A reflected world

The new year has brought even more water onto the already soaked earth. Fields have turned into glistening lakes once again, gold and silver in the afternoon winter light.

Shining pools that contain shadowy glimpses of a reflected world. A watery looking glass, into a parallel place. 

Sparkling, gentle, quiet, it lays above the sodden cold land slowly being absorbed down. Deep down through the tiny passages that echo earth worms, organisms and the tangle of roots that are blind to the sun. A cascade into the heart of Mother Earth. I hope she is drinking up all the liquid gold and dazzling brightness and that it will flow into her veins and replenish her ancient bones to keep her strong.

What would the world be, once bereft of wet and wildness? Let them be left, O let them be left, wildness and wet; Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet.  ~ Gerard Manley Hopkins

 Moles will be relieved to see, as many others will, that this watery world is subsiding now. 

The green has returned for now.

And if you listen, the song of Spring is in the wind.

A Gift From A Magpie

Today it rained again. It's been doing that a lot lately.

When the sun does peep it's head out though I'm sure the perfume of plants is much stronger after the rain? Not sure if this is scientifically proven, just something I noticed? The other day when it wasn't raining  the day before Midsummer Solstice or I suppose you would call it Solstice Eve, it was a glorious June day. My walk to the post office was perfumed with dog rose , honeysuckle and mallow. The daisies looked up and worshipped the sun as daisies do.

The Jackdaws were cheeky and brave visiting the bird table for scraps of cheese sandwiches and the baby robin just learning how to fly also paid a visit. A magpie left me a midsummer gift.

The rain held off for the exhibition last weekend which was good news for the stall holders that were outside selling their wares. Here is my painting amid the other talented artist's work.

The original didn't sell, so I might be offering it for sale in my Etsy shop soon? I did sell lots of postcards. :-) 

Unfortunately these ones though, didn't arrive from the printers in time, but are now for sale here.  

Today I've been working on the project I mentioned in the post before last. Illustrations for a book written by a lovely lady and friend of mine.  It's quite different to what I've been doing lately. Humans instead of animals, so will be a challenge and a change for me. Here are some sketches from the dummy book. 

Best get to work with the painting then... 

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