Amidst the cozy ambiance of the brown café, I stumbled upon tales of those who wielded power over nations but behaved like bullies in a schoolyard, their policies dripping with corruption. I read about the insidious ways the mighty attempted to twist the very laws meant to restrain them into tools for personal enrichment. There were stories of the wealthy amassing more wealth while floods ravaged the lives of the less fortunate. The victims of ineffective leadership floated downstream while arms deals were negotiated at the highest levels.
Beautiful Deventer, a respite for the soul and a lovely beginning for your day.
The news you recount is laden with worries for all who care about the planet and the more specific areas where we are planted. Each day brings new tragedies and anguish for humanity, the planet and those who wield power or try to.
Your summer offerings have been wonderful and a splendid diversion from the harsher realities. Thank you for each.
As the lighter season draws to a close, it is indeed time to concentrate on what the coming months hold and what can be done to conquer the challenges. There are so many, each with agonizing pitfalls.
I am confident in a good start. You are an outstanding leader and inspiration.
And you write pretty well too. That’s a real bonus! 😉
This beautiful piece is the perfect reflection of the resilient mindfulness we will all need to practice more of, for our sanity. From moving away from the enormity of the disturbance to the smaller joy of the present; from getting up and moving, and hence oxygenating, to choosing to do that in the expansiveness of the natural outdoors. It’s a classic example of the choices of a resilient mind, so perfect...and as we move from the sweet joys of Summer to weightier work of the Fall and Winter, it’s a lovely reminder to stay centered and resilient, even as we face changes and disappointments, personal and global....Thank you for sharing such a beautiful written reflection 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Cozy ambience and the scent of espresso wafting is greatly preferred to what was held within print and digital media today. And so it goes. It was grand to journey with you this summer. We are all behind you. Let's get to work 🌻
I am delighted with the pots of flowers on the cobblestoned streets of Deventer. I’m glad you had your getaway on the Camino this summer but in America there is no respite for the weary. Many went on trips and getaways but the noise in the background perpetuated by the media is impossible to ignore as the drift toward Fascism continues in the MAGA GOP HOUSE. Biden has steered the ship of state beautifully but this chaos is now recognized as having been headed in this direction for many years prior. Just trying to learn today of his plans for the UN Climate Conference this week at the UN; found three different answers in three sources! We know the influence PUTIN has had on our elections. And that Zelenskyy will visit this week seeking ongoing support for his slowing fight in Ukraine. His summer initiative seems to have been less than hoped. So in my eyes summer is just bleeding into fall as things keep overheating in political theatre. Sorry to be a downer but I’m genuinely concerned for the future of this great nation and have one small vote in a blood red state that will come to nothing in electoral college 2024 should I be here to cast it. At least I’m thinking in terms of the future; that’s positive perhaps and I have new “eyes” with which to see. Suppose I need to find a way outdoors to view nature for a reset. Seems to work well for you. Best of luck as you get back to your more usual work for the 🌎. Steady ahead!
Just had a look at my Deventer pictures from last year (thanks for the tip!). Gorgeous town, good food. I sought refuge from the rain in a restaurant on the big square, had a delicious vegan burger and drank Rivella.
Love your focus on small details and your writing transports me back. Having been there right after a rain shower I can see and smell the wet cobblestones. Thanks for this and all your summer writing.
Alexander we don't give up..We do this together. That white butterflies 🦋 are here, I saw a few with Spring happening. Your eyes see the detail very well. Thank you.
Oh, I love Deventer too! And Dutch coffee 💙 the best! Too bad terrible headlines & troubles in the world mess up a nice quiet moment in a special place. It is so difficult to get away from it all, but what a lovely place to try an escape. Nice to see your wonderful sketch (for my birthday) Lol
The photos are great --Kabouters & paddestoelen oh my!!
Perfect and intuitive. Nothing replaces a rested look behind a restless reality. Sometimes that's all it takes to move forward on a long road.
“These ships, these islands, these simple trees are our rewards in substance, being poor. This earth a dictionary is to the root and growth of seeing, and to the servant heart a door.” - Laurence Durrell
Beautiful Deventer, a respite for the soul and a lovely beginning for your day.
