The light was so beautiful this morning when I went out to open the chicken house, it was impossible to go back to bed. I always creep quietly back upstairs to enjoy another hour or two but today I felt like I would be missing something. The recent winds seem to have cleared the air again and I could breathe deeply. I stopped to enjoy a brilliant beam that was reaching a new part of the usually dark grey kitchen floor, highlighting its glorious unevenness. One of the cats came to join me at the outdoor table as I sat with my morning tea. He had such a wise and knowing look about him as if to welcome me to his world. An early morning place I don’t see since I’m an avid night owl. The moon had reached its peak fullness only three hours before. I’m sure that event had added some natural magic into the mix. My big furry boy rolled around in the sun at my feet as I took it all in. Later, we’ll go out to the top meadow with the children to identify grasses. I have a wonderful identification book that I bought a long time ago with the smallest of coins. It was printed in the 1970’s when I guess there was more of a demand for enjoying such detailed pursuits outdoors. One of my favourite nature writers began his career in the early 70’s, inspiring the nation and the world with his peaceful enthusiasm for the subject. Richard Mabey brought knowledge and personal observations in his book Flora Britannica, Book of Wild Herbs to the people and continues to be forever relevant in my life. You may know him from Food for Free, first published in 1972 with its wonderfully illustrated cover. Whenever I see his name associated with a book or old television program, I’m all over it. I feel a need in humanity at the moment for a return to nature in any way that can happen, a long overdue reconnection. My Mabey dreaming came to a pause when my children came out to find me basking all alone. They ran out in bare feet with freshly awakened faces bringing me back to my morning duties. I stood up, gave myself a good stretch, rejuvenated and ready for anything.