I'm celebrating all things trees this week. Each morning I go out and see what progress has been made in the last twenty four hours. Leaves unfurling. The pinkness of the blossom buds opening to white. It is joyous. And contrasts strikingly with the loss of my favourite chicken.
Yesterday morning I went outside with my iPhone recording the trees and the new life on their outstretched branches. Many of these trees we have planted ourselves. I couldn't help but feel a certain sense of satisfaction that our hard work planting well over 100 trees was starting to pay off.
But in the afternoon we had to dispatch Henrietta (Mark 2). She was the chicken that would peck straw off my cardigan. Fussing about the untidiness like a grandma would do. If she could I'm sure she'd have spat on her handkerchief to wipe the dirt off my cheek.
Losing her feels wrong at this time of the year. When new life is colouring the landscape. As I was editing this film together I was influenced by losing her and was choosing some dreary music. But spring is about new beginnings, fresh days, colour and vigour. So I went with Spring by Vivaldi instead. A cliche, perhaps. But far more fitting.
The Seasons Outside My Back Door: Week 15 || April 2016 from Helen || a bookish baker on Vimeo.
Music: "Spring Mvt 1 Allegro" by John Harrison with the Wichita State University Chamber Players (http://www.johnharrisonviolin.com/)