Stone And Light

Yesterday was too beautiful a breezy day to stay indoors, so we walked among Aveburys ancient stones instead...

 Can you see the faces in them? Each stone has a face somewhere, if you look hard enough. Some are easy to see, as the one just above. Sometimes I like to imagine that each one is a person or animal, hidden, frozen in time. I imagine them awakening and dancing in their circle.
(Now that could be a painting to put in my sketchbook! ;) )

Outside the trees are still holding on to their leaves.

And inside the light is a silken veil.

I was hoping to share three new hearts here today, but they will have to wait as it is just so dark outside. Much too dark and rainy to photograph anything. So I'll be back maybe tommorow or Sunday?
Enjoy your weekend. x

A Walk On Hills and A Splash Of The Sea

Who were you.... you who trod these ancient hills... Our footsteps follow the same paths. We breathed the same air, just in different times. Did you stop and see the beauty in the silvery grasses and watch the wind make them dance as I did?

Were the hills covered in so many  papery blue harebells you could almost hear them ring?
When I felt lucky to find just a few.

Did you ride a white horse upon these downs or watch while this one was being carved?

This place, Cherhill ,Oldbury castle hillfort  was occupied in Roman times.  It is said to be haunted by ghostly Roman soldiers. They have been seen on a road near to the camp. I didn't see any sign of them, but maybe I should return by moonlight?

We walked here on Sunday, a lovely sunny day and not so far from home.
There was a powerful silence around these beech trees.

It felt as if they were keeping a secret.... Do you ever get that feeling?

Well my new hearts are not a secret, so I will share them with you.
This week I transported myself (not physically sadly, but in my mind) back to the sea.

 The titles of these pieces are: Turquoise Dreamer, Last Night I Dreamed Of Dolphins (and below) Tintagel

And they are for sale here 
I have another 3 hearts almost finished on a different theme but that will be for another day, not so far off. :-)

October Days

"Come said the wind to
the leaves one day,
Come o're the meadows
and we will play.

Put on your dresses

scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone
and the days grow cold." 

 
-  A Children's Song of the 1880's

So far the days have been mild here this October.
Today sunlight shines on the reddest berries. The blackbird has begun it's feast in the holly tree, a signal for me to pick my chosen berry laden branches and put them into a bucket of water, in the greenhouse ready for Christmas. If I don't, by the end of the week the tree will be bare.

Some things that I have enjoyed and done so far this October...

1. Hunted for toadstools
2. Hugged a huge oak tree
3. Met up with an old dear friend for a good  natter
4. Collected conkers and autumn leaves.
5. Working in my new studio.
6. The spicy scent of wood on my new canvas. (If you follow me on Facebook, then you will already know this! ;) )

And today when I was in town, I saw a man which brought  a smile to my face. Amid the rather bland landscape of shops, he swept through with a touch of magic surrounding him. On his shoulders were two of the most beautiful green parrots! And with his clothes, he looked as if he might have stepped from the pages of  Inkheart. I love moments like these don't you?

Funny how things seem connected sometimes? That man and his parrots was similar to my latest little painting a 15x 15 cm canvas. It is titled  'Francis On The Hill'

I've been meaning to include a St Francis of Asissi ( patron saint of animals and the enviroment ) symbolic type figure for a while now in one of my paintings. It wasn't until two days later, once I had begun the painting that I realised that I had sketched this out on the 4th October (his feast day) without any knowledge of the date. Strange coincidence... but true.
Francis On The Hill will be available as a print in my Etsy shop very very soon. Along with some new postcards of 'Rest Your Weary Head'

I can't believe that we have reached 500 followers! Amazing! Thank you all so much for being interested in this little place of goings on. And for all your comments. x
Hmmmm......I think it must be nearly time for another giveaway soon? ;-)
 

Tonights moon