Little things that mean so much

I watch
little birds flitting from tree to tree
bright plumage caught in winter sun
a delight to the eye

a joy to behold
in winter’s dying days
when bleakness reigns
and frost chills the bones.

I hear
merry chatter as they feed
on seeds and nuts
hanging freely from the bough

Little joys
Big with life
gladdening my heart
dispelling inner gloom

Thank you
Creator of all
for these
Your gifts of life.



For more photos of Whinlatter Forest Park in the Lake District see other posts here and:
Lake District Saga
Writing For Joy

For They Like Sheep Have Gone Astray...

Now if I happened to still be preaching, I would have had a good 'true from life' story to start off with. For this morning a number of sheep found their way into our back garden. They must have come from a field a little distance away, following a stream that led through a neighbour's garden. No doubt diving their heads under the dividing wall — unless they broke a wall down somewhere or did a bit of jolly good leaping, of which sheep can be quite good at. Anyway, there they were on the lawn, one of them eating the leaves fallen from the oak tree (much to my hubby's delight as it meant less for him to sweep up). I took these photos of the beautiful woolly creatures before hubby drove them back the way they had come. Why did the sheep leave the flock and a nice green field? Why do we go astray when things are fine as they are?

Bunny in the Garden — GOT IT!

Bunny in the Garden — Got it!

We have had a rabbit hopping through the garden since spring. We don’t know where it goes to and we don’t know where it comes from. It does not stay long. Sometimes it does not stop at all. We have no objection to it nibbling weeds in the lawn or borders and there is no evidence of damage to anything. Hoppity usually has his ears up listening for trouble. Amazing that he’s still alive. There are plenty of predators in the area.
I have tried to catch him with my camera many times. When I have had it ready he hasn’t appeared. I race to get it and he’s gone, or just disappearing . Today my hubby called to say he was on the lawn. I rushed for the camera. Did not stop to get the focal distance correct and snapped the bunny through the kitchen window — never mind the haze caused by double glazing and the usual distortion of damp mist on the glass. No time to open the door to get a snap. No time to readjust the camera from the past setting.
Okay not perfect, but I now have my dear bunny on record.
No way would we eat him. Neither would we eat the dear squirrels. Unfortunately, a shop in London is selling squirrel meat. No doubt before long they will be hunted down for their flesh as well as the hatred some folk have for them. Already interest is growing. Golly, you would have to suck bones to get anything from them.

See also my
Writing For Joy
Wrinkly Writers
Gladys Hobson — Writer

Busy Squirrel

One of the great pleasures in life is observing the life of other creatures around us.
After a busy time I now have the chance to observe the wil life in the garden. I took a lot of photographs of a squirrel trying to get at the food put out for the birds. First in the back garden and then in the front. All the photos had to be taken through the glass of windows. Most of the time the squirrel was on the move, but I managed to get a few hazy photographs.