| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Aug | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | |||
A journey from the city,
To the narrow country lane.
A memory so pretty
Of some playful childhood games.
The packing of the welly boots
Bought excitement in itself.
The sounds of the barn owl hoots
A few days in a secret world, I felt.
The panoramic viewsfrom the cosy farm house.
What ran in front of me – wow a field mouse.
Cobwebs on the barn doors.
Hide and seek in bales of straw.
Rounding up cows in thick splodgy mud.
Smells you don’t forget, some would say are good.
Creeping into the house of the hens.
To me this was a heavenlyden.
The emotionwhen finding an egg freshly laid.
To touch its warmth, nature made.
Calves sucking my hands felt weird.
They were eager for their feed.
Early rise for cows milking.
Tired eyes woul not stop blinking.
Seems like the middle of the night.
Keep away from the bull, could give me a fright.
Barns and sheds, doors led to doors.
Lets go in here, somewhere new to explore.
Long summer days.
The harvests dusty haze.
Running along the tractor trails.
Corn so long, in the wind it sailed.
An adventure to the village church.
The yard, the stones, the flowers, the smell of earth.
To the country town shop. Oh! what a pleasure.
In the shop’s smooth paper bag, I held on to my treasure.
To open the bag up, back at the house on the farm,
More excitement before the calm.
The calm of the bath and the supper at night.
I hope Ican stay for another days delight
-0-0-0-0–
I am so glad she remembers.
He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ringed with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
THE EAGLE
Tennyson 1809 – 1892
It just paints a picture doesn’t it?
Today I bought this birthday card,
One which I can never send,
Not for my next door neighbour,
But one of my best friends.
Where he has gone is peaceful,
The best rest he has had,
But I still wish you happy birthday
That darling man, my dad.
-0-0-0-0-0-
It would have been my dad’s birthday today. -
,
’Silent Spring’ – I read this book many years ago. It really made me think how we take birds for granted and to this day when I hear birds singing I sometimes think of Rachel Carson’s book – even though it is over 20 years since I last read it. It is so hard to imagine a Spring without birdsong
I remember when I read Silent Spring many years ago the thought that we had so much power over this Earth amazed the young ‘me’. We humans had the ability to kill insects, birds and mammals through our technology
Rachel Carson covers a wide area in Silent Spring. She covers the ecology of water, birds, plants, mammals, soil and chemicals. One of the reasons this book is so memorable is the way she explains and tells the stories.
Rachel Carson was born on May 27 1907 in Pennsylvania, United States. She was a writer and a biologist
She also wrote the ‘Edge of the Sea’, ‘The Sea Around Us’.
Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring shocked a lot of people (including me) because it showed how dangerous some pesticides could be.
Silent Spring has been one of the books that has stayed with me all my life. I have remembered parts of it when listening to modern news about pollution. I have remembered Silent Spring when listening to birds singing. The title is so simple yet so effective. The message of the book is clear.
It is as relevant today as it was then, which is why it is still in publication and is still being read today.
Nature Poetry – poetry about anything to do with nature. Birds are a part of nature.
The Book THE POETRY OF BIRDS seems an interesting exciting nature poetry book
There are some amazing birds in this world and it seems there is also some amazing nature poetry about birds.
The Poetry of Birds has been put together by one birdwatcher and one poet.
Simon Armitage is the poet and Tim Dee is the birdwatcher. What a wonderful combinatin.
I have always liked poetry and I have always liked garden birds. Nature poetry – poetry about wild birds -to have this combination in one book is amazing. I have put poetry / nursery rhymes that have a connection with birds on Bird Table News, but it would be wonderful to have a book such as The Poetry of Birds. I’m sure I would read it more than once – it would be a nature poetry book to savour!
The poems range from a 14C poem about a Thrush to the modern nature poet Alice Oswald.
Poets observe things in detail and often have see things with a different eye. I wonder what other poems this nature book has in store
There are so many different types of birds to write poetry about. The wren, the eagle, the sparrow, the seagull, the robin, the crow, the blue tit, the rook, the swallow, the owl. All so different yet classed under one heading ‘birds’. I wonder if this bird nature book covers all those birds.
I went to a wonderful Harvest Festival on Friday evening.
After some hymns and readings, Sally stood wearing wellingtons and a farming outfit. She had a spade in one hand. In the her other she had a mustard seed – which of course we could not see. She ‘planted’ this seed and covered it with imaginary soil. She wanted to show us how one small seed can spread and grow.
