Reflective Mood

It wasn’t until about 4 p.m. the afternoon that I realised on glancing through the window beside my desk that the sun had made a fleeting appearance as,

against the still indigo skies, it lit the pink rambling rose rising from the front trellis.

Its deeper pink companion soared above the porch, and the first of the Félicité Perpétue blooms which will drape themselves over the opposite fence has opened out.

I had spent the morning reading and responding to the letters of condolences it has taken me three months to complete. We posted these from Everton Post Office and drove on further into the forest.

Royden Lane took us to

Lower Sandy Down. On the left hand side of this shot stands

a large oak tree the bole of which is home to ferns, ivy, and mosses.

An unusual number of ponies grazed around Hatchet Pond, normally the realm of donkeys.

Stately swans disturbed the surface of the lake which mirrored their images.

A black headed gull was in an equally reflective mood.

This evening we dined on Jackie’s perfect pork paprika; boiled new potatoes; breaded mushrooms; and green beans. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Carmenere.

66 comments

  1. Wonderful post, Derrick – the lighting is spectacular, as is your prose, as always. I loved the gull and his reflective friend. I think we have the same kind of gulls here.

    Lovely that you respond to condolence letters. It must be hard. I think of you, both, often.

  2. How delightfully curious is our English weather. Today the forecast in Grimsby was for cloud and light showers but the sun has shone all day. I had to water the vegetable patch this evening!

  3. It seems perhaps the weather suited your activity today Derrick – that is a hard task to undertake at any time! I am glad to hear you then went out for your daily perambulation through nature. There is no better healer!

  4. Reflective reflections. I’m sorry for your task, but it’s nice that you were able to get outside afterward to have a ramble of your own. That black-headed gull is quite reflective!

  5. That is a startling pun about the gull. Certain developments in the recent past have disposed me too to a similarly reflective mood. Your brooding post has resonated well with me as a consequence.

  6. Good morning Derrick!!! Nice photos!!!!

    Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air –
    An armful of white blossoms,
    A perfect commotion of silk and linen;
    a snowbank, a bank of lilies,
    Biting the air with its black beak?

    Mary Oliver in her celebrated poem Swan

  7. Beautiful photos, all! And I really love your reflection photos, Derrick.
    The lone swans look so regal, and yet so sad, to me.
    I have thought of you and Jackie (and your whole family) over the past few months. From experience, I know that the world goes back to normal so quickly and we are sometimes left to continue to grieve alone.
    Please know that Michael is remembered. And always will be.
    (((HUGS)))

  8. Wonderful photographs. Sent my mind pinging in all different directions. Then, your “task”. It came at the same time as my brother’s twelve month anniversary. Another gone too soon. My thoughts are with you . . .

Leave a Reply