"Imagine, hundreds of frogs singing..." she entreats, "—and partaking in other joyful activities—on the first warm day of spring as you eat your lunch."
And so I do, with the absolutely delicious help of her shared video recording.
And it resets the anxiety meter which has been squawking intermittently all morning, zeroes it out completely. Authors a timid smile and a long, cleansing sigh.
What, really, is more grand than some small, perfect moment, held closely, seen ...and heard breathlessly, observed intimately.
Dear David, How relieved I am to have unwittingly lifted anxious moments from you, you make a heart feel heavy at the mere thought...
Please do say - a quiet whisper will do - if ever you need anxiety levels lowered again, I will happily wander for hours in search of just the right feral magic, to flick that old stress needle to touch zero again... a gentle whoosh of a spring breeze swishing through the ears of ripening barley perhaps, or toads singing in the valley when rain is due, a far sweeter sound than the frogs..? Just to hear your cleansed sigh released, it would be no bother at all...
I think we all need words of encouragement at times. Thanks for the photo tip! I wll go look again on my pc-easier than on the cell! Hope you had a lovely Easter, too!
I think I had a little help from Mother Nature Sarah, there is nothing quite so reminiscent f spring days than wild flowers, singing frogs and a little mist to finish the mood is there..? Thank you so much for reading, I hope you've had some wonderful spring days too. x
Oh, this is just lovely: “He arrives like the full-stop at the end of a sentence; a final clarification of the season blooming.”
That photo of the picturesque hut! And the vigor of frogs in spring. Ours have their own songs, but loudness in common. Have a wonderful holiday, Susie!
I am coming to live in the sheep hut, Susie. It is more beautiful every time you share a picture. And perhaps the frogs will serenade me too. Oh how wonderful. I have walked down the river today, when I thought the rain would stop me, but there was sunshine and it was bliss. There were moorhens and mallards, pied wagtails and a swan, who was not best pleased at being photographed and came over to warn me off! And there were lambs too. Utterly delightful 💛✨
I am not surprised at all about the sheep hut and I think we have chatted about it before ♥️ and yes, we chatted about the swans too - I was careful and although I’ve not been attacked, we did have an incident with a nesting swan last year where the dogs wanted to play… much love xx
You might not be surprised to know I wanted that sheep hut for myself Emily, as a hideaway, an artist's cabin, a place to write... I'm not certain how the sheep ended up taking it over but I know they would welcome you inside! I fear you may have to bring your own hay though... they tend to eat theirs!
I am missing seeing lambs in my field, it is two years since I bred any, not counting those that were so brutally denied life last year, I truly hope next spring will be different.
You walk sounds delightful, except perhaps for the swan, I am ever fearful of these beautiful creatures, I still carry the emotional scars of several attacks, I think I have already told you though?
I hope your having a lovely Easter Sunday, Im sure you have conjured yet more magic fro the day! Much love to you.. 💛xx
A delightful cacophony of nature, unfortunately many never experience. Thank you sharing it with us. It reminds me of my pond, watching and listening during the many visitations of creatures from air or land. I loved hearing the continuous discussions of seasonal frogs. All of my friends who stayed overnight would remark the next morning "how can you sleep with all that noise?" To which I answered, "like a babe." I'm happy that dear Milly now feels safe and protected, it takes awhile for some to gain trust again. Happy Easter dear Susie, enjoy your precious time with Rosie and your family.
Hello sweetie, I remember you telling me about your pond and its inhabitants, how they lulled you to sleep at night...its strange how these noises become part of a lullaby, restful rather than bedlam when we have no choice but to live with them. I love that...
Having tamed Milly, I am now working gently on Juniper, another battle altogether and I think perhaps one I may not win. I hope you're doing something special over Easter darling - biggest hugs - the weather here is shocking! xx
Gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing. Yes, the swifts have arrived her in our village called Andorinha (= swallow, the bird)
During our stay and drive up from the Algarve last week we were delighted by the presence of dozens of stork's nest, most of them occupied by one or two adults and one or two fluffy beige babies. The adult ones so busy maintaining the nest and bringing food supplies. Storks and swifts are the messengers of spring here. And we too have had endless downpours again this week, with drops in temperature. If our visitors from northern lands are disappointed by the lack of expected sunshine, they don't show it.
Enjoy precious Rosie-time and have a marvelsome Easter holidays xxx
Thank you so much, those frogs knew how to sing and when! An erratic decision that proved serendipitous... I was lucky Veronica, two days later the quarry was silent again.
