If you come here often then you know how I like to dream about a world where everything is quieter and calmer. It seems to me that so much is designed to provoke a reaction from us. The most important thing is to get our attention. Never mind how it makes us feel. Just irritate those brain cells so that we look and notice and remember and hopefully are driven to rant a bit.
If I want to shout at the radio, then I think they must feel they've done their job. If I read a book that leaves me hanging at the end of absolutely every chapter then the formula is working. Even if it's really annoying.
As a quiet sensitive dreamer I'm finding it all a bit much. I like a little understatement in my life. I like to discover things are amazing all by myself without four foot high red and black banner headlines screaming it at me. I like the small things that make me go, "Oh, that's nice," and then let me slip back into a happy daydream. I fear I may be living in the wrong century.
In the interests of not overwhelming you I bring you unassuming pictures of gooseberry flowers and a light dusting of plum blossom. Feel free to be underwhelmed. If you like you can murmur a soft, "Oh." And maybe if you like them you can add a quiet, "Nice." Yours calmly, CJ xx
Lovely images CJ. Thank you for a calm post to read at bedtime. I think it's why I like this corner of blogland so much. No tenseness or confrontation or high drama. Just gentle appreciation of the simple things.
ReplyDeleteJacquie x
I often feel that I live in the wrong century. If you do too, then I know I'm in good company. :)
ReplyDeleteI am sending you a nice wholesome and quiet smile and a nod of agreement.. now I'm going to look at your garden again. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeletesometimes I think I want to live in another century too (well, as long as I can take the electricity and hot running water and modern kitchen with me). I want to turn off from it all, especially lately - sometimes I come home from work and do not put the telly on, just listen to lovely classical music.
ReplyDeleteso thank you too for those lovely calm spring blossom pictures. very much appreciated!
What a beautiful, gentle post - I could feel my shoulders dropping as I read it. I had an aunt who refused to listen to the news as it just upset her - as I get older, I feel she had a point. Wishing you a lovely, calm week. xx
ReplyDeleteNice xx
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of spring quietly springing! I tend to dip in and out of things like the news as it can leave me feeling upset/saddened/angry etc without the capacity to do anything about it. I also avoid anything too tense on TV before bed, as I like to drift gently off to sleep. Like you, I enjoy the pleasure of the everyday. Thank you for a calm, down-to-earth post.
ReplyDeleteCathy x
Very, very nice. Hope that's not too dramatic. I share your view. I absolutely abhor the Radio 4 Today programme and especially John Humphries needling politicians. Instant switch off, then calm resumes.
ReplyDeleteI'm very thankful for your underwhelming photographs. A bit of freshness & calmness before I go to work. I adore my early morning walks with Rocky, a stroll by the hedgerows and seeing new growth come to life is extremely calming xx
ReplyDeleteI too am thankful for your nice photographs, I love a calm walk around the garden at the start of each day.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were at the allotment yesterday, Isaid to Martin how nice it was to be sitting having a coffee looking up at blue sky in the warm sunshine surrounded by flowers and birdsong.
ReplyDeleteAmen (I thought I'd tapped 'And me', but Amen is better I think). Isn't it the most beautiful spring morning?
ReplyDeleteAnd me :-) I had a deep and meaningful discussion with my 16-yr-old last night (I know!) about how he wished he'd been born before this digital age without the 'instant gratification monkey' on his shoulder. It seems as though nothing is left to be discovered, appreciated, admired quietly. Do you think there might be a backlash one day? Thank you for sharing your thoughts and lovely photos. Sam x
ReplyDeleteAh, gently smiling jaws here. Just been to yoga and have come over all zen....
ReplyDeletethe underestimated joy of a quiet 'oh how lovely' and the deep happiness of something you have discovered yourself.
ReplyDeleteLovely, lovely blossom.
