds could proceed. Fingers crossed.
The migratory geese have gone. Iceland and untroubled tundra called. I mentioned I think last year a pair of remaing resident Greylag who occasionally visit local fields on their round. The local retired farmer referred to them years ago as the 'barren pair'. They seem to know me, though they needed to check out 'new' dog last year, and possibly my different hat and movements. The old dogs ignored them. This year, dog is better. The geese moved just 20 yards, and seemed reassured by my voice. If they are the same pair, this must have been going on for 20 years, which seems incredible.
PS. Dog sicked up a buzzard beak a week or so ago. Round here the birds are scavengers, and from the evidence, themselves occasionally scavenged.
Quick experimental thought on hens, perhaps a few temporary shelters, a couple of metres of chicken mesh located at odd spots across the grass, sitting on pegs a few centimeres off the ground, with access from all directions for a scuttling hen?++++++++++++++++ A litter of some kind on top to confuse the predator?
Good grief Susie.... it's never a dull moment with you! Too much sometimes. I hope you find quiet moments to restore and renew yourself! Always in my thoughts, love and hugs.
Haha, nope, it's never dull around here darling, tedious, laborious and bloody infuriating sometimes but not once have I thought life dull... neither have I thought it easy though! There are definitely times when easy would be welcomed with open arms, not that I will hold my breath in waiting... it's just life!
Thank you for the new word, and the slices of life from your beloved hill, buzzards, garden-destroying cows and all. And those messengers--the hare and the red squirrel--reminding us all that life is resilient and hope can be powerful. Blessings from my terraphilic corner of Substack!
Thank you for reading through Susan, the word 'aeipathy' is actually an old word, first used in 18th century England, sadly, now obsolete, it doesn't even appear in the OED which seems such a shame, I find it beautiful and appropriate to the moment. Terraphilia is equally beautiful dont you think!
Blessings back to you, I hope your week is a gentle one.
Oh gosh I had no idea you have been so ill or that the buzzard has stolen another chicken how cruel life is on the hill in the wild!!
I don't know how you got through such a week! You are so strong and I am glad the sun can now warm your home!!!!
I have been writing my next post that will be out i hope by the weekend and we seem to have echoed so many things in common. I promise it is 98% written already! Just need to add a picture or two but here in England with Dad I can't get one. And I promise it has not been drafted from yours!!🤣🙈
I think we are all so unsettled by the news our rational minds are turning to similar ways to heal/cope❤️❤️
Pipp the buzzard problem has become so bad we have had to change the way we rear our hens! Since writing this we have rescued another six from the 40k (a tiny number by comparison I know but I can’t use that many eggs! 😂) sent to the gas chamber at the chicken farm last weekend, at the moment they are all closed up in the chicken house and will stay there until a closed, moveable coop has been constructed by my hubby… he’s working on it as I type (I hope) meanwhile I am stressing for the six, plus my one remaining hen, who are not seeing the light of day. This goes against everything I believe in. Our hens have been free range (very) for 20 years, now they will have to be permanently contained - I feel so sad but I dont know what else to do?
I am not sure how I survived last week either… anyone else would have phoned in sick anyway!
Pipp!! you are worrying unnecessarily! Many people are writing of the same emotions, the same distress caused by certain madness in the world at the moment, I wouldn’t have thought you had pulled from anything I had written for a second! Not ever…
I will look forward to reading yours at the weekend, meanwhile I will try to stay warm! It's glacial here and has been for ten days now, MN has such a great sense of humour right? Just before this wickedly cold North wind arrived I was thinking shorts!
Sending love to you - I do hope it’s warmer where you are! xx
'I will continue to believe that love and kindness truly do beget love and kindness.' YES. Susie!!! Despite the cow saga :( sorry.
And, I will continue to believe that my life is so much the better for finding you, your writing and your wonderful photography on Substack Susie. Every time I read a piece, I laugh, sometimes shed a tear for the nature, as it all resonates so deeply, and best of all, I learn a new word and this week it is 'aeipathy' which...... AI Google kept annoyingly asking me if I had meant 'apathy'!!
