The road leads ever on....
The philosophy of my dear on-line friend Fran's Sacred Ordinary blog - which notices, and is mindful of the special qualities to be experienced in each day, has always appealed greatly to me, and applies particularly to my life at the moment. I am in a fallow period - not off having any big adventures or accomplishing major challenges, but spending my days - these quiet days of Autumn, quite quietly myself, filtering, consolidating, contemplating my life - and while doing so, enjoying and feeling gratitude for the ordinary - but precious - components of each day.
I constantly keep in mind how many people, dealing with challenges not of their own making, would give anything just to have an ordinary day, so I mindfully acknowledge that the privilege of enjoying such 'ordinary-ness' is not something to be taken for granted.
Hips of the hedgerow dog-roses
So today, you will not find anything very new, or different here - these photographs are a just another record of an ordinary stroll I took through the woods at the end of last week. I have probably posted similar images, along a similar route, many times before. But I do know, from messages that I have received from readers of this blog, housebound, physically challenged, or perhaps dealing with an overwhelming grief, that my ordinary can be their extra-ordinary.
Even if only for a few moments, I can take them - and you - outside, away from their difficulties, and into the lovely English countryside, where for just a brief moment, they may find respite - and you all may find a little peace. This is, for me, an extra-ordinary thing to be able to do. The ability to do it, to share my ordinary days with others through this medium, makes those days for me extra-ordinary as well, and for the privilege of being able to do it, I daily feel much gratitude.
Acorns - the rear one parasitised by a wasp, creating a mis-shapen gall
The beautiful staghorn lichen, Letharia vulpina
'Over the stile and into the woods'...another pathway, for another day
A five year old image, of a beautiful, patinated, decrepit old shed...
...now swept away, the field ploughed ready to receive - what, I wonder? (How I would love to run a metal detector over it - there has apparently been past evidence of Roman settlement in the vicinity)
Ordinary Frisian cows, being ordinary - chewing the grass - but I always find it very peaceful and calming to watch them just going about their business, with no thought for the morrow.
The Fly agaric, Amanita muscaria - with nibbles taken out by some creature unaware of its reputation as a poisonous toadstool :-)
A more story-book version - just add Elves!
Another image which could be at home in a fairy story - the straggling, other-worldy branches of Rhododendron ponticuum, hunting for the light, and as loathed as many a monstrous creature by those who have to hack it back on a regular basis, to prevent it smothering all other growth. A fine candidate to have rapaciously covered Sleeping Beauty's castle!
The delicate seedhead of the common Dandelion
The rich colours of Autumn - common but oh, such a beautiful combination...Hawthorn berries everywhere.
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