Do you ever find the news tough to digest? It’s important, if not essential, to keep abreast of world events and I listen and watch, discuss the headlines with Mr M, think about political shenanigans, financial wrangling, education, the Jungle, Donald Trump’s incessant, alarming sound bites and barnet, the Syrian crisis, climate change and even the worrying inability of pandas to procreate. I immerse myself in it and try to fathom solutions…and rightly so, but it’s exhausting and often full of doom, DOOM, and a tragic dearth of baby pandas.
There are the ‘and, finally’ stories at the end of certain bulletins, the Today programme sometimes has a light-hearted feature and now and again a surfing beagle or a vociferous goat might make it onto the 6 o’clock news, but I feel strongly that good news -the kind that lifts the spirits, makes me want to cheer or do a small dance – is rare and sadly lacking on the box and wireless.
So, I have decided to start a new post series. Each week, diary permitting, I shall gather the kind of news that really does bring cheer. It is one woman’s answer to the drear and grim.
*shuffles papers*. Here is the anti-news…
(disclaimer/warning: it’s heavy on the handmade, the feathered and the leafy).
Owls
Jose Heroys came to my silver workshop last weekend. We had had several online chats earlier in the year but as I have, um, quite a few such chats every day, I had forgotten what we had talked about. For shame. It turns out that Jose crochets. She doesn’t just hook up mittens, mufflers and titfers like the rest of us though. Jose crochets BABY ROBINS…
…and OWLETS.
So life-like are her baby tawny owls, that she posted them to an owlithologist (I’m certain this is a real word) Facebook page for the appreciation of owls in all their feathery glory and parliament, AND MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT JOSE’S OWLS WERE REAL. This brought me joy (although it didn’t surprise me, the women is clearly a birdy crocheting genius), as did the sight of this handmade baby owl perching on Jose’s hand. You can visit her website here (prepare yourself: there are tiny baby plovers and a wren nesting in a plant pot).
Otters
Otters were really really endangered when I was small. They were as rare as a glowing review of a wonky rock cake from Paul Hollywood. Things looked bleak because of pollution in our rivers and estuaries. They were at the top of the food chain and harmful chemicals built up in ecosystems meaning that the fish otters ate were either scarce or highly toxic.
In 2016 otters are no longer endangered. Their numbers are growing. They’re having LOTS of stubby-nosed, whistling, stickleback-chasing, swimmy babies because our waterways are MUCH cleaner and pollution levels lower. They are spotted fairly regularly in inner city Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol and in rural areas of every county in the UK and their numbers are healthier than they’ve been in many decades. This is bloody bloody good news. Read more here. HURRAH FOR OTTERS.
Cake
Last Friday I picked up some rhubarb on a day trip to Southwold. I’d been meaning to make Tess’s rhubarb and orange cake recipe for, ooh, 8 years. I decided Saturday was the day (I bake for each of my silver workshops) and I made and served it up during the break in my workshop.
It was moist, fruity and delicious. So much so that something unprecedented happened. There were only five of us in the room and the cake was intact when I brought it out of the kitchen.
…About 10 minutes later I took an empty plate back into the kitchen. We had eaten THE WHOLE THING such was its cakey goodness, oh and there wasn’t a scrap of guilt amongst the five of us. Nope.
The end of winter
The dusty blues and pinks, subtle yellows and sharp acid greens of the plants that flower in early Spring in my garden are some of my favourite shades. They’ve started to appear, tentatively and slowly and it’s filled me with small bursts of genuine happiness. I’ve hacked away at most of the dry twigs of Autumn and winter and soft Spring colour is returning. I’m planning to make a small film about the transition into Spring next week and am hatching a cheering plan on Instagram with a lovely pal of mine to celebrate the greenish change. Hurrah!
I would LOVE to hear your anti-news – snippets of lovely things that have brought you joy in recent weeks. I expect others would too…
Oh that Robin! Just adorable. The last few weeks I have started to see an otter in the canal where I walk the dogs. Think it’s an otter, not a mink. Obviously it scarpers whenever it hears the unruly whippets. I plan to head down there alone one morning with my camera to see if I can watch her for a while.
How funny you have written about baby owls on the very day I have held one for the first time. ‘Twas a very special moment.
