Hanging on with grim determination.

I saw something on my walk this morning that I found to be inspiring yet sad at the same time.

This weather beaten Hawthorn berry hanging on to the bitter end demonstrates the "British Bulldog" attitude and is inspiring and uplifting. However there is a tinge of sadness in the knowledge that it will fall, it has to fall. Why should it be so? Because it has to make way for the next generation, as do we all.

I am a bit of a Sci-Fi fan and the prospect of extended life is a recurring theme. On the face of it it sounds wonderful, an extra 10, 20 years or maybe more. So much can be done in that time, but hang on a minute where do the next generation fit in.

We already live far longer than 100 years ago, it is nothing remarkable to have 5 generations in a family alive and well.

Then I saw this.

An Apple tree with quite a lot of fruit hanging on in there and it was not alone, a few more trees were still holding fruit. I hope that this is not a clue to bad weather coming. There are still large quantities of Rosehips in the hedgerows and even some wizened blackberries.

I like to look at these and think that it is a reflection of the Human Spirit. We are tenacious in our grip on life, we dig our heels in and do not surrender to the changing winds.  We face adversity head on and strive to make it back up.
Well that is how I try to live my life, oh I have made my mistakes and sometimes compounded them, but I try to learn along the way.

Then I see this and I know that life is good to live no matter what comes along.

Ben and Greg playing on their walk, goodness knows what they were sniffing out but they snuffled around there for a few minutes.

I laughingly asked Greg to move into the sun and pose for me, and there he is, bless him.

This is a small corner of the field that they gallop round in twice daily, it takes 20 minutes or so to walk the perimeter and the dogs criss cross and run round in loops and circles most of that time.

I have one more photo to share, I decided to raid the Odds and Ends fabric bin last night and have been cutting and sewing.

The pile in the bottom right corner are ready to press and cut in half, each will make 2 candy bars. The rest are in various stages of completion and I plan an afternoons sewing. I think that a quilt is being born here.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. Another sunny day.

2. Ben and Greg running and playing with boundless joy.

3. A reminder from nature to be strong and hold on.

4. Decorating has begun in the small bedroom.

5. A quilt for giving is coming out of scraps.

I heard on the radio news earlier that Cornwall is being battered by this awful weather. When this sort of thing happens in the US quilters get together and sew and donate to families made homeless. This is a gesture of kindness to those who have lost most of their possessions, whether permanently or temporarily. I have contributed to some of these appeals.

I have decided that as I work my way through my mountain of stashed fabric I will make a series of quilts to give in this country. I am sure that if I do some Blog Hopping I will come across a group set up for this purpose. If anyone knows of such a group please drop me a comment to point me in their direction.

Now it must be time for a brew before I turn my sewing mojo back on.

        TTFN                                                     Pam