Wishing you all a very Happy and very Peaceful Easter.
Driving through our neighbouring village yesterday, I passed Monsieur and his faithful horse, on their way to rotavate a traditional family potager. Although he may have been just going about a daily task, for me it was a scene of pure nostalgia and I was so happy to have a camera to hand to record this ancient interaction between man and horse; it embodies peace, serenity and simplicity.
The Horse
Where in this wide world can man find nobility without pride,
friendship without envy, or beauty without vanity?
Here where grace is laced with muscle and strength by gentleness confined.
He serves without servility; he has fought without enmity.
There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent;
there is nothing so quick, nothing more patient.
England’s past has been borne on his back.
All our history is in his industry.
We are his heirs;
He is our inheritance.
Ronald Duncan
© (Copyright of) the Ronald Duncan Literary Foundation
Our French Oasis 
Happy Easter!
A beautiful picture of pure nostalgia.
Happy Easter to you Nadia, this is why I so love horses! Susan x
Happy Easter to you and your family! Wonderful photos. Even though I am not far from Washington, D.C., I do live in a semi-rural area (becoming less so every day, sadly), but it is always a little bit of a nice surprise when I drive around a winding, twisting road and meet up with some farm implement being moved between fields. Unlike some drivers, I don’t mind slowing down and following it. We could all use some slow down time.
I agree, I never mind slowing down for farm trucks and tractors. There was something about this horse that just signalled peace and wellbeing, the horse is so happy, his ears pricked. It was very humbling. Have a lovely Easter, Susan x
Happy Easter morning to you & your loved ones! Of course, this picture warms my heart! And a little tidbit…my grandfathers family (from Belgium) moved barges along the canals & had these beautiful helpers. Maybe that’s where I inherited my love of horses.
Jeanne K
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Hi Jeanne, I can imagine your love of horses from watching your grandfather’s horses work the barges. They are my favourite animal, they do so much for us, and this horse, with his ears pricked, so willingly going about his work. Have a very happy Easter. Susan x
Happy Easter sent your way to you and your lovely family.
Thank you so much Carolyn, the same to yours, Susan x
I do love your pictures they seem to capture life. Wish you and your family peace and happiness on this day.
Thank you so much Marilyn, this is just as I hoped, life as it happens, just as it is around me on a daily basis! I hope you have had a lovely Easter Sunday, Susan x
Happy Easter to you and your family, too!! Wonderful photos and I agree, horses are so peaceful to look at. Anyone who is having a bad day, stressed out or anxious should really take a small jaunt to a rural area and just sit and watch horses in a field. Ever so calming.
Hi Fran, they are the most calming peaceful, gentle of creatures. I cannot tell you the secrets I have told and the tears I have cried over the years into a horses warm neck! Hope you have had a lovely Easter Sunday, Susan x
I absolutely agree…I realize that we can’t turn back the clock of time…..but the simplicity of some aspects of the past resonate so strongly that I hold them closely….while trying to navigate our chaotic present.
Wishing you a Happy Easter.
Ali x
Hi Ali, the present is as it is and the future will be something different again, but as you say, every now and then, it is good to get back to the simplicity of a bygone era. I also will always love horses and seeing this chap, with his ears pricked, happy to be working just made me feel incredibly content and peaceful, I simply had to share it! Hope you have had a lovely Easter. Susan x
Happy Easter to You Susan, Roddy and family. Look forward to seeing you all in the Autumn x
Hi Neil, and a very happy Easter to you both too. Hope you are enjoying some British spring weather before you head off on your next adventure! Susan x
Ah how strange – yesterday some friends took us to visit an old Brewery in WIltshire where we had a very interesting tour, but the best part for me was going to see the 3 lovely Shire horses that daily pull the drays around to local pubs. Two were older experienced horses, tall, majestic and powerful and one was a 3 year old ‘apprentice’ just learning his craft and gaining his muscle and strength, but already almost as tall as the others! They are so intertwined with man’s history and have worked so hard for us, it’s just wonderful to see them still a huge part of our lives. Thank you for a lovely post and hoping you and your family are enjoying your Easter holiday.
Hi Marian, that would have been the best part for me too! I grew up with horses and have ridden since before I could walk and I will always love horses. This was such a treat to see this lovely horse just walking through the village like it was the most natural thing in the world. Hope you have had a lovely Easter, Susan x
Thank you for such peaceful photos. These photos brought back memories of me being raised on a farm. The mules did a daily task with such content. Miss those days with my Daddy on that farm. Happy Easter to you and your family. Love reading your blogs!
Hi Nancy, being brought up on a farm also, I too can say, I miss my days with Daddy on the farm, it was the most special of childhoods. We didn’t have any working horses but it was still a fabulous life. Hope you have had a very happy Easter, Susan x
What a lovely post. Hope your Easter was a blessed one.
Easter has been lovely with the family, just as it should be, thank you and I hope you have had a lovely one too, Susan x
What a beautiful and noble-looking horse! Happy Easter to you and your family too!
I agree, but then I will always love horses, his pricked ears, his willingness to get out there and do some work, he is just gorgeous! Hope you have had a lovely Easter, Susan x
Don’t you love these flashes back in time! They crop up in the most surprising places, especially in villages.
Oh they do, they remind us of times gone by, times I certainly don’t remember, despite growing up on a farm, it was long after the use of horses. This is why I love the school run so much, I just never know what I am going to see!
Hey Susan, I hope you had a great Easter. Love the pictures, they are beautiful. As if I saw it in my own eyes, I know France too well, and that is why I love France. Cannot wait for my move from here to there this year. Going back to the roots of my mum and ancestors. Pretty exciting for me.
Hi Juli, any definite plans yet? I can imagine you are getting very excited, it’s such a lovely area as you know as such lovely people. I count myself very fortunate to live here and to be able to call this home. Susan x
A wonderful but sad photo – the old natural ways are dying a death, and man is killing so much with the industrialization of its farming practices. Humans bring no good to the earth, but insects do and we are killing them, especially the pollinators….
I agree with what you say, but there are people trying to do good, it may be a small part, but if we each contribute a little, every bit counts, I like to think we do our best in our little corner of France!