Delighted and flattered to be part of your first anti-news! What a brilliant idea! I’ll be racking my brain cell for some of the Good News things that happen here (which is a good thing in itself I think). Love the colours in your inspirational Spring hedgerow pic and of your primrose bank – beautiful. Looking forward to the next anti-news instalment… ?
When Jose’s Long-tailed Tits (not a euphimism) popped up on my Etsy favourite shops page this week I knew it was going to be a good one. As the daughter of avid birdwatchers and a part-time crocheter to boot, I am left quite breathless at the exquisiteness of Jose’s work and rejoice that she is a part of your inaugural Anti-News week my dear Pebs.
I have been countering the negativity of the world’s news this week by stitching hares, kitties and little fabric baskets and by nagging Mr Moog into a corner, from which he has booked us a four day trip to Barcelona for my upcoming half century.
I love every piece of your news! So, my good news. After losing my domestic ducks to foxes two years ago (stick with me it gets better!) because they wouldn’t come off our natural pond our new ducks are kept away from the pond (they have a plastic pool instead) and are locked up at night. Then, yesterday I heard quacking from the pond. Thinking it was one of my ducks I went to check – but no it was a male and female wild duck who were taking a swim. I’ve seen them again since. And seen them fly over. I’m hoping they’re going to make it a home. And have a family! We also have a moorhen.
Hello @ Silverpebble
I saw your post on Insta and jumped over here to see what anti- news was about… Delightful you’re right news is fatiguing sometimes, we should keep abreast of what happening in the world, but too much and it’s….bleak. So bliss, joy, love, creativity… I say.
I have three ‘ owls in my home. All very different, not living but artistically done.
Thanks for a delightful morning read…
vellos paresen reales, sos un genio desde firmat santa fe argentina
Spring flowers blooming (daffodils and such) and cedarwax wings on the migration move north. Some of what to report from the US. The joy of spring colors beats ALL!
Thank you for the good news from your side of the pond.
I love your anti-news! I have spotted our resident wrens lately and also sure I saw a tree creeper today! The robins and great tits are also to be seen looking for grub! I love that the garden plants are poking through the soil and my daffies will make an appearance in the next few days! Hurrah for nature! Love your posts, thank you
Well, for me it was meeting all you lovely women last Saturday (no, we didn’t feel one guilty about the amazing disappearing cake!) and learning the silver clay magic. Also, we have coal tits and badgers in the garden ?,
Your anti-news is a wonderful uplifting thing! Reading it has been a lovely start to my day – in addition to the mug of tea and blueberry scone. This week I confess to turning off Radio 4 – usually the sound track of my working day – I’m looking forward to your next anti-news bulletin.
Oh Emma this is joyous and those little birds are adorable. Totally so. My news is that four evenings this week I have returned from work and witnessed the most magnificent sunsets. They have quite lifted my heart. Have also been primrose spotting – my favourite Spring flower. Lots of love for this feature xxx
Oh my word that owl. Rather knocks Audrey Hepburn’s head into a cocked hat!
I love everything about your anti news, but most especially that you baked the rhubarb cake and everyone loved it! xxx Tess xxx
Oh my… The owlet and robin stole my heart, amazing work, truly love it. Thanks for introducing me to Jose’s work. Will definitely be visiting her site.
Also, your positive news is a great idea and lovingly written. Thanks so much for sharing!
The duck family have come back to their home in the ditches beside our road! Cheers me every spring when I see them again ❤️
Love your idea of anti-news and celebrating the hand made and all things natural. My news is that yesterday I was offered a last minute place on a pottery throwing course in a remote part of Devon the weekend after next. I cannot find the words to describe accurately the peacefulness and beauty of the place I’m going to – no mobile phone signal and no television – bliss, top that with learning from one of the best potters in the country.
Andrea
What a treat your anti-news is! My news is that 9 months ago I gave up my stressful job in administration/management. A job I had done for over 28 years. I am now helping my husband to run our own pet care business, and spend my days walking dogs in beautiful fields which are currently full of violets, snowdrops and primroses. I am so happy to be amongst nature again and seeing Spring burst into flower has been such a delight after always being indoors. This change of life has also given me more time and I’m so enjoying being part of the letter exchange and feel like I have made a new friend. Thank you.
Debbie