Ducks (and geese).

Just pictures ... no commentary!

 The red-breasted goose.

Letting your hair down!

That's what Eliot did today!
Beautiful sunshine and a long walk at Nendrum Monastic Site.  It isn't just the dog who is dog-tired!

 It looks as if the sky couldn't quite decide if it ought to be sunny or cloudy ... half and half was good.  But not enough sun on the sundial to give the time!

 The place was deserted today so Eliot had a grand time exploring the foundations of the monastic site ... up and down all the hills ... he is fast asleep now after the exercise!

 There was quite a breeze on top of the hill even though it seemed to be quite a calm day further down in the valley.

 It is beautiful looking out across Strangford Lough ... watching the trees turn from winter bare branches to summer green will be an interesting project ... I'll try to take shots from the same location as the months pass.

This is a very quiet place ... ideal for a monastic community ... and beautiful. 

 Eliot never lets me get far out of his sight ...

 That was the morning of a lovely day off ... afternoon was spent partly at Castle Espie ... hundreds more duck photographs ... and then preparing for the evening when I was talking about Kenya to a Mothers' Union group!  Rather a nice mixture of a day - Saint David's Day.

Almighty God, 
who called your servant David 
to be a faithful and wise steward of your mysteries for the people of Wales: 
in your mercy, grant that, 
following his purity of life and zeal for the gospel of Christ, 
we may with him receive the crown of everlasting life; 
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, 
who is alive and reigns with you, 
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 

one God, now and for ever.

Beauty.

Wherever you look there is beauty.  In the detail of a flower, in the work of creative hands... colour, shape, design... all we have to do is look!
The only trouble with Eliot is that he seems to be oblivious to the potential beauty of the spring bulbs around which he has begun to dig holes!  Some will survive ... and those I will enjoy.
The glorious things around us in both the natural world and in buildings can easily draw our thoughts heavenwards. That's before we begin to consider the beauty we recognise in family and friends, in the unexpected conversations and acts of kindness that are encountered time without number.
The camera can, at best, record moments and then later bring a reminder of something observed and appreciated ... but the real memory is imprinted in the mind and on the human spirit.

 The interior of Saint John's Parish Church, Malone is an example of a beautiful Anglican place of worship ... the mosaic in the side chapel is particularly striking.  In this liturgical season it picks up the purples of Lent.
Some of the flowers that we enjoy have an exotic magnificence ... this is the second of the Amaryllis ... a single flower this time ... and a second flower stalk has begun to appear from the bulb so there'll be another bloom in a week or two!
 The Kenyan earrings pick up the stronger colours of that country ... if the pale "peaches and cream" is typical of the temperate lands ... the bright beads reflect the equatorial sunshine!

 This sculpture has been on the blog before ... hidden away in a small square in the city centre it is one of Belfast's little gems ... beauty emerging from a chrysalis.  Even from the most dreary and darkest days there can come something very wonderful.

 Who'd have thought that the children planting bulbs one dark autumn evening would bring so much cheer to the front of the church garden ... now the daffodils are opening with their fantastic variety and beauty ... such a simple thing ... and now from the dark and damp earth there emerges stunning heads of whites, yellows and oranges.

 These are enough to cheer the weary traveller who passes by on dark and dismal winter days.

And now a thought or two from "The Little Book of Vicarage Wisdom".

If at first you don't succeed, tell yourself you didn't want to do it anyway.

If you have two loaves, sell one and buy a Danish pastry. 

Why not save a tree by re-using your pew sheet as a paper aeroplane?

The dog

 Spring flowers ... tulips received as a gift ... daffodils growing under the clothes line.  The bright colours of spring are bursting out now and helping to cheer the spirit.
Not that Eliot is in the least impressed at having to pose!

 If he could have squeezed under the stair I think he would ... anything to avoid the camera that was once again pointing in his direction.  Having a bunch of tulips, however attractive, just didn't persuade him to pose.

 Things were easier in the garden ... maybe a bit of bribery was used!  A few treats scattered in the grass did the trick ... though he did look rather anxious when I lay down behind the clump of miniature daffodils.  In that position you're very likely to be licked!

It was only afterwards that I realized that all the heads are pointing south ... so their backs are to the camera!  At least the dog was looking in the right direction.

