One of the things that I love about living here is the clarity of the seasons. Surrounded by countryside as we are,  the ever changing fields and trees tell you the season you are in and how quickly those seasons pass.

Live each day…

This year the fields have been sown with barley, eight weeks ago I wrote about the deluge, and the barley was green..

Only a few weeks ago, as we watched the blood moon rise over the fields they were fields of gold that surrounded our house stretching down the valley to the river; it was a sight to see at any time of the day.

But this hot summer has brought the barley to fruition much sooner than normal and a few weeks ago they were baling the gold up ready for the autumn and winter.

Just another reminder for me that you should live each day and each moment, sieze each moment because then it will be gone.

Something that this summer is reminding me everyday.

So the other evening Rich and I sat in the garden and as the sun started to set the gold bales began to reflect the setting sun and turn the most beautiful shade of red….

Every morning I have looked out of the window at the sea of hay bales and every day I have counted my blessings.

Now, today, the farmer is collecting the bales and reminding me that autumn is just around the corner. When I look out of my window tomorrow the view will have changed again.

Remember the only constant is change…

The leaves on the leaning cherry tree in the corner of our garden, now acting as the support for our hammock chair, are starting to turn brown; and, just yesterday, a walnut fell from the tree!! It is as if summer is whispering to us that her work is nearly done.

My beautiful pointed hydrangea,  are known as Vanilla and fraise (vanilla and strawberry) because as the season moves on they change colour from white to a deep pink, acting as barometers for the season.

And that is one of the things that I love about living out here, it reminds me, every day to live each moment because the only moment is now.

As I have said before this summer is moving too fast, I know that you have to go with the flow and have been reminded of that more than ever over the past few weeks; watching people who have visited from England put things off because of their ‘plans’,thinking that their plans would come to fruition and what they could have done or eaten at that time was not necessary because they ‘planned’ to do it later.  They have waited only to find that their plans have not come to fruition and they have missed the moment! And then they have moaned!!

It really reminded Rich and I of how much we have changed, we have learnt the importance of going with the flow. In fact yesterday we sat and mapped out what we had ‘planned’ for the week and then laughed because we knew that those plans would change, and they have, in fact they had by yesterday evening.

In the last week I have supported a dear friend whose plans lie in chaos at the moment, because they were clearly not what life intended; and I have tried to help them to remember that they need to go with the flow, that life NEVER works out the way we plan – because we ain’t doing the driving!!

What we need will come, it is when we try to force it that it never does.

So this beautiful summer I have reminded myself to go where life takes me, and to live by my mantra that life will show me the way. We still have much more to come, not least our dear friend Jenny coming to visit on Sunday for ten days; and a small holiday in another part of France to look forward to, four amigoes and three Welshies!! And whilst I am excited and will enjoy every moment, it does not stop me enjoying the moment right here and right now; with the Welshies running around the garden barking at the farmer and my beautiful old cat sleeping in the sunshine.

Twenty two years ago my family and I were going through a very difficult phase in our lives and I will always remember my mum saying “here is to next year, it can’t be as bad as this one.” She died four months later!

Seeing the fields of gold, and then the changes that they went through, and the changes in my garden reminded me of herm whilst I have been writing this post;  it’s title especially has reminded me  of her, the importance of not planning too far ahead; and this beautiful song that always makes me cry…

“Fields Of Gold”

 

Moisy