Nice reflective post and lovely pictures. Like you I'm one for quiet and calm in this generally too noisy world. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteCJ, this made me smile because just yesterday I asked our raw milk farmer if anything exciting was happening at the farm. He said it depends on what I find exciting. I said that finding two eggs in our coop at one time is high excitement around here and calls for a celebratory chicken dance. I'm all for the quiet simple things. I've gotten so that I can't stand to have the radio on in the car, I'd just rather prefer to drive in silence or banter with the little babe - the extra noise drives me nuts.
ReplyDeleteYes, quieter, calmer and kinder are the things I long for in this world. It's funny you should say that about feeling you are living in the wrong century. I often feel the same. At least that I'm living in the wrong half century.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! I watch no television, listen to no radio, read only the local paper - and barely skim that. I think we were better off in the days when news came from visiting neighbors, and when you went to a shop with a list no one tried to sell you six other things you didn't need. Ghee don't I sound old!
ReplyDeleteI long for peace and quiet often. I am surrounded by noise and chaos more than I would like to be. But coming here and feel your calm is such a good way to relax. Love your photos. x
ReplyDeleteHello, I stumbled upon your blog the other day. I whole heartily agree. I stopped watching the news and reading the newspaper in my early 20's as I found it felt it too upsetting/frightening has mentioned by a another reader above. I have found that staying out of other people's lives leads to staying out of other people's drama leads to a quieter and a chance of a more calmer life. I sat outside yesterday evening in the front porch with frothy, colourful azaleas bush in full bloom around me to read and eat strawberries and cream.
ReplyDeleteAh ... lovely ( murmurs quietly )
ReplyDeletePlum blossom will do me very nicely, thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to visit such a calm and beautiful spot! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI'm quite positive that I live in the wrong century. Perhaps we were all jettisoned here in a time-travel accident...having had our memories wiped clean, with just enough residual in our subconscious as to feel quite out of place sometimes.
ReplyDeleteAnyway.
Thank you for the lovely, quiet, pictures. 'Tis most appreciated. xo
Life is hectic and living in South Africa even more so. I do not read the news or listen to it. Blogs like yours really make me dream of a better world - a world as I believe is was meant to be! Thanks for all the lovely calm news of your life and garden!
ReplyDeleteAmen to all those sentiments, my friend. I did smile when I saw the photos and wondered if it was apple blossom come early. Our plum (Victoria, and only planted a few weeks back) is yet to show any inclination to flower, but she will, I'm quietly confident :-). Wishing you a quiet, calm, peaceful, steady sort of day. It's what I have planned here xx
ReplyDeleteI always feel a bit out of place during this time, there is to much speed, cars, internets, social media, I like to lie low.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Nice.
ReplyDeleteUntil now I didn't know what gooseberry blossoms look like. They grow here but I never seem them at the right time. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, modern life does rather make one want to run and hide. I regularly shout at the radio ( especially Rob Titchener), but that makes me feel better not worse. I also shout at politicians on the radio too. I think the odd digital break is no bad thing. Xx
ReplyDeleteI do like calm x
ReplyDeleteThank you CJ for putting into words so well what I feel. It's good know in this loud, fast world that there are other people who feel as I do. I am surrounded by family and overseas visitors this week and I love every one of them. Having read your blog this morning I know I can enjoy this time without getting caught up in the chaos and finding joy in the little treasures that are waiting quietly to be discovered x
ReplyDeleteLovely blossom pictures and a feeling of calmness. Thank you CJ. Hope you don't mind that I have linked back to this post for my Five on Friday this week. Have a super weekend. xx
ReplyDeletePromise....that is what your great photos say to me, promise of crops to come and even more beautiful flowers, thanks CJ!
ReplyDeleteCaz xx
Oh how I love this CJ. I have been the victim of 'you know what you should do' rather a lot these past few weeks. In fact I'm tempted to blog about it. But you've expressed it beautifully here. I'm happy to find my own way through, and notice those things that flicker and flutter in my peripheral vision. I just don't do shouty stuff.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the gooseberry blossom. I'm afraid my gooseberry was victim to an all out caterpillar assault last year. It never recovered. And I have accepted it as part of the flicker and flutter of life.
Leanne xx