Appreciate everything

Monday 21st September, 2020

A slow lightening of the sky this morning as the fog held back the sun's rays. Slowly the sun warmed and burned away the mists...it was good to behold. I started later than usual as a consequence of the fog but the smell of the mists and the canal waters and the sheep and nature made me linger outside in my pyjamas. I kept the mallards at bay and the hens had their fill, although a cheeky robin hopped in and out pinching the grains.

Having been given extra jars yesterday I decided to go back to the damson tree and the crab apple and pick some more. I saw no person, no narrow boat along the tow path, across the fields and through the copse of my walk. Perhaps the fog kept them away.

The tortoise came out later but seemed able to devour 12 dandelions, four large slices of cucumber and two big lettuce leaves. He/she went for a walk around her/his hut. A veritable 'get up and go' at quite a pace...I was surprised.

The only excitements were bringing the dustbin back off the road to its usual place after it was collected. To do that I had to take an extra walk...up the steep, mile long drive. I puffed and panted, the dog delighted. The view from the top of the drive was spectacular.

Also one of the hens laid its egg outside the nesting box. The egg had a very thin shell. Strange.

Finally the damson and crab apple jelly.....it takes quite a time. First the picking ( 4lbs of apples and 3lbs of damsons ). Then the cutting of the apples, the piercing of the damsons and the stewing. Next the straining of the juice. Finally the heating of the juice, the adding of the sugar and the boiling with the guess at when it is ready for setting. After that one lets the liquid cool as the jars are heated for sterilising. Then the pouring of the juice in to the jars, the topping with waxed paper and the end is the putting on of the tops. One waits and hopes it will set. Today it did.

Sadly I have no more jars so my planned rose hip jelly has been shelved...next year. I do relish the making. First I feel it uses natural products and the picking of them means one has to take exercise. Then I feel the presence of my Grand Mother whom I used to watch make jams and jellies. She was born in to a rich family, left them for her husband and ended in poverty. She realised that nothing must be wasted. She kept rabbits to provide meat for her children. She took in washing to make ends meet but they often didn't. She was a woman of immense character and strength. She was generous and a woman who appreciated everything and everybody knowing how tenuous life could be.

Tonight putting the dog out for her last gasp I looked to the clear sky and was startled by an extraordinary moon. It was a small crescent yet it had a deep gold/yellow halo.

There is so much beauty....one needs eyes to see it. One needs to develop those eyes and to educate one's perceptions or else one misses so much and life is unenriched.