Seek Joy

In keeping with my theme for 2017, I am writing another post on Joy.  It had been my intention to post about this a couple of days ago, but I've been slow to take the photos for my post.

I've been busy in the kitchen and using my chicken timer ~ how can I not feel joy at the sight of it?   It cheers up even the dullest of days. 

Earlier last week, I received my Chiltern Seeds' catalogues in the post.  There is something joyful about browsing through seed catalogues during the dark days of winter and dreaming of spring days to come, even if they are still somewhat distant.

My Union Jack Filofax - call me old-fashioned, but I still like to write things down, rather than relying on an electronic calendar.  At the beginning of the year, there hasn't been a lot added to its pages beyond the usual birthdays etc, but I am sure that this will change.  I also like the fact that I can buy refill calendars for this and continue to use it year after year.  

Discovering Emily Bronte's poem:

High Waving Heather
Emily Brontë

High waving heather, 'neath stormy blasts bending,

Midnight and moonlight and bright shining stars;

Darkness and glory rejoicingly blending,

Earth rising to heaven and heaven descending,

Man's spirit away from its drear dongeon sending,

Bursting the fetters and breaking the bars.

All down the mountain sides, wild forest lending

One mighty voice to the life-giving wind;

Rivers their banks in the jubilee rending,

Fast through the valleys a reckless course wending,

Wider and deeper their waters extending,

Leaving a desolate desert behind.

Shining and lowering and swelling and dying,

Changing for ever from midnight to noon;

Roaring like thunder, like soft music sighing,

Shadows on shadows advancing and flying,

Lightning-bright flashes the deep gloom defying,

Coming as swiftly and fading as soon.

I read this poem and I was immediately transported to the wild, open moorland of Yorkshire.  It has been calling me and I've returned to it time and again during the last week (the poem, not Yorkshire, but I can dream).

And speaking of Yorkshire, I discovered this short film about the Yorkshire Dales and felt that I had to share it.  I watch this and my heart soars as I recall happy times spent there.

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