Honey is a sweet cocker spaniel and gentle soul
Getting fuss and ear rubs wherever she goes
A creature of habit she likes to know where to be
As the clock chimes six, she is sat waiting patiently
For this is when mummy will come through the door
Kicking off her heels as she drops her bag on the floor
Honey’s tail wags as she watches her pull on her wellies
For the evening walk is even better than filling her belly
An hour of running around the field feeling wild and free
Then back home to snuggle in her bed as content as can be

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

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slow down and listen
to the birds as they sing
close your eyes and hear
the sound of bumblebee wings
breathe in deeply
turn off your alarms
take time out for a moment
and just enjoy bee-ing calm

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

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“Oww!” yelped Mr Fox, as he unexpectedly landed on a very spiky thing
Stuck in his paw was a long needle that had given him a rather nasty sting
There below Hedgehog was curled up unaware he had caused Fox a fright
“Wake up Hedgehog” he cried, “you shouldn’t be asleep at this time of night”

With a big yawn Hedgehog slowly uncurled himself as his tiny eyes blinked
“I’ve been up all night exploring”, he explained, “so I just wanted forty winks”
Stretching his little feet, he padded across the soft earth until he found a large tree
This is a nice quiet spot he thought, I can nod off in these leaves and no one will bother me

“Argh! Wake up Hedgehog” someone yelled, “It’s still night time don’t you know! “
A large pair of feet stomped about as Hedgehog looked up and saw the Crow
He flew off noisily flicking dirt at Hedgehog and causing the leaves to fly all around
As it grew quiet, he heard a tiny pitter patter of many feet along the soft ground

Through tired eyes Hedgehog saw a family of mice watching him from close by
“Can you help me find a quiet place to rest? I am just so very sleepy” he sighed
“Oh yes”, squeaked the mice excitedly, “come with us for we love a good long nap”
Smiling to himself, Hedgehog thought there isn’t really any arguing with that..

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

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Think of a country garden and one thing springs to my mind
A sweetly singing little bird of a very special kind
The gardener’s friend with a scarlet crimson breast
Darting from wheelbarrow to spade with very little rest

My friendly loveable robin is always welcome to me
She swoops in to get some worms; she watches me you see
Flitting and hopping from garden cane to flower pot
Patiently waiting for me to dig over the vegetable plot

In spring she nests in unusual places, an old hat or boot will do
I live in harmony with this little bird her trust in me which grew
So dear, as she reminds me of what my mother used to say
That when missing loved ones are near a robin will appear

She remains a loyal visitor as the summer turns to fall
When I feed my little Rosie, I feed a piece of my soul
As the garden turns to white and the leaves drop away
She provides a welcome flash of colour on a crisp winter’s day

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post Rosie Robin Wooden Forever Card appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.

If you travel to the Yorkshire Dales you will be met with outstanding scenery,
Towering castles amidst valleys and breathtakingly peaceful fields of greenery
On such a field stands Honey Dip Farm built with strong Yorkshire bricks
Surrounded by billowing wild flower meadows and a family of geese and chicks

An old apple tree provides welcome shade at the corner of the wheat field
For the family of gentle donkeys that the farmer rescued and healed
Poppy’s young foal Pip is a wild spirit bounding around without a care
Each afternoon they go to a wall where local children visit them there

For Pip loves to eat sweet apples and is well known for her hilarious trick
Aiming straight at the children’s faces she suddenly spits out all the pips!
Squeals of delight and laughter from the children bring the donkeys so much pleasure
Loving all the fuss and ear rubs that follow, the donkeys are actually very clever

So, if you are planning a visit be sure to pack plenty of apples and pears
For donkeys do love a sweet treat to munch and would rather not share
As you walk up to the edge of the wildflower wall you can be sure
You will always be welcomed with a very happy pair of hee haws!

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post Pip and Poppy Wooden Forever Card appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.

When bunnies are born there is a little bit of magic inside them waiting to be found
That’s how they make everyone feel happy and special when they are around
With the softest of fluff and droopy floppy ears twitching a little pink nose
Waves of happiness and joy spreads to us all wherever they hop and go
Sitting in a patch of primroses Honeybunny is as tender as can be
The bees visit her where she enjoys the shade under the old hazel tree
They are attracted to her magical bunny charm as she grazes on the grass
The mice also enjoy an afternoon chat with Honeybunny as they scurry past
The smallest of creatures can have the most kindness I have found
Make her laugh and her magic releases in glowing sparkles all around
For bunnies’ hearts are pure and their place in this world is quite clear
Bunnies are for cuddling and loving and for us all to hold especially dear xx

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post Honey Bunny Wooden Forever Card appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.

