Fly Free with the Stars Little Shining One

The day is warm and bright. It's only February but feels like April today. The trees are filled with Robin song. There are four in the garden now, swift, full of energy and zest for life, darting from tree to tree, chasing one another beginning the Spring dance. I stand at the sink washing up the breakfast cups and plates and glance out of the window. High up in next doors pear tree sits a little red breasted soul serenading me with morning beauty.

After finishing the washing up, I wander into the garden hoping for a glimpse of my special Robin friend, but sadly my little tame Robin Goodfellow has disappeared... It's been almost a month now since I last saw him and now fear that the winter queen may have fallen in love with him and her icicle hands have gently stolen him away. Did she release him to fly up into the silver light of the January sun. Did she whisper to him to fly higher and higher, up to where the rainbows are born, so that when the red of dawn rises and golden sun sets, my red breasted feathered friend will shine his light   forever, for all to see.

Although my heart hurts that I may not see my little friend again, I am also filled with a deep joy at having been so blessed to have shared so many days with him  and to have earned his trust and friendship. I have shed tears for him before. I buried him, or one that I thought was him. A tiny feathered body laid down to rest in a grave filled with primrose petals last Spring. I remember sitting sadly on the wood stump later that afternoon, only to look up and see my friend gazing down at me from a branch. What's wrong, his intelligent bead like eyes questioned, here I am... 

They had looked so much alike, I kept a feather. Now I will wear it. A feather from a brother or sister, in a silver locket beside a picture of my sweet friend. 

Of course I'm secretly hoping that he may have taken wing to find new territory, or paired up already with a mate? But as I mentioned before Christmas, sadly he was losing feathers around his head and neck which probably made him vulnerable to the cold? Only time will tell... 

And so the garden life goes on, filled with chatter of a new season, but it feels lonely without my friend to greet me each day and follow me around for snippets of cheese and mealworms. I miss the way he would sometimes try to stop me leaving the garden, by sitting on the gate while I opened it on my way to the post office, as if to say... hey, feed me first before you go. :-) 

                                          Robin Goodfellow when I first met him September 2014

That first week when he disappeared, was it really just my imagination that the birds were singing more loudly as I walked from tree to tree looking for a sign of him. It felt as if they knew and were somehow telling me? The blackbird whom my Robin was often seen with, was perching near to another much younger looking Robin, with looks so similar to a young Robin Goodfellow. Could it be a son that his ebony friend is now keeping a fatherly eye on? I like to think so. 

And do you know, within a few days this new young robin had already come up to me and taken food from my hand. Now surely that must mean he has watched his father do it? 

The clouds have almost all blown away now and the sky is a clear forgetmenot blue. 

I will leave you with a small film clip which was the day before Christmas eve 2016.  A magical moment, when he let me stroke him. I believe it was my Christmas present? :-) 

'Fly free with the stars little shining one'

Gold in the days.

As October is being tucked up in bed to sleep for yet another year, the days are filled with hints of gold. There is a golden carpet of leaves on the ground. It glistens in the damp misted morning and crackles and dances like sparks on a bonfire, on the windy days across the paths that I walk.

On the oak tree in the field nearby, we found hornets wearing their golden stripy outfits.

High up in the ash tree a black feathery Sir watches the leaves fall with his birds eye jackdaw view and ice blue eyes. Enjoying the mild afternoon, high up in the wooded cathedral, the sun warms his feathers of velvet and silk.

Meanwhile below the old holly tree, I have continued to feed my little robin friend. He is quite partial to porridge oats I've found out.  I managed to film a little and thought you might like to see.  It's just a short clip and not brilliantly edited, so I do apologise for that. If you follow me on Facebook I've already shared it there but for anyone else here it is.

Golden moments to treasure.
I did this little pencil drawing in between working on new hangers. I think it has captured him and his distinct eyebrows. :)

   ***

In other news... I have two paintings in the latest issue of EarthLines magazine. 

It's a wonderful magazine and I feel very honoured to be included. To subscribe or buy a copy of the latest edition, pop across to here. 

And so the Jack o lantern's have been carved and sit atop the piano waiting to be lit when twilight arrives.

I got to do one this year because Son is at Uni. ;) 

Happy Halloween/ Samhain/All hallows!   It's time to get the fires ready for Winter! x

A Wizard, an Alchemist and a handsome robin.

I thought I'd stop by a share with you some Autumn-ish bits and pieces that I've been working away on. All of the pieces will be added to My Etsy shop on Friday 10th October at 7pm (UK time)
First up is a toadstool. I love making these!  I only had one cut out, so at this time there is only this one. Hopefully I shall cut out more soon?
                                                                'Dear ones'

Next up, three painted hearts.
Words around the edge read:
'There is a King and Queen upon my hills and a cloak of purple for them to tread, beneath a golden sky'

Number two has red squirrels and reads:

'From deep below the earth rising up through roots and branches. The sleepy song of Autumn sparkles in silver mist'

Then lastly a fox and blackbird.
In the whispering morning mist the birds all tell their secrets. But only those that listen can ever hear and understand...

Now I will introduce you to my wild woodland wizard.  He is a shapeshifter and is often a fox.
                                                                           'Wizard'

He sometimes can be seen wandering the forest with the Alchemist. But at this time the Alchemist had very important business in the starlight sea and so in this piece is alone.