So clearly they have not been trained on your posts, nor do they have any enduring or all consuming passion about anything, which is scary too. Where would be if they faked that too!! We could do with them having some damned apathy themselves though, as I'm fed up with AI poking their nose in everything I do online!
Anyway, spring has definitely sprung here too now, with nesting birds abounding every area of the campo and the mountain, jasmine are in full scent and a plethora of wildflowers dance under the sun in the fields. So hillside happiness reigns here too, for the moment sheltered from the terrors of the 'outside' world. Hope you feel well very soon. x
Ahh Sally, bless you for having a kind heart, for sending well wishes, I am recovered, at last!
Thank you, the cow saga is a like a film that takes a year to play out in full on repeat! In other words, every late winter/early spring last years calves get bored of eating silage (yuk, I don't blame them) and hay, they spy something green and wholesome, they trample down whatever is in their way et voila! The rest you know... my easter holidays are almost always spent repairing the damages, this year will be no different! Such is life in the country... I try not to complain although the broken drain and my poor garden brought caused many tears.
The word 'aeipathy' corrected to apathy every time by Google and Apple—so much for AI knowing everything—is an obsolete word no longer even found in the OED, wrongly in my humble opinion. It was a poetic word used in circa 1700's to describe a passion which never faded, or was all encompassing. I find it incredibly beautiful.
Here too spring is advancing, though slowly for the last two weeks due a bitterly cold North wind which is chilling the ground as well as my poor aging bones... I was flipping through my photo library on Sunday, last year was far more advanced so I wait with much impatience for the fields to begin their floral dance, the trees to be in full leaf... I have a jasmine on my terrace, it has yet to even bud! Soon, soon and yes, meanwhile I thank the gods and goddesses for this safe place, sheltered from the terrors and the fears daily, I am blessed and filled with gratitude for that alone.
I send you love and hopes that the week has been a gentle one. xx
Nothing good comes from those two nasal caves of youth; damn viral highway gets ya every time. No place to run (wait, every place to run), no place to hide. I am experiencing fully aggravated sympathy pangs for you. I know you and Rosie have already started preparations for spring descending and ascending from ground up. You can ‘strut and fret’ with hands on hips, spewing profanities at ‘He Who Must Not Be Named’. What to do, what to? When you are feeling good enough, go for a walk and greet the sunrise, take a deep breath—yes, remember to breathe—let it out until it rustles the leaves—and start anew. And remember to take gorgeous photographs for my own selfish imaginings.Those cow holes, are synonymous with small rocky crevices hidden by snow, I call them ankle grabbers—only with no poop. Well said, Susie. I, too, am fortunate to have almost an embarrassing amount of riches that have nothing to do with monetary value. I will not delve too much into the actions of the administration, here in the U.S of A. only to say that many with a “wave of the hands” seemly referencing points across an ocean far, far away— going about their daily lives as if they think they are safe here, ‘no bombs going off here’ they say. What does this have to do with me. Quickly: We read and watch the horrors from our little safe haven of home, but seeing the No Kings protests, endless rivers of like-minded humans, made my heart soar, brought tears. A perfect testimony that we are by far, not alone in our hopes and dreams.
Ahh Lor, thank you for your sympathy, I imagine you and I are much alike in our hatred of being slain by germs! Your perceptions are incredibly accurate, nasal caves and sticky fingers... I swear I'll end by having nightmares involving an army of both! Thankfully, however this particular mucky germ arrived, it seems to have moved on with few repercussions and, for once, I managed to keep it outside! Phew... hubby with a cold is not an option and Seth has important mock exams pending, all in all a relief!
As for the He Who Must Not Be Named subject; walking is the only time I do not have to suffer a constant barrage of rantings and ravings from the other end of my kitchen table... someone, who will remain nameless, is obsessed—you would guess in one—he gives me an almost 24/7 run down of updates, profanities—apparently HWMNBN was compared to Jesus today???—lies and horror stories. Inside there is no escape... fortunately outside is huge and I have four sheep to kiss and chatter to while I potter, they are great company and speak only of the tastiest tree bark to gnaw or unwanted bovine guests, although quite enough has been said already about them!
