Fir

Those of you who live in the New World may find it strange that She of the Stories tells you so much about the river, the weather, and the garden. Perhaps you think it's that English thing, you know, always going on about the weather. Hm.

Well, you know, the weather is something you notice if you are blessed with a garden and a river at the bottom of it. And those ducks. Odd little chaps, aren't they? You jolly well notice the weather if you're an animal, too. Animals feel the weather in their fur and their paws, long before the rest of you, and if you live up a tree you need to know if that tree's going to sway about all night.

It's most important to notice the natural world. It's the real thing, you know. Alive, and strong, and the stuff we're made of. Good stuff. She was delighted yesterday because she's got one small iris growing in a pot by the front door. It really is such a bright little thing, and so delicately coloured. So that's why I'm doing this note for her today. She's out taking a good look at the iris while it's still there, because it won't last long and it's stormy outside.

Hm. Kettle on, young Juniper. Padra will be up in a minute, and he won't refuse a hot cordial.