I was hanging out the washing today when the heron flew over, they are nesting in the woods at the back of the cottage. Lucky for him (or her) the River Teith is just across the field from the cottage as there would be lean pickings in our pond, for it is dry. Actually it was built as a dry pond on purpose because we occasionally have wee bairns staying with us, at our bed and breakfast, and the thought of a little one falling in to a real pond was not something I could cope with. So it was a compromise when I saw the article in our local paper, the Stirling Observer, on how to create a dry water feature, if that makes sense.
The base is the top from an old coffee table, built round the edges with stones, 'floating' on the top are glass pebbles, stones and bits and pieces added from our walks. There are a few coloured beads from necklaces long out of fashion, a glass penguin which has survived temperatures as low as -10 and bits of driftwood from Reay beach.
The green glass float has never seen the sea for well over 60 years that I know, as it came as a gift from Aunt Janey when she was moving from her Edinburgh home to live up North. The wee lobster creel is nearly as old. Dad made it for me when I was a student teacher. It has told the story of the fishermen to many a child.
Sitting at the back wall, the mirror reflects the seasons as the beech hedge opposite changes from the bronze coat of winter to the fresh green of spring. Sometimes, when I am doing the ironing I watch the comings and goings of the birds in and out of the hedge. A belligerent chaffinch spent ages challenging its' reflection the other day. He made me smile.
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