Every Day A New Day

When I open the door this morning, what will I find?

Will it still be snowy?  Will green grass and brown earth be visible again?  Perhaps the intricate patterns of frost?

Will the ground be solid as the rocks beneath the moor?  Or will we be slithering on slush?  Sliding on ice?  Squelching through mud?

Will the sun be bright?  Will there be blue sky?  Or will the clouds have drifted so low we’ll move like ghosts through the fog?

Will it rain on us?  Will the wind hurl hailstones into our faces?

Will the air be snap-crisp and still?  And so keenly clear we can see the distant hills in sharpest focus?  Or will the damp and the mist blur the view and suck the freshness from the atmosphere?

Will the cold bite and sting and make camera-wielding fingers numb?  Or will the temperature have climbed to create a softer air?

Will the light be dancing with the heather and making the puddles gleam?  Will colours sing and contrasts be strong?  Or will the whole world be a monochrome shade of grey or grey or grey?

Monday Meditation (1)

‘Come forth into the light of things, let nature be

your teacher.’

( William Wordsworth )

The ABC of Joss

Whilst I was working on my ABC of Important Things a couple of weeks ago, Joss was figuring out his own version.  He asked me to post it for you.

A is for Affection.  I’m as loving as they come and I’m everybody’s friend.

B is for Bones.  The absolute best thing to do with a bone is to rush off and bury it immediately.  Second best is to chew it for hours on end.  Both are pretty great.

C is for Chasing.  Anything, really.  Grouse, rabbits, cats, hens, even the occasional car.  And, once or twice, sheep.  Absolutely not supposed to, of course - but I am a sheepdog, after all.

D is for Dinner.  Best when it’s the cat’s and I can gobble it down in the middle of the night while everyone’s asleep.

E is for Eyebrows.  Two of my finest features.  The reason Helen chose me over all my brothers when I was a tiny, tiny puppy.

F is for Fox.  Roughly once a year, the temptation to roll where a fox has been is just too enticing.  I reek appallingly for days afterwards.  Don’t mind the smell myself but always evokes lots of nose-wrinkling and disgusted looks from humans.  Strange.

G is for Grinning.  Apparently very few dogs smile.  I do it all the time.  Grin from ear to ear I do.  Humans find it endearing.

H is for Helen.  My heart is hers.  Happy so long as I can be with her.

I is for Intelligent.  Yes, I am. 

J is for Jealous.  If there are cuddles going, I like to be at the front of the queue, thank you.  And to remain there.

K is for Kisses.  Like to dish these out freely. I specialise in lovely, wet, slobbery ones.

L is for Licking.  Closely allied to the aforementioned kisses….but also the means of washing anything that needs cleaning.  Including me.

M is for the Moors.  Yes, I’m a dog-o-the-moors.  My stamping ground.  (Though I’m also very partial to a walk in the woods.)

N is for Nettie the cat.  I’m a tad scared of him.  But he’s family and I’m also kind of fond of him.  Moreover, I’ll fly to his rescue if ever another creature threatens him.

O is for Obedience.  I (almost always) do as I’m told.

P is for Plastic Bottles.  Super good at clearing the moors of these.  They make great toys.

Q is for Quick.  Don’t be fooled by my size.  I can move like lightning when I want to.

R is for Rolling.  Nothing like a daily wriggle on my back.

S is for Snow.  Love the stuff.  Especially eating it.

T is for Treats.  My favourite word.  Particularly when it refers to roasted chicken strips.  Or scrambled eggs.

U is for Underfoot.  My special talent.  Wherever you want to walk or stand, I’ll be there, lying in the way.

V is for Vets’.  The place where I’m made a fuss of and given free biscuits.

W is for Wagging my tail.  Even when I’m too sleepy to move a muscle, my tail will swish madly at your approach. 

X is for X marks the spot.  I always remember where I’ve buried a bone or left a ball.  (Actually, I always remember everything.)

Y is for Yanking the stuffing out of soft toys.  That’s what they’re for.  Right?

Z is for Zen Dog.  One of my nicknames.  I’m an innate peacemaker.  I want the whole world to be happy.

The Wisdom of the Silver Birch

(Its bare branches dotted with birds’ nests…)

The more I grow and the more I flourish, the more of service I can be to others.

Farewell to the Studio

Joss and I took one last look out of the French windows at the studio today then handed over the keys.  It’s time to move on!

I’ve had the studio for 18 months (can you believe it?!) and it’s been great.  I’ve taught piano classes and craft workshops, met with artistic friends and worked on my own projects.  The little building has served a valuable function.

But my creative focus has shifted during that time from music teaching and crafts to photography and writing.   A new space beckons and new ways of using it. The external move is simply reflecting what’s going on within.

So grateful, though, for the time spent here….the armchair by the windows, the walks along the reservoir.  But even more excited about what lies ahead!