Absolutely beautiful. I feel every bit of your words. Glad your bees are wintering in, and you've started a new grove of trees, all which give back. Thanks for your prose!
Utterly blissful, Will. Writing of the most lyrical kind. And the bonus of a new word (for me) ... 'refulgent' just rolls off the tongue. Love it and mulling over ways to use it.
We had astonishingly strong wind in October here in the Vienne. The gales gifted us surprise visitors in the shape of paper wasps, their nest blown from the chestnut tree. Surprise visitors and surprised visitors. The patrolling 'guard' wasps got me, twice (I'm a slow learner and far too curious) ... the first frost got them but I suspect they'll turn up in a barn next season. I was cutting some height from the neglected apple trees we inherited - we patiently observed this season to gauge how productive they might be. Perhaps we'll lose a season with the trimming but longer term we hope they'll flourish. The plum tree got a short back and sides. Not much hope there, so we'll plant afresh. Apricot, plum, peach (to replace the two blown over in the gales) and lemon ... we have a morning ritual of hot water and lemon. How lovely would it be to have some of our own. The final windfall is slippery under my feet as I potter about doing the chores, my breath frosting the air. I love this time of year. Thank you for the evocative writing. Barrie
Your spot in rural France sounds utterly delightful. I’m sure the trees will recover, though they may take a year to forgive you. The wasps will surely be back, but they are useful insects, if slightly aggressive. You surely will have lemons... my tree in west London gave me fruit for a decade...Do you know the variety of apple trees that you have there?
Frustratingly, the types of tree are lost in the mists of time. We plan to plant and label in French and English. We’ll take pictures of next year’s harvest and throw ourselves on the mercy of other folks’ knowledge. I think I recall you had a photo of all the varieties you have access to, or maybe my old brain is playing tricks. Lemons are a must. Very hopeful that they’ll thrive.
Absolutely beautiful 🙏🏻 your descriptions of place are so picturesque, the way the cold, icy weather changes nature around you. I know next to nothing about bees, and the way you describe them, they sound like little creatures instead of insects.
What a great read to start the week, and while I used to be impatient for things to mature I’ve grown to love that just planted stage for the pleasure it is rather than look too far beyond it
Thank you so much for transporting us all to this life with your writing. I can hear the bees, feel their warmth, smell the living cider, taste the sweet frost. Thank you for being a kind steward of this important beautiful corner of the Earth and sharing it with us. So much love to Ruby Wood and the future trees.
Made me miss beekeeping, and a reminder to edit the draft of a newsletter I've got on my Dropbox in just that. I never knew I liked honey as much as I did until I tasted the good stuff from my own hive.
Absolutely beautiful. I feel every bit of your words. Glad your bees are wintering in, and you've started a new grove of trees, all which give back. Thanks for your prose!
Thank you. I'm glad it resonates with you.
Utterly blissful, Will. Writing of the most lyrical kind. And the bonus of a new word (for me) ... 'refulgent' just rolls off the tongue. Love it and mulling over ways to use it.
We had astonishingly strong wind in October here in the Vienne. The gales gifted us surprise visitors in the shape of paper wasps, their nest blown from the chestnut tree. Surprise visitors and surprised visitors. The patrolling 'guard' wasps got me, twice (I'm a slow learner and far too curious) ... the first frost got them but I suspect they'll turn up in a barn next season. I was cutting some height from the neglected apple trees we inherited - we patiently observed this season to gauge how productive they might be. Perhaps we'll lose a season with the trimming but longer term we hope they'll flourish. The plum tree got a short back and sides. Not much hope there, so we'll plant afresh. Apricot, plum, peach (to replace the two blown over in the gales) and lemon ... we have a morning ritual of hot water and lemon. How lovely would it be to have some of our own. The final windfall is slippery under my feet as I potter about doing the chores, my breath frosting the air. I love this time of year. Thank you for the evocative writing. Barrie
Your spot in rural France sounds utterly delightful. I’m sure the trees will recover, though they may take a year to forgive you. The wasps will surely be back, but they are useful insects, if slightly aggressive. You surely will have lemons... my tree in west London gave me fruit for a decade...Do you know the variety of apple trees that you have there?
Frustratingly, the types of tree are lost in the mists of time. We plan to plant and label in French and English. We’ll take pictures of next year’s harvest and throw ourselves on the mercy of other folks’ knowledge. I think I recall you had a photo of all the varieties you have access to, or maybe my old brain is playing tricks. Lemons are a must. Very hopeful that they’ll thrive.
Absolutely beautiful 🙏🏻 your descriptions of place are so picturesque, the way the cold, icy weather changes nature around you. I know next to nothing about bees, and the way you describe them, they sound like little creatures instead of insects.
Thank you for sharing this with us xx
They are definitely more than insects. There is a whole world playing out in these hives.
Someday Will Cooper you will have your own show....so much to learn about so much. Fondant and bees who knew??
As always Anna, thank you for your support.
What a great read to start the week, and while I used to be impatient for things to mature I’ve grown to love that just planted stage for the pleasure it is rather than look too far beyond it
Glad you enjoyed. And you are right about the ‘just planted’ stage.
Beautiful. Thank you.
You are very welcome.
Thank you so much for transporting us all to this life with your writing. I can hear the bees, feel their warmth, smell the living cider, taste the sweet frost. Thank you for being a kind steward of this important beautiful corner of the Earth and sharing it with us. So much love to Ruby Wood and the future trees.
Tammy thank you for your kind words.
This was lovely to read Will. I can almost feel the cold and the crisp frost, and the bees are truly fascinating!
They are wonderful little creatures.
Made me miss beekeeping, and a reminder to edit the draft of a newsletter I've got on my Dropbox in just that. I never knew I liked honey as much as I did until I tasted the good stuff from my own hive.
The difference is really quite remarkable.
Lovely post, Will. Thank you.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for another beautiful post! Enjoyed reading your tender care of the bees! And what a lovely tribute to a sweet furry friend.
Too many furry friends sadly to bury up there, but oh what a place to remember them.
As always Will your words echo deep within. They bring back memories s well as gifting new. Thank you
You are so very welcome. I love that people connect with my words.
Beautiful words. Absolutely beautiful. Though I did need to look up refulgent.
It popped out of my dictionary...
What a beautiful, fortunate life, and you appreciate it well and share it with us so we can do the same.