francene--blog. Year 2013
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May 9th

5/9/2013

 
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This day will never come again.

I rose this morning to a perfect day. Without reading about the latest happenings in the world, I sat in peace while drinking my cup of tea. The sun emitted just the right heat and light to welcome me. Full leaves like hands have replaced the tiny green buds on the tall trees outside the window. Best of all, flowers replace the tight buds on the patch of wild garlic beside the road. We've all woken after the long sleep of winter.


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White bursts of magical froth signal spring in earnest. Allium ursinum, known as ramsons, buckrams, wild garlic, broad-leaved garlic, wood garlic, bear leek or bear's garlic, is a wild relative of chives native to Europe and Asia. A popular cure for the kidney stone and for purifying and strengthening the blood, wild garlic can be made into soup to ease a cold, cough and asthma. The herb is used extensively in trendy restaurants now days. And ... cough ... I've made reference to the herb as a natural antiseptic in the futuristic, fantasy adventures in my novels.


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Sound penetrates. Rather than representing an ugly urban jungle, the swish of traffic as it speeds up or downhill represents the river of life passing by my door. The two-lane old Roman road could never overwhelm the peace in my little village. On my daily walk beside the row of cottages, I concentrate on the tall trees, which fill the sky and almost meet overhead. At the same time as the newly emerging leaves, the horse chestnut trees produce tall spikes of flowers like candles to decorate their boughs.


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Sigh. One more look at the flowers.
Back to the happenings outside my paradise.

Last night, people sighted a meteor over the south west of England and Wales, big enough to be captured on film. Viewers say the phenomenon is a once in a lifetime event. The meteor was likely to have been debris from Halley's Comet. Bigger than a shooting star, it had a strange greenish tinge to it. This reminds me that I am like a grain of sand on a tiny planet—one of many other grains.

On the other side of the world, Bangladesh announced a shut down of 18 garment factories for safety reasons yesterday. However, the action is too late to save at least eight people. Police report a fire in a garment factory in the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka. It comes with the issue of industrial safety in Bangladesh under intense scrutiny following the collapse of an eight-storey building late last month. Officials have confirmed that at least 912 people had died in the disaster. I send them condolence.

In other news: Tens of thousands of students in Chile have resumed their protests for free education with marches in major cities. Also, there is no easy answer on the Syria crisis, but the US and Russia have committed to work together until the end of conflict in the country. Last of all, the bodies of three more soldiers killed in Afghanistan are being repatriated to the UK later.

Rather than worry about the happenings in the world, I prefer to concentrate on the paradise I see. Just for today.  ... Take some time for yourself.  Live the moment.  It will never come again.


Amy link
5/8/2013 10:56:49 pm

Francene,
Thanks so much for opening my world up a bit more, as you are so excellent at this! I tend to focus on the dandelion, the wild garlic scapes, and oftentimes miss what's going on in the world. But I like your encouragement to do so, even as you enlighten me about the latter.

Francene Stanley link
5/9/2013 03:10:31 am

That's funny and cute, Amy. I've got all the time I need to think about such things, while you lead a busy life.

Bonnie Gean link
5/9/2013 03:17:33 am

It has been quite a while since I've taken in the world around me, quietly sitting in my chair and sipping a lemon tea. This post reminds me of the things I love to do, yet fail to do.

Thanks for the reminder that it's a blessing to stop and ponder about the world around you!

Francene Stanley link
5/9/2013 06:45:51 pm

I'm so glad I gave you a reason to rethink what you love to do in life.

Susan link
5/9/2013 03:20:31 am

What a beautiful post, Francene. Your words about being a grain of sand in amongst lots of other grains of sand remind me of the line in the song: 'We are stardust. We are golden.' Aren't we just! Thanks so much for sharing your peace today.

Francene Stanley link
5/9/2013 06:54:05 pm

Indeed, we are made of stardust. That's scientificly proven. It makes me feel special in my own small way.

Beth Barany link
5/9/2013 03:36:34 am

It's so lovely to get your perspective on the world. I get to sit beside you, virtually of course, and see the world through your eyes. Thank you!

Francene Stanley link
5/9/2013 06:59:15 pm

How lovely to be able to host you through my eyes. It's not as silly as it sounds. In my book Still Rock Water, the heroine has visions where she's projected into someone else's mind and can whisper into their mind.

Debra Jason link
5/9/2013 03:42:42 am

You painted a beautiful picture with your words. I love the flowers that bloom in the spring & the songs I hear outside my window as the birds sing each morning (they're singing now). It's always a good idea to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us each day.
Thanks. ~Debra

Francene Stanley link
5/9/2013 07:01:34 pm

You're right. If we can't appreciate each moment, we might as well be somewhere else. ;-)

Alana link
5/9/2013 09:03:49 am

I so enjoyed your picture pictures and word pictures. I can imagine having a cup of tea while listening to local traffic on an old Roman road. What a sense of history! I'd love to see a picture of that road, and the rows of cottages with trees almost meeting overhead. Nothing like that here in my part of upstate New York!

Francene Stanley link
5/9/2013 07:06:18 pm

I live in a little piece of paradise. I'll have to think of a way to share my surroundings to my overseas visitors.

Cher link
5/9/2013 09:43:12 am

Beautiful post Francene, the news of our tragic world ruins the magic, I wish we could all stay in our magic!
That meteorite was pretty scary!

Francene Stanley link
5/9/2013 07:11:58 pm

Tragic ruins the magic. That's not only poetic, but true if you let it.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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