I heard a blackbird sing

It was so very quiet when I walked the lanes with Nella this morning.    Autumn is such a mellow season, in fact, it is my favourite.   Trees slowly give way to their seasonal gown, fungi appear, and beautiful seedheads decorate wildflowers.   
The cooler weather gives me a Spring in my step.     I wonder what weather lies ahead for the winter..............

A quiet mind St Basil the Great (329 - 79) Turkey.

You must strive for a quiet mind.   If the eyes are perpetually restless, they cannot appreciate a beautiful object set before them: they glance this way and that, and so fail to discern the subtlety of the object's form and colour.    Equally, if the mind is perpetually restless, distracted by a thousand worldly concerns, it cannot apprehend the truth.

I walk the garden, it is early morning.   How I love the approach of autumn. Everything seems so much softer.   The shadows stretch across the lawn.   The robins are singing again, wrens twitter amongst the hedgerow.   I find myself smiling as I think of you, and yet my heart aches.    I miss you Dad.   

An enchanting woman.

I remember my Gt Grandmother clearly.     An elegant woman, quiet, well mannered and extremely beautiful.   When I say beautiful, I mean there was something about her that went beyond looks.   I was enchanted by her.....she rarely spoke to me.....after all I was a child :}
She would sometimes peck me on the cheek or take hold of my hand.    She would pick a rose every day and pin it to her fine velvet jacket.    Lace would hang around her tiny wrists, pretty lace.     She would take tea with her friends, stare at the sky,  walk much too far for someone aged 93.
I was ten when she died. 
   
The handkerchief  belonged to her.     I keep it in my treasure box.       

Wisdom and sandalwood.

The teachings of Buddha have always interested me.     I also love the perfume that sandalwood yields.   Many years ago now my son was travelling with a friend through a remote region of Thailand.   They stumbled across a village and found an old man carving from sandalwood.
My son sat and chatted with him and whilst doing so noticed this beautiful piece.
He asked if it was for  sale.    The old man said that he was willing to do that.    
I treasure this gift from my son........I often hold buddha in my hands and imagine the elderly man sitting carving.   It brings me a profound sense of peace and tranquility.    There is a lot of love in this piece......

DHAMMAPADA

Hatreds never cease by hatreds in this world.   By love alone they cease.    This is an ancient law.

Violets and satin.....

 I love violets,  my grandmother used to pick them, put them in small vases and dot them around her home.    Many, many years ago my brother bought me this  tape measure for my 30th birthday.

 Hand painted on satin, it dates back to the Victorian period.    It is a much treasured gift.

I wonder who painted it?