I think often about your fellow Americans, those who are as horrified as you and I by current war atrocities and madman decisions, I feel the weight of a nation of sadness and embarrassment. There seems to be no reasonable consolation to give except understanding of their certain squirming and yes, then there are 'the I'm alright Jack's' oblivious and blind, here also, too numerous to be acceptable.
The No Kings protests must have been very moving... no, we are not alone, and, I believe our numbers are growing! Small mercies always carrying hope. 🫶🏼
Your lovely photos and your words - signposts to hope and beauty, pointing a way out from and away from the ugliness and debris elsewhere, always lift my spirits.
Belief in love is a necessity. I send out prayers and hope they might carry to where they are needed.
Sorry to hear about your own closer to home carnage.
But the hare waiting to greet you on the road, the red squirrel, taking these together with the Shepherds Purse blooming - maybe we can take these as signs of hope ………….
Dearest Kay, your reply in turn carries its own hopeful message—that you read with such deep understanding of my own message touches my heart deeply. Thank you..
I hope only that all those that are in need elsewhere also feel my love and word filled embraces—a big hope I know but one I hold on to tightly... 💞
The more of us that believe in hope and love and kindness and the power of prayer Kay, the stronger the hope becomes. I stand beside you dear one 🤍🕊️xx
I think I have seen the back of those generously shared germs Louise... the bovine mess, only time will tell, though it pains me to say it, I doubt it will be the last of them...
I hope your week is blossom filled — love always xx
I was saddened to read of bovine and raptor carnage, unapologetic farmers and scattered feathers, and hot on the heals of a half read article of our world teetering on the precipice of catastrophe that promised no hope and I could not finish. But this has lifted my spirits more than you can know 🤍✨
The bovine carnage continues too… yesterday I rounded up a different herd three times to shoo them from my sheep field, called the owner who said with all the nonchalance he could muster that he would come when he has had a little siesta!!! Grrrrrrr! Double grrrrrr! And… my sheep who had enough grass to last until June have now enough for a week, two at most! Em, I think this may be one of those few moments in my life when I will be impolite (read that as throwing a fit of screaming an-dabs with lots of swearing - in French of course because it sounds so much better!) I am furious!
Thank goodness for squirrel, hare and cranes… and yesterday evening the most heavily sighted of a pair of swallows gracing my sky - nature heals… every time.
Sending love sweet soul - may your week be filled with gorgeousness 💛xx
Oh no!! Everything sounds better in French, I think - but most especially swearing! I’m so sorry for you and for your sheep - but.. swallows! Heavenly indeed. Much love xx
Hi Jo, thank you, yes, I think the germs have departed at last... probably would have stayed longer but I kicked them out like unwanted guests... sometimes you gotta be tough right! I know you know!
I agree about the Rumi quote, a hand held, an embrace, I would have loved someone to say or do that to me last week and it has been playing over and over in my head for days—so much so I have an idea because I am certain you and I are not the only ones... all I need is the time to stick all the parts together. So coming soon, a hug and a hand, of sorts...
Love back to you beautiful, may the week be gentle on you xx
A week of sickness during springtime’s unfurling, oh Susie, I can feel how hard that must’ve been! You whose very well-being is derived from every emergent moment of the wild. I hope your week ahead unfolds with exponential beauty to make up for the ones missed. 🌸
And from the looks of, you’re already blessing them with your camera…so many honey-beige moments of pure delight.
A huge hug to you for kind thoughts and your deep understanding dear one, this is not the time to be sick for so many reasons much less for dealing with bovine hindrances... such is life surrounded by nature... and farms — I wouldn't change a second of it, except perhaps damages to my poor garden.
Spring is too invigorating to ignore, unthinkable to miss altogether even if I do have to stuff a box of tissues in my back pack! How would I ever recover without blossom and fluffy clouds?
