Country Life

I ADORE living in the country. I know that some would find it a nightmare but not me. I love being close to nature, watching the gentle rhythems of the natural year reveal its treasures each and every day. Today we woke to a thick mist engulfing the countryside, hiding the hedgerows, trees and fields from our view. 

Slowly, it dissipated during the course of the morning. By noon only wisps of mist remained in the lower reaches of fields and valleys.

The beauty of skeletal trees stretching their arms towards the heavens are stark against the crisp, clear sky. Such beauty.

As I stood quietly at the top of my drive looking over the fields beyond, I noticed three little sparrows bathing in the puddles left by recent rains. Happily, they splashed in the muddy pool oblivious to the occasional car passing by on the road just a few feet away from them. This is what I love about nature… the life that goes on mostly unobserved.  Generally, people busily rush through their day, never stopping for a moment just to be still, breath and observe the natural world around them – that saddens me because there is great peace to be drawn from nature.

Turning to go back into the house I heard the clattering of horse hooves coming down the road. I paused, waiting to see what all the commotion was about. Behind me the horses in the field were restless, ears pricked looking towards the sound. Low and behold…a hunting party went on by.

They waved and greeted me as the trotted past with their hounds running ahead of them. I must just add here that fox hunting is banned in England, Scotland and Wales. Nowadays the hounds follow a chemical trail laid across the countryside.

Anyhoo, it was interesting to see them all go by and of course, they all look terribly smart. Traditionally hunts take place on Boxing Day so I wonder why they were all out today?

I’m going to leave you with a lovely poem befitting of Christmas Eve but before I do, I just want to wish you all a very blessed and Merry Christmas. I’ll see you after the festivities…

Christmas Carol

by Kenneth Grahame

Villages all, this frosty tide,

Let your doors swing open wide,

Though wind may follow and snow betide,

Yet draw us in by your fire to bide:

Joy shall be yours in the morning.

Here we stand in the cold and the sleet,

blowing fingers and stamping feet,

Come from far away, you to greet-

You by the fire and we in the street-

Bidding you joy in the morning.

For ere one half of the night was gone,

Sudden a star has led us on,

Raining bliss and benison-

bliss tomorrow and more anon,

Joy for every morning.

Good man Joseph toiled through the snow-

Saw the star o’er the stable low;

Mary she might not farther go-

Welcome thatch and litter below!

Joy was hers in the morning.

And then they heard the angels tell,

“Who were the first to cry noel?

Animals all as it befell,

In the stable where they did dwell!

Joy shall be theirs in the morning.

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