2016-2017

This year is drawing to an end: it has not been a good year from my point of view. So many negative things have happened in 2016. However there have been some positive ones as well. 

The wheel is turning and a New year has already begun if you follow the solar year; will still soon be beginning if you use our "normal" calendar! ( My apologies to all who follow other ones as I can't remember the dates without looking them up!)


Now is the time when I start thinking of what changes to make in the New Year. 
I know we can start anew at any time but a new year beginning seems a good opportunity to start new projects and try to implement changes. 

Most of the things I am thinking of doing are connected to the house and to my ongoing decluttering. With a few steps ahead and a couple back things are slowly getting as I want them. Not easy though. 

Finances are another thing to control. Sometimes I just don't know where to reduce costs but it is always possible. 

Going more and more "Green" is easy. "Mother Earth" deserves our best and I have always had a tendancy to respect nature: the way I was brought up!
If we don't take care of our world today there will be no tomorrow for our decendants. 

We are lucky to live in a place which is still relatively unspoiled and hope to help keep it that way.

I will be sharing new projects and ideas with you in this coming year.

What are you planning for 2017? New Year Resolutions anyone?

Early Morning Musings.

Dark side of theMoon.

Frustration, feeling inadequate, failure. Early morning, too early to go out yet, tired of tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. Dark nights, dark thoughts.

Yesterday was hot. Too hot to get anything done. Another day wasted.

Dogs barking in the distance. I wonder what they are barking at. Maybe a wild pig, there are several around. Something to be careful about if I go out early. My dog is peacefully sleeping here. He only barks if there is someone around that shouldn't be there.

The owl is hooting, calling softly to her mate. Comforting usual sound to me. There is a big owl which sits on our roof most nights. I have never really seen it, just the shadow as it passes, but my inlaws can see it from across the road. They do the sign of the cross if they see one! My Sil said it is ok for me, they bring good luck where they perch but are unlucky to see! Strange superstitions. I love owls.

No crickets tonight. Maybe cooler weather today.

Total silence. So rare that it is so quiet here. The only sound I hear are my fingers moving over the computer keys. 4.30am. In half an hour there will be people moving around already. The church clock gives a lone strike. Two minutes different from the time on my computer.

A cock crows! Hey it is still night here! Early bird. Won't be dawn for a while yet! According to the official tables the sun should rise at 6.19am and set at 19.30, giving us a day of 13.11 hours! 

A car starts up in the distance. I get the lead and take the dog out. Better to get moving while the air is cool.

Day has come. 

Five o'clock in the Morning...

This morning I went out with the dog early, just after 5am, hoping to take a couple of photos before the sun was awake! Dawn is starting to get later now, sign of the passing season. A solitary owl was hooting calling to its companion. One of the big owls that often sit on our roof.

"Five o'clock in the morning just as the day begins..."

The song was running through my mind.  My favourite time of the day. So peaceful and quiet.

As I went down the road I spied a fox here but unfortunately I wasn't quick enough and my camera isn't good enough to take a photo. It didn't want to pose for me!

                                                             Peaceful darkness......

Now the sun is waking! These are olive trees and "Ficchi d'india" Indian figs at the sides of my photo. I was quite pleased with how pretty they look! 

A bat was fluttering around me but didn't show up here as I snapped a photo. It was too dark and although I could see it the photos all came out totally black! I wish I had a better camera!

It was almost totally dark here. This photo I took minutes before the sun started to show. It was a dark night like my mood! Many people would think I am crazy going for a walk so early, but I had the dog with me who is an excellent guard dog!
I feel better after the walk. The light arrives after total darkness and so things change in our lives.
It gave me the energy to start a new day and get moving!

Are you a morning person or a night owl?