I am trying to imagine seeing stork nests on the hill here and finding it quite impossible, that must be an incredible sight, and to see them tending their young. I am delighted by the swifts though, always... to think you live in a village of the same name, it seems very fitting for a beautiful soul such as yours.
Every second of Rosie time was filled to overflowing, some were slow scrabble games while watching the rain, others more lively, all were marvelsome and sadly over until next time. xx
A mothers yearning, aching heart, never-ending, ever beautiful... I cannot imagine not having felt this love that fills my life Veronika - I am certain you know this too 💛
I’ve never heard so many in one place Louise… we hear the roads singing in the valley below us when there is rain coming but this was quite extraordinary !
Enjoy your weekend my lovely friend… happy Easter💛xx
I fear I’ve been doing lunch breaks all wrong! Loved this, and I loved the frogs - they remind me of our spring peepers which are out and making a joyous racket in the marsh and low lying woods where I live.
I will have to Google spring peepers Stephanie, they sound like something I may be missing out on too, though probably not living in these parts anyway... but those frogs were crazy loud and beautiful! I always try to walk at lunchtimes, the paths are quiet and in spring especially there is so much to fill the senses, it beats the noise of lunchtime recreation and some days I get really lucky, I get to listen to a frog opera! xx
Your lunchtime loop is glorious Susie. I slowed down to read your prose with, what I imagined, the same pace you were taking it all in. Past and future falling away into the sweet symphony of springtime abundance. You put a spell on me! Thank you!
It was a last minute serendipitous decision to take that route, not for a moment did I think I would stumble upon a sea of operatic frogs... you were not alone in falling under the spell Kimberly and I love that you joined me! x
Oh Susie! You make it sound glorious! I love the pics you took...and I don't see the third heron! But I read your response to Linda Clark, and so I shall look more closely! I've heard that the coypu are very upsetting to everything...sad, isn't it!? I love the pics of the frogs so much that I quickly attempted to draw the first one in my journal! I laughed as I drew it! Thank you for that (I needed to laugh today!) Also I played the 'soundtrack' several times while I drew! We usually have the sound near my home, as there is a small creek not far away and some evenings they 'sing' very loudly! It is too cold here still...but soon! BTW, I am sure you are an amazing teacher, and though you can not make things better for each and every child, I am sure that by giving what you can makes all the difference in the world. Try not to be too hard on yourself! Have a wonderful weekend!
Dear Jeannine, Thank you for such a kind and thoughtful comment, I need to hear such words of assurance sometimes. I know these children appreciate my presence, that the little I am permitted to do is not only helping them but encouraging too, sadly the question hovers still... but I love what I do and always will. Some days are harder than others... bless you for noticing.
You have to zoom in for the third heron, hidden in the overhanging trees almost at the waters edge on the left. When I was looking through the photos again to show my daughter, there was in fact a fourth too! With the operatic frogs just around the corner it felt like serendipity! I hope you've had a truly beautiful Easter weekend, may spring and your frogs arrive very soon.. xx
Thanks Susie for remembering. Yes Easter has been special thank you. I did make the carrot cake. Not your recipe this time because I had another one which resonated a bit more with the Kiwi son.... It was really good apparently! Will try yours another time. Thank you again so much for sending. Hope you are going for some lovely Spring walks with your daughter. xx
A wonderful read thank you. I have never witnessed the singing of frogs before, so I'm incredibly grateful to you for sharing it!!
I am so glad you enjoyed it Melissa, I have heard frogs singing before but never as gloriously as this day! 💚
"Imagine, hundreds of frogs singing..." she entreats, "—and partaking in other joyful activities—on the first warm day of spring as you eat your lunch."
And so I do, with the absolutely delicious help of her shared video recording.
And it resets the anxiety meter which has been squawking intermittently all morning, zeroes it out completely. Authors a timid smile and a long, cleansing sigh.
What, really, is more grand than some small, perfect moment, held closely, seen ...and heard breathlessly, observed intimately.
What feral magic is this?
Dear David, How relieved I am to have unwittingly lifted anxious moments from you, you make a heart feel heavy at the mere thought...
