As Algy and his strange little friend were exploring the banks of the burn together, the little green dragon suddenly bounded towards a rock and lunged at a wee green plant that was trailing from a deep crevice.
Fascinated, Algy perched on a soft, dry heather bush beside his friend and watched while the dragon started to eat the bright green leaves of the plant with an enthusiastic glow.
“I didn’t know you ate plants,” exclaimed Algy. “I would have found you something special if I had known.”
The little green dragon interrupted its munching for a moment and looked round at Algy.
“It’s not easy being green,” it breathed softly, unwittingly quoting a much more famous character
“Of course this is not spinach, but…”
Eat a tomato and you’ll turn red (I don’t think that’s really so); Eat a carrot and you’ll turn orange (Still and all, you never know); Eat some spinach and you’ll turn green (I’m not saying that it’s true But that’s what I heard, and so I thought I’d pass it on to you).
Algy pondered for a moment, ruffling his rather dishevelled feathers. “Then perhaps I should eat something fluffy,” he mused… “Do you think chocolate brownies would do?”
[The little green dragon is quoting the poem Vegetables by the 20th century American author Shel Silverstein.]
Algy and the little green dragon tucked themselves down cosily among the dry heather and ferns on the banks of the trickling burn, where the rushing south-east wind could not reach them, and basked in the early spring sunshine, which, by the standards of the wild west coast of the Scottish Highlands, was for once not as cold as it might be…
Notwithstanding a cool, damp sensation around the tail feathers, Algy observed that the scrubby vegetation which covered this windswept landscape had dried out like tinder in the spring winds, although the ground itself was evidently still soggy from its winter drenching, and he cautioned his friend to avoid breathing fire while they were relaxing among the bushes, for conflagrations could spread very rapidly in these conditions.
So the little green dragon obediently restricted itself to emitting a throbbing glow which posed no danger to its surroundings, and Algy perceived that in this environment his funny little friend was surprisingly well camouflaged; perhaps there were more green plants growing around its home in faraway Patadragonia than he had noticed when he was there, for the wee creature glowed both green and red.
As they chatted happily in the sunshine, Algy remarked to his friend on the amazing phenomenon which is tumblr, reflecting on the wonderful way in which his adventures could fly out around the whole wide world through this medium, alighting he knew not where, and reaching all kinds of folk, he knew not who…
This inevitably reminded Algy of a particularly famous poem, although he wondered how many people knew more than the first two often-quoted lines, for the whole was so much more to the point
Algy sends his fluffiest thanks to all his wonderful tumblr friends, both old and new, who have welcomed him back to tumblr this past week, and sends his fluffiest hugs out around the world to reach you all xoxo
I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For, so swiftly it flew, the sight Could not follow it in its flight.
I breathed a song into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For who has sight so keen and strong, That it can follow the flight of song?
Long, long afterward, in an oak I found the arrow, still unbroke; And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend.
[Algy is quoting the famous poem The Arrow and the Song by the 19th century American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.]
UrModern Letter: 0Ruler of the Start of SummerSummer Solstice 21st June
When Ur appears in a reading the message is that it is time to look after yourself, mind body and soul. Taking time for great and relaxation is something we often neglect to factor in to our busy lives but at this time it is key. Burn out and stress will hinder your growth and progress so remember that mind and body are…
Identification : A small branched shrub that grows to around 60cm (2ft). With Pink, White or purple flowers growing over spiky leaves.
Properties : Antiseptic, Diuretic and Anti-rheumatic
Uses: Urinary infections including Cystitis (Disinfects urinary tract and increases productions), Kidney stones, Rheumatism, arthritis and gout.
Try It : 1tsp of dried herb to a cup of water and infuse for 5mins to make a tea to treat Cystitis.
Warnings: None
Parts used: Flowers and flowering tips. Harvest in late summer.
Magic: Love, Luck and Protection. White heather was traditionally carried as a protection against rape or unwanted passion.
Planet : Venus
Element : Water
Deities : Isis
Folklore and History: Since Neolithic times the flowers have been fermented to make an ale.
From the bonny bells of heather
They brewed a drink long-syne,
Was sweeter far than honey,
Was stronger far than wine.
By Robert Louis Stevenson.
You can make musical pipes out of the root stock. The foliage has been used for generations as a stuffing for mattresses. It is the secret of the best Scottish honey. In Celtic tradition it is linked to the summer solstice. In Scotland white heather is considered lucky.
Always important to remember to look back when out walking, not to miss out on some of the best views as you climb. #arran #scotland #hillwalkingscotland #hillwalking #moors #moorland #heather #adventure #backpacking #hikinguk #hiking #wilduk (at Isle of Arran)