Love always, I hope your week is bright and beautiful xx
I too am glad to hear you are on the mend! And what an awful, cold, week to be struck down! We had a sprinkling of snow here but hopefully real spring is on its way, although as I've certainly told you before I don't really believe in spring in Aveyron, at least not the first half.
Susie, that cow situation is out of hand! A farmer is legally responsible for damages caused by his or her herd, even if the animals' escape is accidental. Have you taken any official action on this? Might it be time?
I will believe in spring when all the ash trees are in leaf Betty, not before, everything else is just dear Mother Natures sense of humour at play! And yes, it was a helluva week to be feeling grim and have to work through… what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger though, right!
Cows returned a further three times yesterday, a different herd, yes, we are now surrounded! I called the owner who told me he would be over after his siesta… imagine my swear words if you will! I try to stay on the friendly side of my neighbours despite damages, although even I have a limit.
So sorry to hear of the grippe … but hurray for the healing powers of the mystical hare (that’s a beautiful picture of one too … but, if pressed, my favourite this week is the second of the two oak pictures above - very skilfully captured). The Vienne has had that same downturn in the temperatures - today’s cycle was in long leggings again and four laters + gloves and beanie - bizarrely, a week on Tuesday we are forecast a crazy leap in the mercury!). The unconscionable lack of conscience of your un-neighbourly neighbour beggars belief - oh for a muck spreader to catch his whiskers between its arcs of fire! Grrr!
Thanks Barrie, for compliments and sympathy, both, as always, are gratefully received. La grippe, I think, has passed, although I am hoping not to tempt fate by feeling positive! Bugs and germs come part’n parcel with my job… more’s the pity! Temperatures here have possibly been conducive to feeling below par also… this morning I left with five layers on in a wind chill of -3c brrrr! But yes, I notice here too Easter weekend, for once, will by fine and warm… I will be spending it with permanent mechanical garden attachments and fence repair equipment as my dear agriculteur neighbour has yet to lift a finger! If this carries on he may witness my once every twenty year Incredible Hulk impression! 😉
Bless you Mary, I think I am recovered now, although not wanting to tempt fate! I seem to have passed the first months of 2026 with a continuous spate of infuriating ailments.
You will not find the word "Aeipathy" in any modern OED — it means to have an enduring or unyielding passion for something.
An obsolete, I prefer to use ‘lost or rare’ word first used circa early 1700’s.
Bon semaine ma belle, thank you always for kind thoughts xx
Like the marking of the new hour, Susie, your words slow me down to take accountability of what I have missed all winter. And yes, there are some small red squirrels hopping between walnut and oak trees like usual, but I miss your hares, the cranes have long flown overhead, and I am grateful that a big party of hungry cows do not live next door. Courage, ma Belle!
Kate, je perds ma tête! This morning those errant beasts were in my sheep field… not as catastrophic as the garden perhaps but they have eaten all the grass down to the ground and left the rest splattered with their ‘merde’ - the farmer does not answer my calls - quelle surprise!
But the hare and the squirrel… 💛and I am so glad to hear you are able to watch them still! My hooe is eternal.
Mille mercis et bon dimanche à toi aussi ma belle.
A beautiful word ‘aeipathy’! I learn so much about the English language from your beautiful writings!
Isn’t it! Although it is an obsolete word now… not even to be found in the OED which seems such a pity. Thank you lovely, I hope your weekend is a beautiful one… 💚🍃xx
The grip of the virus on our household has been disruptive. By old covid disciplines they kept it away from me, which meant that work for the hedges and orchard ahead of nesting birds could proceed. Fingers crossed.
The migratory geese have gone. Iceland and untroubled tundra called. I mentioned I think last year a pair of remaing resident Greylag who occasionally visit local fields on their round. The local retired farmer referred to them years ago as the 'barren pair'. They seem to know me, though they needed to check out 'new' dog last year, and possibly my different hat and movements. The old dogs ignored them. This year, dog is better. The geese moved just 20 yards, and seemed reassured by my voice. If they are the same pair, this must have been going on for 20 years, which seems incredible.
