The God of Small Things.
I’m sure that somewhere, just as there are the Fates, so there is a God of Small Things and today I learned that I should have reason to thank him.
Recently my world became circumscribed by the amount of energy it takes to limp from A to B on crutches. This somewhat short distance has shown me that there are many small things for which one can be thankful. For example today I accompanied my husband whilst he fed out to the farmstock. He dropped me close-by the horse-paddock fence whilst he fetched a feed of grains and organic hay for my horse and the eight rams.
Spot the Appaloosa.
The touch of the horse’s soft winter coat under my fingers, the warmth under his neck rug, the whiffle he made as he walked toward me was memorable. As was the ridged-nose of one of the Border Leicester rams reaching through the fence to sniff my fingers.
Four of our eight rams.
As I swing away to the ute, my movements were deliberate and I had reason to notice how gentlemanly the old sheepdog is, moving slowly by my side like a third leg, like reassurance. And whilst my husband filled the back of the ute with hay bales, I watched one cocky blue wren and his brown harem flick from square cut stone to square cut stone of the old stable ruins.
Up the lane in the Quarry paddock, I listened to the chorus as a mob of two hundred pregnant ewes milled around waiting for feed: every call different, every face remarkable. On the Ridge, a mob of dry ewes watched us, content and chewing the bush feed. Further away on the Knob, a mob of nine month old ewes answered back because they’re young and like to have the last word.
As my day drew to a close, I reflected on these small things that had given me pleasure and decided I had to add three more:
1. The sensation of tired relief at sinking onto the couch after getting up, clean and dressed all without too much discomfort or falling over.
2. The joy of removing wrist bandage, moon-boot and leg bandage and easing into a warm bath at night.
3. The even greater relief of making it to the bed at night, lifting wrist and ankle and sliding under the blankets and laying the head on the pillow.
Like I said, small things.
PS: Because I’m still learning to multi-task on crutches, these are photos from last summer. The paddocks behind are now a dull faded brown with the big Dry.
What a wonderful attitude, expressed so generously. Your world will widen, bit by bit, and it will all be great.
I am such an outside person. If I find anything difficult it is that . . . and I miss walking my dogs more than I can articulate.
What a beautiful day you’ve shared with us – I really wish I were there. Thank you, Prue.
Visit any time, Clare!
Thank you for sharing these bits of your day in a way that allowed me to be right there next to you, and, that got me thinking about and thankful for my own small things … I’m wondering, do I thank the God of Small Things or the God of Huge Things for the hand of friendship extended?
I wondered about that as well, Scribbler, and have decided the God of Huge Things is available for thanks! I am the least religious person I know and yet the idea of these two spirits who must surely be Eastern inspired is fabulous.
I have to be thankful for my friends, especially my e-friends as they are company all the time. But also my husband. Especially my husband who is as much my third leg as the sheepdog was and my mum, who at 84 cooked up a veritable feast of food that could be pulled out of the freezer daily and is my constant friend and confidante. This is the same Mum who 2 weeks ago, took a shocker of a tumble herself.
i love these post. peeks into life in tas. i’d say it’s another aussie pillow book entry, indeed.
I wondered if it was too Pillow Book, Velvet and decided if it was it couldn’t be helped. It’s probably the only time I speak in such a mature and ladylike manner!
Your day made me realize once again, just how important it is to capture those moments of happiness. Thank you Prue and I love those pictures 🙂
Thanks Lua. And thanks too for the email!