A Mini Album - -

I did intend Journalling my Christmas,along with Shimelle or keeping a December Daily, with Ali Edwards -- with not a lot of success - but this year however, I have made a mini album, where I have tried to put photos of what we did to try to create a little happiness to remember from our rather quiet and sad festive season, so thought I would share a few photos. It is a very small album - made using the inside of toilet rolls to make pockets to hold tags.

 Thanks for stopping by.
'til later.

Bannaghtyn - J x

Simply a moment - - - Robin

Photo from rspb.org.uk

12.25 - Monday 21st January 2013
I sit down with my lunch sandwich  - heavy grey skies - with their threat of snow - have kept the whole morning dark and somewhat gloomy in the garden - -

Through the window I can see large wet flakes of snow drifting steadily down - melting as they land. The roof of the greenhouse is beginning to turn white, yet it looks too wet to really stick - and on the post robin stands  - a small, fat, round, red, grey and brown ball of fluff - giving some  indication of how cold it might be out there. He flutters up to the bird table and tucks in greedily to the scraps of bacon fat I snipped up and put out earlier - before disappearing into the high hedges - what disturbed him I wonder - then see a flash of red through the hedge as someone comes down the path to a neighbouring cottage.
A car swishes past on the road  - just above my head, and as the blue tits suddenly appear on the bird feeder, the blackbird scurries out from behind the bench to take advantage of the infinitesimal bits of fat and nuts that fall as they feed. I am just thinking to myself that the agility of these tiny birds is amazing - when to my astonishment robin flies up to the hanging fat block to join them  - he frightens them of course - and they are gone in a flurry of flashing yellow and tiny wings, but robin manages to hang on - upside down and clinging on desperately it seems - long enough to snatch a few beakfulls of food before flapping his wings madly and landing on his favourite post. The Rayburn is warm on my back -  - I sit watching a little longer as the blue tits return - - The kettle behind me begins to sing - and I rise - coffee calls methinks - - -

Alexa at Trimming the Sails runs this meme each month - if you pop over to visit her here - you will find lots more "moments". Go on - you know you want to -

Thanks for stopping by

 'til later,  Bannaghtyn J xx

Storytelling Sunday - - Precious

- - is back for another year. Many thanks to Sian from High in the Sky for hosting - and I am going to try to participate more often this year, and have set myself a target - whether I hit it or not remains to be seen.
Sian has suggested a theme - and details can be found here, so do feel free to join in by sharing a story of your own.

Precious

It hung just to left of the mixer tap, with its’ easily recognisable logo, a great example of your typical “souvenir” - just one of a whole bunch that the boy had received as “freebies” as he built up his collection of favourite TV series and films. He had started his first collections as a young teenager - gradually replacing his original video tapes with the later DVDs. His love for these old TV series never left him - there he could escape - back to his childhood and early teens - when he had been himself - his real self - happy, smiling, kind and full of fun and laughter. The free gift of this set had delighted him - though maybe not so much his mum - “Where am I going to put them????” she had almost wailed when they had arrived!!
His DVDs hadn’t bothered her as much - they could live happily in his room - even though they were usually spread across his floor instead of on the shelves! But these - where was she to keep them for him?? Storage space was at a premium in her home - everything was “compact” and to the best of her ability she operated on a “one in/one out” system - with everything they purchased, and even with that in place their storage was full to capacity - to add an additional 8 items to her already overcrowded spaces felt like madness!!
Yet she couldn’t bring herself to say anything to him - he was SO pleased with them - he was almost himself again - light shining in his eyes as he unpacked them one after another . “I”ll use them, mum. You don’t mind, do you? You and  dad can use them too - no problem.” he said, looking at her hopefully - - -

What could I say? They made him happy - even if only for a brief moment in time - and now - this blue one is one of only two that were unbroken - - this one left here in the cottage, the other in his hands - - - - circumstance has made this mass produced souvenir unbelievably precious - - - a very basic navy blue mug - not even fine bone china at that - with the logo that proclaims “Trekkie” - and for me - infinitely precious. And to anyone who knew my boy - speaks his name as clearly as if he was still in the room with me, so that this year it became a way for him to be sharing Christmas with us - and that logo is especially significant now - My bright shining star - - - -

Thanks for stopping by - there are lots more stories around today, you can find links to them all here,
  'til later

Bannaghtyn,  J xx

Happy New Year - -

- - to all my readers. Your visits have helped me so much and have a value far more than a simple "Thank You"can express. I wish you all health, love and joy for 2013. Many thanks to Karen for sharing this wonderful photo at a time when all my days seemed dark.

Bannaghtyn, J xx