Tag Archives: pot of tea

Magical Midwinter at the Cottage

24 Nov

Freezing fog surrounds Bealtaine Cottage.

Despite the cold, part of the day has been spent outdoors, tree-planting and dog walking.

Missy decided to remain indoors.

She has gotten rather snuffly again as she struggles with her condition.

She craves the warmth and sleeps a lot, bless her!

Once outside, adjusted to the cold with lots of layers, it’s a pleasant day with that magical midwinter light, as the sun travels low on the horizon.

You can see that the fog has partially lifted, though remains in the valley below, hugging the village of Keadue.

Lots of mixed and informal planting gives the gardens a colour and form all the year round, as you can see from today’s picture.

That’s Pyracantha in the foreground, with Buddleia and Copper Beech, Box and Bamboo, all vying for a space and standing up to the wind from the west!

Part of today was spent in hard graft…cutting back some of the Laurel Arch  on the path that leads from the cottage to the polytunnel and soft fruit gardens.

Winter is a busy time, as one attempts to keep on top of the crazy growth here in the west of Ireland.

The top needs to be cut back, but I shall leave that to another day!

However, look what was on the inside…a beautiful birds nest…so I walked quietly away!

My excuse to retreat indoors and make a big pot of tea!

Austerity, Angels and Food

12 Oct

Isn’t it ridiculous how we have come to measure prosperity in terms of pieces of paper and metal?

As if that could possibly sustain us in times of hunger.

Food prices are rising steeply as the world harvests are brought in and disappointment is faced.

The excessive weather conditions of drought or flood have impacted on all the land across the world.

I don’t think that anyone escaped the extremes on Planet Earth!

I was talking with my mother about her childhood during World War 2 and she recalls how governments radically encouraged frugality, a return to the earth, growing food and sharing.

It is hard to understand the lack of empathy present day governments have with the people.

Allotments need to be increased dramatically, as the waiting list for allotments grows longer each day in towns and cities across the UK and Ireland.

As the enforced austerity takes hold on our lives, governments need to be helping people to help themselves as much as possible.

If our politicians cared to help empower people, they would…

As I write this, the stove is slowly warming up the cottage, heating the radiators, heating the water and boiling the kettle, ready for my next pot of tea.

Many of the artefacts we have in our homes around us remind us of places, people and our own journey through this world.

I am very fond of natural crafts and evocative ornaments.

We have a need to surround ourselves with beauty.

Some of the most strikingly beautiful elements in our homes can be a simple vase of greenery from the outdoors

Light catchers are fascinating for reasons that are obvious, in that we continually gravitate towards the light.

Plants defy gravity in their growing towards the light.

Sunshine beckons me outdoors, or towards a window.

How many angels have I looked up at in stained glass windows, earth on one side of the glass and all beyond it on the other.

I have recently noticed  many flower shops are also selling angels and the link therein is intriguing to ponder…spirituality, plants, the earth and beyond, all linked and increasingly acknowledged by people seeking answers to age old questions…our material world has let us down.

There is an increasing disillusionment among people seeking a better way of living and understanding their small place in the Cosmos.

People need to feel hope and a sense of purpose in their lives.

The  trees and bushes stand heavy with fruit and seed-heads, food for all, including the birds.

Why import thousands of tons of peanuts, coconuts and the like, when planting food trees for the birds as well us can do the job so much better?

Planting rather than buying can take us all onto a different level of living!

Developing independence through small steps like PLANTING food for the birds and ourselves, enables thinking and living outside of the present day model of wasted consumerism.

The change is waiting for us.

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