PS. Dog sicked up a buzzard beak a week or so ago. Round here the birds are scavengers, and from the evidence, themselves occasionally scavenged.
Quick experimental thought on hens, perhaps a few temporary shelters, a couple of metres of chicken mesh located at odd spots across the grass, sitting on pegs a few centimeres off the ground, with access from all directions for a scuttling hen?++++++++++++++++ A litter of some kind on top to confuse the predator?
Good grief Susie.... it's never a dull moment with you! Too much sometimes. I hope you find quiet moments to restore and renew yourself! Always in my thoughts, love and hugs.
Haha, nope, it's never dull around here darling, tedious, laborious and bloody infuriating sometimes but not once have I thought life dull... neither have I thought it easy though! There are definitely times when easy would be welcomed with open arms, not that I will hold my breath in waiting... it's just life!
Love and light back to you darling xxx
Thank you for the new word, and the slices of life from your beloved hill, buzzards, garden-destroying cows and all. And those messengers--the hare and the red squirrel--reminding us all that life is resilient and hope can be powerful. Blessings from my terraphilic corner of Substack!
Thank you for reading through Susan, the word 'aeipathy' is actually an old word, first used in 18th century England, sadly, now obsolete, it doesn't even appear in the OED which seems such a shame, I find it beautiful and appropriate to the moment. Terraphilia is equally beautiful dont you think!
Blessings back to you, I hope your week is a gentle one.
Oh gosh I had no idea you have been so ill or that the buzzard has stolen another chicken how cruel life is on the hill in the wild!!
I don't know how you got through such a week! You are so strong and I am glad the sun can now warm your home!!!!
I have been writing my next post that will be out i hope by the weekend and we seem to have echoed so many things in common. I promise it is 98% written already! Just need to add a picture or two but here in England with Dad I can't get one. And I promise it has not been drafted from yours!!🤣🙈
I think we are all so unsettled by the news our rational minds are turning to similar ways to heal/cope❤️❤️
Pipp the buzzard problem has become so bad we have had to change the way we rear our hens! Since writing this we have rescued another six from the 40k (a tiny number by comparison I know but I can’t use that many eggs! 😂) sent to the gas chamber at the chicken farm last weekend, at the moment they are all closed up in the chicken house and will stay there until a closed, moveable coop has been constructed by my hubby… he’s working on it as I type (I hope) meanwhile I am stressing for the six, plus my one remaining hen, who are not seeing the light of day. This goes against everything I believe in. Our hens have been free range (very) for 20 years, now they will have to be permanently contained - I feel so sad but I dont know what else to do?
I am not sure how I survived last week either… anyone else would have phoned in sick anyway!
Pipp!! you are worrying unnecessarily! Many people are writing of the same emotions, the same distress caused by certain madness in the world at the moment, I wouldn’t have thought you had pulled from anything I had written for a second! Not ever…
I will look forward to reading yours at the weekend, meanwhile I will try to stay warm! It's glacial here and has been for ten days now, MN has such a great sense of humour right? Just before this wickedly cold North wind arrived I was thinking shorts!
Sending love to you - I do hope it’s warmer where you are! xx
'I will continue to believe that love and kindness truly do beget love and kindness.' YES. Susie!!! Despite the cow saga :( sorry.
And, I will continue to believe that my life is so much the better for finding you, your writing and your wonderful photography on Substack Susie. Every time I read a piece, I laugh, sometimes shed a tear for the nature, as it all resonates so deeply, and best of all, I learn a new word and this week it is 'aeipathy' which...... AI Google kept annoyingly asking me if I had meant 'apathy'!!
So clearly they have not been trained on your posts, nor do they have any enduring or all consuming passion about anything, which is scary too. Where would be if they faked that too!! We could do with them having some damned apathy themselves though, as I'm fed up with AI poking their nose in everything I do online!
