‘The Dragon on Og’ by Rumer Godden, Illustrated by Pauline Baynes Set in Scotland, this quirky tale is very much about a dragon and its mystery and magic, but even more so about Angus Og and his young wife, Matilda. Angus Og is as stubborn as an ox and as fierce as a dragon in … Continue reading Book Recommendation – The Dragon of Og by Rumer Godden
Winter Walk with Ancient Alders
Walking in a wooded area in the middle of winter is such an enriching experience. There aren’t any wildflowers stealing the show, except for a lonely herb robert, but there are so many other wonderful things to see. Ferns, lichens, fungi, and tiny new plants poking through the thick carpet of alder leaves. This new … Continue reading Winter Walk with Ancient Alders
Gift From a Stranger
There were six rose bushes in the garden when we moved into our new rental house in December. This is unusual. Rental gardens are often bare and low maintenance. The roses were pruned back for the winter so I had no idea what to expect. As spring turned into summer they surprised and delighted me … Continue reading Gift From a Stranger
The (Audio) Books that Got Me Through Busy Days
I love to read and books have always been a very important part of my life. I read to learn new things; sometimes to gain new knowledge but more often to experience a new perspective. I feel like books are also a great way to go on adventures or to take a quick “brain-break” while … Continue reading The (Audio) Books that Got Me Through Busy Days
The Gull House – Suburban Seagulls and Life in Dublin
One morning I opened the patio curtains and there, in the centre of the small patch of frozen grass and weeds that is our lawn, was a slice of bread. It seemed unnaturally large and white lying there under the late winter sky. I was puzzled. Surely the cats wouldn’t bother stealing bread. Or would … Continue reading The Gull House – Suburban Seagulls and Life in Dublin
Hi, I’m still here…
Cherry blossoms, Dublin, Ireland I’ve been quiet on social media and the Wild Library blog. The last two months were busy... I started writing a new blog post this morning, and it’s good to put my thoughts on paper again. I’m also very behind with book reviews, so I might do a series of short … Continue reading Hi, I’m still here…
Thoughts on Moving House and How We Fill Our Lives
Early morning - 05:00. I’ve always been an early bird but, at the moment, as a parent to a young child, my internal clock doesn’t always align with my need for more sleep. Usually, when I’m awake at 05:00, I’m awake for good and I might as well get something done. So here I am, … Continue reading Thoughts on Moving House and How We Fill Our Lives
Reading Inspiration: My 2021 Reading List
It’s fun to look back at the books I’ve read (and listened to) during 2021. I think it’s a diverse list but two major themes are history and nature. No surprises there! I’m glad I read more poetry and I hope to keep it up in 2022. Jamaica Kincaid’s At the Bottom of the River … Continue reading Reading Inspiration: My 2021 Reading List
Finding Wildflowers the Old Fashioned Way
After ten months of identifying wildflowers in Ireland, I think it’s time to give a brief overview of how I go about this process. The first question most people ask me is, ‘Do you use an app?’ No, I haven’t used an app. Yet…
Surfacing by Kathleen Jamie – Book Review
Surfacing by Scottish author, Kathleen Jamie, is a collection of essays about memories, history, and the natural world. Jamie explores what it takes for history to resurface and become part of the present through wide-ranging triggers that are arresting in their own right: rising temperatures melting the Alaskan tundra; shifting dunes revealing a neolithic village on an Orkney island; a voice, a memento, a dream...
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