Is she drunk, this bumblebee,

as she stumbles and crawls

inside the crocus flower?

She is certainly bedraggled,

having just woken

from a very long sleep,

and in the urgent need

to drink a flower’s nectar

she forgot her usual early morning cleansing.

I love this busy Moma,

this fuzzy beastie, little Queen,

all hum and quiver,

full of vigour.

 

Winter Solstice

This morning, at sometime between 03.00 and 03.15am, I woke up feeling completely refreshed and fully alive!  It was only when I turned onto my back that the searing pain returned!  It took another 30 minutes before I was able to stand by the bedroom window and peer into the street where the darkness was diminished by the street lights.  It wasn’t raining but the tarmac glistened.

I left the bedroom, and with the aid of 2 walking sticks I shuffled my way down the hall and into the kitchen.  I turned on the small, softer lights, those above the worktops.  I sat at the kitchen table with a glass of cool water and waited.  It would be another hour before I could take medication.  It was 04.00am!

Whilst I sat there massaging my right leg, hopelessly trying to reduce the pain, I remembered that today was the Winter Solstice, mid-winter!  From today the sun would once again be slowly climbing higher above the horizon, imperceptibly bringing more daylight into our world.  This return of the light is part of the cycle of life, of increasing daylight and warmth.

It is shocking that at nearly 70 years of age, I am being reminded about the earth’s cycle of celebration (www.glenniekindred.co.uk).  In a little, illustrated book she writes about this time as a festival, of roots that have been growing within us, bringing stability:

The days will lengthen..…we can bring our inner wisdom out of the dark unconscious, to grow with the increasing light..…It is time to birth our visions, name our dreams and make our resolutions…..Winter Solstice is an opportunity to come out of hibernation, be loving, generous and sociable…..The old year has died and the way is now prepared for the rebirth of activity and expansion into the outer world.

Whilst it was still dark outside, I lit a candle.  Here in NI it was exactly 04.19am and surely a time to hope for a better future.  To all who pass this way, HAPPY YULE!

From A Nocturnal upon St. Lucy’s Day by John Donne:

‘Tis the year’s midnight, and it is the day’s,

Lucy’s, who scarce seven hours herself unmasks;

……………………………………………………………………………..

Since she enjoys her long night’s festival,

Let me prepare towards her, and let me call

This hour her vigil, and her eve, since this

Both the year’s, and the day’s deep midnight is.

 

 

 

On the return leg of our recent Tollymore walk, a group of people emerged from the woods!  Long cloaks, fur collars, staffs!

We couldn’t work out why they were dressed so; what was going on?  It was only when we returned to car park and saw them boarding a tour coach: Game of Thrones!

At the end of October we visited Tollymore Forest Park in County Down.  Even if the car park is full of cars, which it was, you can still walk there without meeting many others on the good paths.  The following day was Halloween, and so a peaceful walk among the trees was a good place to give thanks to our ancestors; a great time for reflection and a time to allow seeds of renewal to settle in our still warm minds.

We’re almost half way through the autumn and the gardens are slowly fading, but here is a bright corner being visited by the many flying insects.  My photograph shows a hoverfly.  Can you see it?

Deep cerise flowers

Now filling the dark border;

Michaelmas daisies!

Autumn

 

Butterflies and bees,

Feeding on flowers —

Autumn’s bounty.

 

 

As I write this there are eight Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies feeding on the tall verbena plants (Verbena bonariensis) in the garden border.  It is a joy to watch them flit from one flower to another, as the plants sway in the gentle breeze.  Even as I look down to focus on the book where I write, their shadows dance gracefully across the page.

Autumn is harvest time; the gathering in of summer’s bounty.  Isn’t that what we should all be doing?

Today, a different type of outing for me, looking at a little history with a big story!

The Ballymartin River

The forge.

The workshop.

The millrace.

The turbine, which is still in use and in working order after nearly 150 years!

The walls of the original beetling mill.

A fascinating tour!  Well worth the visit!

Find out more at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/pattersons-spade-mill

 

 

 

 

The weather has been wet, windy and miserable recently so when the sun finally decided to come out from behind the clouds we jumped in the car and headed to a place we haven’t visited in a long time.  Rowallane!  One of the National Trust’s properties not too far from home.

Perfect!

It is believed that St. Patrick came to this area of County Down in 432AD and following his death an abbey was built on the site.  After its destruction by the Vikings in the 12th century it was re-founded as an Augustinian Priory which was also destroyed, in the 14th century by Edward Bruce.

On the 1500th anniversary of the landing of St. Patrick the current building was opened, on All Saint’s Day in 1933.  Prayer and worship continue to this day.  A beautiful church and a reminder of our Christian roots on this island.

Yesterday it rained, then it rained even harder, then there was a thunderstorm!

Today however, was wonderful.  A day out in great company.

From Sandy Bay to Ram’s Island it took twenty minutes on the ferry.  There were the usual Lough Neagh midges to contend with but not the in numbers we get earlier in the year, and they don’t bite!

A walk, a talk and a picnic.  Brilliant!