Dawn and Dusk

Where, dear souls, is this year going? One blinks and finds oneself midway through August already? I really do not know quite where time has gone. 'Tis fair to say that dusk is creepy slowly earlier as each day passes; why, does not seem like yesterday that 'twas light til gone ten in the evening and yet, here we are, with darkness upon us at same time this very eve. Tempts fugit, dear souls, tempts fugit. 

As I sit to write this missive, the male guardian is at his professional toil and the rain, yes, rain can be heard drumming upon the external surfaces of our home. ''Tis much needed for the ground remains dry and plants are thirsty. The morrow is also said to bring more rain and touches of thunder, all adding to the feeling of moving on in the season. 

The planned works continues on our small estate with workmen booked for the last aspect of our home's upgrade before carpets can be laid, well in time for autumn. Work has commenced on trimming the yew hedges and generally keeping the garden tidy. 

The countryside around us has seen a mass of activity to gather the harvest which is now all safely stored. The sounds and smells of harvest time are quite the sweetest and so evocative of one's childhood spent helping on the farm. Oh, how I do love it.

Storm clouds

I do not know about you, but being a keen gardener and of Celtic colouring, I am more than a little grateful for the band of rain that has settled over us this last few days. The temperature has dropped a little, cold it is not, but enough to make working bearable, and the garden is thirstily absorbing every drop. Dear old Blighty has been crisply brown for sometime now. Let us hope this last cloud or two reverses this, particularly for the farming community who are struggling with crops and feed for livestock. 

Whilst ''tis barely August, the autumn is beginning to encroach with blackberries forming big juicy berries and, oh my, the orchard. Well, dear souls, twill be a bumper crop that is for sure. The wind that has accompanied the rain has dropped quite a number of apples that the male guardian and I have diligently spent clearing, all the better for keeping the lawns in order. Wind drop will barely dent the crop which has grown significantly with the rain. 

We continue the work on our home and, at last, there is an end is sight, thankfully.

One maintains one's fascination with the people watching and continues to find it all very amusing. Shakespeare barely described the many faces of man, nor woman, in his seven ages of man for there is naught so complex as humanity; my recommendation is to face the mirror and ask what one's own contribution added to or subtracted from the situation. Generally, people are prepared to accept that which added, but rarely acknowledge that which detracts for ''tis a telling thing to undertake to look into one's own behaviour with honesty. Dearie me dear souls, let us hope that the evolution of man continues in the right direction. Fascinating, do you not agree, simply fascinating. One has had the most delightful opportunity to be asked-to observe, discuss and assess people's behaviour in a professional undertaking of late and 'tas, dear souls, been a most fascinating time. Why, to be able to undertake this sort of thing and be paid for it really is the bee's knees. 

Now...

Now, my dears, you may be thinking that one's post can be a little melancholy of late, but one is a keen observer of humanity and rarely does this encroach upon one's psyche. Yes, there have been times when one finds the actions of man incomprehensible, but there is little that one does not observe, review and move on from. That, dear friends, is life and life goes on. I am a firm believer, as you may be aware, of the healing nature of home (being one's sanctuary), the cyclical rhythms of the seasons, nature in all its glory, and most importantly, loved ones. Add to this plenty of laughter, music, a good book or two, a comfortable armchair, one's latest project (for one must have a little something on the go), a plentiful supply of a fine English tea and a full bodied fresh coffee, a little tasty savoury morsel, or a fine homemade slice of cake. My dears, the list is endless. 

Essentially, my musings are merely observations on life. One hopes the message is clear, this is what makes life's rich tapestry, and how very interesting it all is. I cannot imagine a life without observation for is this not what we all do? We watch, hopefully, we learn, we understand, we ignore, we adapt that which we have seen; all part of the lessons in life. So very, very fascinating.

The male guardian is, alas, once more toil bound and I am continuing the seemingly forth bridge project that encapsulates the painting of the woodwork. 'Twill, that said, be a most delightful sight once complete. An occasion one heartily looks forward to. Thus, dear friends, one must continue,  rather than dallying here any longer......

Oh, dearie me.......

Dear souls, I am so very sad for we have come to the end of the male guardian's time off and he returns to his professional toil on the morrow. It has been an extraordinarily peaceful time off together, away from the stresses and strains of professional life, the constant encroachment of want over need, targets and agenda's that really have nothing to do with toil. It is a strange world we live in, my dears, and the longer one is in it, the firmer one believes in the gorgeously apt saying of the north, "there's nowt so queer as folk". People really are rather naively complex and a few days away from it all has been a panacea to all ills. To spend time in an all together different calm and peaceful environment is so very good for the soul; to breathe fresh country air, feel the sun on one's skin, to walk barefoot on grass, the dawn chorus, a body weary from an all together different toil, and, most importantly, enjoy the company of those we love. Absolute unadultered joy, held close to one's heart, such that memories are made of. 