The news you recount is laden with worries for all who care about the planet and the more specific areas where we are planted. Each day brings new tragedies and anguish for humanity, the planet and those who wield power or try to.
Your summer offerings have been wonderful and a splendid diversion from the harsher realities. Thank you for each.
As the lighter season draws to a close, it is indeed time to concentrate on what the coming months hold and what can be done to conquer the challenges. There are so many, each with agonizing pitfalls.
I am confident in a good start. You are an outstanding leader and inspiration.
And you write pretty well too. That’s a real bonus! 😉
This beautiful piece is the perfect reflection of the resilient mindfulness we will all need to practice more of, for our sanity. From moving away from the enormity of the disturbance to the smaller joy of the present; from getting up and moving, and hence oxygenating, to choosing to do that in the expansiveness of the natural outdoors. It’s a classic example of the choices of a resilient mind, so perfect...and as we move from the sweet joys of Summer to weightier work of the Fall and Winter, it’s a lovely reminder to stay centered and resilient, even as we face changes and disappointments, personal and global....Thank you for sharing such a beautiful written reflection 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Cozy ambience and the scent of espresso wafting is greatly preferred to what was held within print and digital media today. And so it goes. It was grand to journey with you this summer. We are all behind you. Let's get to work 🌻
🌻💯
Sweet, sail on, tack whenever you like. We are in the boat with you . . .
I am delighted with the pots of flowers on the cobblestoned streets of Deventer. I’m glad you had your getaway on the Camino this summer but in America there is no respite for the weary. Many went on trips and getaways but the noise in the background perpetuated by the media is impossible to ignore as the drift toward Fascism continues in the MAGA GOP HOUSE. Biden has steered the ship of state beautifully but this chaos is now recognized as having been headed in this direction for many years prior. Just trying to learn today of his plans for the UN Climate Conference this week at the UN; found three different answers in three sources! We know the influence PUTIN has had on our elections. And that Zelenskyy will visit this week seeking ongoing support for his slowing fight in Ukraine. His summer initiative seems to have been less than hoped. So in my eyes summer is just bleeding into fall as things keep overheating in political theatre. Sorry to be a downer but I’m genuinely concerned for the future of this great nation and have one small vote in a blood red state that will come to nothing in electoral college 2024 should I be here to cast it. At least I’m thinking in terms of the future; that’s positive perhaps and I have new “eyes” with which to see. Suppose I need to find a way outdoors to view nature for a reset. Seems to work well for you. Best of luck as you get back to your more usual work for the 🌎. Steady ahead!
Just had a look at my Deventer pictures from last year (thanks for the tip!). Gorgeous town, good food. I sought refuge from the rain in a restaurant on the big square, had a delicious vegan burger and drank Rivella.
Love your focus on small details and your writing transports me back. Having been there right after a rain shower I can see and smell the wet cobblestones. Thanks for this and all your summer writing.
“This week, I will close the summer season editions of The Planet newsletter”
I read your summer stories with your fotos and I discovered a new Spain 🇪🇸.
Looking forward to your Substack newsletter about the planet earth.
Alexander we don't give up..We do this together. That white butterflies 🦋 are here, I saw a few with Spring happening. Your eyes see the detail very well. Thank you.
Oh, I love Deventer too! And Dutch coffee 💙 the best! Too bad terrible headlines & troubles in the world mess up a nice quiet moment in a special place. It is so difficult to get away from it all, but what a lovely place to try an escape. Nice to see your wonderful sketch (for my birthday) Lol
The photos are great --Kabouters & paddestoelen oh my!!
Clarisse
Wishing you a happy (belated) birthday, Clarisse 😊
Perfect and intuitive. Nothing replaces a rested look behind a restless reality. Sometimes that's all it takes to move forward on a long road.
“These ships, these islands, these simple trees are our rewards in substance, being poor. This earth a dictionary is to the root and growth of seeing, and to the servant heart a door.” - Laurence Durrell
Aww, thank you very much!