spring — Blog — home by the loch

Chapter Two

If January is the misplaced month, then February is the fickle one. It gives with one hand and snatches back with the other. We wait patiently for it to arrive throughout the inconspicuous days of January, hoping that when it comes, it will bring with it discernible signs of spring. And yet, more often than not, we find ourselves held hostage in the relentless grip of winter. But if we take the time to look, we will see that February is actually a plucky little month; one full of courage and determination. For underneath the silver-thatched grass and iron-clad earth, the cycle of the seasons is well underway.

wander, ponder, observeRebecca Checkley-MillsFebruary 9, 2024snowdrops, February, spring, wander, walking, Fife, gardens Comments

A Month of Januarys

January is a misplaced month because it falls at the wrong time of year for us to start afresh. For most of us, the new year heralds a much-longed for turning point. It is the moment at which we begin all over again but with a renewed vigour, an unwavering determination and with the knowledge gained from the year before. In an age when convenient living has determined our lifestyles, for most of us, the new year’s resolution will be health-based, whether that is to exercise more or to eat a better diet. But when it comes to making those fundamental changes, January is no friend, indeed in my experience, January is very much a foe.

ponderRebecca Checkley-MillsJanuary 24, 2024january, spring, new year, new beginnings Comments

When the Skylark Sings

As my heart filled with the sights and sounds of the world awakening around me, I drove further. I ventured out to the north of Perthshire, following old bridle paths and nature trails. I took off my navy jumper, tied it around my shoulders, exposing the skin of my arms and and the gentle folds of my stomache through my colourful breton top. I was happy. I was fulfilled. I felt as though I was seeing the world for the first time with the eyes of someone who had lived as a silhouette for far too long. As I climbed over gates, and searched for paths, I felt the weight of my worries lift from me. It was springtime and I overwhelmingly pleased to see it.

ponderRebecca Checkley-MillsMay 15, 2018spring, seasons, bluebells, tulips, scotland, walking, woodland, home, winter, snow Comments

The Smallest of Things

Then there are the shafts of light that suddenly seem to appear around the house. You walk into a room and there they are. Beautiful vignettes, each breathing new life into a forgotten patch on the wall or a corner of the furniture. In a brief moment, it holds everything in its path in perfect clarity as the edges around it gradually fall into shade. And if by chance the ray catches a nodding, humble flowerhead in its path, the moment is elevated into something more than mere light and shade.

nest, ponderRebecca Checkley-MillsFebruary 10, 2018spring, seasons, home, flowers, nest, observe, nature Comments

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