Peace and quietude

'Tas been a busy week for the male guardian and I have been most fortunate to have a day or two away from our professional toil and oh, what a joy 'tas been. Tucked quietly away in our country home, only venturing forth as necessary, peaceful and calm. Slightly cooler weather than the previous few weeks, much to one's relief for we have continued to make headway with the planned works. We have enjoyed waking at a more leisurely time, and taking time to sniff the roses as it were. 
A morning cup of tea taken in one's bedchamber, curtains thrown back and windows wide, the dawn chorus in full swing, gazing across golden fields - such a joyous start to one's day. Mind and bodies free from the usual routines, such bliss. 

The planned works continue, my dears, but we are making good headway. We are most pleased with the chosen colours for they are of a palette that is most complimentary to this old home of ours. Being off together lent us the opportunity to review choices for the covering of the floors, and oh, my, my there are many. Thankfully, the male guardian and I are similar in out taste and practicality, narrowing choices fairly easily. All that remains is for the chosen establishments to come and "measure up", then submit their quotes. In the meantime, the last of the workmen required to finish the project have been booked. Once this remaining piece of work is complete, the flooring can be laid upon agreement of quotes and dates. Oh, happy days,  for the end is in sight and, if all goes to plan, well in advance of autumn and winter which will be most pleasing. 

Yesterday, we took some time to walk by the sea. We packed a small picnic and enjoyed this light repast as we sat a while, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the beach that we had chosen to stop awhile at. How I do enjoy the rhythmic sound of the sea, so mesmerisingly soothing. The journey home across the countryside afforded a delightful walk to stretch one's legs and an opportunity to stand and stare. Not another soul to be seen, just the breeze whispering through the leaves, the rustle of small creatures in the undergrowth and the muffled sound of our feet upon the floor of the tree lined way. Truly a blissful, blissful day. 

Brush and needle

Today, dear souls, has been a most productive day for the male guardian has taken up the brush. The stairwell ceiling and walls now bear testament to his diligence and a most delightful sight they are too. Such a becoming shade, a continuance of the upper hallway, so right for an old building such as that in which we reside. A further coat on each is required, but nonetheless we are most pleased with the progress, most pleased.

I have also taken the opportunity to undertake a little sewing in an attempt to replicate the skills I have been taught by my dear seamstress friend. Thus, I have nigh completed a summer dress, lined with complimenting fabric and merely requiring the hem and the sleeves to be completed. I am most delighted with the garment, for my dear friend has taught me well.  Such a testament to her skills as both a seamstress and teacher, for one would ne'er have gotten thus far without such exceptional talents, for which I am most grateful indeed.

The complex mind

It is, without a doubt, my dears, the most interesting part of life, to stand and stare.  The minutiae of life really is quite fascinating if one is remotely interested in humanity, and there is much, dear souls, to observe. One subscribes to the theory of Carl Rogers and unconditional positive regard in one's fields of contact, nurturing the characteristics in others that are believed to form the five aspects of a fully functioning individual. As with much in humanity, it is rarely a smooth path, which can test the positive regard of many an individual. The self concept of those being nurtured is influenced by life experience and the interpretation of those experiences which can be influenced by many things, which, in turn, lead to the states of congruence or incongruence. Over many years, I have been most fortunate to have been in a position to be able to observe humanity at its best, and its worst, forming a sound knowledge and experience of how communities of people interact. Acknowleding the potential for being an understatement worthy of jest is stratospheric, but simple facts are facts; humans are complex and the direction we aim to achieve is that which directs us toward the good life. 
Sadly, the many influencing stressors we meet along the way can detract from the direction of achievement. A safe haven in which to explore and learn is vital, however, needs but one incongruent defender to threaten it's existence, to create an altogether different environment. The ability to step back and see the bigger picture when aiming for the good life is a rare thing, but one that is a large part of self actualisation. How humans do suffer over the complexities of simple theories of nature or nurture, rarely understanding the basic concept of solid foundations in psychological growth; many unable, or unwilling, to scale the complexity of the human psyche, fully grasp those characteristics that create self actualisation for themselves, nor nurture it for others. It is an exhausting business, dear souls, dealing with the mind and body of those one comes into contact with, for they are many and varied. 

Thankfully, one can ride the peaks and troughs of life's rich tapestry and still see the good in humanity. One is all to grateful for the love of one's family and the solid foundations this has allowed one to create. Rest and recuperation are a most vital practice and one that, to maintain one's sanity, is religiously planned. The joy of attaining one's personal safe haven and utilising every moment to re-evaluate and rebalance cannot be stressed enough. 

"Life is simple, the complexities within it have to do with the motive of the human being/s" resounds in all but a few walks in life. Human beings, that complex cohesion of cells creating life, as we know it.