This is just lovely! I especially liked, "I am walking; to the top of the hill because the morning is calling through waves of fog and I cannot think of a reason not to do so."
There is no (good) reason not to go when any permutation of nature is calling.
Thank you Louise, I think you have almost certainly read this before, apologies for the repeat! I thought holidays would give me more 'me' time, how wrong was that! And, now they are over, too fast as always...
Sweetest thanks for wandering with me through my delirium Kendall, it was the sort of magical morning that had to be shared, I am delighted you felt the magic! x
Ben, thank you for popping by, I think you know better than most the deep necessity for connection between offspring and parent, our children are so important no matter their life decisions - I soak up every second possible with Rosie - they will never be enough...
Its certainly different from parenting our young ones isn’t it! I honestly couldn’t say which was the harder… which is the harder… I still have an in-between son!
Tell us more about childhood memories. It's something that can rather uplifting and motivating at adulthood when self knowledge guides daily living. I am new to substack
Hello Avi, welcome to Substack and A Hill and I, I will gather your request and do my best to process some words from childhood, heaven knows I have enough to draw from! Thank you so much for reading 🙏🏼
I absolutely loved this post, and am thrilled to read the newer version again, but more than anything, I am peeking under the words and between the lines. My heart melts into a version of the perfect cup of hot chocolate to be shared with your bestie. Nothing tastes better after holding the hand of your daughter and madly running into the house on a wet , rainy day. Moments of madness and laughter. Always cherished, always perfect .
“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” I am so glad you have finally had this time together, until the next time.
I don’t like to ‘honk my own horn’ , but I am very talented in the art of play.
I believe you do Lor, you certainly excel in bringing a smile to this old face!
Thank you for the thumbs up to a repost, I felt cheap doing this, lazy even but time, what the devil happens to it?
My holiday is over, in two hours I will be in the throng of little loud voices again, after sheep feeding, chicken feeding, dog walk and dropping Seth to his bus (opposite direction to my schools of course, couldn't be that simple could it!) oh and not forgetting to change out of pyjamas in-between because roaming the hills dressed so, and turning up in class are well... you can imagine! Where did two weeks go?
Three days with Rosie, they weren't enough but they were beautiful if we ignored the weather and filled with all that we love, we know how to play too, odd ly the boys looked on with curiosity only, yet they were invited to join the fun, we didn't stop to understand them though...
Now I am counting days once again... and I bet they pass too slowly! 🙃
Dear Jeffrey, thank you so much, I think I've said before that Dylan Thomas is an old favourite, not only of mine but my fathers also, to think he, dare I say both, might enjoy reading my humble words is a huge compliment! 🙏🏼
Here’s the thing about Susie… she does stuff like this, re-creates these moments in word form and ephemeral pictures that only a magician could conjure in waking life or literary imagining. She comes back from these walks full to overflowing with sights and sounds and smells, and animalian interactions and almost always mud, somewhere mud, and distant church bells and forks in paths, and sheep that got out, or cows…and faint light, some waxing, some waning. And owl song…
And when you say yes and sit with her as she tells one of her stories, and pulls you into it and spins you around,
…and holds your eye
Well, you see things and feel things, and remember how to feel things with an elegance and a grit that might make angels wish to be human just for the chance of seeing through such eyes and stepping so joyously into the brambles.
Dearest David, my blushing thanks to you, your words are the kind a person tucks into the pocket of their heart (along with the inevitable bit of pocket-mud from the hill) to carry with them on the harder days, a reminder of how beauty and kindness can find their way between two souls who notice the world closely.
I hardly know what to say, words are swirling in this mornings equally magical mist but they seem wholly insufficient — except that you’ve made me feel deeply seen, and delighted too — I’m grateful far beyond that which any reply could ever hold.
Thank you for this unexpected, wonderful gift my dear friend, you make me glad you learned to write.
