Running Into Nature
The simple joy of those unexpected nature moments in your day, an tentacular book rec, and a fun animal fact about an ocean creature you may never have heard of.
Hello everyone!
Happy Mental Health Awareness Week! Thank you for taking a little bit of time out to read this week’s newsletter, and hope it inspires you to go enjoy your favourite little things today, whatever is going on for you right now.
Hope you’ve all had a great couple of weeks, and enjoyed the recent spell of warmer sunshine-I love how the sun means the colours around us are all suddenly more vibrant and the world is filled with technicolour. It has also meant our potato plants are growing at an insane rate, and the strawberries are flowering!
Who saw the Northern Lights last weekend? I almost missed them until my messages became filled with excited friends talking about them, and I had a look outside. I couldn’t see them too clearly, but taking a photo really showed that they were there! Absolutely incredible. If that isn’t a little thing (well probably a big thing) to showcase how cool nature is, I don’t know what is!
In writing news, my microfiction piece ‘Concrete’ is now out in the world in the Earthly Rewards anthology, published by Thi Wurd. Head over to their website for more details about the collection, and you can even order a copy of the whole anthology! I can’t wait for mine to arrive.
As I said last time, I was recently part of the blog tour for the Not/Coming Out Anthology, which is out today! Why not check out my review, and maybe treat yourself to a copy.
This week’s newsletter is all about spotting those little wondrous pieces of nature, even if that’s not what you were looking out for when you stepped out the door. To me, it’s always those nature moments that feel the most special.
So let’s grab a cuppa and take 5 minutes to focus on the little things! ☕
Mel xxx
Running into nature
I head out on my run after lunch.
It’s a bit cloudier today, but still warm. Today, I choose to take it slow, running a little further than I have for a while but at a more relaxed pace. I am slowly trying to teach myself to not be so competitive with myself when running, and to just take the moment to enjoy it.
I turn off the main road and head down the tree covered road towards Canley Ford, the small nature reserve near where I live. Blackbirds flutter amongst the leaf litter by the sides of the track, looking for tasty morsels. Squirrels bound in front of me. Bluebells have appeared in swathes, catching any passing sunlight. I head down a trail that goes steeply into the Ford. I focus on each step, finding the best footing, loving being amongst nature.
When I get to the Ford, the sound of water greets me, running through the valley just like me. No one is around, and it’s perfect. Then in front of me I spot movement on the shallow stream. Two birds, grey wagtails, bobbing on rocks as they scan the water, looking for beetles and mayflies. Their backs are dark grey, and their chests bright yellow. They are stunning and I run along the bridge, hoping for a closer glimpse.
They don’t see me as a threat, and I watch them as I pass, see their beautiful dark markings. I look later and find they nest by flowing water, so I wonder if I’ll see them again soon on another run.
All too soon, the run continues through the woodland, and I leave them behind. But the excitement of what I saw carries me through the next part of my run.
For me, it’s one of the joys of running- you never know what you may find.
What little things have you been enjoying?
I want to hear from you!
It could be anything, from something you saw on a walk or run, to that great ice cream you had, to finally sitting down with the book you’ve been wanting to read for months.
Can’t wait to see what you all are enjoying!
What I’ve been reading
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
When my partner saw this at a bookshop last year, they thrust it into my hands as they knew it was the perfect fit.
They were right- as someone who adores anything sea creature based and has also developed a fascination with octopi over the past couple of years, I loved it.
A perfect quirky novel, it follows the bond between Tova, the night cleaner at an aquarium, and Marcellus, the Giant Pacific Octopus. When Tova’s son mysteriously vanished over 30 years ago on a boat, Tova never found an answer as to what happened. Forming a bond with Tova, Marcellus works out what happened that night, and will do everything he can in his old body to help Tova uncover the secrets she thought she would never find out.
Perfect for anyone who likes:
📚 Non-human narrators
📚 Quirky but Heartwarming Stories
📚 Multiple Points of View
And finally….a weird animal fact!
Nudibranches Can Create Their Own Solar Power!
Nudibranches (sea slugs) are fascinating creatures-go look them up to see how many different gorgeous species there are!
But certain nudibranchs, like Sacoglossans (the sap sucking slugs) eat coral which contains an algae allowing nudibranch to photosynthesise. This source of energy means nudibranchs can go for several months without eating!
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed-let me know what you think, and what you’d like to see in future editions. If you know someone else who would like it, please share and let’s grow the newsletter!
Can’t wait to hear from you, and have a great day! ☀️