Dog rose days

Just how dog roses got their name is anyone's guess...that's probably down to the peculiarities of our dear English language....their name does not do justice to their simplicity and beauty. 

They are usually in bloom earlier in the year, but this being a year of late seasons we have the pleasure of spotting them in the hedgerows in July.  They always lift my spirits.  They remind me of childhood days; long walks in the surrounding countryside, from my parents' home. I really did wander quite afar when I think about it, and it's a sad indictment that children seldom do so now...I thought nothing of walking to another village, taking some pocket money to buy a drink and sweets from their village shop, then watching the world go by on a village seat before walking home.  My parents often had no idea where I'd decided to go - I was quite an independent child - and in my own way quite adventurous....I'd usually inform them of where my journey had taken me on my return! 

But I'm digressing....it really gladdens my heart to spot the small roses prettifying our Hampshire hedgerows, and it's heartening to see that despite modern hedge husbandry they are still prolific... 
wild and beautiful    

http://hedgerowmobile.com/dogrose.html

Whatever the weather.....

It's fair to say that we Brits have a fixation with the weather....and we are never happy with it!  It is a national sport to grumble and speculate the cause of the latest deluge...dry spell....high winds...I have a deal old friend who regularly comes to mind when I find myself sighing again, and who taught herself to be thankful for whatever the weather.....but if we all learnt that lesson - what would we find to talk about! 

My own dear mother recently made the comment during our phone conversation...."Never mind...it's the growing season...we need the rain..."  that brought me up to a start....coming from a background whose livelihood depended upon the elements it made sense...the seed sown in late winter, early spring needed water to supply their roots, and nourish the crop, or the harvest would be poor resulting in less income and less food in general for all.  But for modern, high-tech living that approach is foreign and too simplistic, in our country anyway- a sobering thought.

Today however, has been glorious!  The perfect weather for a proper village Fun Day and Fete.  The whole family enjoyed a great British tradition of wacky races, music and dance, magic acts, yummy cakes, Pimms, traction engines and other lovely things too numerous to mention.  I never take for granted where I live, in an artistic and rural community...and today reinforced that appreciation and gratitude.

Not quite pen to paper...

Not quite pen to paper....

Scary stuff this writing lark! but there's always been thoughts and compositions in my mind, and sometimes when I have been more organised I have scribbled them down, in the hope that one day I might even make them more permanent. Strange isn't it?...the urge to make words more permanent, I can't quite understand the compulsion, but it's always been there. It's not motivated by notoriety or adulation.  I think it's more the art form.  Thoughts changing into a more solid state almost, but that makes it sound more like a science than an art form. 

So maybe this blog malarkey, is more a hopeful discipline.  Because to be honest I have started experimenting with writing at various times, but it hasn't got very far.  It may be that no-one finds this blog, and that's absolutely ok, because I know it's here, and it's up to me to nurture it with words...but if anyone should stumble across it, please make yourself known.