Nature can be hard but also comforting, it depends what you expect from her. This makes nature unpredictable and a challenge for us all. Im glad you are not alone in the forest and have a great and handy partner to overcome all the problems. Nevertheless I wish you less rain and more comfort, especially during the dark days to come. May the light of X-mas enlighten you as the coming reunion with your daughter. All the best my lovely friend. Warm greetings from Dave from the Netherlands.
Heartfelt thanks Dave... only another in tune with nature would réalise the difficulty and hardship winter brings... Mother Nature is a fickle soul and yes, as such so very unpredictable but we must try to make the best of every day possible... As I have been and will continue to do so..!
With love and a huge very chilly hug from it tiny corner of France - your dear friend always xxx
I'm always right there with you Susie on your travels through the days and the seasons. Your writing is just beautiful and evocative. As are your photos. What a package!
I smiled at your mention of the young bucks drenching themselves in Hugo B. They just don't realise how strong the scent is do they? I started asking my son to spray his deodorant on outside because it just wafts through the house in all its Lynx stink. Tried to get him on a natural deod but nope he said it didn't work. I sense he may not have actually tried it. Anyway, not sure why I have honed in on that part of your letter. Because the whole beautiful thing transported me. Thank you for the time it must take you to create something so seductive. x
Jo, hugely belated thanks! I don’t know quite how I missed your comment but thank goodness I found it! Lynx stink… I love that I’m laughing… and ooh how well I know. My very nearly fifteen year old has just discovered the art of replacing washing with soap and water with anything at all that smells sweeter than he does…. He leaves for college smelling like not like a French perfume factory but those who work within on a hot summers day!
I drive him with windows wide open in the car for fear of smelly the same when I arrive in my class.
I’m so glad, once again to have transported you, five gifts in one week, Christmas has come early! X
As always, your photography takes my breath away! The coppery sunrise lingered (and still is) as you reflected on hibernation, the animals and yours alike. I, too, am glad you’re hearing few gun shots, how amusing that the hunters are in it for the fashion as much (if not more) as the actual hunt. Maybe someday they’ll forget the guns altogether. 🤣 Thank you for sharing your bleakest of days with us. Your prose and photography are nothing but.
Thank you Kimberly, I can only return that compliment, your photography takes my breath away! And your films.!
I can but pray that the hunters lose interest! Whilst I understand the need for culling is genuine, I will never understand the need to glorify it. I have been known to stand, stubbornly refusing to move from their paths on occasion… I tell them the laws of respect to slaying a wild animal… I do it quietly while they shout, they dread seeing me.
But I don’t win… they tear away in their 4x4 turbo charged perfumed fury ignoring every word.
This is the downside of this little corner of paradise… it it is thankfully a seasonal one. X
Thanks so much Emily I’ve just returned from the hill, it is already dotted with those splashes of fluorescent red and reeking of aftershave so my weekend walks will have to be taken elsewhere... honestly the hunters are my biggest curse during the open seasons, the weather and the mud is ultimately ignorable by comparison.
Have a very lovely weekend! I hope the sun shines for you... it has made a muscu needed appearance here! 😌xx
That gutter 💕✨💕 Quite possibly the most handsome I have ever seen! Poor you having to suffer through an outbreak of la gastro, my mother would empathise entirely. Thanks for sharing my Substack, you’re so kind 🙏🏻😘x
Ohh I’m so glad you agree Vanessa, that makes me feel just that little bit less bonkers...! 😅🙏🏽
Tummy bugs are my worst nightmare in class, especially in the primary schools where the kids do so love to share...😰 is your mother phobic also, it’s an absolute curse tbh...
Have a good weekend, it was my pleasure to share your post! The sun has finally made a much welcomed and needed appearance here and I’m just about to pick up my daughter from the station... fingers crossed that the short time we will have together remains sunny! 🧡🍂xxx
Oh dear Sweet Susie, the constant deluge of rain and storms are indeed dismal, never mind the awful hunters bombarding your hill. Wishing you a roaring fire to cozy up to with dear Rosie beside you. This past week was too much, way too much. Love and hugs!
It really was darling... but this morning the sun is out to play (as are the red flashes of hunters) and I’m about to dash off to the station to pick up Rosie... last nights train was cancelled would you believe but she’s on this mornings... with a huge smile! Biggest love back... 🙏🏽xxxx
Thanks heaps Pipp, I’m just about to leave for the station to pick up Rosie and the sun is shining, at last! It rained heavily for 52 hours solid in the end, in the 20 years we’ve been here it has never been so prolonged... there is horrendous mud and slop everywhere, flashes of red and the reek of aftershave all over the hill already this morning but I’m oblivious... 😅😂
I haven't read this one just yet but I'm scrolling through your photos and they are exquisite! Can't wait to sit down and have a look at all of these.
Nature can be hard but also comforting, it depends what you expect from her. This makes nature unpredictable and a challenge for us all. Im glad you are not alone in the forest and have a great and handy partner to overcome all the problems. Nevertheless I wish you less rain and more comfort, especially during the dark days to come. May the light of X-mas enlighten you as the coming reunion with your daughter. All the best my lovely friend. Warm greetings from Dave from the Netherlands.