This is incredibly lovely, the experience and the tale. I know this unmediated ecstasy pouring in, what a gift it is from our beloved Earth, and how well you honor it and tell its story here, as the pages turn. x
Dear Carmine, thank you, I'm sure you know that carefree, childlike feeling that nature can bestow at times as well as I do! This was worthy of a teller far more accomplished than I to relate the immensity of beauty I saw, I wish I had more words... I hope only that Mother Nature will forgive such humbleness in her greatness...
Such precious moments indeed Susie. ❤️ What a beautiful friendship you share with Rosie. This takes a life time of love and work to creating the spaces to grow that.
Nature, Mother - Daughter relationship, Creativity - all are the essence of what matters most on Earth Day. ❤️❤️
Thank goodness for our children Jo! To inspire and nurture love and creativity along the way. I cannot imagine a life without... I think to people like us Earth Day is every day! 💚xx
Oh thank you.. thank you! You have calmed my concerns completely Kimberly, I felt such guilt at reposting something already read... I hope that next year, perhaps I can recount anther walk, one that holds me equally spellbound instead, if not I will remember your request with a smile of reassurance 🙏🏼xx
This is just lovely! I especially liked, "I am walking; to the top of the hill because the morning is calling through waves of fog and I cannot think of a reason not to do so."
There is no (good) reason not to go when any permutation of nature is calling.
fabulous fogbow photography 🙏🏼
Thank you Darren , magic happened that morning! ✨
Sublime.
Thank you Louise, I think you have almost certainly read this before, apologies for the repeat! I thought holidays would give me more 'me' time, how wrong was that! And, now they are over, too fast as always...
Much love to you xx
That’s always the case, isn’t it. Sounds like you and Rosie had a fun time together. Hugs to you both. 💕
💙💚
Thanks lovely Elske… I hope life is being kind ♥️xx
Life is kind and good dear Susie. We are happy in our little house near the Woods. But most of all near our daughters and friends ❤️ xx
I am so glad, I envy you being close to your daughters Elske, how wonderful that must be! xxx
What a beautiful morning Susie, such magic. I would be skipping too—as much as wellies permit. The first and last images are especially gorgeous.
Wellies are not the easiest to skip in are they! Oh but Michela, aren’t we so fortunate to be able to try… especially on mornings like these! 🙏🏼✨
I was dancing in the mist with you. Through every word 🤍
Dearest Chloe, I highly recommend dancing at any time, under celestial fogbow angels even more so! Thank you walking with me beautiful soul 🤍x
Oh my goodness this was so beautiful. I'm so glad you brought it back! Thank you, thank you. I felt totally held and consumed...
Sweetest thanks for wandering with me through my delirium Kendall, it was the sort of magical morning that had to be shared, I am delighted you felt the magic! x
It is so touching to hear about your time with your daughter, the kind of rapport you have with her. Soak it up!
Ben, thank you for popping by, I think you know better than most the deep necessity for connection between offspring and parent, our children are so important no matter their life decisions - I soak up every second possible with Rosie - they will never be enough...
It’s so true. What most people don’t understand is how much harder it is to be a parent once your kids are grown.
Its certainly different from parenting our young ones isn’t it! I honestly couldn’t say which was the harder… which is the harder… I still have an in-between son!
Tell us more about childhood memories. It's something that can rather uplifting and motivating at adulthood when self knowledge guides daily living. I am new to substack
. Thanks.
Hello Avi, welcome to Substack and A Hill and I, I will gather your request and do my best to process some words from childhood, heaven knows I have enough to draw from! Thank you so much for reading 🙏🏼
I absolutely loved this post, and am thrilled to read the newer version again, but more than anything, I am peeking under the words and between the lines. My heart melts into a version of the perfect cup of hot chocolate to be shared with your bestie. Nothing tastes better after holding the hand of your daughter and madly running into the house on a wet , rainy day. Moments of madness and laughter. Always cherished, always perfect .
“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” I am so glad you have finally had this time together, until the next time.
I don’t like to ‘honk my own horn’ , but I am very talented in the art of play.
Nice to excel in at least one thing😊.
I believe you do Lor, you certainly excel in bringing a smile to this old face!
