Little things

“Beauty is simply reality seen with the eyes of love.” Evelyn Underhill “For lack of attention, a thousand forms of loveliness elude us every day.” Evelyn Underhill

The Incarnation

They laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.

When there's snow on the ground, I like to pretend I'm walking on clouds.

Takayuki Ikkaku, Arisa Hosaka and Toshihiro Kawabata, Animal Crossing: Wild World, 2005

'The first fall of snow is not only an event, it's a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?' J.B.Priestley, Apes and Angels

Fox and Magpie

This fox was sunning itself outside my study window. It must have been well fed as it completely ignored the magpie. The magpie was not at all fazed by the fox and actually went closer before I shooshed the fox away. Urban foxes seem to be getting more and more brazen

Texture and Colour

There were some interesting textures and colours on the beach at Dunwich Heath, not to mention some surprises (apart from the fridge)

 

 

Flotsam and Jetsam

I guess having a fridge on the beach means you can keep your beer cold

Reserved

I loved this sign at the airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka

I was very tempted to sit on the seat next to this Buddhist Monk

Jelly Ear fungi

I often wonder how we managed BG (before google)

After a bit of googling I think I have identified the fungi from Sheldon Wood.

I think it is Auricularia auricula-judae, known as the Jew's ear, jelly ear or by a number of other common names, is a species of edible Auriculariales fungus found worldwide. The fruiting body is distinguished by its noticeably ear-like shape and brown colouration; it grows on living and dead wood, mainly elder but also on beech and sycamore.

Its specific epithet is derived from the belief that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from an elder tree; the common name "Judas's ear" eventually became "Jew's ear", while today "jelly ear" or other names are sometimes used.

It is meant to be edible but I don't think I'd chance eating fungi that hadn't been identified by an expert.

Autumn leaf

If I were an autumn leaf
would I set red in my hair
to blaze against the dying day

or dust my dress with gold
to light the night
with soft shining?

Would the earth creep into my veins
until I curled and crisped,
an offering for hungry feet,

not to fear the decay of death
but shoot bright a light
to warm hearts on winter’s journey?

Jane Upchurch

Havering Deanery Quiet Day

We had a quiet day for Havering Deanery clergy last week at mulberry house. Our numbers were supplemented by some local residents.

The Unexpected

I'm convinced this tree was doing a handstand!

Journey

Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.

Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

York Minster

A few photos from my recent visit to York