Oh, dear Chloe, this came at just the right time. I woke feeling heavy and wondering how I’m going to get through the day, the week, the month. Of course! Notice the beauty. Appreciate the precious life all around me. Focus on single shimmering moments of hope. Thank you for your beautiful words and presence here.
I’m so happy it found you at the right time, Julie, thank you for reading. May you find many shimmering moments over the coming days, weeks and months ✨
Your beauty list is so tender, I felt the macro and micro awe (and awwww!) of each one. Keep singing your hope Chloe, there’s a choir out here that responds in kind.💛
Beauty list! I love that phrase, it is a beauty list. Thank you for naming it. I’d love to know some of the things that make yours. Thank you for your generous encouragement, and for singing along 💗
Touching on all that is real and true and raw and beautiful and horrifying in our world with such eloquence. Then off you fly leaving us with your feathers of hope.
Today I cooked and listened to a news podcast and the sheer stupidity of the men fighting wars, bombing each other to hell, made me radicalise my already radical thinking; hell's teeth if I could get them in a room together, bang their heads, and then I imagined women taking over, bringing all sides to cook together, and talk until we had talked this thing out. I baked and steamed and listened later to Shriek of the Week, prompted by you, Chloe, which made me feel better, and I remembered that they must live out this torturous hell for reasons of their own, these stupid fighting men, and it is January, and everything feels cold.
I'm so glad SotW found you. It is truly a balm, especially in these times where men insist on creating wars and where insanity seems to reign supreme. Bring on the matriarchy. Potlucks over politics.
Orientate to beauty. I love this, and all the rest. It's amazing and perhaps even miraculous how effective this is; even just walking out to the backyard to say hello to the chickens, or taking a moment to take in the sky. I anxiously wait for every one of your posts, Chloe! I know it will uplift and fortify me. It never fails 💚
Now if going to say hello to the chickens isn’t orientating towards beauty, I don’t know what is! Thank you so much for reading and for your sweet words, Hannah 💜
Hola , Siempre Es Un Placer Leer Estos Ensayos Tan Realistas. Me Encato Está Estrofa: Nuestra Especie Parece Tener Una Relación Complicada Con Lo Precioso Y Lo Bello. Es Como Si Quisiéramos , Simultáneamente , Protegerlo , Poseerlo Y Destruirlo. Un Saludo.
Beautiful piece. I like your point about our human desire to "protect, possess and destroy it." It seems like a vicious cycle that some of us cannot break free from.
I feel the struggle. I rehabilitated a Minah summer before last. Her name is Hope, after the Emily Dickens poem, “Hope is the thing with feathers.” I set her free and now she comes when I call her each day with a portion of mill worms. I’ve just posted my first piece about a tree. You might enjoy it.
This! I ask myself this everyday... "How is it that we could not collectively agree on the preciousness of certain things, such as Birdsong, trees, rivers, all children and the air that we breathe, and thus protect them—totally and without question or argument?"
The weightiness of this time of year I understand...
I'm less certain of the 'lighter than air,' anti-gravity properties of gratitude. Our gratitude. My gratitude.
Can you feel it? Even a little? That 'float' that you create for others, that lightening that seems to appear with your calming voice and words. As these other souls lift just a bit it would seem only fair and perhaps even natural that theirs rising, mine and others, would allow yours to rise just a bit, too.
Can't prove that it works that way, but love the thought of it. Birdsong seems to, and really this is so much like birdsong, some days...
Feel the gratitude, my friend. It's for you. And I swear it's lighter than air.
Pretty sure I’m a couple of feet off the ground after reading this, dear David… I sincerely hope that my gratitude--and, if I may say, love--for you is equally buoyant. Thank you for capturing the world in a way that it is so often your images that I call to mind when I am in need of beauty’s medicine.
”…It is a perfect summer evening: the moon rising over the orchard, the wind in the grass. And as he stares into the sky, there are twice as many stars as usual.”
(Two-Headed Calf by Laura Gilpin)
Yes this poem, you know the one.
May the pebbles of Hope you collect in your heart, burst forth every once in a while , creating tiny miracles to pave your path. Sometimes we have to remember to look up.
Oh how painfully true. The beauty in nature and the 97 year old friend. So important and so close to loss. Both exist together as you say. Love binds us to both. And gives reason to live with hope. Thank you for sharing. We are lights of hope scattered across the miles. Kindred spirits.
In all the din of Substack, I am immensely grateful for your voice. Not sure how you found me, but I will be here listening (and sharing), with heart full.
Oh, dear Chloe, this came at just the right time. I woke feeling heavy and wondering how I’m going to get through the day, the week, the month. Of course! Notice the beauty. Appreciate the precious life all around me. Focus on single shimmering moments of hope. Thank you for your beautiful words and presence here.
I’m so happy it found you at the right time, Julie, thank you for reading. May you find many shimmering moments over the coming days, weeks and months ✨
Your voice, both on the screen and heard, is a balm in this troubled world. Thank you.
I thank you for listening to it, Jeff.
Your beauty list is so tender, I felt the macro and micro awe (and awwww!) of each one. Keep singing your hope Chloe, there’s a choir out here that responds in kind.💛
Beauty list! I love that phrase, it is a beauty list. Thank you for naming it. I’d love to know some of the things that make yours. Thank you for your generous encouragement, and for singing along 💗
My kitty Nova’s liminal cooing.
A low sun dust bath with hens delighting in scattered earth and feathers.
When Dave’s feeling can’t help but shape itself into tears.
