Autumn in Sweden…
Autumn is coming in the area where I bought my little cottage. Ulrika went on her 9000 step walk this morning and kindly stopped to take a few shots of the forest, lake and house for me. The two little sisters who are such good walkers, accompanied her.
Amanzimtoti is in the ever green area along the South Coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal and there is really no differentiation between the various seasons.
Sweden is very different, as can be seen by the autumn colours remaining on a few of the forest trees.
I feel so blessed that I was able to live in that setting for the three months I did. It was the best time of my life.
Poems…
I have always been partial to poems, in fact, I have a well thumbed book of poems in my guest toilet!
I have read the Dash Poem by Linda Ellis a number of times and I find it absolutely thought provoking and charming.
But when I came across the above reading by
TikTok@dylan_sessler
on my Facebook Feed section, I decided that it should form part of my blog.
I hope you enjoy it.
The Jacaranda trees…
Traditionally, jacarandas bloom in November at a time when university students are inspired to study for their end of year exams. The old saying says that if you have not done your studying by then, you are bound to fail. I am not sure how true this is, but what I do know is that this particular tree is truly spectacular when it blooms.
AS I sit at my computer writing this blog, I have one flowering just outside my 4th floor window. I don’t have any idea as to how old it is, but it was already well established when I arrived 20 years ago.
Throughout the day…
birds of all types land on her branches. They sit there for a while, singing their songs for all to hear. Then they fly away and others take their place.
It is also the host to a number of parasite shrubs, caused by seeds being deposited in the crooks of the branches up high. It is strange to see a different tree growing out of the Jacaranda and it is so visible as I sit outside on the roof in the sun.
October…
Today, on the 21st October 1893 my Gran Gran, Ella Crutchley, was born. Both Mornè and I share her birthday month. How lucky I was to have had her living with us while I was growing up.
Her values, love and understanding will forever be etched into my heart.
While talking about her, I thought that I would tell you a little love story that involved her, which I think is worth writing about.
When she was a young girl of marrying age, she lived with her family on their farm. She had a man who was her secret love. One day he plucked up courage to approach her father to ask for her hand in marriage. His name was Stuart Aylward.
I believe, the story goes, that the father had no objection to him coming into the family, but it was considered proper to get the older of the two daughters married off first. So, he gave his permission to Stuart to marry Vera.
They lived together well into their old age and I don’t remember exactly how many children they had, but I have a feeling that there might have been 5.
Eventually Aunt Vera died. Gran Gran had lost her second husband to Cancer at this stage, and by some miracle she and Stuart became reconnected. As Gran Gran was living with us, it was a great surprise to me when I was informed that she was going to get married again and that it was to Uncle Stuart!
They lived happily with us until he eventually died at a ripe old age.
A lovely bit of family history…
