It's the time of year when haystacks come out of hiding.

+ a special offer for new yearly subscribers.

Nature photo of the day: looking down (and zooming in) from our humble home in the village of Breb.

grand collections of sun and air-dried grasses
can be spotted in the valley
as soon as the trees let go
of summer memories
preserved with time-pressed wildflowers
many millions of swinging scythe cuts
reaping the practical harvests
uncountable over the years
as village folk keep the tradition of haymaking 
alive
at a time when motors rule the world
and surely they'll roll in here too
down the road and up the hills
across the valleys
and into the tired hearts 
and aching arms
and sore backs of aging bodies yearning for a rest
from the hard work 
that keeps them - and their animals - alive
to give into temptation
of progress and saving time
making lighter work
of the already light blades of grass
would be a monumental fault
of becoming lost 
in the future
losing the one thing 
that keeps rural life
alive

- Cheyl M.

In the photo above, take a moment to notice that there are more haystacks than people or cars.

In fact, there may only be a few unseen cows and a dog, or two, hidden between the trees. Deer there are, foxes too, as well as the occasional rabbit or wild boar, but for now the fields are emptying out, ready and waiting to be blanketed with a soothing layer of snow.

As the days continue to become shorter, so does our time spent outside.

Rather than sitting on the stone steps to soak up the sun, we take more frequent walks down to the creek, and soon up in the hills - still waiting for the sheep and the shepherd dogs to come down - to keep our bodies warm.

And then comes the cold creek bathing, but that’s a story for another time...

Our special offer for new yearly subscribers.

We’ve been wondering for awhile what we might be able to do/offer/create in order to encourage more nature-oriented folks to support our writing here on Substack.

We aren’t ones to beg for money, we have no illnesses or ailments to weep over and yet, as a hard-working, humble family of three we are in need of a respectable way to support our very simple lifestyle in a rural area where the minimum wage is newly 700€ a month (before small business taxes).

I just saw a video only moments ago about how sometimes the people who appear to be strong and resilient are in need of love and appreciation too. And I couldn’t help but think, that’s us. Quite often the support goes in another compassionate direction.

You never know what is truly going on in someone’s life until you ask. Ask if you will, we’ll be happy to answer.

So, what’s in it for you if you pledge a year of support to Daily Dose of Nature?

Well, for starters we will gift you with 24 digital issues of our Earth Gratitude Journal. Through journal prompts, outdoor exercises, and mindfulness activities with relevant themes you will be able to foster a greater connection to nature. We generally sell this for 24€.

Secondly, because digital goods are just that - digital, we’d like to offer you something more personal that you can touch with your hands. A gift that comes in the mail, wherever you are, with a handwritten note and 12 blank cards with seasonal images of our surroundings in Breb, Romania. Already printed and ready for gifting away. Naturally there is a printing price and a shipping price, which is harder to estimate, depending on where the envelope is going.

* Packages sent from here generally arrive at their destination in about 3-5 weeks. So patience is required for this part of the offer.

That’s it. Take it or leave it. Then sign up if you feel it’s in your highest and best interest.

As always, you can sign up for 8€ a month if you’d like to keep to a monthly plan.

An annual plan which includes the Earth Gratitude Journals and blank cards (as stated above) is 88€ for the year.

You can surprise us anytime ♥ When you sign up to become a yearly subscriber we’ll contact you shortly (usually within 24 hours) via Substack message to ask for an address where to send your small gift.

Here are some pictures so you know what to expect:

We are forever grateful for your support - this includes everyone who reads our Sunday posts.

As for the journal prompt of the day:

Where was the most remote place I’ve ever been?

Recall the atmosphere, your physical surroundings, and your feelings. Were you alone, or with a group of people? Were you scared, thrilled, overjoyed or nervous?

If you’ve never been so far out in nature where no one can hear, or see you, for miles around, what is stopping you from having that uncommon experience?

Wishing you a lovely fall day,

Cheryl