Rabbits, Badgers and Elderflowers

What a strange day. I had lots of chores and work to sort out and set to with some gusto, having promised myself tht I'd collect some elderflowers and make cordial once I had got everything done. It seemed like a good reward and I was on the last leg of my journey when I saw something horrible.

Driving along the busy A30 (not very fast as it was in a 40 mph area) a rabbit leapt out of the hedgerow directly in front of the car ahead of me. The driver didn't have time to do anything and the car clipped the poor bunny and sent him somersaulting along the road. I managed to take evasive action, more in the hope that it wasn't fatal than through any logical thought. I looked in the rear view mirror and the creature was laid on it's side with a leg twitching madly as if trying to run away. I couldn't even stop to dispatch the rabbit, as there was no verge and more traffic following on. It was very upsetting.

I don't know if it happens to anyone else, but when I see something upsetting like that, it feels as if I have been punched in the solar plexus. It took the rest of the drive before I could swallow properly. Chores done, I decided to head home over an interestingly narrow track with few passing places that crests a verdant hill, in hopes of finding some elder that wasn't loaded with petrol and diesel emissions from the busy roads. It started raining. I jumped out at several places and was thwarted by locked field gates that were far too rickety to even think of climbing (imaging balancing a large zepellin on a razor blade and you'll be somewhere near the idea). Eventually I found a footpath and set off down it, figuring that I'd eventually find some elder. Did I? Heck as like! Well, that's not entirely true, I did find one old elder and the lowest blossom was over 15' above the ground. I think the Lady was having a bit of a laugh at my expense.

I may have failed miserably at procuring elder for my cordial - I should have guessed as I'd gone and got the lemons; had I not bought them, I'd have found elder aplenty - but I did find two badger sets! They're obviously active sets, as there was a perfect paw mark in the damp mud outside one and I was thrilled. I won't mention exactly where they are, as there are cattle fairly close by, and we all know what happens to badgers!

So, it was all a bit of a strange day, the tumbling rabbit, no elderflowers within reach, despite all attempts and then my wonderful find. It's now pouring with rain, the roads in the village are sounding more like streams as cars drive by, but the birds are sining and it's solstice.

To everyone who reads this, have a light-filled, joyous Litha!