I am slipping this post in quietly. Shhhhh.
Saturday is hectic as a dog’s bottom disappearing into the forest. I am in the eye of the storm. My four-year old nephew, Big Al, spent the last few hours throwing carrots at the floor during dinner for 10. In just an hour, he and his family arrive back for teatime.
But I must take a moment to address the rather special challenge Side View has set for her devoted followers. From the moment she set it I knew precisely what I should write about.
This is the challenge this week, if you fancy joining in: choose a blogger of import, and then invent an award which they should receive.
To begin my story at the beginning. Men In Black.
The feature film has always tickled my funny bone, taking the Conspiracy Theory Theory to the nth degree. Just suppose, it posits, aliens already use our planet and travel freely in and out of our atmosphere; and what if there’s a top-secret organisation which is accustomed to galactic travellers; one which has provided an airport and cover stories and which mops up any messes which happen when aliens and Homo sapiens collide?
Delicious piece of whimsy, this: and if you play Spot-The-Metaphor very carefully indeed, you will have alighted on a rather special part of the story.
The Galaxy, it seems is under threat.
Some hulking great galactic bug has assumed the body of a farmer and may have possession of it.
Bear with me. The bug creates almost immediate alien casualties: as one of them dies, flanked by its faithful cat, it whispers, with its last breath: “The Galaxy is on Orion’s Belt”.
Grand hypotheses come to nothing as it is revealed that the cat is called Orion. And on his collar is an unbelievable, incredible entity.
Because all the galaxy is there. Hanging, hidden and humble, on a cat’s collar. No great evil monster would even think of looking for it there.
In fact, it would be very difficult to get one’s head around the Galaxy being that size when it is in fact all around us and clearly very big indeed.
But there are more things in Heaven and Earth, my friends.
I love the idea that in something small, something miniscule, lies a blueprint for a complexity beyond our wildest imagination.
We were having a conversation the other day on this very blog, last Sunday when my friend Barbara came to make a rather lovely comment. And it occurred to us all that life is about the little things. It is the small pleasures which, if we take careful note of them, make us happy.
My chosen blogger does not live far away from me. One day, perhaps, we shall match days off and meet for coffee. But each of her posts centres in a quintessentially English way on the little things. A rearrangement of a border in the garden: helping an elderly friend with a clear-out; a surprise moment of her own time: a sunset.
I adore her tone, it makes me feel at home. It is very British. Her research powers have helped me out many a time. But it is her appreciation of the tiny details of life I do not see that continues to awe me.
Her avatar is a drop of water which has a very clear reflection in it, and it is perfect.
I read her work because her exact and detailed approach to life makes me stop lumbering along and double-take a tiny detail I have never seen before. Her haikus are a daily treat as she chronicles the coming of our Autumn with a quiet, unassuming joy.
Somehow, she has realised that the galaxy can be found in the miniscule.
Although, not necessarily on a cat’s collar.
And so, for this, I am awarding the Order of Happiness in Small Things to: Pseu.
Now to make something for Al to chuck about for teatime.
Kate Shrewsday 
Excellent choice, Kate.
She is, isn’t she, Earlybird? 😀
The perfect award to a blogger who perfects the happiness in small things. Wonderful post Kate, and exactly what the challenge needed
Lovely dear. You are a wonderful writer. Evocative & thought inspiring.
I am too an advocate of continuous happiness in ‘small things’.
Enjoy everything! What have we got to lose?
Love,
LuRain
x
Thanks LuRain. I do love seeing your tweets in the stream, always a source of positive thoughts….take a look at Pseu. Sometimes the small things really are the very best.
Lovely words Kate – I always admire her avatar every time I see it. It obviously reflects who she is perfectly.
It does 🙂 She is methodical and meticulous….whilst being down to earth and pragmatic. Just gets me every time, Rosemary.
As I told Pseu – I too take delight in small things, because I believe that’s where God resides. her blog, however, is no small thing, and I am amazed that I have waited until now to add her to my blog roll!
Thanks for pointing the way to her. And, I also hope that people will be pointed in your direction. The only problem is that my readership has seriously shrunk because of my blogatical. I do feel that more regular blogging is about to emerge, however. Time and my energies will tell! 😆
Blogging should come second to everyday life, Paula, and I thought your blogatical decision was a really solid one. I am, however, delighted you’re back….and I always think the nicest thing about any award is the words that come with it. I loved yours (and so did my Dad. And my Mum) – thank you.
Crikey, Kate! What a lot to live up to….
thank you so much for this. My very ears are blushing.
Nothing to live up to, you’re doing it already. You have the perfect qualifications for being you 😀 Thanks again, Pseu.
Ditto what Kate says! Congrats, Pseu.
How appropriate, because I just dropped in to award you this.
http://icecreamaward.wordpress.com/
Keep up the good work.
Thanks Egprobs! Just what a girl needs after a long day at the keyboard!
Time is a little short for me at the present, but your write up and award presentation have me very interested indeed, Kate. And I love anything to do with the Universe, to boot! I’ll be popping by Pseu’s site very soon! 😀
Do, Tom: I know the blogosphere is a demanding taskmaster: I find fitting in visits hard – but she’s worth it. She’s just posted the most exquisite pictures of seed heads which I would have walked straight past!
(You were so quiet I almost didn’t hear. Worthy award winner, even though you whispered it.)
Phew. Thought I got a bit loud and strident in the middle. What a relief: she is fab, isn’t she?
Delightful post and a worthy recipient 🙂 Her take on life is unique.
It certainly is 🙂
You go Big Al!!! Get all your “Lightning McQueen” cars lined up and have a race, and you being the McQueen, of course…inevitably …unequivocally… Are going to be the winner!!!
I sort of like those odds when I take on a competition also…
Wow, looks like I missed bot these challenges…thank God…you all have done a wonderful job at them though…or the two I have seen so far. Paula with the Shakespeare challenge, and you Kate, with the showcase and review of Pseu…Oh,..
and thanks Pseu, now I am not worried in the least of any hostile Galaxies coming to invade earth…I’ll just wipe em all out…with a fresh Flea Collar..
Or better yet…Me and Big Al will bombard them with vegetables…
Hey Al, pass some of those peas over here buddy…fire at will!!!!
Stay tuned, Paul. BIg Al post Sunday 🙂 He would just love you.
A beautiful post. Pseu is very lucky to be so awarded.
Thanks Kathy 🙂
It is a treat to have uncovered this vein of exquisite bloggers, Kate. Pseu is very deserving of recognition, and I love the creativity of your award to her.
She is a gem, Andra 🙂 Thanks!
Well chosen, Kate – her blog is beautiful.
I had a feeling it might appeal to you, Ruth…
What a fitting award for a fitting blogger. Congrats, Pseu. We are lucky to have you in the blogosphere.
Have you seen her seed heads today, Penny? Beautiful!
Need an award for computer guy friend Rick who got me computer literate enough to get my blog stuff up there. Boy am I dumb and is he patient.
What would we do without these people, Carl? I think we all wanted to give him a big award for getting you online once more 🙂
Perfect choice! Well done, Pseu 🙂
🙂