Trees Bearing Gifts: When Everything Sparkles

One frozen water droplet can change everything

My voiceover is again recorded outside, for a little ambience and some birdsong (Great Spotted Woodpecker ~ Goldcrest ~ Long-tailed Tit ~ Great Tit). As the words are written around and punctuate the images, you’ll get the most out of listening if you’re able to view these at the same time.

Greetings from the moss.

Sometimes it’s just about atmosphere. A serendipitous discovery. A moment that might easily have been missed.

I resist the commercialisation of festivals and special days; it diminishes them. For mood, and wonder, nature does it so much better.

On my way to the moss, chasing the shadows of moments passed, I stop. I’ve scarcely left the path, and don’t really want to take my camera from its case just yet. But can I pass this? The droplet that hangs from the spruce that I ordinarily brush past as its branch tips catch at my sleeve.

No.

And this is where the wonder begins, the tinsel and lights.

In this one abbreviated slowed down drop: water, light, organics.

The building blocks of life.

A seed, suspended.

In this one moment: arrest, attention, focus, wonder… awe.

For the droplets are frozen.

The chill of night is encapsulated. Solid, suspended.

After fir,

birch

rush.

By the side of the braid of path, a messy, muddy place where no-one would stop.

These are the things we walk by, as we hurry about our busyness.

A path, a stock fence topped by barbed wire. It could be anywhere; it could be on the route you take today. But look at what it has snagged, and how the rising sun changes silver into gold.

On to the moss and return;

there was nothing better.

this early intervention, interruption, was

a gift.

I nearly walked on, impatient, chasing blind memory.

…

The next morning they are gone. There are diminished traces; a few abbreviated drops not quite liquid enough to fall when I reach out a finger, but the show is over.

For one night, one morning, only

it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

I’m left with an idea of the drops as decorations, prayers, votive offerings.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s letter and the sparkles. Thank you for being here; I appreciate every like, comment and share.

There is now over a year’s worth of small beauty noticed to enjoy on my home page.

Until next week,

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Encore:

You’ve seen the lights, here’s the tinsel.

All words and images are copyright © Michela Griffith except where otherwise noted