Anyway, spring has definitely sprung here too now, with nesting birds abounding every area of the campo and the mountain, jasmine are in full scent and a plethora of wildflowers dance under the sun in the fields. So hillside happiness reigns here too, for the moment sheltered from the terrors of the 'outside' world. Hope you feel well very soon. x
Ahh Sally, bless you for having a kind heart, for sending well wishes, I am recovered, at last!
Thank you, the cow saga is a like a film that takes a year to play out in full on repeat! In other words, every late winter/early spring last years calves get bored of eating silage (yuk, I don't blame them) and hay, they spy something green and wholesome, they trample down whatever is in their way et voila! The rest you know... my easter holidays are almost always spent repairing the damages, this year will be no different! Such is life in the country... I try not to complain although the broken drain and my poor garden brought caused many tears.
The word 'aeipathy' corrected to apathy every time by Google and Apple—so much for AI knowing everything—is an obsolete word no longer even found in the OED, wrongly in my humble opinion. It was a poetic word used in circa 1700's to describe a passion which never faded, or was all encompassing. I find it incredibly beautiful.
Here too spring is advancing, though slowly for the last two weeks due a bitterly cold North wind which is chilling the ground as well as my poor aging bones... I was flipping through my photo library on Sunday, last year was far more advanced so I wait with much impatience for the fields to begin their floral dance, the trees to be in full leaf... I have a jasmine on my terrace, it has yet to even bud! Soon, soon and yes, meanwhile I thank the gods and goddesses for this safe place, sheltered from the terrors and the fears daily, I am blessed and filled with gratitude for that alone.
I send you love and hopes that the week has been a gentle one. xx
Nothing good comes from those two nasal caves of youth; damn viral highway gets ya every time. No place to run (wait, every place to run), no place to hide. I am experiencing fully aggravated sympathy pangs for you. I know you and Rosie have already started preparations for spring descending and ascending from ground up. You can ‘strut and fret’ with hands on hips, spewing profanities at ‘He Who Must Not Be Named’. What to do, what to? When you are feeling good enough, go for a walk and greet the sunrise, take a deep breath—yes, remember to breathe—let it out until it rustles the leaves—and start anew. And remember to take gorgeous photographs for my own selfish imaginings.Those cow holes, are synonymous with small rocky crevices hidden by snow, I call them ankle grabbers—only with no poop. Well said, Susie. I, too, am fortunate to have almost an embarrassing amount of riches that have nothing to do with monetary value. I will not delve too much into the actions of the administration, here in the U.S of A. only to say that many with a “wave of the hands” seemly referencing points across an ocean far, far away— going about their daily lives as if they think they are safe here, ‘no bombs going off here’ they say. What does this have to do with me. Quickly: We read and watch the horrors from our little safe haven of home, but seeing the No Kings protests, endless rivers of like-minded humans, made my heart soar, brought tears. A perfect testimony that we are by far, not alone in our hopes and dreams.
Ahh Lor, thank you for your sympathy, I imagine you and I are much alike in our hatred of being slain by germs! Your perceptions are incredibly accurate, nasal caves and sticky fingers... I swear I'll end by having nightmares involving an army of both! Thankfully, however this particular mucky germ arrived, it seems to have moved on with few repercussions and, for once, I managed to keep it outside! Phew... hubby with a cold is not an option and Seth has important mock exams pending, all in all a relief!
As for the He Who Must Not Be Named subject; walking is the only time I do not have to suffer a constant barrage of rantings and ravings from the other end of my kitchen table... someone, who will remain nameless, is obsessed—you would guess in one—he gives me an almost 24/7 run down of updates, profanities—apparently HWMNBN was compared to Jesus today???—lies and horror stories. Inside there is no escape... fortunately outside is huge and I have four sheep to kiss and chatter to while I potter, they are great company and speak only of the tastiest tree bark to gnaw or unwanted bovine guests, although quite enough has been said already about them!
I think often about your fellow Americans, those who are as horrified as you and I by current war atrocities and madman decisions, I feel the weight of a nation of sadness and embarrassment. There seems to be no reasonable consolation to give except understanding of their certain squirming and yes, then there are 'the I'm alright Jack's' oblivious and blind, here also, too numerous to be acceptable.
