Friday, May 28, 2010


A Folly On The Hillside

The sky had changed completely during our leisurely lunch.   My friend and I had met beneath the bluest of blues, but said goodbye under a most threatening grey.  I closed the car’s sunroof and pointed towards home and, as those grey skies foretold, I was soon making my way through a histrionic thunderstorm.  With the air white with sheets of straight down rain, I inched along a winding road where towering trees bent and bowed around me, genuflecting to the strength of the storm.  The Saint-Saens concerto streaming out from my iPod was punctuated quite appropriately with the booming notes of heavy thunder.
I marveled a bit that I was moving along through all this drama, quite dry and comfy in my little green car.  And for some reason, I thought about this blog and what I desire it to be for my readers.

 With so much wrong in the world today, it is my wish for The House of Edward to be a soft place to land for those who stop by to read my words, or to say hello to Edward.  This blog is really just an extension of my view of the world, I suppose.  Yes, I am aware of the ugliness  and that is precisely the reason I tend to focus on the beautiful and the good, to celebrate the pure exquisiteness of the everyday.  For beauty truly exists in the eye of the beholder; we all can see it if we try.  
Each of us makes a choice everyday to be compassionate or dismissive, intolerant or kind, to focus on ourselves or on others, to look for the good or prowl around for the wicked.  And it seems we usually find what we look for, doesn’t it?

So although my opinions are impassioned and wide-ranging - from politics to plastic surgery, oil spills to tea parties, fox hunting to reality shows - don’t look for me to rant about them here.  For just like I drove along through a dark storm today, sheltered and safe,  it is my hope that this blog will always be a harbour of sorts for those who drift in from whatever storms they might know. 
A folly on the hillside, a hermitage on the rutted path -  a warm place for a nod or a sigh, a haven for wonder and thought.
 Or maybe just a happy smile from a big, white dog.



44 comments:

  1. I do think your place is a soft place to land...

    Oh, always focus on the bright side of things...that is my nature.

    I see it!

    You take care.

    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your words paint amazing pictures that I can see. I always feel better after reading them. There is more than enough ranting in the world as it is.

    ReplyDelete
  3. And your readers are glad to be able to stop in to softly land and enjoy.

    I love your illustrations as much as your writing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I so love my visits here. You do soften and pretty up the day so I will continue to come often and revel in the beauty

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wonderful philosophy Pamela, - attitude and perception are everything, and we have constant choices as to how we will live our lives and what we will reflect of the world to ourselves and to others.

    Love your idea of a safe, soft haven.

    ReplyDelete
  6. so true... there are enough platforms for ranting! your blog is very refreshing, if it makes us stop and think, just for a minute, then maybe thats all it will need! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I always enjoy your blog, the way you can let yourself go into dreaming and take us all with you. And of course a smiling white dog always helps.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your gently and beautifully written blog is always a soothing, happy place to visit - a soft place to land indeed whilst flying around my favourite blogs - thankyou for always finding the beauty in life and conveying it to us so wonderfully.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, Pamela, you are truly "a soft place to land". I am sure, always sure, when a new picture pops up From the House of Edward that I will be inspired and rested and moved to more thoughtfulness as you take us along on your merry adventures and all will feel right in a curious world through the course of your words.

    Please don't stop.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yours and Edwards blog is always a favourite place to visit..always beautiful words and pictures...xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh it is, Pamela. Your blog is definitely what you hope it to be on that score. And give Edward a cuddle for me!

    ReplyDelete
  12. yes, and precisely a good place to come to after reading my blog! so perhaps I should send readers here afterwards as the soft place to land.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dear Pamela and Edward,

    Thank you, thank you for the respite from what can sometimes be a weary world.

    I totally agree that, as you stated, we find what we're looking for.

    Please give Edward an extra hug from me today!

    ReplyDelete
  14. i agree with you...if i thought about...and chose to dwell on all the things that make me crazy...well, i would be miserable...i have strong opinions about a lot of things too...but i would rather focus on things that make me happy or smile...like your lovely post and your sweet big white dog...he really is a beauty!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your blog is most definitely a soft place to land! As others have said, there are plenty of blogs out there that rant and rave on various topics. They can be fun, but they attract so much negative attention that I don't think their writers (or readers) find them very relaxing.

    I do my best not to rant too much on my blog - sometimes it's a little hard, because it's almost impossible not to express a strong opinion about something as personal as art! (Twitter is particularly dangerous in this respect - it's very tempting to hammer out a few choice words in response to something that raises your ire).

    Anyway, your blog is lovely, and I think you've clearly achieved your aim!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Keep the noise outside and enjoy the peace at your hearth.

    Edward - you are one handsome -and hopefully with the airconditioning vents on the floor of your home - one very cool dude.

