CATCHING UP

| gaiainaction

Hi everyone, it has been a while since I contributed news from life in West Cork.  So here I am again.  My last gladioli flower from the garden has a stunning colour. I love these old fashion flowers.

I don’t think that I have ever seen trees so heavely laden with bright red apples,  almost too beautiful to eat!  But not only apples, pears, plums, and other fruit and nuts are having an abundant harvest, whole hedgerows are flaming red with hawthorn berries.  I saw our own hawthorn tree filled with fat sparrows the other day, over 20 birds chirping away, did they feast on our haws?  I wonder.

Hawthorn berries

Autumn is advancing. Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival is almost upon us. It celebrates the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter time.  Pumpkins are all over the shops and my grandkids are talking about what they will dress up in. It’s celebrated here as Halloween,  a commercialised version of Samhain ( I don’t like much). 

Fall colours
Most recent full moon

Autumn is usually a time of slowing down, but not necessarily so, not until winter is properly upon us.  There are exhibitions to go see, and musea to visit, and coffee gatherings with friends to enjoy, and so on.  Some weeks ago I started a six week course online with the Transnational Institute, it is called “Cities beyond growth” focussing on post growth urbanism, it is very interesting,  The first week we looked democracy and care, second week we looked at energy sustainability, how can living spaces be made more liveable in an efficient way , and we discuss housing this week. It is global, it draws information from scholars, writers, thinkers and idealists.  Also interesting to hear what other students from all over the world have to say, and their experiences in their environments. The course is given via Podcasts, readings, video’s, lots to take in. The questions prompt us to think deeper about what it is to work toward a more sustainable future in every way, and to hear about what is, or is not working all over the globe. What this course is doing for me is very welcome, it is restoring hope and faith in a world that has been so shaken in recent years.  Yes, It is doing that for me.

Other activies, like knitting socks for my beloved husband, and ofcourse my bobbin lace.  Aswell as a recent webinar on the silk roads, which was brilliant. 

Mellow evening sun, we are having a mild autumn

 

Ruin of St.Mary’s church in Schull.  Schull is a lovely seaside village in west Cork, where my husband Ian is now being cared for in a nursing home. It is about half an hour from here. Ian is still writing a children’s book, it going to be brilliant! 

Two more sights of beautiful Schull, can you believe that the fuchsia hedge is still in flower right now.

25 thoughts on “CATCHING UP”

  2. so beautifull pictures, as usual 😉

    it’s a pitty indeed the children only get the business version of the season’s changes.

    the original rituals are so meaningfull.

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  4. As always, I really enjoy your photos. I believe the younger generation will help address some of our problems. I hope you post a picture of your finished lace. As I mentioned before, I saw a demonstration way back in elementary school, and it has always fascinated me. I have recently moved to a northern state where there are 4 seasons. Like you, I am already planning projects to do during the cold months.

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    1. Thank you very much, It must be fascinating for you to be living with the four seasons now, each one bringing new and different pleasures and joy. Planning projects is lovely and rewarding, enjoy.

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  8. Lovely photos, as usual, you have a fine eye. One of my grown boys visited Ireland this past May with his wife. I did laundry, dishes, prepared meals, cared for chickens, and chased grandchildren for that week!

    We are at the peak of color here in southern Wisconsin. We finally got our killing frost last night so I can finish putting the garden to bed. I picked the last of the ancho peppers and Italian parsley for the dehydrator. I’m also looking forward to the slower months of winter. Begonia

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    1. Oh enjoy the autumn so Julia. Yes the course is very interesting. Recently I had lost a lot of faith in human nature, in humankind in general, this course has helped me regain that, I can see again that there are solutions to global problems, like housing for everyone, a real democracy where people have a realistic say in their lives. Solutions to environmental and so forth. There are a lot of good ideas and things happening world-wide.

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  13. Lovely autumn photos! We’re having a bumper year for the small apple tree in our garden too 🙂 That online course sounds very interesting – it’s great that it’s having such a positive impact for you.

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