Joy on a Winter's Day

The other morning I was emptying the ash tray from our fire place in the garden, a daily chore given that we have lit the fire every evening just about, for nearly three months. I'm getting low on firewood, it's still bitingly cold almost every day, with often a good dose of rain, drizzle, fog or wind, even thunder and lightning the other night which made me melancholy wishing it could be a summer thunderstorm. Seems long ago. It's depressing. And this Covid stuff doesn't help. Nor does EOFY year bookwork obligations with the added burden of learning to do things a new way on computer. 

I've been putting the ash in an area where I grew pumpkins last season, or under some molliss azaleas that stand in their winter nakedness against the front of our deck. I heard the flitting of small wings in the azaleas so I stood still and saw a spotted pardalote jumping about in the twigs. Another, presumably it's mate, came out between the barge boards beneath the house and the two danced together in the azaleas briefly before taking off.

At that moment the morning sun came through the foggy cloud and warmed my back and a feeling of great joy came to me, this alleviating the melancholy that had gripped me. We've had these beautiful little creatures nesting under our house before and it seems they're back nesting, or preparing to.They build their nest in a burrow in the ground. I didn't go under the house to investigate for fear of disturbing them but I'll be carefully watching in the coming weeks. 

Nature is wonderful. I have been uplifted also through this dreadful cold and Covid economic gloom by the trunks of trees as I drive the roads or walk. Somehow they seem so beautiful in their sentinel statuesque strength, with such diversity in colour and texture of bark and form. They love the rain, they may be hibernating and dormant, but they are resting, ready to take on what ever comes as they spring into new life and growth any day now.

"Nature never did betray the heart that loved her" (William Wordsworth 1770-1850). Meredith quoted that to me yesterday when I told her about the pardalotes. 

On the Carey and Libby news front I can report that we've sold our house. The first people that came through to inspect, before we had listed on market, made us an offer. We initially declined, thinking we'd advertise and go for more, but when this Covid thing blew up again we came to an agreement with them. We settle on 6 Nov. Where we go I don't know. Near the beach somewhere we thinks eventually when we can find something suitable and organize it. In the meantime maybe rent somewhere around here and keep the farm business going this current financial year. Who knows? At least we know now we are on the move. No going back, contract signed, deposit paid.