Here we are in the Northern Hemisphere, arrived at the darkest day.

This year, for us here just outside London in the UK, the contrast between light and dark has been more marked than ever: we’ve had diamond-clear days and crisp winter sunrises interspersed with days blanketed with dark grey clouds, glowering across the houses and the forest. It has yet to grow cold and I have fuschia still flowering on my doorstep.

I’m not sure who comes along here now. I think it must be a decade since I was blogging regularly. I have changed, because nothing stays the same, does it? Life is spare, and it has its challenges, but every day is happy in some way or other. I still think of you all quite regularly; what a lovely community.

So I hope you won’t mind if I put this following blessing up here in my once virtual front room. It is an odd blessing, but most heartfelt. It is the equivalent of making home made jam: it is by no means polished, and an acquired taste, but I think probably, for some people, good for the spirit.

Thanks to Anja of Pixabay for the epic image.