The No Kings protests must have been very moving... no, we are not alone, and, I believe our numbers are growing! Small mercies always carrying hope. 🫶🏼
I hope you feeling fully better now, Susie.
Your lovely photos and your words - signposts to hope and beauty, pointing a way out from and away from the ugliness and debris elsewhere, always lift my spirits.
Belief in love is a necessity. I send out prayers and hope they might carry to where they are needed.
Sorry to hear about your own closer to home carnage.
But the hare waiting to greet you on the road, the red squirrel, taking these together with the Shepherds Purse blooming - maybe we can take these as signs of hope ………….
Dearest Kay, your reply in turn carries its own hopeful message—that you read with such deep understanding of my own message touches my heart deeply. Thank you..
I hope only that all those that are in need elsewhere also feel my love and word filled embraces—a big hope I know but one I hold on to tightly... 💞
Dearest Susie,
The love and kindness that shine through your posts, there in the way you meet the world, touch my heart deeply.
Thank you for writing.
I too, hold tightly onto the hope that those in need elsewhere may somehow feel the love and prayers being sent.
And I pray that our prayers will have power.💞
The more of us that believe in hope and love and kindness and the power of prayer Kay, the stronger the hope becomes. I stand beside you dear one 🤍🕊️xx
🤍🕊️xx
Oh, Susie.
xx
I think I have seen the back of those generously shared germs Louise... the bovine mess, only time will tell, though it pains me to say it, I doubt it will be the last of them...
I hope your week is blossom filled — love always xx
Oh oh oh! A hare and red squirrel. J’adore.
I was saddened to read of bovine and raptor carnage, unapologetic farmers and scattered feathers, and hot on the heals of a half read article of our world teetering on the precipice of catastrophe that promised no hope and I could not finish. But this has lifted my spirits more than you can know 🤍✨
The bovine carnage continues too… yesterday I rounded up a different herd three times to shoo them from my sheep field, called the owner who said with all the nonchalance he could muster that he would come when he has had a little siesta!!! Grrrrrrr! Double grrrrrr! And… my sheep who had enough grass to last until June have now enough for a week, two at most! Em, I think this may be one of those few moments in my life when I will be impolite (read that as throwing a fit of screaming an-dabs with lots of swearing - in French of course because it sounds so much better!) I am furious!
Thank goodness for squirrel, hare and cranes… and yesterday evening the most heavily sighted of a pair of swallows gracing my sky - nature heals… every time.
Sending love sweet soul - may your week be filled with gorgeousness 💛xx
Oh no!! Everything sounds better in French, I think - but most especially swearing! I’m so sorry for you and for your sheep - but.. swallows! Heavenly indeed. Much love xx
Hope you're feeling better Susie.
Beautiful photos. Love the Narcisuss and Pussy Willow buds in jug. The essence of Home.
A red squirrel. Hope and Joy. Wish we had squirrels in NZ.
“I know you’re tired but come, this is the way.” ― Jalalu’l-din Rumi
Yes wouldn't that be nice to have someone say that to us in times of trouble and uncertainty. A hand held, guiding us home.
Much Love xx
Hi Jo, thank you, yes, I think the germs have departed at last... probably would have stayed longer but I kicked them out like unwanted guests... sometimes you gotta be tough right! I know you know!
I agree about the Rumi quote, a hand held, an embrace, I would have loved someone to say or do that to me last week and it has been playing over and over in my head for days—so much so I have an idea because I am certain you and I are not the only ones... all I need is the time to stick all the parts together. So coming soon, a hug and a hand, of sorts...
Love back to you beautiful, may the week be gentle on you xx
Looking forward to your idea Susie! xx
A week of sickness during springtime’s unfurling, oh Susie, I can feel how hard that must’ve been! You whose very well-being is derived from every emergent moment of the wild. I hope your week ahead unfolds with exponential beauty to make up for the ones missed. 🌸
And from the looks of, you’re already blessing them with your camera…so many honey-beige moments of pure delight.