Out of a cloth bag she pulled some green material. The school children each got hold of this green material which miraculously in our imagination was the mustard tree fully grown. The happy children pulled and pulled the material – this green cloth mustard tree up the Church ailse past all the congregation. So there was a long, thin green strip on the floor on the Church aisle with children pulling it. This green mustard tree had long green shoots coming off the side and the children passed these long green shoots (green cloth) to members of the congregation sitting in the seats. We each passed the shoot to our neighbour and the ‘mustard tree branches’ were spread out along the rows of the congretation.
Everyone in the Church was involved and the green mustard seed became a wonderful green tree with branches spreading to every member of the congregation.
Then children with cardbird birds on poles ran up the aisle and sat at the top with their birds in their hands. Then Carol asked the children why the birds rested in the tree. A variety of answers were given.
One seed can make so much difference. If you plant one seed it can in time spread and help many other people, animals or nature.
We sang some lovely hyms and had some readings that the children and adults could understand.
Here are some of the Hymns.
FOR THE FRUITS OF HIS CREATION
For the fruits of his creation
thanks be to God;
for his gifts to ev’ry nation,
thanks be to God;
for the ploughing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth’s safe-keeping,
thanks be to God.
If you would like to read the whole of this Hymn please click this link -
FOR THE FRUITS OF HIS CREATION
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Here is the first verse of THINK OF A WORLD WITHOUT ANY FLOWERS -
THINK OF A WORLD WITHOUT ANY FLOWERS
Think of a world
without any flowers,
think of a world
without any trees,
think if a sky
without any sunshine,
think of the air
without any breeze.
We thank you Lord,
for flowers and trees and sunshine,
we thank you, Lord,
and praise your holy name.
Doreen Newport (b. 1927)
If you would like to read the whole of this hymn please click this link
THINK OF A WORLD WITHOUT ANY FLOWERS
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Here is the first verse of WE PLOUGH THE FIELDS AND SCATTER
WE PLOUGH THE FIELDS AND SCATTER
We plough the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God’s almighty hand;
he sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
are sent from heav’n above;
then thank the Lord,
O thank the Lord,
for all his love.
Mathias Claudius (1740-1815)
trans. Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817 – 1878) alt
If you would like to read the whole of the Hymn please click this link -
WE PLOUGH THE FIELDS AND SCATTER THE GOOD THINGS ON THE GROUND
-0-0-0-0–0-0-0-0-
There was then another hymn. This was one verse. I don’t know if I can put this hymn on Bird Table News. The title was – YOU SHALL GO OUT WITH JOY
There was clapping as well as singing in this Hymn. We sang it three times and each time we were asked to clap and sing louder. Adult voices mingled with childrens voices.
Birds were mentioned in this hymn as well. It was lovely to give thanks for our food and think how we are all tied into nature and to be one congregation in one community.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Do we take food for granted? Do we take our Churches for granted? Do we often think how we are linked to nature?
For the fruits of his creation
thanks be to God;
for his gifts to ev’ry nation,
thanks be to God;
for the ploughing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth’s safe-keeping,
thanks be to God.
In the just reward of labour,
God’s will is done;
in the help we give our neighbour,
God’s will is done;
in our world-wide task of caring
for the hundry and despairing,
in the harvests we are sharing,
God’s will is done.
For the harvests of his Spirit,
thanks be to God;
for the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God;
for the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all that love has found us,
thanks be to God.
Fred Pratt Green (b.1903)
-0-0-0-0–0-0
THINK OF A WORLD WITHOUT ANY FLOWERS
Think of a world
without any flowers,
think of a world
without any trees,
think if a sky
without any sunshine,
think of the air
without any breeze.
We thank you Lord,
for flowers and trees and sunshine,
we thank you, Lord,
and praise your holy name.
2.
Think of a world
without any animals,
think of a field
without any herd,
think of a stream
without any fishes,
think of a dawn
without any bird.
We thank you, Lord,
for all your living creatures,
we thank you, Lord,
and praise your holy name.
3.
Think of a world
without any people,
think of a street
with no-one living there,
think of a town
without any houses,
no-one to love
and nobody to care.
We thank you Lord,
for families and friendships,
we thank you, Lord,
and praise your holy name.
Doreen Newport (b. 1927)
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
WE PLOUGH THE FIELDS AND SCATTER
We plough the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God’s almighty hand;
he sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
are sent from heav’n above;
then thank the Lord,
O thank the Lord,
for all his love.