Thank you for the thumbs up to a repost, I felt cheap doing this, lazy even but time, what the devil happens to it?
My holiday is over, in two hours I will be in the throng of little loud voices again, after sheep feeding, chicken feeding, dog walk and dropping Seth to his bus (opposite direction to my schools of course, couldn't be that simple could it!) oh and not forgetting to change out of pyjamas in-between because roaming the hills dressed so, and turning up in class are well... you can imagine! Where did two weeks go?
Three days with Rosie, they weren't enough but they were beautiful if we ignored the weather and filled with all that we love, we know how to play too, odd ly the boys looked on with curiosity only, yet they were invited to join the fun, we didn't stop to understand them though...
Now I am counting days once again... and I bet they pass too slowly! 🙃
"I am dancing; in my head because my boots make any step other than one in front of the other too difficult.
I am singing; to myself because the silence is too beautiful to spoil.
I am walking; to the top of the hill because the morning is calling through waves of fog and I cannot think of a reason not to do so.
I am a child, playing her favourite game."
Such glorious, ecstatic writing that reminds me of Dylan Thomas in its simple beauty and rapture. Brava, Susie!
Dear Jeffrey, thank you so much, I think I've said before that Dylan Thomas is an old favourite, not only of mine but my fathers also, to think he, dare I say both, might enjoy reading my humble words is a huge compliment! 🙏🏼
Here’s the thing about Susie… she does stuff like this, re-creates these moments in word form and ephemeral pictures that only a magician could conjure in waking life or literary imagining. She comes back from these walks full to overflowing with sights and sounds and smells, and animalian interactions and almost always mud, somewhere mud, and distant church bells and forks in paths, and sheep that got out, or cows…and faint light, some waxing, some waning. And owl song…
And when you say yes and sit with her as she tells one of her stories, and pulls you into it and spins you around,
…and holds your eye
Well, you see things and feel things, and remember how to feel things with an elegance and a grit that might make angels wish to be human just for the chance of seeing through such eyes and stepping so joyously into the brambles.
She makes me glad I learned to read.
Dearest David, my blushing thanks to you, your words are the kind a person tucks into the pocket of their heart (along with the inevitable bit of pocket-mud from the hill) to carry with them on the harder days, a reminder of how beauty and kindness can find their way between two souls who notice the world closely.
I hardly know what to say, words are swirling in this mornings equally magical mist but they seem wholly insufficient — except that you’ve made me feel deeply seen, and delighted too — I’m grateful far beyond that which any reply could ever hold.
Thank you for this unexpected, wonderful gift my dear friend, you make me glad you learned to write.
This is incredibly lovely, the experience and the tale. I know this unmediated ecstasy pouring in, what a gift it is from our beloved Earth, and how well you honor it and tell its story here, as the pages turn. x
Dear Carmine, thank you, I'm sure you know that carefree, childlike feeling that nature can bestow at times as well as I do! This was worthy of a teller far more accomplished than I to relate the immensity of beauty I saw, I wish I had more words... I hope only that Mother Nature will forgive such humbleness in her greatness...
Have a wonderful weekend xx
Oooh Susie, mornings like this are the best! ♥️
This one was the very best ever JoAnna, Unforgettable... ♥️xx
Such precious moments indeed Susie. ❤️ What a beautiful friendship you share with Rosie. This takes a life time of love and work to creating the spaces to grow that.
Nature, Mother - Daughter relationship, Creativity - all are the essence of what matters most on Earth Day. ❤️❤️
Thank goodness for our children Jo! To inspire and nurture love and creativity along the way. I cannot imagine a life without... I think to people like us Earth Day is every day! 💚xx
Yes agree 100% xxx
This piece is so ecstatic. I beg you to post it every year so I can return to it anew, as you do the natural world, every time you step into her. 🙏
Oh thank you.. thank you! You have calmed my concerns completely Kimberly, I felt such guilt at reposting something already read... I hope that next year, perhaps I can recount anther walk, one that holds me equally spellbound instead, if not I will remember your request with a smile of reassurance 🙏🏼xx