It's Still Life

1) Rarely see the barometer so low; storm came in from the west. Thankful it wasn’t the storm crossing the USA this week, and thankful that I live on a hill. The River Mole broke its banks, flooded some neighbours.

2) The crocuses are in full bloom, so I’m thanking the sun for breaking the cloud cover and warming the soil a bit. (ps: a few hours later, the sun disappeared and they all closed up tight. Thankful to see such a bright, lovely sight)

3) Thankful that nature still allows me to see the beauty of winter. I always leave hydrangea blossoms on the bush because they dry into magnificent pieces of art.

4) Thankful for branches that fall from the trees so I can set them on the planters — cats can’t be bothered (to pee or poo), but the foxes pull them off and squat anyway.

5) For seedlings that sprout on the front door mat. Thankful for headstrong and unstoppable nature. 

6) For my orchid. It seems thankful that I leave it in peace; it only blooms when I go away for a few weeks. 

7) Homemade potato and leek soup with goldfish crackers. They swam a long way. Thank you Amazon for stocking them. 

8) Pigeons who declare that Sunday is bath day. This one emptied the birdbath. It rained again the next day. Thankful — we’re still on a hopepipe ban so I can’t use the hose to refill the birdbath.

9) British Gas installed a new boiler flue. The old one allowed rainwater ingress from outside — left puddles on the kitchen work-surface. Took him a few hours, several cups of tea, and 2 chocolate covered biscuits. I’m thankful that the job is done.

10) Nature, even when it works against the will of man. Thankfully, the flood waters are receding, and the River Mole is almost back to normal levels.

10.1) … and finally, thankful that I woke early enough to see frost edging a solitary leaf. (B&W filter used: iPhone).

Happy St Brigid’s Day and Imbolc to all who celebrate it. 1-2 Feb is the astronomical beginning of spring.