I’ve been trying to come up with something inspiring to say for the new year. I have amazing ideas for retrospectives of the past year, talking about how we have become a label-driven society and that we are in danger of the labels becoming more important than the humans/issues to which we have attached them, how far we have yet to go to fully address equality issues and prejudices that have over the centuries become woven into our societal fabric so finely that we don’t even recognize them, the callousness I have witnessed on social media throughout the past year regarding the pandemic and vaccines, don’t get me started on climate change.
Instead, I offer a year’s worth of photos that I never did get around to making a post about. The first set includes some of the creatures living in our yard. Most are from June through August, when we were still unsure about how Aleks would fare, how long we would have her. When our lives became much more insular, in so many ways, as she was no longer able to get in and out of the car or go for the walks we’d always loved.
It’s March and this Squirrel loves the mix I’ve put on this feeder.He hopped around this area for about 20 minutes one day in June, squawking every so often, completely ignoring the massive dog asleep in the shadow.It’s July and this young Great Tit has his favourite seed.The Squirrels have all they need in July, but this fellow is assessing his options carefully. Hmmm. It’s mid-July and mama Crow is trying to get her juvenile to feed himself. He is literally having a tantrum. No word of a lie.Late in July, this Magpie finds a tasty morsel in the grass.This Common Frog lives in the grass down the centre of our drive. He’s quite tiny and easy to miss. It’s August, now, so he’s a survivor!In mid-August, it’s not like there’s a dearth of food around, but I love how they study the suet pellets and mealworms, deciding what they want.He knows what he wants, does this Great Tit.It’s the end of August, but this well fed chap just needs to see if there’s any berry suet, today.This young Robin takes a look around, seeing where to pop in next.
Fact is that while my ideas are wonderful as I concoct them in my head when walking our wee girl, or going to sleep, or doing the dishes, as soon as I sit down with pen and paper, or laptop, I lose them utterly. They no longer make sense, or I wax on far too philosophically and lose track of where I was going — indeed of where I wanted to end up. I am filled with a sadness that overtakes me at times and convinces me that there is nothing worthwhile in what I am doing.
Miniature Daffodils at the end of March nestle in with Green Alkanet leaves under a January blooming bush I can never remember the name of.The Ornamental Cherry blooms in March as well.By the end of April the delicate, early Clematis is in bloom.The Quince began budding in February and by the end of April we had these amazing flowers.It’s May and the Apple is in bloom.This was taken the same day in May, just a little later.This Fuschia exploded with flowers in May, as well!The Marguerites were active by the end of May, so simple and sweet.In June, the Lupins joined us.This stunning Peony bloomed in June. It is so elegant.By the end of June, the Foxgloves were in their glory.I wish I knew what type of Rose this is. It is so perfect as it joins in by the kitchen window in June.Caught in the late afternoon sun in June.I’d never seen Delphinium this colour before I put them in my garden. By July It’s full of flowers.I love how the green and purple contrast in the July morning light.Don’t know the name of this Rose, either, but it is stunningly beautiful and the scent is incredible. This was taken in July, but it blooms almost year round.I love this shrub. This was taken in August, but come September the yellow berries will turn black. It’s related to St John’s Wort.The orange Gerbera glowed through the leaves at the end of August. I can never remember the name of the white one. Sigh.This Crocosmia blooms later in the year, August and September time.
I seek within myself for poetry to share, go through thousands of non-Canada-Goose-related photos to see if even one is good enough to place with an uplifting message, cast about for something positive other than the puppy to write about as I fear I will bore if I keep sharing on that, organise the some 700 Canada Goose-related photos (out of thousands) that I have deemed worthy of sharing in telling their story this year. I’ll save those for a month or so.
These are some of the polinators that visited this year.
In June, this pollinator made a deep visit to my Foxglove.Come July and a bee finds this white Rose irresistable.I’m having trouble identifying the butterfly, but it sure loves the Globe Cornflower.A Honeybee joins a Red Admiral on this Echinops in July.The bee joins a few others on this Cornflower.A Holly Blue enjoys my Oregano in August.The same Holly Blue, but backlit. Amazing what that does to her colours.The same Holly Blue.A Speckled Wood sunbathes on the Rose leaves.The Buddleia finally bloomed in August. This Red Admiral and a Peacock love it.A Painted Lady (left), a Small Tortoiseshell (centre) and two Red Admirals have a snack.Look carefully for the Brimstone. It could be a leaf.
