Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Decorations and gifts

The darkest time of Winter is upon us. Inside and outside lights abound to chase the darkness away.  Fairy lights twine around trees, doorways, staircases, sometimes whole houses, they shine from almost every window, wherever you go. Fires are lit to warm our hearths and hearts.
I know many folk don't like the long dark nights that winter brings, but I have always loved it and celebrated it's difference to the other months.  I can't imagine living in a place without obvious seasons. I love winter equally to Spring, Summer and Autumn and feel glad that each one has their own beauty and gifts to bring to the cycle of the year. 
Winter's dark evenings I feel are balanced with the bright low light in the day. Her silver skies, frosty dawns and of course her whiteness of snow. 
This morning I was up earlier than usual and as I put the kettle on to make my morning mug of tea I noticed out of the window a low mist lying in the field. So after finishing my drink and a slice of marmite on toast I decided on a morning walk hoping it would be a great opportunity for photographs, as it looked so pretty. 
The mist still hung about the river when I got to the field.
To my right, the frosted grass was flooded with ethereal light. 
Beautiful winter sun. 
Revealing nature's own December decorations. So much more perfect than anything sparkly for sale in the high street shops.
Delicate spider webs draped in the tiniest almost frozen water droplets formed a necklace between the burdock seed heads on the river bank.
Gold from the heavens shining on jewels of the Earth. More precious than any jewellery to be opened on Christmas morning.
I walked in this morning sun for a long while. Soaking up it's brightness in my bones, feeling as if my very heart was being charged. I took deep breaths inhaling the icy air. It was filled with the smell of leaf, branch, soil, animal, fruit, stone, feather and water, all blended into an exotic morning scent. Better than any designer perfume in a bottle. It was a good start to my day. 
                                                                                 
                                                                                   

25 comments:

  1. What a wonderful photo's, Karen !
    Thank you for posting these still wonders (with the little snowflakes falling ;-) !)

    I happened to still have the mike open and discovered your lovely music !!! (don't know who that is .... )

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    1. Thanks Els! glad that you enjoyed. Click on the music playlist for details at the top ( thin strip at the top of the page) The first song is by Loreena Mckennit. :)

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  2. Thank you for this Karen, even though it made me cry at the beauty of it all. I have sat at a computer, or over books, or in a classroom for about 2 weeks now. Each day I feel a little of my winter joy ebb away, as I am missing out on the things I love most. This has reminded me it is still there and still being witnessed.

    I long to walk in a frosty field...

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    1. Aw Charlotte! :( I do hope that you get outside soon, even if it's just for a few short minutes on the doorstep in the morning when you have a tea or coffee. It makes all the difference. Wishing you lots of frosty days over the Christmas holidays so that you can recharge your soul. x

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  3. Sound utterly blissful and soul restoring I love the photos stunning sunrise. Thankyou for sharing xxxx

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  4. Lovely post and beautiful pictures.
    Maura Xx

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  5. Such beautiful pictures, truly a magical earth we live on!

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  6. Such a lovely post from start to finishing . The photos, your words, the music all combine and transport me to such a lovely place ~
    and I exhale a sigh of pure delight .

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  7. Early morning has its own magic and you've captured it so perfectly I can almost smell the cold fresh air of the countryside. What a stunning place to wake up to! xx

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  8. Thankyou so much for this sweetness..your photos are delightful..Wishing you much joy of the season..

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  9. such a hush, delicacy, and magic in mist. beautifully captured.

    www.inkandchai.co.uk

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  10. Your photos of the drops on burdock and webs are a great reminder of the countless miracles of light unfolding, seen and unseen, in secret places all over the globe every second of every day--astounding. Precious indeed.

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  11. oh my what beautifully stunning photos and go so well with the music!
    xxxx

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  12. I feel just the same about the seasons Karen! I was born in the darkest days of the year and have always had an affinity for this time around winter solstice.
    Absolutely beautiful, magical photos..
    x

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  13. Thank you for sharing your mystical morning <3

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  14. beautiful, thank you for sharing. I love waking early here in the New Forest and seeing the frost and mist around the trees.

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  15. Your music is amazing. You have some very talented artists. I wish you the best of success. unusual gifts for men

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  16. Oh my goodness Karen, you have captured winter so beautifully in these words and pictures :) I love the stark beauty of this season of the year most of all and just love to see the 'bare bones' of nature and of course, waking up to see what beauty Jack Frost has created, whilst waiting for King Winter to sprinkle us all with wonderful snow is what makes this season the most magical of all for me. x

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  17. Lovely! As we move towards the Solstice (and, at the same time, the Dark of the Moon) these words and images capture the feelings of my heart for this season. Thank You.

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  18. Dear Karen,

    I share your love for the beauty of this season completely. Winter spells out magic and poetry in my eyes and is, possibly, the season I prefer as it grants us space to dream.

    Your pictures capture the beauty of winter perfectly.

    Stephanie

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  19. Absolutely gorgeous - thank you so much x

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