Please do say - a quiet whisper will do - if ever you need anxiety levels lowered again, I will happily wander for hours in search of just the right feral magic, to flick that old stress needle to touch zero again... a gentle whoosh of a spring breeze swishing through the ears of ripening barley perhaps, or toads singing in the valley when rain is due, a far sweeter sound than the frogs..? Just to hear your cleansed sigh released, it would be no bother at all...
I love your description of the swifts, Susie. Gorgeous writing.
I think we all need words of encouragement at times. Thanks for the photo tip! I wll go look again on my pc-easier than on the cell! Hope you had a lovely Easter, too!
You so prefectly capture the beauty and energy of spring in this post - the flowers, the frogs, the grass, and your joy in all of it.
I think I had a little help from Mother Nature Sarah, there is nothing quite so reminiscent f spring days than wild flowers, singing frogs and a little mist to finish the mood is there..? Thank you so much for reading, I hope you've had some wonderful spring days too. x
Oh, this is just lovely: “He arrives like the full-stop at the end of a sentence; a final clarification of the season blooming.”
That photo of the picturesque hut! And the vigor of frogs in spring. Ours have their own songs, but loudness in common. Have a wonderful holiday, Susie!
I have rarely, if ever, heard frogs singing as joyfully as they were this day, I went back again two days later and there wasn't a single note sung...
Usually I hear the toads at the bottom of the valley, a different sound entirely, like your frogs, but they only sing when there is rain coming.
I hope your holiday was filled with spring joys Carmine, perhaps a little chocolate too! xx
I am coming to live in the sheep hut, Susie. It is more beautiful every time you share a picture. And perhaps the frogs will serenade me too. Oh how wonderful. I have walked down the river today, when I thought the rain would stop me, but there was sunshine and it was bliss. There were moorhens and mallards, pied wagtails and a swan, who was not best pleased at being photographed and came over to warn me off! And there were lambs too. Utterly delightful 💛✨
I am not surprised at all about the sheep hut and I think we have chatted about it before ♥️ and yes, we chatted about the swans too - I was careful and although I’ve not been attacked, we did have an incident with a nesting swan last year where the dogs wanted to play… much love xx
Did you write about that incident Emily, I am sure I remember reading something about your dogs and a swan..
I hope you've had a lovely Easter, the weather has been rather grim here but we refused to let it hamper the good mood! xx
I did Susie, it was last May down the river. They’ve nested earlier this year I think 🦢
You might not be surprised to know I wanted that sheep hut for myself Emily, as a hideaway, an artist's cabin, a place to write... I'm not certain how the sheep ended up taking it over but I know they would welcome you inside! I fear you may have to bring your own hay though... they tend to eat theirs!
I am missing seeing lambs in my field, it is two years since I bred any, not counting those that were so brutally denied life last year, I truly hope next spring will be different.
You walk sounds delightful, except perhaps for the swan, I am ever fearful of these beautiful creatures, I still carry the emotional scars of several attacks, I think I have already told you though?
I hope your having a lovely Easter Sunday, Im sure you have conjured yet more magic fro the day! Much love to you.. 💛xx
A delightful cacophony of nature, unfortunately many never experience. Thank you sharing it with us. It reminds me of my pond, watching and listening during the many visitations of creatures from air or land. I loved hearing the continuous discussions of seasonal frogs. All of my friends who stayed overnight would remark the next morning "how can you sleep with all that noise?" To which I answered, "like a babe." I'm happy that dear Milly now feels safe and protected, it takes awhile for some to gain trust again. Happy Easter dear Susie, enjoy your precious time with Rosie and your family.
Hello sweetie, I remember you telling me about your pond and its inhabitants, how they lulled you to sleep at night...its strange how these noises become part of a lullaby, restful rather than bedlam when we have no choice but to live with them. I love that...
Having tamed Milly, I am now working gently on Juniper, another battle altogether and I think perhaps one I may not win. I hope you're doing something special over Easter darling - biggest hugs - the weather here is shocking! xx
Gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing. Yes, the swifts have arrived her in our village called Andorinha (= swallow, the bird)
During our stay and drive up from the Algarve last week we were delighted by the presence of dozens of stork's nest, most of them occupied by one or two adults and one or two fluffy beige babies. The adult ones so busy maintaining the nest and bringing food supplies. Storks and swifts are the messengers of spring here. And we too have had endless downpours again this week, with drops in temperature. If our visitors from northern lands are disappointed by the lack of expected sunshine, they don't show it.