A huge hug to you for kind thoughts and your deep understanding dear one, this is not the time to be sick for so many reasons much less for dealing with bovine hindrances... such is life surrounded by nature... and farms — I wouldn't change a second of it, except perhaps damages to my poor garden.
Spring is too invigorating to ignore, unthinkable to miss altogether even if I do have to stuff a box of tissues in my back pack! How would I ever recover without blossom and fluffy clouds?
Love always, I hope your week is bright and beautiful xx
I too am glad to hear you are on the mend! And what an awful, cold, week to be struck down! We had a sprinkling of snow here but hopefully real spring is on its way, although as I've certainly told you before I don't really believe in spring in Aveyron, at least not the first half.
Susie, that cow situation is out of hand! A farmer is legally responsible for damages caused by his or her herd, even if the animals' escape is accidental. Have you taken any official action on this? Might it be time?
I will believe in spring when all the ash trees are in leaf Betty, not before, everything else is just dear Mother Natures sense of humour at play! And yes, it was a helluva week to be feeling grim and have to work through… what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger though, right!
Cows returned a further three times yesterday, a different herd, yes, we are now surrounded! I called the owner who told me he would be over after his siesta… imagine my swear words if you will! I try to stay on the friendly side of my neighbours despite damages, although even I have a limit.
I hope you have an easy week, many thanks xx
So sorry to hear of the grippe … but hurray for the healing powers of the mystical hare (that’s a beautiful picture of one too … but, if pressed, my favourite this week is the second of the two oak pictures above - very skilfully captured). The Vienne has had that same downturn in the temperatures - today’s cycle was in long leggings again and four laters + gloves and beanie - bizarrely, a week on Tuesday we are forecast a crazy leap in the mercury!). The unconscionable lack of conscience of your un-neighbourly neighbour beggars belief - oh for a muck spreader to catch his whiskers between its arcs of fire! Grrr!
Thanks Barrie, for compliments and sympathy, both, as always, are gratefully received. La grippe, I think, has passed, although I am hoping not to tempt fate by feeling positive! Bugs and germs come part’n parcel with my job… more’s the pity! Temperatures here have possibly been conducive to feeling below par also… this morning I left with five layers on in a wind chill of -3c brrrr! But yes, I notice here too Easter weekend, for once, will by fine and warm… I will be spending it with permanent mechanical garden attachments and fence repair equipment as my dear agriculteur neighbour has yet to lift a finger! If this carries on he may witness my once every twenty year Incredible Hulk impression! 😉
Have a great week, stay cosy!
So glad you are on the mend, Susie. And this: When you come back, you come back! I must go to my OED for "Aeipathy"!
Bless you Mary, I think I am recovered now, although not wanting to tempt fate! I seem to have passed the first months of 2026 with a continuous spate of infuriating ailments.
You will not find the word "Aeipathy" in any modern OED — it means to have an enduring or unyielding passion for something.
An obsolete, I prefer to use ‘lost or rare’ word first used circa early 1700’s.
Bon semaine ma belle, thank you always for kind thoughts xx
I have the old multi volume OED, believe it!, and found "aiepathy"!
Fantastic Mary! I am extremely envious!
Took a while, buy the volumes used bit by bit and then one of my creative writing students and his father built a case for me: Such a gift!
Like the marking of the new hour, Susie, your words slow me down to take accountability of what I have missed all winter. And yes, there are some small red squirrels hopping between walnut and oak trees like usual, but I miss your hares, the cranes have long flown overhead, and I am grateful that a big party of hungry cows do not live next door. Courage, ma Belle!
Kate, je perds ma tête! This morning those errant beasts were in my sheep field… not as catastrophic as the garden perhaps but they have eaten all the grass down to the ground and left the rest splattered with their ‘merde’ - the farmer does not answer my calls - quelle surprise!
But the hare and the squirrel… 💛and I am so glad to hear you are able to watch them still! My hooe is eternal.
Mille mercis et bon dimanche à toi aussi ma belle.