    ReplyDelete
  17. i love the folly ♥
    its all about staying "in the pretty places" isnt it!!!
    hearts & happy fluffy doggys
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh Pamela,
    Your blog truly is a very welcoming place. It is a warm and happy place and , sometimes, an escape from reality.
    Thank you for giving us this lovely sanctuary....and, hello Edward !! XXXX

    ReplyDelete
  19. I do think this is a lovely place to escape to.x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Perfectly put. If one wishes to be overwhelmed by the ugliness of the world they need only to turn on the evening news.
    I indulge in blogging for an escape from those horrors to see the beauty we often take for granted.
    And of course to share stories with fellow pet owners and how they too love their dogs and cats...
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  21. Creating a happy place with joy, serenity, intellect, & beauty, amongst troubles, takes strength & courage.

    Thank you for sharing yours.

    Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

    ReplyDelete
  22. And you have managed to do just that. I try to keep my blog a happy place, too. It just began to thunder as I'm writing this. Perfect!
    Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  23. My thoughts precisley. I choose to see that which is good as I can do nothing to stop or change the other. Looking at a bunny or a big white dog makes for a better life anyway.
    Hugs to you my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  24. And am I grateful you do this just so! Your place is as wonderful for me to land like a walk through my garden, listening to the birds or reading a favorite book!
    You are my uplift every time...

    Thank you!

    Victoria

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love landing here! Your words are always soothing and illuminating. I agree totally, about having the choice to choose how to look at things, as you probably have noticed when you visit me! Thank you for visiting by the way, it means a lot to me and I do so appreciate it! Have a happy weekend! I think you, Edward and your lovely blog are rather special! Suzie xxx

    ReplyDelete
  26. hello there, and the perfect landing spot it is too ;-) its so good to be back reading your beautiful words. This post is perfect, i so agree, we do indeed find what we look for! so should be oh so aware of what it is we see. I see the reasons for your writings are the very same as mine.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I can picture you driving through the thunderstorm with Edward patiently waiting for your return. So glad you made it back safe!

    You are so right, if you look hard enough for goodness you will find it, sadly the reverse is also true.

    The happy smiles from dog and owner are much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hello P&E,

    "And it seems we usually find what we look for". Isn't that the truth! I appreciate seeing things through your eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Very sweet, nicely put.

    I don't remember you posting about reality shows though...?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hello Pamela! Thank you so much for visiting me and leaving a kind comment!! You have a fantastic blog, I want to read more.

    A great kiss to Edwars ;) have a great w.e.

    Zaira xx

    ReplyDelete
  31. Precisely why I love reading your posts. Your writing creates that magical house on the hill, filled with love, laughter and flowers. xo Lidy

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wonderful philosophy Pamela - and Edward too by the look on his face - a real dog smile.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hermitage is one of my favorite words; your blog is definitely that. We can visit the newspaper when we want the darker, sadder side of life.

    I have just visited a blog that I admire because of its unbelievably honest way of addressing the hard/difficult/painful things in life . . . but with a heart still grateful and an eye so willing to find beauty where it truly does exist.

    You edit, yes, but your voice is still honest. I strive for that, too.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Yes, coming to your blog is like slipping into a soft cocoon...it's an other-worldly place colored by your love for Edward and your secure little cottage.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I too wanted my blog to be happy and beautiful because there is so much unhappiness in the world. I really related to this post and just adore your picture of Edward...(my little one is pictured at the bottom of my sidebar).
    xxx DJ

    ReplyDelete
  36. I do know what you mean, Pamela. I have been accused of having a 'Pollyanna' blog! And I know that I generally focus on the good, the beautiful and the lovely, and yes the squabbling siblings, the piles of laundry, etc etc are all there in my life, and they can't be ignored!

    But I'd much rather create somewhere that focuses on beauty, and I'd much rather visit places that do the same. And I don't think I'm alone, which is why you ave so many readers here! C x

    ReplyDelete
  37. Here, here...this is exactly my way of thinking Pamela, xv.

    ReplyDelete
  38. When I am in need of a smile and warmed heart, which is often, I visit your dear blog.<3 Thank you for seeing the good in the world. We all
    need that and what a wonderful reminder that somehow we find what we see. Thank you for making my day
    cheerful!
    p.s. Edward and Apple are sooo adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Your blog is a beautiful place with precious words and beautiful images. A visit that invites to the calmness and the reflection,
    have a lovey and sunny weekend
    Bss
    Cecilia

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hi,
    I think that your blog is a very nice place to be and I like your way of thinking.

    Your words and the pictures is some of the beauty in life !

    xo
    Anci

    ReplyDelete
  41. So beautiful..we have the same goal..thats why I love to visit you..To visit your blog is like ''coming home..:)) Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  42. it's always lovely to visit here to be able to sit with Edward for a while!

    ReplyDelete
  43. What beautiful sentiments you express! It's easy to rant - much harder to create something tender and enduring.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Thank you dear Pamela for this lovely respite....and keep it this way please!

    ReplyDelete

I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!