What a difference the sun makes. After a week of grey stormy weather the sun appeared & the PoppyM household "went out to play":
* The hens sun-bathed
* I took the horse's coat off & she rolled & rolled in the mud. A very relaxed horses greeted me this evening.
* The dogs both had leisurely walks.
* Mr PoppyM did something important up on the scaffolding at the church
* I put up the temporary cloches for the lettuces & dug up root veggies
And we've all gone/are going to bed tired & happy. Marvellous.
On ephemeral things. One of the architects involved with our ruin made an interesting observation about ruins in general . Discussing our ruins he was saying how much we had changed the environment that they are now set in. I commented that some people had bemoaned the fact that they are no longer "romantic ruins" and are on their way to being preserved & eventually incorporated into another building. The architect's comment was that "ruins are moments in time". I'd not thought of that - a ruin come into being from a "whole building" & then degrades into nothing. So our ruin's moment is passing - what a poignant thought - well not for us but certainly for some. Our covenant states that it should be kept as a monument - which is "anything intended to preserve the remembrance of a person, event, action" - the opposite of a ruin. It is also Scheduled & Listed - so definitely not a ear-marked as a "moment in time".
I'm a fan of BBC's Autumn (and Spring Watch). Yesterday's programme contained an astonishing passing event. They had an amazing piece about hungry waxwings sitting on the arms of a person and eating apples. That must count as a "once in a life-time" experience. ( fair-isle.blogspot.com)
Tomorrow is Remembrance Sunday. I find it a confusing day as I am naturally a peaceful person - vegetarian, liberal, Green etc etc. But the truth I have arrived at is the humans, like most other mammals, have an in-built ability to fight & kill. There is no use in denying this aspect of human nature - it is no different to cats & dogs that will kill small- furries if the opportunity presents itself - we dont love our pets any the less for this part of their nature. Most mammals will also kill members of their own species if circumstances force them to behave this way. Now I have accepted this aspect of human nature I can mourn & honour those who have died & suffered as a result of conflict. I can also admire those, who in these conflict situations, display the best aspects of humanity and hope that if I ever find myself in such a situation I can behave in this manner to.
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