I am writing under duress! Damian AKA the husband, seems to be living vicariously through the blog. He wants more blogs and stories!!(I know, I have only written one post so far! this is what I have to deal with, my husband is an over achiever with big ideas!!!!) Although one could say that it is sweet to have such support. That is very much a half glass situation. But it does get me thinking about the lot of the woman! OK lost half my audience with that comment. Seriously the woman chess piece from the Lewis Chessmen (see last blog) is the Queen. She is the only woman in the set, obviously and she looks quite fed up! She has one hand under her chin and glum is the word. You could interpret it as worry, but I am thinking fed up! It just isn't easy being a woman. For me it is the struggle not to be the pain in the butt nagola! But us ladies know what I am talking about. But for that to be so summed up in such an ancient artifact is pretty amazing!The fact is this has always been a tough thing, although these days we mostly are ok and heard......I think. Can't imagine being repressed and that brings me onto the book club book nicely. I am in the smallest book club in the world, just four including myself. With 3 of us from Fanklin Street, (Me, Mary and Dianne) I don't have far to go to talk books. But so far so good. The latest has been the 19th Wife. An amazing story about the Mormons and the Latter Day Saints and the beginnings of all of that and of course that old chestnut, polygamy. It is a great book and I think that we all enjoyed reading it, the author David Ebershoff is just brilliant. It talks a lot about woman and how we are viewed and the big story is that the children of these polygmy situations are so neglected. The historical context is also quite fascinating as most of the story is based on real people.

So onto the week that has been. Being the first week of the year we all have expectations....well maybe it is just the build up to Christmas and New Year. You are looking forward to the thing ie the holidays for months and then when it is over, boy is it over! I am so pleased that this year there wasn't a tree to take down. But in some ways the clearing it all away and making space for the year ahead is rather refreshing and now all of that is packed in the basement and I can have thoughts of lightening evenings and longer days. In the IOM we longed for those days to get longer! here the difference between winter and summer hours of day light are less. For all those who might resent my extra daylight and the fact that I get winter sun, there is an unfortunate downside to this, DUST! yup that sunshine shows it all!!!

But being out and about this week trying to get back into the daily walk I have seen some birds,  snaking across the sky I am told by a reliable source,  was geese. Then in the week sat at my small granite work table I see a bird snacking. This I think is a Coopers Hawk (see picture Russell) On Saturday Mary and I spot a Red Tailed Hawk in a tree! Those birds of prey are busy.

Mr Hawk

And finally, Louie had spelling homework and came up with this piece using his spelling words. I of course think it is the work of a genius...please no comments on his lack of editing :)

 



 

The Air, moist with a summer breeze,

resigned to a different course,

bombarding me with the sent of summer,

bringing a softening peace,

the aching pain of tired muscles,

and the designated resign of limbs,

hastened away,

As peace filled the body,

crumbling hatred,

moistening the world,

with PEACE