June 2018 |
PRELUDE TO JUNE 26th May 2018 GLIMPSES OF EDEN by Jonathan Tulloch I was reading by the garden pond when a red flash caught my eye. Our first damselfly of the year was on the wing. An hour before, I?d watched her emerge from the pond, crawling up the spear of flag iris. Now flying languidly to the raspberry bushes, the spring sunshine sparked on her brand new, barely dried wings. For the next two or three weeks, this large red damselfly will grace our village with her dream-like fly past. Her story began two years ago when her parents wheeled above the water crowfoot in our pond. From an egg laid in the green, submerged weed, within a few weeks she had grown into a nymph. For the next two years her whole world was this two square metre pond. In rain, in hail, under ice, under broiling sun, she?d hide in the mud from the larger dragonfly nymphs, and hunt the shallows for midge and mayfly larvae, and tiny crustaceans ...... *
* 31st of May The Moving Finger writes; and having writ, Moves on: nor all thy piety nor wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it. Omar Khayyam * Wednesday 6th June The heat-wave began some days ago. It reminded me of the summers in Italy, when the slightest movement made our clothing damp, and we walked around indoors without our shoes on, our feet appreciating the coolness of the stone floors ... That was a long time ago ! But it is good to remember those days - and to smile. * The post today, Thursday 7th June, contained a card from a friend in Canada. The design was by Ge Feng. On the back of the card were the kind words Made with love from the UK ? Here is a copy of the design ....
* A day later the weather had become overcast. As I walked round the garden I noticed the cracked soil in the flower-beds which had been weeded and which, perhaps, could no longer protect the life hidden in the earth below. It is possible that we human beings are sometimes in a similar state ... * The birds sing quietly when the night is over and dawn illuminates the earth. * Thursday 7th June We are hoping that the weather will soon change. Today the branches of trees sway in the wind while flowers drop their petals. We are thankful that the air is cool as this may herald a promise of rain to heal the cracked soil. For now different types of bees are searching for nourishment among the flowers. * During the last few days, after the sending of the Monthly Diary for May, I have received many kind cards of sympathy for the unexpected death of my brother. I am so grateful for them as the prayerful support reaches out to the whole of my family on the Continent - and elsewhere. THANK YOU SO MUCH. May God bless all of you. * A friend wrote: Your diary proclaimed its usual lively acclamation of nature from the birds and the bees to the foxes and the cats. It is all fascinating. The sadness was there too. I know that your brother was special. What a lovely photograph of the two of you at the end of the war when I think you were soon to go on separate ways. May he rest in peace and his family be comforted.? *
A view of a garden somewhat similar to ours ! * 12th June
FATHER, WE THANK THEE For flowers that bloom about our feet, For tender grass,so fresh and sweet, For songs of birds and hum of bee, For all things fair we hear or see, Father in heaven, we thank Thee ! Emerson * Tuesday 19th June Our sewing machine is purring like a cat appreciating the touch of a loving hand. Sister Monica is preparing more bags to hold lavender for Hazel to begin to fill later today. * The day itself is overcast and a light wind is swaying the thinner branches of tall trees. Leaves fall on the recently cut grass. * Dave continued to weed the congested flower-beds yesterday, when the sun was shining. * The distant Welsh hills are no longer visible from our enclosure. We look forward to seeing them again during the winter months. * A grey squirrel joined the pigeons whilst they were pecking at the soft bread early this morning... I hadn?t seen the squirrel for a long time and was pleased to know that all was well. *
Good-Night Sleep softly in this quiet room, O thou, whoe?er thou art, And let no mournful yesterdays Disturb thy peaceful heart.
Forget thyself and all the world; Put out each feverish light; The stars are watching overhead, Sleep softly then, good-night ! Anon *
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Ingathering |