Friday, May 4, 2012

Moonrakers

In my last post I told you that I had been working on a painting and that I'd share it in the next post. Well here it is....
                                                            'Moonrakers'
It's for a local exhibition that I'm taking part in this June which will be part of the Corsham festival. The exhibition theme was Wiltshire/a personal Journey, who you are and you're work.  I decided to take on the famous old Wiltshire story of the Moonrakers with a whimsical twist, including my white hare guide that still leads me one step ahead along my path.
And a bushy tailed  foxy friend to join him.
Oh and an owl..
For those of you who have never heard of the Wiltshire Moonrakers, then let me explain.
Many years ago, when wealthy men wore shoes with silver buckles and women wore long gowns, smuggling was rife. Some Wiltshire folk decided to hide contraband barrels of french brandy from custom officials in a village pond. (The location is believed to be the Crammer in Devizes)
One night when the owls and foxes spoke to the bright full moon, they came quietly to retrieve it using rakes to pull the barrels out. In the middle of the act they were caught by the revenue men who asked them what they were doing raking the pond? Pointing at the moon's reflection they replied:
"Why, just trying to catch that big piece of round cheese Sir"
The excise men thinking they were simple yokels, laughed, left them to their business and went on their way.
The Wiltshire men were left to carry on  and I'm sure were very happy with their french brandy!
                                         
This picture is not the best quality as it's just a photo when the painting was on my desk. But, I have plans to get it scanned this weekend and make it available as a print in my Etsy shop shortly.
                                                                        ****
My what a lot of rain has fallen this week. It rained non stop most of last weekend then rained on and off all through the week.  My water butt that was standing dry is now overflowing which I'm most pleased about.  On May 1st the sun shone on May day.I took my camera to greet the new month. This is what I saw.
Rain soaked fields and a river that had burst it's banks.
The old bridge taking strain.

I moved away from the watery world and back amid the little woods to see signs of greening. Wanting to capture something special on Beltane/May day. I was greeted with the pungent scent of wild garlic otherwise known as ramsons, buckrams, bear leek, wood garlic, broad leaf garlic,and bear garlic.
I love this little plant, it reminds me of playing in the woods as a child.
Then I came across another favourite Jack by the hedge.
And Periwinkle.
  Faerie size bouquets of hedge/cow parsley.
And twirling new growth of sticky cleavers.

And such pretty flowers and good for bees, dead nettle and ground ivy.
I took a slip of each and brought the new growth  inside, placing them upon my window sill.
Earth's delicate simple treasures.                                                       

26 comments:

  1. I always so enjoy my visits here to your magical world.... thanks for the wonderful painting and the story that inspired it. Your watery world looks mucj like ours last summer when roads washed away. Hope there's a balanced summer ahead for you. Thanks also for the beautiful blooms and a happy belated Beltaine to you!

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  2. A beautiful picture, alongside a fabulous story. We have moonrakers in Nottingham too, although it is more to do with the Sillies of Gotham.
    I hope the swells go down and that you find yet more signs of spring. Such a lovely time of year captured in your photographs.
    C xx

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  3. Love your moonraker pictures they are fab and the story.We have had a lot of rain but not as much as you poor people,hope it all goes away soon.Lovely wild flowers,I am going to walk in our bluebell woods this weekend it is such a treat its so beautiful.Happy weekend love Jill xx

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  4. I love your new painting its very atmospheric. The rain is making our rather wild garden especially lush this spring which I love. Your beautiful photos have reminded me to go out and take some of my own. Have a lovely weekend. Karen X

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  5. Lovely picture - you have depicted the moonrakers story beautifully Isn't it lovely to find all these natural plants popping up - we have sticky cleavers growing in the garden - my neice loves them stirfried (Thai branch of my family consider them a delicacy!)

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  6. Lovely May Day photos - your wildflowers are more advanced than they are here. I love your Moonrakers painting and also the story behind it, I've heard of the Moonrakers of course but never heard the story before.

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  7. So in love with this new piece you've created. I was home visiting my family in the UK recently and got a good taste of all the rain. Guess that's April for you.

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  8. Beautiful thanks for sharing...:)

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  9. The wildflowers are so beautiful. Love your new picture. :)

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  10. Beautiful picture, and thank you for sharing your Beltane with us.

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  11. Karen,
    I enjoyed the story of The Moonrakers, very clever folk indeed!
    As well, I love the painting.
    Here in Canada where I live on the Saskatchewan prairies, we are as well having lots of rain, and very cool temperatures.
    What lovely wildflowers you have - and I can almost catch their fragrances!
    Brenda
    Brenda

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  12. so love your new painting...magic!

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  13. superbly composed painting...its magical

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  15. I love your new painting and the story it depicts! x

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  16. I enjoyed your Moonrakers story. Learn something new every day and I love that! Your nature pictures are beautiful! It's a pleasure to read your blog when I can. Have a blessed week!

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  17. I've been busy for months and months, and so, this is my first time back in a long while. I was well rewarded!

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  18. Congratulations! I have just awarded you with Versatile and Beautiful blog awards!

    http://justinahurley.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/a-blog-award-what-an-honour/

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  19. Hi, I just found your blog, and I am in love with your unique art. Your rabbits are exquisitely charming. I also love the photography, it gives a state-bound traveler like myself, a way to see the world and the places I've only dreamed about. Thank you. Your newest follower, Connie :)
    Please accept my invitation to visit and hopefully to follow my blog, too. Have a great day.

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  20. I open my blog with such anticipation wondering if I have a comment on a post or if I have a brand new follower. My heart skips a beat . . . there you are, a new friend. I feel very honored to have you following my humble blog. We are a group of creative people joining together from all over the world . . . isn’t life good. Thank you for becoming a follower, I greatly appreciate you. Have an incredibly wonderful day, I do hope it stops raining before you float away, Connie

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  21. I open my blog with such anticipation wondering if I have a comment on a post or if I have a brand new follower. My heart skips a beat . . . there you are, a new friend. I feel very honored to have you following my humble blog. We are a group of creative people joining together from all over the world . . . isn’t life good. Thank you for becoming a follower, I greatly appreciate you. Have an incredibly wonderful day, I do hope it stops raining before you float away, Connie

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  22. I love, LOVE, your painting, Karen. The idea of "moonrakers" put a smile on my face...and as always you have successfully created the perfect ambience of a peaceful moonlit night.

    I hope the moon shines bright where you are. :)

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  23. Just such a great painting, the Wiltshire moonrakers take on such a new meaning..... love it

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  24. it has indeed been a watery world. i love the tale of the moonrakers and even more i love your painting ❤

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  25. Thanks for the legend! I had the feeling you were storytelling...:) The painting wears the atmosphere of that night, shone in moon light and full of danger and silence. I like how you play with the light, the tall figures and their shadows. I wish you good luck on the exhibition!
    We've had nearly summer temperatures up so far, but at the moment we are expecting the rainy clouds to pour down... Well, it's not that bad, especially if you are staying at home like me. I know that a hot cup of coffee and a pair of warm socks could make me feel comforably in that dark afternoon!
    Lovely wildflowers - we have the same here. Thanks to you now I know the name of one of my favourites - the Periwinkle. Thank you!
    I hope the sun is going to stay with you at last!:)

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  26. What a delightful story and painting. Thanks, too, for all the lovely photos

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It's great to hear from you! :-)