Heartfelt thanks Dave... only another in tune with nature would réalise the difficulty and hardship winter brings... Mother Nature is a fickle soul and yes, as such so very unpredictable but we must try to make the best of every day possible... As I have been and will continue to do so..!
With love and a huge very chilly hug from it tiny corner of France - your dear friend always xxx
I'm always right there with you Susie on your travels through the days and the seasons. Your writing is just beautiful and evocative. As are your photos. What a package!
I smiled at your mention of the young bucks drenching themselves in Hugo B. They just don't realise how strong the scent is do they? I started asking my son to spray his deodorant on outside because it just wafts through the house in all its Lynx stink. Tried to get him on a natural deod but nope he said it didn't work. I sense he may not have actually tried it. Anyway, not sure why I have honed in on that part of your letter. Because the whole beautiful thing transported me. Thank you for the time it must take you to create something so seductive. x
Jo, hugely belated thanks! I don’t know quite how I missed your comment but thank goodness I found it! Lynx stink… I love that I’m laughing… and ooh how well I know. My very nearly fifteen year old has just discovered the art of replacing washing with soap and water with anything at all that smells sweeter than he does…. He leaves for college smelling like not like a French perfume factory but those who work within on a hot summers day!
I drive him with windows wide open in the car for fear of smelly the same when I arrive in my class.
I’m so glad, once again to have transported you, five gifts in one week, Christmas has come early! X
🥰
As always, your photography takes my breath away! The coppery sunrise lingered (and still is) as you reflected on hibernation, the animals and yours alike. I, too, am glad you’re hearing few gun shots, how amusing that the hunters are in it for the fashion as much (if not more) as the actual hunt. Maybe someday they’ll forget the guns altogether. 🤣 Thank you for sharing your bleakest of days with us. Your prose and photography are nothing but.
Thank you Kimberly, I can only return that compliment, your photography takes my breath away! And your films.!
I can but pray that the hunters lose interest! Whilst I understand the need for culling is genuine, I will never understand the need to glorify it. I have been known to stand, stubbornly refusing to move from their paths on occasion… I tell them the laws of respect to slaying a wild animal… I do it quietly while they shout, they dread seeing me.
But I don’t win… they tear away in their 4x4 turbo charged perfumed fury ignoring every word.
This is the downside of this little corner of paradise… it it is thankfully a seasonal one. X
That last photo looks like a musical staff with bird-notes on it :)
I had the same thought - I even nearly edited in the notes Anne!
And such beautiful pictures again Susie, you are an artist 🙏 Enjoy your weekend with your family 😘
Huge and very belated thanks Elske... we had the most beautiful weekend possible... blessed from all sides..!🙏🏽Sending love always ♥️xx
Beautiful Susie. Sounds like lots of hard work for the winter. The worst I must do is walk the dogs and deal with the muddy consequences 🐾🐾🐾
Thanks so much Emily I’ve just returned from the hill, it is already dotted with those splashes of fluorescent red and reeking of aftershave so my weekend walks will have to be taken elsewhere... honestly the hunters are my biggest curse during the open seasons, the weather and the mud is ultimately ignorable by comparison.
Have a very lovely weekend! I hope the sun shines for you... it has made a muscu needed appearance here! 😌xx
That gutter 💕✨💕 Quite possibly the most handsome I have ever seen! Poor you having to suffer through an outbreak of la gastro, my mother would empathise entirely. Thanks for sharing my Substack, you’re so kind 🙏🏻😘x
Ohh I’m so glad you agree Vanessa, that makes me feel just that little bit less bonkers...! 😅🙏🏽
Tummy bugs are my worst nightmare in class, especially in the primary schools where the kids do so love to share...😰 is your mother phobic also, it’s an absolute curse tbh...
Have a good weekend, it was my pleasure to share your post! The sun has finally made a much welcomed and needed appearance here and I’m just about to pick up my daughter from the station... fingers crossed that the short time we will have together remains sunny! 🧡🍂xxx
Oh dear Sweet Susie, the constant deluge of rain and storms are indeed dismal, never mind the awful hunters bombarding your hill. Wishing you a roaring fire to cozy up to with dear Rosie beside you. This past week was too much, way too much. Love and hugs!
It really was darling... but this morning the sun is out to play (as are the red flashes of hunters) and I’m about to dash off to the station to pick up Rosie... last nights train was cancelled would you believe but she’s on this mornings... with a huge smile! Biggest love back... 🙏🏽xxxx
Thanks heaps Pipp, I’m just about to leave for the station to pick up Rosie and the sun is shining, at last! It rained heavily for 52 hours solid in the end, in the 20 years we’ve been here it has never been so prolonged... there is horrendous mud and slop everywhere, flashes of red and the reek of aftershave all over the hill already this morning but I’m oblivious... 😅😂
Have a lovely weekend 😘