A Post For A Snowy Day

“Meanwhile,’ said Mr Tumnus, ‘it is winter in Narnia, and has been for ever so long, and we shall both catch cold if we stand here talking in the snow. Daughter of Eve from the far land of Spare Oom where eternal summer reigns around the bright city of War Drobe, how would it be if you came and had tea with me?” .... CS Lewis

..........I'd be delighted thank you! Would anyone else care to join me for a cup of summertime?

That was delicious!  but now it's time to step back outside and back into Narnia......
                                                                       ~*~
Yes, Winter finally arrived on Friday we awoke to a beautiful decorated landscape.

Creatures appeared in the garden. A hare with rose hip eyes.

And a sleepy fox.

And others that wanted to come out to play..

Have you ever stood barefoot in the snow?  I hadn't ever tried it, so thought it was about time that I did. :-)

After some fun time spent with other inhabitants of Narnia, I returned home and warmed up with the help of mulled wine and hot chocolate. That evening, Mr Tumnus was still on my mind so I decided to draw him in my sketchbook. 

                                                           'Tumnus Meets A Hare'

“Narnia! It's all in the wardrobe just like I told you!” 
...CS Lewis

All Is Covered In Ice

It's bitter cold today and everything is covered in ice. The jackdaws and rooks look even blacker against the winter white of misted sky. A perfect day for hot chocolate and hot chestnuts. I have the hot chocolate but not the chestnuts... yet.

The earth frozen now. All the water that fell only a couple of weeks ago has gone, though there are glimpses of it remaining in solid puddles.

So much beauty visible in skeletal forms and delicate lace of ice crystals.

Even the barbed wire was transformed into an object of fairy tale wonder.

The pictures above were taken yesterday. Today the frost is even more spectacular. I went for a morning walk to soak up the magic.

I've been having a little breather over the last week or so. November was the busiest I've ever been so I'm recharging, getting the Christmas decorations up and doing some of my own Christmas shopping.
The house is beginning to look pretty and most of the cobwebs have been removed, much to the spiders disgust. But I'm sure they will make more soon.
Birds have taken up residence in the garland above the fireplace and there are reindeer on the branch in the dining room.

Just the tree to be put up this evening now.
I hope your festive preparations are going well?

July

July has arrived and I haven't blogged. So here I am with a new painting.

                                                              Waking The Ghosts

It seems words have ran away again. They have hidden underneath moth wing and clover leaves. This time last year they did the same thing... I've been a hermit shut away in my workspace.  Four paintings on the go and a stack of wooden things to paint. Until they are ready here are some things I've been dreaming and humming to.

Jackie Morris lead me to the bewitching voice of Emily Portman and I was lucky a couple of weeks ago to hear her sing locally on a wonderful apple journey. A magical hour and a bit, well spent indeed.
Another lovely song  below is beckoning me to the sea again. And I will be journeying twice next month. One of which will be to my sister's wedding. 

This last week the days have been a little rain washed. By the evening though the sun comes out  and we've followed the itch in our feet to walk by the river. I captured some magic along the way.

On our way home we glimpsed  fox, heron, swan, duck, rabbit, wood pigeon and a white horse that secretly I think was a unicorn in hiding.

The new painting can be found as a print in my Etsy shop.

Have a great weekend everyone. I shall be back soon with a summer giveaway!  x