"Daffodils" (1804)

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

 William Wordsworth (1770-1850).

Out of the habit ....

Days slip into weeks ... weeks into months ...
And when things are busy (or I'm sick) then the blog goes not just to the bottom of the list but into oblivion! The last week has had both events in equal measure.
Working backwards quickly ... Ash Wednesday ... the first of four services was at 7.30 am.  This is the service of penitence with the imposition of ashes ... not a big congregation at that hour of the morning!  Before anyone arrived it was rather good just to sit in the side chapel in the quiet while it was still dark outside.
The previous day was Shrove Tuesday ... however for our Mothers' Union and Ladies' Guild it was CHRISTMAS!

This all happened last year by 'accident'.  The annual dinner was postponed due to very heavy snow and ice.  Everyone liked the idea so much that the meal has been moved to February ... still the traditional fare of Broth, Turkey and Ham followed by Christmas Pudding!  Santa comes and the gifts are great fun.  Christmas music is played and, I nipped up to the attic and brought down my Christmas Tree just for a laugh!  It all added to the atmosphere when thirty one of us had a fantastic evening.

It is good to dress up a bit, wear the Christmas Cracker hats and, after the food was cleared, bring in the dog for his fan club to play with.

I suspect if he'd come in during the meal there might have been a few bits and pieces fall to the floor by accident ... not good for him!
What with Ash Wednesday and Christmas ... it is time to think about holidays!  I happened to see the Italy photographs on the bookshelf so enjoyed a bit of looking back on a great trip a long, long time ago!  Twenty years now!
Hopefully I'll get back to that wonderful country this summer ... a different part ... photographs galore, no doubt!

We do get our own little bit of sunshine from time to time.  Sunday morning was one of those rare times.  Saint Nicholas' looked good and the seagulls enjoyed the winter warmth.

It was only when this picture came up on the larger screen that the gull's shadow could be seen!  A happy accident ... wish I could say that it was planned.

Eliot had a walk and managed to get very dirty ... and smelly.  Enough said on that!

He's still easily distracted by a small point of light ... I can torment him for ages ...

... and then he remembers the bones ... and that noisy occupation distracts him for a while.

He wasn't quite sure what to make of the couple of days that I spent in bed ... Norovirus everywhere ... and again ... enough said!

The bewildered "nurse" just looked on with a pathetic gaze ...

Fortunately the Parish Magazine came off the press before the virus struck ... the trauma teddies making the cover photograph.

So ... just a quick flick back over the last eight days ... and a Lenten intention of getting back to a daily note or two .... 

The Ash Wednesday Collect ... 

Almighty and everlasting God, 

you hate nothing that you have made 

and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: 

Create and make in us new and contrite hearts 

that we, worthily lamenting our sins 

and acknowledging our wretchedness, 

may receive from you, the God of all mercy, 

perfect remission and forgiveness; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Dog!

Yesterday (14th February) was a good day for dog pictures!
I'd saved my post-Christmas break until this week when a friend from England came to stay ... so Monday and Tuesday were holiday trips!
The blogs are still working backwards from last night (RISE in the dark) to Nendrum Monastic Settlement in the late afternoon ... and, in the next blog, a few hours at Castle Espie for some birdwatching!
Anyhow ... the Eliot shots are from Nendrum on a very, very windy late afternoon.

 It looked as if Eliot was having a great time while we nosed around among the ruins.

 Whatever he found to roll in didn't smell badly this time ...

 ... and he was easily persuaded to run around for photographs ... maybe he didn't realise that it was for photographs!

 The site catches every bit of wind that comes from the Irish Sea ... you can see for miles from the top of the hill.

 Strangford Lough on the right ... the tide just beginning to come in.

 Bad hair day for Eliot ... and for the humans who were with him.

So ... for Eliot's fan club ... that was his bit of fun from Tuesday!  If and when time permits you will get a glimpse of a different experience for him on Monday!  Maybe this makes up for all the time he sits patiently in the car just waiting for me!

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us,
o'er the world's tempestuous sea;
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
for we have no help but thee;
yet possessing every blessing,
if our God our Father be. 

Church Hymnal number 652

James Edmeston (1791-1867)