Hello,

When I was thinking about this month’s blog, I thought there wasn’t much to tell you.  It does seem to be a very quiet time.  So I set to and made a list, so here goes.

First was my delight in seeing a Dipper, the first sighting this year.  I look forward to seeing it again and again and seeing it later with a mate.  It’s a very secretive bird and I usually see it earlyish in the morning as I go to enter the valley.  I see it hopping from stone to stone in the river.

I have got over my upset of the sheep.  I’m pleased to report, as I write, there hasn’t been any more trouble.
I did tell you I would give some thought to names.  Well I have and came up with ‘The Twins’ – these two seem to be joined at the hips, always together.  Then there’s ‘Sooty’ – well I’m sure you can guess why he’s got that name.  Then of course, there’s ‘Alf’.  “Is that a Welsh name?” you might ask.  Well no, it’s not! It’s because this lamb is a mixture of cream and black which makes me think it could be Sooty’s half brother or sister!!!  ‘Cynthia’, who is mother to the twins, she’s in a bit of a mess, she looks a bit moth eaten.

Then there’s ‘Annabelle’, named by Monty the farmer.  She was the mother of ‘Titch’ that was the little lamb who is no longer with us.  Then there’s ‘Spot’ – just one spot so you have to be on the right side to see that or should I say the left side!  One of the youngsters had a limp the other day but Monty put that right.

Rhodri and I are still working away trying to get this boardwalk in.  Since we started on it, the monsoon season set in.  This means that any work we do, we do it just over ankle deep in very wet, squelchy mud.  Many a time we have come close to never being seen again.  It’s like building a pier when the tide’s in.

Getting back to drier land, the squirrel is emptying the peanut feeder daily.  This means he stuffs himself one day and has to diet the next.  No way am I filling it up daily just for him unless he starts paying for his keep.

This last week I have been cleaning out the summer bedding tubs and cleaning up Autumn leaves.  Being able to see the sky through the treetops and the ground cover dying back makes the valley floor look a lot bigger.

I hope you don’t mind but I thought I would take this opportunity to tell you about a little booklet I have written about a year’s work in the valley.  It’s a light hearted story of things I get up to during the year.  It’s called ‘Relaxing with Trees’ and sells at £2.  It’s nice to read to children because it is a little educational and I’m sure the not so young will enjoy it too.

May I wish you all a very happy Christmas and that Father Christmas grants you all your wishes.

HH.

Autumn

As I walk in the Valley
I saw a movement
I stopped, the movement stopped
I stood still and watched
A slight breeze touched my cheek.

Then I saw the movement
The Autumn leaves
Leaving home, drifting down gracefully
Drifting to settle on the earth below.

To settle so softly like a feather on the ferns
Some settle on cobwebs, caught in the spiders’ threads
The leaves flutter trying to get free like moths.

As I watch its endless action
Falling like brown snow
Some think Autumn beautiful.
As I look up I see bare branches against blue sky
Not beautiful – sad.

Sad to see the grasses gone
Sad to see the ferns bow their fronds
Sad to see the leaves being rushed down the river
I feel bereft of green
Of spring growth and Summer shade

As time goes on I start to see
Yellow, oranges and red of fungi
Bright greens of Winter moss
And dead tree trunks come alive
Even Winter has its Spring
And I am happy again.

Helené

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