Recipe to awaken your sleepy winter self.

It's that time of year when the bear dna in me just wants to curl up indoors and sleep. The hibernating time. Do humans even have any bear dna? I'm sure they do, even if scientists haven't found it yet? ;)
Outside is grey and wet and walks are paths of muddy puddles and rain soaked fields.

I am waiting and dreaming of the clear, sharp scent of icy days. Crisp under boot, decorated with Jack Frost's art work. I'm hoping for snow, just a little before too many Spring flowers arrive, but the rain still falls and falls At least there are rainbows in between though.

Anyway enough about the weather! Here's what else I've been doing...

         'Recipe to awaken your sleepy winter self'
1: Take one slice of wood that you've had for a year and not done anything with.
2: Prime it.
3: Trace a rough sketch that you've had a while in your sketchbook onto the wood.
4: Begin painting.
5: Keep painting and photograph in between to show process which can be interesting at times for yourself and others. :)
6: Paint some more and drink tea.
7: Complete tax return in between and be sure to have matchsticks at hand to support eyelids.
8: Watch birds in between and drink more tea.
9. Daydream and admire the rich glossy paint colours on the palette.
10. Paint until all the bits are coloured in and it looks ok or finished.  :) 

When the sleepiness comes back which it will, because it's January, just repeat the process again, this time on water colour paper or whatever your preferred medium is. :)

I will be making prints of both paintings, which will be available in my shop quite soon and I will also be selling the originals.
Until next time, I'm off to do a snow dance now....

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.

Frozen Beauty

I can't quite believe that again, we have arrived at the end of a year. A week ago, in the wild and stormy night, we lost a tree. It was an old elder that had died, but was host to a huge tangle of ivy. There had been nests over the years within it's sprawling greenery. A blackbird raised it's young, a pigeon sadly lost it's mate to a bird of prey and sparrows liked to meet up and chatter there. Now there is a space and the light is shining in. The old has gone and a new opportunity for something else to grow has occurred.  A little like a new year.

Yesterday morning, all began frozen.
 I restocked the bird table, then went for a wander.

The old year shone bright and filled with sparkle.

As the sun burned through to melt the ice, a glimpse of Spring was snatched. A blue clear sky glowed new and fresh with promise.

Now as I sit here finishing this post, the frosted day of yesterday is just a memory. It's just before dawn and outside the wind has returned. It growls in the chimney and rattles the tree bones again. The wind chimes are no longer hanging gently from a holly branch, they are high on a ships mast,  being battered on a stormy sea. Is it the old year furiously trying to hang on, or the new one telling the old it's time is up? The stirring up and clearing out of the dead wood to let the new emerge. Later today there will be kindling galore to collect.
I hope that you all had a wonderful festive time this last week. Thank you all for your comments of merry wishes. :)
May the new year bring peace and light to all.
X

'Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world'
                                                                                                           - Archbishop Desmond Tutu

All ready for Christmas

I have just finished delivering my Christmas cards and am now almost ready for Christmas. I have a glass of cider by my side, mince pies to make and a few more presents to wrap, but I thought I'd take the time to share some images of my village all ready for Christmas on it's eve, because the doors and windows always look so pretty.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!  x

December days

  Early morning of mist and sky of silver.

Out on a walk the other day to see the annual Christmas tree festival at the Abbey, I saw roses in bloom. I love this pink against the colour of stone.

The carvings stand out even more so in Winter. When the garden is quite bare, how wonderful it would be, to have stone sculptures and to enjoy the colour and pattern as the stone ages and lichens make their home upon it.

 The apple tree looked very festive. 

Our home is also looking very festive now. The tree is up and most of my Christmas shopping is almost done. I still have to bring the holly and Ivy in, but I always do that on the 21st.

                                                                             ~*~

Over on the Facebook page there are only a few more days of the advent post left now. Here's a few of the latest pictures.

December 12th was a sketch that came about when I was listening to music and just doodling really. At the time I was listening to a song called 'Staralfur' by Sigur ros. In Icelandic I believe it means 'Staring Elf' although I think he may be more gnome-ish? I love how music can make a story appear on paper.  You can listen to the song here if you like. :)

December 14th was an older sketch which you may have already seen on here? I'm not sure if I shared it before? Anyway here it is again with a little extra magic added.

And today's picture was a small painting that I did yesterday, just playing around with one of the previous sketches.