earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone...

The first walk of the new year, to Pennington Flash in Lancashire. Everywhere icebound, frosted, still. The sound of the ice creaking and our boots crunching. Hundreds of birds gathered to feed on the open water, waiting for the thaw which will not come tonight. As we drove home the light began to fade and the cold ground seemed to tighten even more.

Thinking about 2010... not knowing what it will bring... having no expectations anymore... deciding to take each moment as it is given, to go slowly and keep things simple, to be good to myself, to be patient, to be thankful.

A more tangible resolution is to read from our collection of countryside books every night, to think about lives lived elsewhere and to learn more about the beauty that surrounds us.

20 comments:

Lyn said...

Oh i spy The magic Apple Tree is one of your books it it the most wonderful book, You will enjoy it I think. It is one of my most favourite books. I wish you well with your plans for 2010.
Love
Lyn
xxx

Karen L R said...

I think it was William Blake who wrote "Gratitude is heaven itself". I like your approach to the new year.
:-)

Heloise said...

I too wish you well with your plans. Happy New Year.

jamjar said...

Pennington Flash is somewhere I have been meaning to visit for a long time, must make the effort this year! Lovely stack of books, I have the top and the bottom one already, and have just received the Countryside diaries for Christmas! Happy new year.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

I love The Magic Apple Tree too. Am also reading a Ronald Blythe (sorry, can't remember the name and upstairs is very cold). Hope your 2010 is very good to you and would love to get you meet you sometime.

Frances said...

Happy New Year, Sue!

Pennington Flash is a wonderful name ... could have been that of a film star.

I very much like the approach that you are taking as we head down the 2010 path. Think I might want to appropriate it for myself.

And...that book stack! Well, I have not read any of those books, and immediately want to know more about them, so that I might try to get my wonderful library to find them for me.

I will start with a request to the library for The Magic Apple Tree.

xo

Jackie said...

Your posts always get me thinking. I wish you a Happy New Year.

Gilly said...

I spotted Ronald Blyth's book - another one I must read - but is that the Guardian Country Diaries???

I hope 2010 brings peace and contentment to you. Plus bundles of creativity and the time to use it!

silverpebble said...

I hope to follow your example this year - thankyou for this post and warmest wishes for the New Year. Emma x

Sue said...

I wish you well with your plans. A simple life is a good one, as I am discovering on my own journey into self sufficiency and realisation.

Sue xx

JP said...

I wish you well with your plans - I like the Flash too - I bet it was busy!!! - hadn't realised we were such near neighbours - I love reading your blog

Reading Tea Leaves said...

I'm doing lots of reading at the moment too - such a respite from the dark cold days, although the snow is lovely at the moment as it brightens everything up nicely!

I like your approach to the New Year. I hope 2010 is a good one for you and your family.

Jeanne x

Anonymous said...

Sue you are a very gifted writer.
I think you could write a nature book about your part of the world, and give it your own sense of place.

Happy and productive new year

julie

HAWTHORN HALL said...

They look like an lovely collection of books to read over January and February. I have enjoyed my visit to your blog!

Gillian

Lorenza said...

wishing you all the best for this 2010, hoping it will being lots of creativity and new ideas for the things you love doing :) Buon Anno Nuovo (as we say!) L xxx

caireen said...

great photos - I have decided to make 'simplicity' my keyword for the year - and go back to it whenever life threatens to overwhelm! Hope yours is simply beautiful in 2010 - love Caireen x

Sue said...

Thank you all for your lovely comments and best wishes for 2010! I wish you all love and creativity in return :-)

A time to dance said...

Have wonderful 2010...lots of love to you all...

BALLET NEWS said...

loved this post of your's, thank you ! I'm wondering why you need an email address to reply though - can't you leave a comment for people ?? Just wondering....

Heather said...

Oh, all these books look so wonderful! Wish I lived just down the lane so I could borrow some sometime ;)
happy new year!~