Too much to laugh last night

Apparently so. Upon my return from London I had massive chest pains and had to be rushed to the doctors for an ECG!
Apparently I had laughed too much while in London! Go figure.
It was a good trip it really was. I love seeing my bestest friend Paul Martin. I have known him for so long I cannot count the time.
My chest still hurts and so I have very tangible memories from my trip south.

This time of year all I can think is COSY!

Cosy time in cutey-land. Seriously it is true that being cosy is a priority in these dark, chilly wet days of the Northeast.
I think library, warm red, music, computer nearby for work, hot tea or cocoa, purring cats, later in the evening a fire and candles.
I am library obsessed and I have always felt at home in them. I remember as a child sitting on the floor and looking at some of my fathers amazing books. History books mainly, but also art, and archeology and my favourite a tartan book of Robbie Burns!
Noah has that too, he always seeks out the library where he lives and spends time there and utilises it well. Reading all the books in it! Heby,Sweden, L.A., Cambridge, Ma., Hexham, London, NYC,...
We need to support their existence wherever we live.
I have found some pictures of delicious libraries above.

Rainbows and more rainbows

Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the USA. Here where I live in Narnia with its very own climate we had rainbow after rainbow after rainbow. It was one of those days with rain showers and the sun shining through them.
We counted well over ten!
Tarset is the valley of rainbows and it cheers me up greatly whenever they work their magic.

A pale sun tries to make itself known today and I think of the season coming up. We plan to take it easy. A good meal all together over the solstice holiday, candles and a fire in the wood burning stove. I shall decorate with holly from the country lanes. Time to read and talk and be together with all the cats who will get roast chicken!

I like it to be quiet over this time because the rest of the year is quite busy and can get hectic so the contrast is very welcome.
It is a good time for conversation and reflection. Reading the new books, thinking about new projects for the new year.
Turning point when the light increases and so does energy levels...
The plants enjoy the increase of light and warmth through the windows facing south. The bougainvillea may choose to bloom, the cactii, and the nerium/oleander. The Byre is the perfect room for large plants, there is plenty of room and light.

Continued deluge of rain and wind

Never ending it seems, and so I dream away. Dream of summer, dream of the garden, dream of projects, dream of Moomin Valley.
Above is the bathing/boat house where Tooticky hung out in the winter.
In the States they will be celebrating Thanksgiving. There is much to be giving thanks for. I have a notebook for gratitude nearby.

I am thankful that I am still alive. I would not have known all that I know now if I were not. Not known rural life, living with cats, making books, knowing poets up close and personal, missing my friends in the US because I care, meeting new members of my family I never knew existed, praying for my son each and every day, true appreciation from loved ones,...

I do believe we are agents in our own destiny as well as by manifesting we can accomplish direction and opportunity but there is also a great element of chance. Surprise is what I am grateful for because sometimes we cannot even imagine what we need or want.

There are always choices we make , consciously or not. Daily decisions, and it is important to recognise that. I call it my "mouse epiphany". When I was going through upheaval in my life a decade or so ago it was also a time of a great many epiphanies! The "post office queue", the "wedding" one...
Plus someone whom I loved dearly guided me with Rilke's words "You must change your life".
It is true I have made decisions to move away from and to move towards...Often to escape a toxic situation and go towards the unknown...These have been vital. Vital to my survival and still being alive today. For this I give thanks.

Moomin house

Moomin House in Moomin Valley

This is what i am talking about! The famous homestead of the Moomin Troll Family. My hexagonal chicken coop will fit well in I think. Shall have to paint it when the weather gets drier, IF it ever will! The shed is still only half-painted, because of the weather.

Mountain and valley track, the woodie, a roller coaster

You know what I am talking about, and it is often used as a metaphor for states of mind, states of the world etc.
My mood swings can be like that. Worse than a grandfather clock pendulum! At least faster.

The weather is ferocious. Cumbria has been rained upon for so many days now that the bridges are collapsing, towns are getting cut off, high streets flooded including homes and shops, people are homeless, and there have been casualties...

In our neck of the woods, or fells as it may be, has had its fair share of rain and wind, the fields are soggy, the burns are flooded and still it rains.
The three cats sit in their window baskets looking out forlornly. It is tough going.
But of course nothing like what others around the world have suffered.
I count my blessings. One by one. I fill my note book of gratitude.

Twas a stormy day...

...and twas a stormy night and twas another stormy day and I just went Moomin!
I found a hexagonal hen house/chicken coop and just ordered it just like that! It will be here tomorrow!
That is the internet for you, a bit of a challenge for spontaneity buyers like myself!
Still it is a beautiful Moomin paviion of a hen house!