Walk in the Woods

My family

asked me to go 

for a walk in the woods

I was so delighted

as it is over 5 years .....

since I have been able to walk there!

Look at the flower I've found Granny

Bigger than he is and so exciting!

Another grandson

found a Geocache in an old tree stump.

We all looked through our bags

but couldn't find a pen 

so that he could date it to show

who had found it last!

What a pity!

The boys all

clambered up the bank so that they could

walk through this tree!....

A few years ago 

I would have been up there with them!

Another of the boys had brought a folded mat

so that I could sit down

(as I need to do often to ease the pain)

He carried it around in his rucksack

and would ask, often, if I needed to sit

and as soon as I said yes

he would unroll it

ready for me.

Bless him!!

I thought this part of the woods

rather spooky!

The woods got darker...

I just love the way

the light has managed to struggle

through the dense canopy of the trees

and plays like a theatre foot-light

on the ferns below

I just cannot manage

to capture

what I'm feeling....

I love the way the light 

shows up the shape 

and texture of the ferns below!

Of course some young people 

cannot see the magic of the moment 

and start climbing the trees!!

Aren't these colours and textures beautiful?!

This was one of the banks

as we came out of the woods

So many beautiful things to see 

if you can take time to look!

This is one of the good things 

that has come out of these last years...

Before 

I would have raced through and enjoyed it 

but, perhaps, not seen it!!

Now I have to go slow and stop occasionally,,,

and I see and enjoy so much!

Several people have mentioned, in the comments on my last post...about the large brown circles

they said....

'Getting used to the new view'

and suggested what to plant.....

I hope to seed grass where the large brown patches were and, also, plant climbing roses

or clematis, to grow on the damaged trees.

To carry on with the analogy of last week...

the decision to remove whatever is influencing or has 'taken over' your life is not an easy one...

it is painful and difficult

and sometimes it is easier to stay in the pain 

where you are now 

than to endure the pain of change 

and the total life turn around that might happen

When the decision is made and 'the trees' are taken out it can leave a great hole....

so there is a need to exchange the damage

for a 'new look'....

that doesn't mean getting into... 

another controlling situation 

but getting advice 

from friends and getting their help 

to enable a change of view...

i.e. sitting looking at what you have lost 

will only lead to depression

looking at what you can now do 

in that area now that it is free ...is exciting!

so..what am I doing?

I'm just blocking the wrap

and like the more lacey look of it now.

I have also started on a Lucy bag...

I bought the yarn all ready last year...

still..at least I remembered what the yarn was for when I found it...and now I'm well into it!

Going...Going....Gone!!

I mentioned....only mentioned...

to hubbie

that, in the autumn,

we should think

about taking out the two big willows

that are trying to take over the garden.....

and

next thing......

and even though it was sweltering......

out came the chain saw!!

They were merely twigs 

when I planted them and the other trees

over 18 years ago.....

I had been cutting them back 

as they started to spread.

But these last 5 years when I've been unable

to do much gardening...

they had taken over

so that the other trees were being smothered!

I discovered places that

I hadn't been able to get to for years!

My summer hut

hidden behind all the trees

The hours I have spent sitting there

enjoying the trees, views

the birdsong

and the swish of the leaves in the breeze....

but..

back to the subject in hand....

There were lots of roots

and the suckers 

that had started new trees..

and some that were trying to!

We decided that, 

while we were at it,

we had better take down 

one of the big conifers as well

This is a conifer moving!!

Shortly after the conifer was taken, like this,

down to the farm yard...

the postman turned up looking white and shaken.

When I asked him what was the matter

he said

"I was about to turn into your drive when this tree started coming down the drive at me...

I've never experienced anything like it!"

The second willow was taken down 

and moved in much the same way.....

So much mess!

I wonder

have we done the right thing?

But....too late now!!

Big gaps...

but it's good to see the trees that had been hidden!

It made me think.....

Of the small things....

that seem good and quite innocuous...

that we let come into our lives.

They seem OK at the time

and, in fact, fit in quite well....

but...one day

we realise that they have grown 

bigger

and bigger

and started to smother and hide other good things.