Enjoy precious Rosie-time and have a marvelsome Easter holidays xxx
Thank you so much, those frogs knew how to sing and when! An erratic decision that proved serendipitous... I was lucky Veronica, two days later the quarry was silent again.
I am trying to imagine seeing stork nests on the hill here and finding it quite impossible, that must be an incredible sight, and to see them tending their young. I am delighted by the swifts though, always... to think you live in a village of the same name, it seems very fitting for a beautiful soul such as yours.
Every second of Rosie time was filled to overflowing, some were slow scrabble games while watching the rain, others more lively, all were marvelsome and sadly over until next time. xx
I am always blown away when I see the storks, their effortless majestic lightness, as they lift their substantial bodies into the air...
and I feel your yearning... the aching of a mother's heart 💕
A mothers yearning, aching heart, never-ending, ever beautiful... I cannot imagine not having felt this love that fills my life Veronika - I am certain you know this too 💛
Enjoy your holidays, dear Susie. I hope by now your daughter is by your side :)
I’m sitting here waiting at the station, no ticket for a destination…. 5 minutes til hugs…
Thank you sweet soul 🤍
We will soon have the cacaphony of frogs here, as well. A wonderful sound to lull one to sleep. x
I’ve never heard so many in one place Louise… we hear the roads singing in the valley below us when there is rain coming but this was quite extraordinary !
Enjoy your weekend my lovely friend… happy Easter💛xx
I fear I’ve been doing lunch breaks all wrong! Loved this, and I loved the frogs - they remind me of our spring peepers which are out and making a joyous racket in the marsh and low lying woods where I live.
I will have to Google spring peepers Stephanie, they sound like something I may be missing out on too, though probably not living in these parts anyway... but those frogs were crazy loud and beautiful! I always try to walk at lunchtimes, the paths are quiet and in spring especially there is so much to fill the senses, it beats the noise of lunchtime recreation and some days I get really lucky, I get to listen to a frog opera! xx
Your lunchtime loop is glorious Susie. I slowed down to read your prose with, what I imagined, the same pace you were taking it all in. Past and future falling away into the sweet symphony of springtime abundance. You put a spell on me! Thank you!
It was a last minute serendipitous decision to take that route, not for a moment did I think I would stumble upon a sea of operatic frogs... you were not alone in falling under the spell Kimberly and I love that you joined me! x
Oh Susie! You make it sound glorious! I love the pics you took...and I don't see the third heron! But I read your response to Linda Clark, and so I shall look more closely! I've heard that the coypu are very upsetting to everything...sad, isn't it!? I love the pics of the frogs so much that I quickly attempted to draw the first one in my journal! I laughed as I drew it! Thank you for that (I needed to laugh today!) Also I played the 'soundtrack' several times while I drew! We usually have the sound near my home, as there is a small creek not far away and some evenings they 'sing' very loudly! It is too cold here still...but soon! BTW, I am sure you are an amazing teacher, and though you can not make things better for each and every child, I am sure that by giving what you can makes all the difference in the world. Try not to be too hard on yourself! Have a wonderful weekend!
Dear Jeannine, Thank you for such a kind and thoughtful comment, I need to hear such words of assurance sometimes. I know these children appreciate my presence, that the little I am permitted to do is not only helping them but encouraging too, sadly the question hovers still... but I love what I do and always will. Some days are harder than others... bless you for noticing.
You have to zoom in for the third heron, hidden in the overhanging trees almost at the waters edge on the left. When I was looking through the photos again to show my daughter, there was in fact a fourth too! With the operatic frogs just around the corner it felt like serendipity! I hope you've had a truly beautiful Easter weekend, may spring and your frogs arrive very soon.. xx
love that last photo, Susie 🌻
it could be anywhere
Anywhere you dream of Darren... 🙏🏼💚
Wow those frogs are hilarious! What a song.
So lovely to spend your lunch break with you Susie. Really felt I was right there. Thank you for such beautiful writing, again. 💚💚xx
Thanks for joining the spectacle Jo, it was quite a show wasn't it!
I hope your Easter weekend has been beyond wonderful, did you get to make the carrot cake? xx
Thanks Susie for remembering. Yes Easter has been special thank you. I did make the carrot cake. Not your recipe this time because I had another one which resonated a bit more with the Kiwi son.... It was really good apparently! Will try yours another time. Thank you again so much for sending. Hope you are going for some lovely Spring walks with your daughter. xx
So long as cake and day were a beautiful success is all that counts! xx