One of my most treasured flea market-finds is this signed artist’s proof of a painting called ‘ The Valley Farm’, by Gerald Cooper R.A. 1898-1975.
Days and days of burnished, golden, Indian Summer sunshine sees the late autumn flowers blooming for the bees and my skin turning a pale caramel. This sublime, mellow weather with its misty mornings clearing to deep azure skies and a honeyed, warming light, brings with it a feeling of calmness and contentment which runs very deep within me. It is as if I have received a very special blessing or gift and it feels so personal; as though the sun shines just for me.
In this languid, contented state, as I weed and sow, I hear the sound of farmer Colin Friend’s tractor in the field. Few things in life evoke as much heartfelt joy for me than seeing my meadow being cut for hay. Preserving the grass for winter feed requires a week of good weather and as I garden over the next few days I see the tractor many times. And all the while the mowing, raking and the windrows of drying grass perfume the air with its sweet scent, filling me with happiness.
On the 7th day, the bales are taken away just before the weather breaks. And I think of the cattle and the joy they have to come when they eat my meadow grass full of deliciously scented wild flowers and I am glad that all the hay was safely gathered in.
Dartmoor Flower Shed 
Great to see this beautiful Blog from you. I’ve missed you xxx
Thanks so much Sarah, I have missed you too. I know you will have been making beautiful things…whereas I…..have been renovating sash windows 🙂 x x x
I completely agree with you.There’s nothing like a nice week of warm weather so we can enjoy our gardens and the farmers can make hay. We are running the Looking Good event every Friday Karen so if you’re back in the frame of mind for blogging you may feel like joining in. Here’s the link which explains how it works. http://countrygardenuk.com/2015/09/22/looking-good-in-the-garden/
Thanks so much 🙂
Very lovely! And yes! The Lord in His sweet faithfulness is putting on a sweet show just for you! He delights in giving good and perfect gifts and He delights, especially, when you take it quite personally!
That’s lovely! Thank you 🙂
Such a beautiful place where you live.
Now that I am older and my garden is getting more established, I really, really appreciate the beauty of my village and its surroundings
When I was a kid on a farm, I loved the days we would work at cutting and baling hay, and bringing it back to the barn. As, you say, the smell is so distinctive and little pieces of chaff fly around and get in your hair and up your nose. Ah, good times!
How wonderful to hear your memories and to know that my little story resonated with you. I can remember playing on bales of straw after the combine had cut the corn. I am sure that the farmer would have hated us children doing that, but bales are so perfect for building dens and playing on until late 🙂
What a glorious post, Karen. Your photos and that painting at top are divine, as is your writing. Times of contentment and joy are priceless.
Thank you Cynthia. Your comments are so very much appreciated.
I do not think that the English climate is often conducive to contentment and joy ( unless of course you like unsettled, wet and cool weather). But for the past few weeks we have all been handed the most perfect gift; an extra dose of late summer bliss! I have grabbed it with both hands and yes, it has been priceless.
Incidentally, I found a gallery in the Cotswolds where the original painting ( mine is a print) was for sale and the sale price was…£40,000 !
40 thousand! I’m choking. But it is beautiful and I’m sure your print is valuable (and valued) too. An extra dose of summer bliss is a perfect gift indeed.
A cool lovely post! I really enjoyed it! 🙂
Thanks Sophie 🙂