"Self-sufficiency does not mean 'going back' to the acceptance of a lower standard of living. On the contrary, it is the striving for a higher standard of living, for food that is organically grown and good, for the good life in pleasant surroundings... and for the satisfaction that comes from doing difficult and intricate jobs well and successfully." John Seymour ~ Self Sufficiency 2003

Saturday 31 May 2014

It's the little things...

So, being Saturday late afternoon / early evening, RMan is ensconced in front of the TV watching his rugby, and I am plonked in front of the laptop, chilled glass of white to hand, having my blogging time.

I have wanted to mention this for a few weeks now - I can't switch on the laptop everyday so I try and keep up with everyone's blogs via Blogger Dashboard on my smartphone, but not every blog allows me to comment using it. And I don't always remember when I am properly online to revisit those pages.  But I do read your blog postings - I promise :)

I love those crisp early morning before sunrise.  Picture me - RMan still fast asleep in bed, so I'm toddling down to the gate and back, round all the veggie patches / orchards, humming to the alpacas, and quacking to the two ducks - in my (warm) gown and crocs.  I can't wear my winter sheepskin slippers outside - they'll get too wet from the dew - and wet sheepskin slippers start to smell... :)   Cold damp (wet) feet can easily be warmed when I return inside, and that early morning time outside is too precious to be fussy.  But I am a veritable sight to behold - I don't care, for it's only the animals that can see me LOL

But, to get back to those early morning solitary rambles round the property - there are a wealth of things to see, but you have to look closely...
A traditional suspended spiders web
... spiders webs of all description - traditional...
... and a not so traditional web
... and, what I call the tunnel spider web.  Our "lawn" (wild grass) is literally covered with them in the mornings.  I'm not too sure how this spider catches anything, because even the dew just hangs there on the outer edges, and doesn't drip down into the tunnel, so I'm guessing that a small insect will do the same. But I do wonder what the point is of the tunnel?
The morning-after-night-before for this tardy bee
Our lemon trees loved the belated pruning I gave them a few weeks ago. They have all started sprouting new leaves.  I am keeping a sharp eye out for a sign of the return of the woolly fruit fly, so the lemon orchard is included in my early morning stroll.  Carefully inspecting the trees, I spied a bee on one - at first I thought it had been skewered onto a lemon tree thorn by a butcher bird.  As I looked closely, I saw it feebly moving it's one leg.  I am surmising that it stayed out too late the evening before, and didn't have the energy to find it's way home.  When I to checked this lemon tree after the sun came up, it had disappeared, so it must've got warm enough to make the homeward journey.
Finally, this moth flew in one night, and I found it on the dining table the next morning.  I have never see a moth with this pattern before.  Pretty, isn't it?

It isn't just the obvious beauty of this place that we love - it's the little things that count too :)

18 comments:

  1. Dani,

    You sound so content.

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    1. DFW - I am :) Even given that we were late starters, I wouldn't change it for anything. Except, maybe, doing it sooner... :)

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  2. The big things may be nice, but it is the little things that give me the most joy.

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    1. Vicki - I'm reminded of the saying "Dynamite comes in small packages" :) It's taking the time to notice the little things - the big things always jump out at one, whereas the little things need more concentration / time :)

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  3. You have found your little piece of heaven and it shows :-)

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  4. I've never seen a spider's web like yours before - how unusual and what a pretty moth. Your early morning stroll sounds wonderful. I wouldn't worry that you're not dressed up for it!!!
    Love from Mum
    xx

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    1. Mum - Glad you can't see me when I take my morning stroll...

      I l-o-v-e them :)

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  5. So glad to see someone so content with life.
    I couldn't imagine missing a morning in my garden. I love that quiet time before the day begins

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    1. Sue - What's not to be content about? :)

      Quiet time to me = food for the soul.

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  6. Thank you for sharing. There is comfort in knowing that far from me, there is someone working as hard as I do, if not more so ! Love to you all,

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    1. Jane - Yu certainly work hard - I'm breathless just reading about what you did. Everyone, no matter how busy, should fit in a little "me" time, no matter when, or for how long :)

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  7. Mornings are good times to be out. It's still quiet then. Is it entirely safe to be out there by yourself? I hope so. We have creatures here in the woods that I wouldn't want to walk up on. Usually they leave people alone, but if you surprise them.....

    I liked that moth. We have giant green Luna moths here that sometimes come in and land on the window screens. They are as big as sparrows.

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    1. Harry - Oh no, apart from snakes in summer, there is no danger here. Anyway, I always walk with my phone, so if I need to contact RMan, he's a phone call away.

      Moths as big as sparrows - you can keep them LOL

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  8. wow that is a pretty moth. I have never seen anything like it

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  9. think that's called a spotted footman?

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    1. Diana - That's an intriguing name - and very apt LOL Thank you :)

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Thank you for taking the time to comment - it makes my day and removes the "loneliness' of sitting at my screen blogging supposedly to myself ;) I try and reply as quickly as possible so please forgive me if sometimes my response is delayed.