He only is the maker
of all things near and far;
he paints the wayside flower,
he lights the evening star;
he fills the earth with beauty,
by him the birds are fed;
much more to us, his children,
he gives our daily bread.
3.
We thank thee then, O Father,
for all things bright and good;
the seed time and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food.
Accept the gifts we offer
for all thy love imparts,
and what thou most desirest,
our humble, thankful hearts.
Mathias Claudius (1740-1815)
trans. Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817 – 1878) alt
-0-0-0-0-
There was then another hymn. This was one verse. I don’t know if I can put this hymn on Bird Table News. The title was – YOU SHALL GO OUT WITH JOY
There was clapping as well as singing in this Hymn. We sang it three times and each time we were asked to clap and sing louder. Adult voices mingled with childrens voices.
Birds were mentioned in this hymn as well.
WE PLOUGH THE FIELDS AND SCATTER
We plough the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God’s almighty hand;
he sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
are sent from heav’n above;
then thank the Lord,
O thank the Lord,
for all his love.
He only is the maker
of all things near and far;
he paints the wayside flower,
he lights the evening star;
he fills the earth with beauty,
by him the birds are fed;
much more to us, his children,
he gives our daily bread.
3.
We thank thee then, O Father,
for all things bright and good;
the seed time and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food.
Accept the gifts we offer
for all thy love imparts,
and what thou most desirest,
our humble, thankful hearts.
Mathias Claudius (1740-1815)
trans. Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817 – 1878) alt
-0-0-0-0-
he fills the earth with beauty, by him the birds are fed;
I could not resist this poem. I used half the other day. Below is the complete poem
The sun may be clouded, yet ever the sun
Will sweep on its course till the Cycle is run
And when into chaos the system is hurled
Again shall the Builder reshape a new world.
Your path may be clouded, uncertain your goal,
Move on – for your orbit is fixed to your soul
And though it may lead into darkness of night
The torch of the Builder shall give it new light.
You were, you will be! Know this while you are:
Your spirit has travelled both long and afar
It came from the Source, to the source it returns -
The Spark which was lighted eternally burns.
It slept in a jewel. It leapt in a wave
It roamed in the forest. It rose from the grave.
It took on strange garbs for long aeons of years
And now in the soul of yourself it appears.
From body to body your spirit speeds on
It seeks a new form when the old one has gone
And the form that it finds is the fabric you wrought
On the loom of the Mind from the fibre of Thought
As dew is drawn upward, in rain to descent
Your thoughts drift away and in Destiny blend.
You cannot escape them, for petty or great
Or evil or noble, they fashion your Fate.
Somewhere on some planet, sometime and somehow
Your life will reflect your thoughts of your NOW!
My Law is unerring, no blood can atone.
The structure you built you will live in alone.
From cycle to cycle, through time and through space
Your lives with your longings will ever keep pace
And all that you ask for, and all you desire
Must come at your bidding, as flame out of fire.
Once list’ to that Voice and all tumult is done -
Your life is the life of the Infinite One.
In the hurrying race you are conscious of pause
With love for the purpose, and love for the Cause.
You are your own Devil, you are your own God.
You fashioned the paths your footsteps have trod.
And no-one can save you from Error or sin,
Until you have hark’d to the Spirit within.
-0-0-0-0-0-
I think my favourite piece is about our spirit. It says the Spirit -
It slept in a jewel. It leapt in a wave
It roamed in the forest. It rose from the grave.
It took on strange garbs for long aeons of years
And now in the soul of yourself it appears.
From body to body your spirit speeds on
It seeks a new form when the old one has gone
-0-0-0-0-
It talks about ’strange garbs’ and ‘ new forms’.
Very interesting poem. Do you like it? Do you have a favourite piece?
The sun may be clouded, yet ever the sun
Will sweep on its course till the Cycle is run
And when into chaos the system is hurled
Again shall the Builder reshape a new world.
Your path may be clouded, uncertain your goal,
Move on – for your orbit is fixed to your soul
And though it may lead into darkness of night
The torch of the Builder shall give it new light.
You were, you will be! Know this while you are:
Your spirit has travelled both long and afar
It came from the Source, to the source it returns -
The Spark which was lighted eternally burns.
It slept in a jewel. It leapt in a wave
It roamed in the forest. It rose from the grave.
It took on strange garbs for long aeons of years
And now in the soul of yourself it appears.
From body to body your spirit speeds on
It seeks a new form when the old one has gone
-0-0-0-0
To be continued
This is called MY LAW it is attributed to have been written by a Maori