Time is rushing by!

The time seems to be rushing by and I feel as if I am struggling to keep up these last few days! I have had a busy week and then a friend came to spend a couple of nights and the coming week is full followed by another visit from freinds and then there is the postcard swap I am involved in and no card yet made and so it goes ..... I will go down the hole in the middle in a minute! I really enjoyed having my friend here and we were so lucky with the weather and were able to walk a lot - here is the view from Ham Hill which we went to on Thursday morning - it was a bit misty so the views were not as spectacular as usual though.

On Friday morning we went to Sutton Bingham reservoir and it was so beautiful - quiet in the morning sunshine with just an occasional fisherman to be seen. The photo makes it look dark but that must be because we were looking towards the sun for the sky was blue and the sun was actually bright!

We sat on this little step in the sunshine and enjoyed the warmth (apparently we were as warm as Rome or the Costa Blanca on Friday here!) and a good gossip.

Here we are walking back alongside the lake and taking photos of the wildflowers in the hedgerow.

Look little white violets along with the primroses here!

The sun was shining, the birds were singing and all seemed to be well in the world....

I am combining my Pause in Lent post with this one due to time constraints and my reflection this week is to take note of the following quote: "Be still and Know that I am God" - I have forgotten how to be still and am constantly rushing from one thing to another so maybe it is time to slow down, to be still and to Know God.

I haven't had time to visit your blogs nor to comment as I usually do. I feel that in my posts I am just repeating the same old things these days and that it might be good for me and indeed for you to have a rest from it all so I have decided to take a break - I will be back but I just need to catch up with the correspondence which is piling up, to paint the garden furniture, to wash the blankets to.......

I am making postcards for the swap which I am involved in and will be posting on Postman's Knock so you might like to pop over and see me there from time to time I am sure there will be some interesting postcards on view (not necessarily mine but there are some really talented ladies in the group).

PAUSE IN LENT

I came across this book recently - given to me then aged about 3 by my godfather.

It was a well loved book as you can tell - I still have it over 60 years later!

aAll things bright and beautiful was one of my favourite hymns (still is really!) and I thought how simple it was back then to accept and believe in what I was taught at Sunday school. I think children back in the 40s were more accepting and less questioning anyway but my belief was unshakeable in those days.

Sometimes it is hard nowadays to be quite so accepting - maybe we should question - especially with all that is going on in the world just now but didn't Jesus say "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18 v 3.

A little card given to me by a good friend when I was going through some difficult times and which I keep in my diary to remind me of its advice!

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And finally an idea from the Methodist Church website for you to think about!

Prayer Plaits Cut three equal lengths of wool (approx 9 inches or 22 centimetres) in the colours of your choice. One colour represents yourself, one represents God and one represents other people. Knot them together at one end. As you reflect on your relationship with God and with others plait the wool. Knot the end when you finish and, as you do so, say a prayer commending yourself and those you have thought about, to God's love.

WEDNESDAY WALK

No philosophy today just photos of a wonderful walk along the coast path which we did yesterday. Put on your walking boots and come with me why don't you?


Steep climb up to begin with - could have done with some walking poles here!

View from the top.

Keep to the path and don't get too near the edge!

Those of you who remember my childhood memory posts may remember that I mentioned a holiday spent in a caravan here - how the caravan park has changed since the 50s each van having water and electricity now but the beach is still the same!

Isn't this beautiful?

Now the path goes inland a bit as there is a little river to cross.

England's green and pleasant land eh?

Back to the coast now and once we get down onto the beach there is a place to eat.

Nearly there...

This is The Hive a renowned fish restaurant on the beach and boy were we glad to get there - all that climbing, walking and fresh air had given us an appetite!

Our return walk took us inland - I loved this picture "England my England"

Pretty bridge in the village.

The path led us through a field of donkeys - I love donkeys. After all that fresh air - we were out about 5 hours all told - and exercise I slept like a log last night and have woken refreshed and ready for the new day. I am going to a "Social Stitches" group this afternoon where we will apparently be doing some fabric dyeing - will let you know how it goes.

A WALKING MEDITATION

I keep forgetting to say thank you to all those of you who visit and leave such kind and encouraging comments - so THANK YOU to you all - it means a lot to me to know that you are out there and that you seem to enjoy what I write. Speaking of which is it only me whose blog that seems to have a life of its own?

I set out to write a blog about creativity, gardening, home and life in general as my header says but lately I seem to have forgotten my original ideas and gone rather philosophical! I do hope that I am not becoming boring and samey? I am astounded that several of you say my posts are wise - what moi?! I am not at all wise I just wonder about things and so far I haven't really come up with any answers - when I do I will let you know!! I hope to get a bit more done on the creative front since I have joined with a group of bloggers to swap postcards on a fortnightly basis so will have to get my finger out and stop musing and start actually doing something for a change.
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Tuesday - Knit and Natter day and I walked into town along my usual route - I noticed just how much had happened to the leaves and blossom since my last time. Isn't this pink blossom lovely?

Look at that sky! These leaves were still buds yesterday and look at them now!

Instead of leaving the path at this point as usual I continued onwards today and came out further into town for a change.

Sometimes it's good to stop and turn round and see the scene from a different viewpoint.

A little further along there are some small lakes - this photo makes it look quite dark but it wasn't the sun was still shining.

Isn't this tranquil?

There were plenty of ducks sunbathing quietly on the bank.

Again I turned round to see where I had come from.

More blossom this time a mix of pink and white on the same tree - how delicate and pretty it is.

In town I noticed this bed of polyanthus - not delicate and pretty but bold and brash and none the less beautiful for that.

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When I lived in France I went with a friend to a weekly meditation session over a period of 5 weeks at a Buddist centre nearby and one of the meditations was a walking meditation - I never did get the hang of sitting quietly and emptying my mind of all those "chattering monkeys" but I do think a walk can be almost as good as a meditation practice. My walk made me think that sometimes I need to look where I am going but there are also times when I should turn round and see where I have come from and also moments when I need to just stop and admire what is right under my nose too. Amazing how philosophical a walk can be eh?!

TRUST

If Lent is a time for reflection then this year we certainly have plenty to reflect on!

It is obvious that there is a Greater Power at work in recent times - Nature or whatever you wish to call it is far more powerful than man.

Who or what is that Power?

All the terrible things which seem to be happening in our world must make us wonder what is important in the greater scheme of things.

It is scary to realise that at any moment life as we know it could be changed beyond recognition or snuffed out in the blink of an eye.

Yet - some things continue as they have always done and it seems to me that TRUST is our watchword for these troubled times. Trust that season will follow season as it always has, trust that there is more to life than what we have here on this planet, trust that there is goodness at work even in these terrible situations and Trust that all will be well even if not in the way we anticipate.

O God, who creates and nourishes us we feel helpless sorrow as new pictures of desolation flash before our eyes. We pray that your comforting arms will enfold those who suffer and grieve, that your healing balm will soothe and recover. We give thanks for the rapid response of authorities, rescuers, volunteers and survivors who save and succour those they can reach. May all your people in these regions find the vigour to serve those who suffer, to bring hope and new life. May we too find the means to respond as we can. ‘Lord Jesus, we give you our hands to do your work. We give you our feet to walk in your way. We give you our tongues to speak your word. We give you our hearts to love you, now and for ever. Amen.’ (Taken and edited from The Methodist Church website )

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:39

All images from Google except the violets one which is my own