A moment of bliss: Shetland ponies in the dunes of Zeeland
Island Stories #43: I walked into nature on my favorite part of this island, and enjoyed meeting dozens of Shetland ponies.
There is so much going on in the world, and there is not much happy news.
Last week, I spoke and wrote about water security challenges on this increasingly thirsty planet that paradoxically suffers from more extreme flooding events and increasing periods of drought.
For the last two days, I have focussed on hurricane Ida, which can cause a catastrophe. And these are just two of the many worrying news items these days.
At moments like that, I like to put on my hiking shoes and go into the nature of Zeeland. I did so yesterday evening after I had finished my article on New Orleans and the Louisiana coast that have now to deal with a large number of Covid-19 patients and the impact of Ida that is expected to make landfall this Sunday evening.
Friendly Shetland ponies
I walked into nature on my favorite part of this island, close to my village of Burgh-Haamstede, and enjoyed meeting dozens of Shetland ponies. They are so friendly; two of them came up to me to say hello. Note that one of the ponies is an Exmoor pony; you can see it around the one-minute mark on the right.
You can join me on yesterday's walk in the 'Zeepeduinen' dunes in this video. It was a moment of bliss, and I hope you will experience the same feeling when you see this, wherever you are in the world. So relax, enjoy, and take a two-minute break from all your worries when you watch this tranquil scene.
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This hedgehog visited my garden, the first time that I saw one in this province.
Moments of bliss, they are. Words are not needed and stillness lays its head on our shoulder, lightening the weight of the world. The best way to walk on by Sunday, just looking at the bright side of life.
Some days are perfect and should be constantly repeated.
A beautiful moment of bliss & tranquility sorely needed on this day full of enormous trepidation. These wonderful ponies! Again, they are drawn to you as though they can sense a kind & caring friend. I think animals can do that.
Thank you for beginning my day on such an idyllic note. A far different remainder of the day awaits. I may need to revisit this several times today.
And the sweet hedgehog, what lovely lagniappe! Maybe the ponies told it about you!