It's not that they were bad to start with...

or didn't seem so...

perhaps we didn't know 

that they were not right for us!

Somehow...they have grown so slowly 

and taken over other areas so gradually.... 

that we were not aware what was occurring....

until...one day..

there is a blinding flash of recognition 

at what has been happening.

It happens this way with addictions...

a little drink is really enjoyable

but one day you realise that it has taken over your life and there is no time 

for family or friendships...etc

Or it could be a lot of other things...

unhealthy friendships...

and suddenly you realise 

that the person who seemed so nice

 is controlling

most of your life and other friendships!

Even blogging could be the same, I suppose!!

It certainly can take up a lot of time

sitting in front of your 'puter instead of 

out in the sunshine with friends....!

The problem is

that it's a difficult decision to get rid of

'whatever' ...

"what will happen"

"How can I?"

Etc

It certainly can leave

a big and messy hole....

but, oh the joy

when you find things you've forgotten

and when other things/people

that were smothered and hidden...

are now out in the light

and able to grow.

I'm sorry if I've gone on too long 

about things that don't interest you...

 I suppose that it's the counsellor in me.

I am always seeing things that correspond 

to life events... and... 

just wanted to share them with you.

I can do the posts like my last one...

on china and flowers and my crochet and knitting...

but, if I am going to be real with you

and we are going to be friends

 I also need to allow

the side of me that interprets things

in the light of how it affects

our lives!

I do hope that

You can see and understand

the analogy

that just jumped at me

as we took out these huge bushes

that had started to take over the garden

I'm still thinking ..

'I hope we've done the right thing'

Come In Do....

It's so lovely to see you again..

Do come in and have a cup of tea.....

no, really,

it's no problem...

Yes, the china is a favourite of mine.....

I've had it for years and....

I don't have much left

It's pretty and delicate...

I'll just pour the tea...

had you noticed that the cups are different shapes?

I only have 2 cups left

and they are just so pretty...

Would you like a biscuit?

or a toasted tea cake?

I'm afraid I forgot about them toasting away....

while we were talking!

My mother gave me the tablecloth

It's Irish linen

I use it a lot as it gives me so much pleasure!

The roses?

Yes they are so pretty..

They're American Pillar

I'm not very good with roses..

they usually have black spot or other diseases

but they're wonderful this year

Did you notice the roses as you came in?

No!?

Then...

would you like to come outside 

and have a look?

I sat on the rock here yesterday, in the sun,

 and just enjoyed........ 

the wonderful scent 

and the hum of the bees

and the butterflies flitting 

to and fro

The flowers were all around

and over me!

It's hard to believe that this all came

from a rooted stick

that my daughter in love's father

gave me a few years ago!!

I just keep taking photos of them, I'm afraid,

as I think they are incredible and can't believe their beauty and the amount of blooms!

Sorry...

I'm droning on, I know, but....

it just fills me with such joy and I feel a deep content..

while sitting and enjoying!

Have you had enough?

Let's go back to the house.....

It is rather hot outside...

Have you seen this rose?

It's called Pink Carpet.

I think that the colour is stunning!

What have I been making recently?

Well, I've just completed a waistcoat

I knitted it in the same wool as the pattern

I've also just completed a wrap that I saw on Meredith's Blog - Mereknits

She had seen it on another blog

(The way it happens amongst blog friends)

so I called in on Tanna

and got the pattern for Lisa's wrap

It is so newly finished that....

It still needs to be blocked

I used Noro Kogarashi Yarn colour No16

And today.... I've been making a couple of little gifts

for the Physio and Nurse

who have been running the Pulmonary Rehab classes that

I have been attending twice weekly

for the last 6 weeks.

I was asked to attend 

after my time in hospital over Christmas 

and have to say that, 

even though it has taken a big bite out of my weeks,

it has been extremely good

and I appreciate the care and concern that we have been shown

Hence the very small gifts

I do hope that they like them...

they can pin them on a lapel,stick them on a bag...whatever!

I so appreciate the help and support that they have given us and don't want 

to embarrass them.

I do hope that they are OK!!?

This week I'm joining

Seasonal Sundays

and

Sweet and Simple Fridays


and


Pink Saturday