                                                             'The Alchemist'

And to finish, more pictures of my little handsome friend taken with my phone the other day.  :)

A friendly robin and a dream fulfilled

Let me introduce you to my new friend.

Just lately I have had this little chap (at least I think it's a chap) following me about when I'm in the garden. Each time I would take a tea break from working and sit outside, he would appear.

He clearly wanted to get close, as would hop within an arms length and swoop close by my head as I walked past.  One morning whilst sitting at my computer I even noticed that he was outside on the window sill, head cocked slightly to the side and peeping in the window.
I wouldn't normally encourage wild birds so close, as obviously being a cat owner it could lead to a disastrous ending. But this little chap was clearly asking for something? So with a few crumbs on my hand and some tiny morsels of cheese I stretched my hand out to him. It didn't take long before he was brave enough to fly down and peck at what was on offer. :)  

Such a beautiful little bird. I feel truly privileged. I know lots of people have had birds feed from their hands, but this is the first time for me, so I am so happy.

Whilst summer has slipped away and the leaves are beginning to fall here, we have been blessed with glorious sunny days again. The garden is still blooming and the birds are still feasting on the late blackberries that shine in the hedgerows. Butterflies flit from michelmas daisies and verbena bonariensis and myself.

The ivy is humming each time you pass, from the hundreds of bees, and various flies that are attracted to it's flowers in bloom.

I love this time of year when all is quietly winding down the slow path to winter days.
I've been working away on some things that I will be back to show you quite soon.
In the meantime I've updated the shop with some cards. Some are homemade, some professionally printed.

September has passed quickly, my boy has left home to begin a new adventure studying Music at university and it is strange here without his piano playing. On our way back from dropping him off we stopped off at the seaside and watched the gulls and the silver sea and reflected on how time goes so fast.

Hiding behind my hair. 

September has also been the month for dreams coming true. One of mine I never guessed would ever be fulfilled was so, last Saturday when I travelled up to London to see Kate Bush perform. I was one of those lucky one's that managed to grab a ticket at two minutes past nine on that March morning. Yes, I remember it well.

The show was amazing and every bit I had hoped it would be and more. Kate's music has been an inspiration to me for years and many many pictures have been created or inspired, listening to her sing.   

My all time favourite by her and has been since it came out back in 1985 is the 'Ninth wave'. For those of you that don't know her work, it is a series of songs linked together that create a story of someone that has fallen into the water and is lost at sea. While she is floating and waiting to be rescued she drifts in and out of consciousness near death's door. Seeing this on Saturday being created visually on stage was truly too magical for words. I admit to wiping tears away when she broke into the bars of 'Hello Earth' my ultimate favourite song by her. 

The show was visually stunning. It's hard to put into words, but some I would use to describe are hypnotic, beautiful, enchanted, haunting, moving, perfect, wow wow and unbelievable. ;) 

There are no photographs to share as Kate wanted to interact with the audience, not their camera's and phones which has become the normal way of things these days. I am glad and everyone that was there abided by her wishes, which was so good to see. The picture above is of the programme that I bought and the piece of paper is confetti that blew out into the audience during the ninth wave. The words upon are an extract from 'The coming of Arthur' by Tennyson they read:

Wave after wave, each mightier than the last,

Till last a ninth one gathering half the deep

And full of voices, slowly rose and plunged

Roaring, and all the wave was in a flame

I shall leave you with a beautiful song by Kate and wish you a wonderful  October. x

In the garden

Early morning, the beginning of June. Sunlight catches delicate sparkling trails of cobweb. Soon they will dry off and retreat into their almost invisible world again.

A snatch of a glimpse, into the faerie realm?

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive. ~Eleonora Duse

I've been busy in the garden. Lots of cutting back, transplanting , digging weeding and I still have more to do. I must remember though, not to stress about all the things that need 'doing' and just enjoy the jobs in hand. Being outdoors in the fresh air, in a beautiful setting is enough in itself. A garden is never a finished thing. It evolves and changes over the seasons and the years. I'm just helping it along by giving some plants more space, more light to thrive and adding a few things here and there that I would like to see, or what the bees and butterflies might want.

In the greenhouse I'm amazed at my crop of rocket that initially self seeded, survived all winter and is still going strong.  Next to it there is lettuce, cucumber, parsley, (flat leaf and curly) another self seeded new patch of more rocket, some coriander and radishes. The opposite side which you can't see has tomato plants.  On the bench at the far end is my runner beans that I haven't planted outside yet. A must job for this weekend!

I made a small space for some sweet peas beside the path.  The path, hmm yes that's another job that needs doing.

                                                                              ~ *~
Over the bank holiday weekend, the end of last month we stopped by during the open weekend at Secret World wildlife rescue. It's the second time I've visited now. They do a fantastic job rescuing wildlife and took in many of the injured badgers last year, during the senseless cull.
So here's some of the beauties we met.

And this gorgeous girl. 

Such wise eyes.
It's foxes that I've been working on since my last post. They are finished now and will be added to my shop tomorrow evening Friday 6th June at 8pm again. (uk time)

~*~

Have a wonderful weekend whatever you are doing.
X