Sleepy Mice, Toadstools and A Face Among Leaves.

We have two cats and love them dearly. But sometimes, well,.... cats will be cats.

The other morning one of my two, was doing just this, being a cat. I opened the back door to find two of the dearest little mice. Not a mark on them, almost untouched, but sadly dead. I made a grave for them lined with leaves beneath the hawthorn tree and placed an apple core for their journey.  These two mice stayed with me all day in my head and inspired me to paint.

Two toadstool hangers.

The words read: 'Rest your spirit beneath the sleepy leaves and wild woods'  and 'When the sun fades sleep gently dear one'

Nights have been chilly this week. A fire has been lit on more than one occasion. In the garden I am being watched and shadowed by a friendly Robin.

The other morning I went out in search of capturing Autumn rain drops. 

Autumn can be seen everywhere now. Have you spied her watching you?

 

 'She swept through the garden with a misty cloak. And beneath berry boughs I spied her Autumn face'

   ***

(Wooden Heart Hanger and both Toadstools will be listed shortly in my Etsy shop) 

And before I leave, here's a little enchanting Autumn magic I found on You tube.

 ..

Autumn And A Starlight Hare

Autumn always seems more peaceful somehow? Is it because things are winding down, giving in, getting tired, in preparation for winters first touch of icy fingers? Things shine brighter in Autumn. Berries, dew covered apples, colours of changing leaves, there is more contrast. The skies seem bluer than blue against the blood red of the hawthorn berries. Behind that peaceful exterior though is a busyness.  Harvesting and storing quickly before the last of the runner beans wither, toughen and dry up. Before we hear the weatherman on our radios and televisions announce that temperatures will drop to a ground frost, while Jupiter shines in the fading years sky.

 I hear the slow ticking of Mother nature's clock, steady like a heart beat.
 Creatures stock up and indulge in extra sunny days before the big sleep.

Preparing and looking for possible places to spend those long cold months.

A spiders web, a lace curtain in fairyland,

catching the mornings sunlight sparkles.

 Darkness comes early now. Time to restock the log pile, ring the chimmney sweep, light the candles, incense and buy those new slippers you've had your eye on.
For some it will be their very first taste of Autumn. A first taste of blackberries and first sharp smell of cold and frost in the air.  

 As you may have guessed, these are the baby chicks with their Mum behind, that hatched a few weeks back.

If only we could all look at things as if we had never seen them before. As if it were our first Autumn. Maybe then we wouldn't take things for granted and would appreciate the small things that we have right in front of us?
I put the finishing touches to the painting I had on the easel this week. This picture has been in my head for a long time and has waited patiently for it's turn to come out.  The Starlight Hare is an acrylic painting on wood panel and is available as a print in my Etsy shop here...

Refreshed

Thanks everybody for your lovely comments. Yes, thankyou I had a lovely break in Cornwall and am feeling refreshed again for the Autumn. Now I am busy. A stack of wooden hearts  and creatures are waiting to be brought to life. The painting on the easel is almost finished, and there are canvases waiting in the wings that are calling too. This is just a quick post to show you some Pendants. Again made with the leftover scraps of wood.  I still have a big bag full, so you will be seeing more pendants for quite some time. ;)

If you are interested in buying any of these, I will be listing them today in my Etsy shop.
Hope you are all having a good week?
x

Still Sand In My Pockets

Sea Fever

I MUST go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over. 


John Masefield 

I am home, but there is still sand in my pockets.

Crystal clear sparkling rockpools, bone white shells, sea glass, seaweed tresses of mermaid hair, tiny fairy fishes, selkies, seals, castles Kings,wizards, turquoise and Tintagel have been let into my wooden house of dreams. They have joined the dance inside of moonstone, hares, velvet winter coats, hearts,words,spirals and midnight cats. Seashells decorate the houses garden now and salty waves lap gently into the mossy moat. The little passages of my minds house are never ending with wonderings and wanderings.  Right now I can see a small window and moonlight shines through its leaded diamond panes. A door is ajar and whispers of words are escaping and creeping into the smallest places. They hide in matchboxes, jam jars, teacups, mirrors and the shadows and sparkles behind a curtain.

A door has opened and words have returned.

 

                                 

Happy September everyone!