Christmas was lovely and my sweetheart made it special, made sure it was special, encouraged me to make it special.
I love the lights reflected in the back of this.We got a tiny tree this year that would sit on a table … above the interfering teeth of a certain puppy!
New Year’s Eve was different from other nights only in that we, for the second year in a row, stayed up to midnight to make sure last year left. Between them were just days, more days, watching Covid numbers go up while the government encouraged people to party on New Year’s. Our case numbers, which were at about 50,000 a day at the end of November, were 128,000 a day over Christmas weekend and are now up over 193,000 a day. More days of isolation as we avoid the virus. More days.
How many more days?
One of our last long walks took Aleks and me to this pasture in May.I love how the tractor tracks lead directly to the little wood at the top.The clouds were amazing during this walk!Back in our home field with the Puppy in September. First long walk since May.Early sunset in November.Mid-Day walk in our field.Same day, different field!An unseasonably snowy November day.
How many more days of taking more pictures of the same views, the same flowers, the same puppy? How many more days of expressing increasingly trite opinions and rhymes, using words that refuse to fall the way I want them to? How many more days of music unsung? How many more days that are the same as the last?
Aleks and I saw these horses in their pasture back in May.Aleks and I walked the property in July and saw these cows.Anastasija and I first saw Bob together in October.
Well, this is the point I always come to. I’ve written several beginnings to this post, but can find no ending. And I end up reading what I’ve written and walking away.
Ana examines a leaf at the end of SeptemberAna in November.Ana’s first snow ever!
We let our Aleksandra go, finally, ten days before Christmas and ever since, even knowing that it was the right thing, understanding that she had let her wishes be known to us as only she could, grief lies on my heart and I cannot conceive of looking forward. There is only the moment. Trying not to snipe unfairly or feel overwhelmed. Most of the time I can cover the moment with love for my sweetheart and Anastasija as I care for them, move about my day, as I do every day. Every day. And then I can’t.
You’ve already seen most of last year’s photos of Aleksandra. These are some of the last.
Anastasija and Aleksandra on the first night. Aleksandra and my sweetheart taking a walk in November.Aleksandra and Anastasija guard the gate together in November.Our beatufiul girl Aleksandra on her last day. Still strong. Still proud. Still beautiful. Always in our hearts. My little girl.
And I sit down to write something positive to start the year and find myself with nothing but sadness. I’d say ‘ennui’ but it feels old-fashioned and melodramatic when I look at it. Still, that’s what it is.
At the end of May, he has a South African Daisy.At the end of August, the Nasturtium were starting to provide cover.It’s late afternoon at the End of August and the Nasturtium are now adornment.
We have our health, we and those we love are (touch wood) Covid-free, we have each other and our wee girl who constantly amazes and delights (while at the same time challenging and irritating as only a very large puppy can), we have families and friends that love us. We have all we need to create a new beginning in the new year.
The perfect winter village scene in January.At the end of September, Ana and I saw this from our field.Long shadows on the lane at noon in October.Dreams of summer on a sunny October day.I’ve seen this cottage every October, but this year, the red seems bigger. I love it.Long shadows at mid-afternoon in November.The mid-November colours caught in patches of sunlight.The colours were incredible this year.This Oak is glorious, every year.
That’s something, I suppose, to get on with.
2022 is a blank canvas. No point putting expectations on it. We won’t know how it will turn out, until it we paint it. So much is up to us and the choices we make.
This April sunset was a glory of pink.In May, the sunset set the clouds on fire.By November, the sunset colours can be seen in the North Eastern Sky.
That being the case, as you step into the the new year, do so with love in your heart, a clear mind, and a light spirit. Smile at strangers and meet their eyes for even under a face mask, a smile is seen in the eyes. Gift someone with an unlooked for random act of kindness. Light someone else’s day with an act of senseless beauty.
I'm a Canadian who loves our planet and the people living on it. I also love to travel and take pictures. I'd like to think I've improved a little, but am pretty sure there's room to be better.
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A Canuck's Eye View 