Yesterday was one of those dank and dismal days where the sky is an unbroken grey which seems to envelop the countryside like a giant wet blanket but today was quite different . Our village is situated on the western flank of the hills which make up the Exe Valley . This morning I drove my wife to her day at the Hospice where she has settled in really well which is understandable considering how gentle and caring they are with her . As we left the village the view of the valley opens up before you and today great wafts of gossamer clouds were trapped in the valley and cleaves and were clinging to the wooded slopes of the hills . It reminded me of the magical mists of Avalon with the tops of the hills already bathed in sunlight . As we watched , the early warmth of the sun was creating updrafts which caused the white mists to swirl and dissolve heavenwards into nothingness and exposing the countryside below ; freshly ploughed fields of a rich redness which is so typical of our Devon soil . I turned off the main road and drove up the little Burn Valley with its brook which burbles and gurgles its meandering rout down to the River Exe . The banks are lined with hazel and willow under which are drift after drift after drift of snowdrops . They are such delicate plants ; the internal petals are full of lime green stripes and with a glorious yellow centre .Higher up the valley we passed fields with spring lambs . Gangs of bully boys charging round their green playground doing their strange stiff four legged jumps and head butting their friends whilst others with tails wagging in ecstasy nuzzled their patient mothers under bellies .It felt good to be alive .
At the Hospice , Veronica was warmly welcomed as usual and I left with a pang of envy -- bread and butter pudding was on the menu and I love bread and butter pudding !
Written by
Georgepa
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Another wonderful description Georgepa. Thank you.
I hope you did something for you during your time off. I think I would have stopped and stared at those glorious views if I was where you are.
Colin was at the hospice today. I came home, looked out of my kitchen window to see the rain pouring down, wondering why it always seems to rain on Friday. Then a Nuthatch landed on a bird feeder. A beautiful bird with blue/grey back, a black stripe running from its beak, appearing to go through its eye and towards its back and a pale ginger breast. I make a note of birds which are rare visitors to our garden and as I opened the bird book at the nuthatch page to put the date, I found I last saw one on 23rd of January 2009. What a lot has happened since then, PSP not diagnosed, working full time, two weddings yet to happen, two grandchildren yet to be born, father still alive, gorgeous dog still alive etc etc. Time is passing far two quickly.
No time to look back further, quickly put the date down in the book, coat back on and back into the rain to meet a friend for lunch.
I envy you the nuthatch haven,t seen one in our garden ever. I did use my day off - like you I went out to lunch with an old friend . He recently lost his wife and is not really coping very well but then who would after over 50 years together .Anyway we talked football ,cricket ,children and grandchildren and generally put the world to rights and promised we would do it again soon .
HELLO GEORGEPA WE HAVE SEVERAL NUTHATCHES WHCH VISIT OUR BIRDTABLE EVERY FEW HOURS - THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL IMAGE YOU PAINTED FOR US HERE IN BEAUTIFUL FRANCE XXXX
He knows how to make bread & butter pudding Heady, he's actually a very good cook but he deserves spoiling so I'll be attempting to make him one for my next visit! x
What gorgeous writing, Georgepa. I read it to my sweetheart, and we agreed that we could see it all so clearly. Just beautiful. You have a gift. Thank you for sharing. Love and Peace, Easterncedar
Are you still snowed under in Maine ? I used to have a friend who lived in Kennyplankput (spelling?) and in the winter she was always having to dig herself out of her house right to the end of March .Many years ago we gave a little sledge to the son of a friend of ours- he was about six and the next lot of significant snow we had was when he was about fifteen and he had somewhat outgrown his sledge !
Very much snowed under here, and mostly enjoying it. Last night's snow was light, and so glittery in the morning sun I imagined that I was shoveling diamonds. What magical storybook luxury! The skiing conditions were as good as I have ever known, as long as one stayed on the trails. Very deep otherwise. For about an hour I had the first pass after the groomer, all fresh and all to myself. I've decided I have to have a little time outdoors to keep myself together, so try to get out for a walk or a bit of snowshoeing or skiing every Sunday. We go to my guy's childhood home on the weekends, 56 miles to the west, then back to my place in town for the workweek. His place is in the heart of the largest state park in Maine, and the ski trails cross his land, so it's very easy for me to get up and go. It's sad that he can't come along skiing any more, but he wants to be there, even if he is just sitting by the fire most of the day.
Anyway, I bet your friend is
on the coast, and they are getting even more snow than the mountains this year. This is like the winters of my childhood, near Buffalo, NY. I'm glad some of the kids today will have this to look back on.
Oh, and we had about eight nuthatches on the feeder this weekend, six tiny rose-breasted, two white, much larger. Lots of cheery chickadees. Fewer woodpeckers than usual, and no juncos. I get more variety in town, but they seem much less excited to see me than the mountain flocks.
I was thoroughly enjoying your beautiful writing until I came to the NOT having bread and butter pudding. Oh no! I can SO understand. I love b&b pudding! Yes, now you need to have some!
oh dear! I hope you get better soon, Jill. I like whisky, lemon juice, honey and a bit of hot water for a cold. it may not be a cure, but it surely makes me feel much better!
Good for you, Jill. I'm trying to be exercise a little restraint for Lent this year, so will have to get a cold if I want a (medicinal!) toddy. Maybe you could have a little one for me! Love, EC
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
where do you see yourselves