Noise cancelation snowfall
A toddler sneaking connection with a stranger, unbeknownst to the mom. (Especially love it on plane trips.)
You.
🥹 You magical being, you.
Each of these was a balm to read. Thank heavens for your heart, and for your noticing.
You are a song bird Chloe. What a gift you have.
Touching on all that is real and true and raw and beautiful and horrifying in our world with such eloquence. Then off you fly leaving us with your feathers of hope.
Thank you. 🙏
Oh, Jo... I think that might just be the nicest thing you could possibly say to me. So thank you, very, very much for that, my friend 🙏🪶
"Then off you fly leaving us with your feathers of hope"
Indeed
Today I cooked and listened to a news podcast and the sheer stupidity of the men fighting wars, bombing each other to hell, made me radicalise my already radical thinking; hell's teeth if I could get them in a room together, bang their heads, and then I imagined women taking over, bringing all sides to cook together, and talk until we had talked this thing out. I baked and steamed and listened later to Shriek of the Week, prompted by you, Chloe, which made me feel better, and I remembered that they must live out this torturous hell for reasons of their own, these stupid fighting men, and it is January, and everything feels cold.
I'm so glad SotW found you. It is truly a balm, especially in these times where men insist on creating wars and where insanity seems to reign supreme. Bring on the matriarchy. Potlucks over politics.
Potlucks Over Politics ♥️
What would this world be like if women were in charge? Very different, that is for sure.
Orientate to beauty. I love this, and all the rest. It's amazing and perhaps even miraculous how effective this is; even just walking out to the backyard to say hello to the chickens, or taking a moment to take in the sky. I anxiously wait for every one of your posts, Chloe! I know it will uplift and fortify me. It never fails 💚
Now if going to say hello to the chickens isn’t orientating towards beauty, I don’t know what is! Thank you so much for reading and for your sweet words, Hannah 💜
Hola , Siempre Es Un Placer Leer Estos Ensayos Tan Realistas. Me Encato Está Estrofa: Nuestra Especie Parece Tener Una Relación Complicada Con Lo Precioso Y Lo Bello. Es Como Si Quisiéramos , Simultáneamente , Protegerlo , Poseerlo Y Destruirlo. Un Saludo.
Thank you, my friend. I so appreciate you reading.
Beautiful piece. I like your point about our human desire to "protect, possess and destroy it." It seems like a vicious cycle that some of us cannot break free from.
Thank you so much, Neil. It really does seem like a vicious cycle...
I feel the struggle. I rehabilitated a Minah summer before last. Her name is Hope, after the Emily Dickens poem, “Hope is the thing with feathers.” I set her free and now she comes when I call her each day with a portion of mill worms. I’ve just posted my first piece about a tree. You might enjoy it.
Thanks Jean, and congrats on your rehabilitation of Hope. Looking forward to reading your trees piece.
The Hand of God.
It's a pulsar wind nebula.
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30505
Wow! That’s one beautiful nebula! Thanks, Malcolm
Download the NASA app. Choose what or if you want daily downloads, tho daily can eat phone storage space.
The NASA app is great! Thank you Malcolm! Image of the day today is Thor’s Helmet, now that’s an impressive nebula!
This! I ask myself this everyday... "How is it that we could not collectively agree on the preciousness of certain things, such as Birdsong, trees, rivers, all children and the air that we breathe, and thus protect them—totally and without question or argument?"
This question will never stop bothering me, I fear...
The weightiness of this time of year I understand...
I'm less certain of the 'lighter than air,' anti-gravity properties of gratitude. Our gratitude. My gratitude.
Can you feel it? Even a little? That 'float' that you create for others, that lightening that seems to appear with your calming voice and words. As these other souls lift just a bit it would seem only fair and perhaps even natural that theirs rising, mine and others, would allow yours to rise just a bit, too.
Can't prove that it works that way, but love the thought of it. Birdsong seems to, and really this is so much like birdsong, some days...
Feel the gratitude, my friend. It's for you. And I swear it's lighter than air.
Pretty sure I’m a couple of feet off the ground after reading this, dear David… I sincerely hope that my gratitude--and, if I may say, love--for you is equally buoyant. Thank you for capturing the world in a way that it is so often your images that I call to mind when I am in need of beauty’s medicine.
Full on smile, my friend. Big, virtual hug ...and grateful heart.
Your voice and words have lifted me this morning, which was greatly needed. May you receive the same during the course of this day. Heartfelt thanks 💙
Oh, I’m happy to hear that Ella. Thank you for your kind wish, your words lifted me 💜
”…It is a perfect summer evening: the moon rising over the orchard, the wind in the grass. And as he stares into the sky, there are twice as many stars as usual.”
(Two-Headed Calf by Laura Gilpin)
Yes this poem, you know the one.
May the pebbles of Hope you collect in your heart, burst forth every once in a while , creating tiny miracles to pave your path. Sometimes we have to remember to look up.
Thank you for shining on my morning.
I do know the one, dearest Lor ;) ❤️ What a visual, ripples of miracles, thank you for shining on my evening, friend.
Oh how painfully true. The beauty in nature and the 97 year old friend. So important and so close to loss. Both exist together as you say. Love binds us to both. And gives reason to live with hope. Thank you for sharing. We are lights of hope scattered across the miles. Kindred spirits.
Love binds us to both, and gives reason to live with hope--you said it. Thank you, Kindred spirit.
In all the din of Substack, I am immensely grateful for your voice. Not sure how you found me, but I will be here listening (and sharing), with heart full.
I’m not sure either, but I’m most glad that it happened. Thank you for listening.