Oh, to be a bee, such a wonderfully fascinating thing
The sound of summer with the buzzing that they bring
Pollinating all the flowers from the seeds that we sew
Without them our food just wouldn’t be able to grow

Beautifully fat and fluffy with very busy wings
Watching them work is one of my favourite things
Frantically beating their wings back and forth they can’t cease
Staying aloft until the flowers pollen they then release

Swooshing about filling the air with gentle hums
Fluffy bodies and dangling legs exploring the delphiniums
As they bumble about the flowers bringing a smile to my face
They are a treasure to us all and must be kept safe

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

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Little Hare was out collecting healing herbs and flowers from her ancient woodland home. A blackbird sang to her as it flew off from a branch of elderberry into the forget-me-not blue sky.

Early sunshine happily streamed through the oak tree as its old wise limbs creaked and leaves rustled. The air was warm and full of soft humming from the bees and whispering breeze.

As she daintily made her way on her soft paws the earth was deliciously rich and full of new wildflowers emerging from beneath. She tried not to disturb the bluebells as she bent down to pick up three acorns which she carefully placed in her satchel, for they carried the spirit of the Oak Tree.

Suddenly she heard a muffled cry, and, looking around, spotted a bright young Fox sitting holding his foot in pain. He had a gloriously bushy tail and twinkly amber eyes.  With a quick hop and a leap she was by his side, “my dear little Fox what have you done?” she asked.  “I caught it in the Bramble Bush” said the Fox regretfully. “I was collecting juicy blackberries and tore it on a thorn”.

“Let me help you”, said Hare kindly, and gently took his fluffy foot which had a nasty cut, “I have a remedy for that”. She rummaged in her satchel and pulled out a little jar of honey, sugar and a little wooden spoon with a silver bell on the end and swiftly mixed up a paste.

Hare looked about, then skipped across the tree roots to a clump of wild foxgloves. Carefully she picked a few of the bell-shaped flowers and leaves. She brought them back to Fox and crumpled the leaves into the paste which she then spread onto his wounded foot with the little spoon. “Foxgloves are plants of the fairies”, she explained, “they will heal you with their magic, but best not to lick your foot” she warned, “they are quite potent”.

The little Fox signed in relief but still looked sad, so Hare took the last few flowers and popped each one on the end of his paws and said “look! Now you have Fox Gloves ha ha!”

The Fox laughed and laughed feeling much better. Would you like to come to tea? He asked. “ I am making a delicious Blackberry crumble. “I would be delighted “ said Hare, and taking his arm they made their way through the woods. They spent that afternoon baking crumble and drinking sweet mint tea. And from that day on, the Fox and the Hare became the very best of friends.

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The winter hare always has to be so cunning and clever
He scampers about in the open despite the awful chilly weather
For precious food becomes sparse when the temperature drops
Shimmering snow covers the fields and there are no more farmers crops
As a wise and mystical creature, the hare will always survive
Chewing moss and hunting for berries they dig and they dive
As glittering snowflakes softly fall and land on his wet nose
The shining moon above watches over him wherever he goes
As others silently hibernate, the hare travels all winter long
But soon it will be spring and the birds will burst into sweet song
The harshness of winter will be a distant memory for the hare
As sunshine returns bringing an abundance of food to share
Refreshed and relaxed he will be sipping fresh water from the lake
Remembering his long days chasing berries and snowflakes

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post Berries & Snowflakes Wooden Forever Card appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.

Can you remember meeting your first Bumblebee?
I was playing hide and seek, balancing up a tree
Hands clamped over my mouth trying not to make a sound
When suddenly there was a gentle humming and buzzing all around

I let out a shriek as something huge flew in my face
I slipped and fell in the dirt tearing my dress of lace
What was that strange and rather scary thing?
I had to find out before the dinner bell would ring

It didn’t take me long before I heard a gentle hum
There on a thistle he hovered with a gorgeous fluffy bum
Such dainty silky wings just about holding him steady
A fluffy fuzz of friendliness dangling and leggy

I laughed as he squeezed into the throat of a foxglove
Greedy for the taste of sweet golden nectar waiting above
I now plant my own garden full of all their favourite flowers
I believe they sprinkle good wishes with each passing hour

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post Thistle & Bee Wooden Forever Card appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.