A Trip to the North

'And so the time came for the white hare to journey north. Far away, high up above the arctic circle, to where the sun does not rise in winter time. To the land of the Lapland woman, the Finland woman and the Snow Queen. To where the wardrobe's door opens to an icy sparkling world. He had heard the song of the North call to him for so long and now the time was right'
                                                                      ~*~
Finnish Lapland. Two hundred and fifty kilometres above the Arctic circle, this is where I was lucky and grateful to begin the first week of the brand new year. An adventure in a magical snowy land. The land of my dreams. A place where after only a few minutes outside, my hair and eyelashes had turned white with ice. A cosy log cabin, our home for seven days. A cabin that I wanted to continue living in and take home with me by the end of the week.

Inside the cabin was warm and cosy with a log burner and a weeks worth of wood outside on the porch.

The white hare stood out in the cold snow beneath the starlight and whispered to the sky. His words were carried up into the polar night. He told of a robin that knew the secrets of old and silently the lady Aurora answered with the most beautiful reply' 

Our first night we were blessed and saw the Aurora borealis right above our cabin. A milky green rose up and arched across the sky. I hadn't realised that she moved so quickly. A shape almost creature like, tip toed sideways above us. Walking diagonally she swished her tail as if to say 'here I am'
The Finnish term for the Northern Lights is 'Revontulet' meaning fox fire, which comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air. (would love to incorporate that into a painting at some time. :))
That first night I was unable to capture any pictures. Results on my camera were totally black blanks of night sky and so was my iPad. Only my daughter seemed able to catch them on her phone.
So, the next night, after a day of cross country skiing I set my camera up on a different setting and crossed my fingers that she would return again...
She did, out of the seven days we were so so lucky to get glimpses four days out of the seven.  Pictures are blurry as I literally just held my camera to the sky and tried to hold it still. I had no tripod or any fancy gear.

'And she danced, swirling her green gown across a sparkling sky. The white hare watched in wonder and all that he had imagined became reality'

Aurora over the cabin...

In the morning at about 8.30am-9am with a beautiful crescent moon.

The morning walk to ski.

Father Christmas was no where to be seen. Taking a much needed break I'm sure! 

A week filled with hot chocolate, hot berry juice, elves, reindeer, twinkling lights, crackling of log fire, crunch of snow and the clear cold air of the north, in my lungs. 

One afternoon, out in the forest, when already darkness was approaching. We met some reindeer.

In a wooden sleigh lined with a reindeer skin and a thick blanket to cover, we were transported through the forest pulled by a white reindeer that looked as if he had stepped straight out of the pages of a fairytale. The heavenly arctic twilight cast a spell on me as the sleigh pulled and creaked like frosted branches on a windy night. It was at this moment that I knew that the Snow queen would have me in her grasp forever. The magic had entered my eyes and the North would always be pulling me back.
The temperature on our journey was -33, so it was quite difficult to uncover my fingers to take photographs and hold the camera still.

In the forest the white hare met a reindeer, who told him how the Snow Queen had tricked him. How a spell had been cast and how now she would own part of his heart forever.

When the journey was finished, darkness was almost upon us. We went into a cabin for hot berry juice and cake.

Inside I learned a little about reindeer and Sami people. How they freely roam the forest, how the deer that pull the sleighs are only male. The amazing fact that reindeer can see the white moss and lichen that they dig up and eat beneath the snow, using ultra violet light and how each single strand of their hair/fur is filled with air, which is why it keeps them so warm in the cold. I got to feel the antlers that are shed each year. I would never have believed the male ones were so heavy. I learned how the clothing colours of the Sami people tell which area they are from and even if they are married or single. 

Outside in the snow the ice sparkles. Tiny diamond glints mesmerise and whisper... do not go home, stay...stayyyy with us...

High on top of the fell was Narnia.  Amazingly beautiful! A wonderland.

And a frozen cafe that looked as if it belonged on the top of an iced Christmas cake.  How warm it was inside though, with an open fire.

Far up in the northern lands where darkness is more abundant in the winter months how clever Mother nature is. Such balance of dark and light. Dark, yet then the light from the pure white of snow. Dark and yet, the magical dance of polar light in the sky...

'The white hare returned home, leaving part of his heart behind in the Snow Queens' keeping. And on nights when the stars shone bright and there was ice on the ground he felt the missing part pulling him like a sting of a white bee' 

Now here at home, when I look up at the seven stars of the plough from my garden, on clear starry nights. I will remember the North and it will remind me to return one day. I have to, as how can I live without all of my heart?

X

Happy Christmas.

The trees outside maybe not white with frost or snow but the Christmas trees in my local Abbey are. The other day I took a walk to see them decked out all in white this year.

 Heaven.

 Snowdrops.

 White rabbits and hares.

 Snowflakes in the beautiful courtyard.

All the trees are decorated by local organisations  and it's open to view up until January 4th. It's worth a visit if you are in the area.

At home everything is looking festive. It was my Daughter's Birthday yesterday so we have cards and roses mingling with the seasonal decorations.I can't believe she is 18. How time flies.

I've just been out to feed my little friend with a few Christmas Eve treats and now have the mince pies to bake.

So I bid you all a wonderful festive, merrrie time!

Happy Christmas! and a peaceful, happy, healthy, magic filled 2016 to you.
 X

Flowers and Bees in Winter

Winter Solstice is almost upon us. The longest, darkest night, when the ground should be hard with frost as in the deep mid winter that carols sing about. The earth should be cold and asleep. It's not though, here there is not a sign of Jack Frost. In the garden there are flowers blooming and yesterday there were bees.

I don't think I've ever seen a bee on a flower in December here, ever!?

I know some folks are enjoying the mild weather, but I would prefer to see December decked out in frosty attire. The seasons are just not right. Maybe we won't get a winter at all?

Last weekend I had a fleeting visit to Dartmoor. It was my Birthday and I stayed a night at the Two Bridges hotel which is conveniently located a short walk from the ancient Wistmans wood. It was lovely to be back there again and this time in Winter rather than summertime which was when we visited last time. The lichen and moss seemed even brighter without leaves on the trees.  

On our way back we passed Postbridge, and stopped to see the old clapper bridge .

 A bronze age tomb remains. 

 Then walked a little and sat with the quiet stones.

Back home I've hung the green upon the door and the fae lady has mistletoe for hair once more.

It feels like weeks since I picked up a paintbrush. I've been so busy with packing orders there was little time for much else. Christmas has been busy in the shop and I'm very grateful to anyone that has supported my work and bought from me these last few weeks and of course throughout the year. The calendars have been a great success and only a small amount are remaining now.
Now things are beginning to quieten down and I have a painting on the go and  even managed to find time to do three little Aceo sized paintings. Inspired by Wistmans wood.

It would have been wonderful to have seen the wood on a frosty day or in the snow. Maybe one day?...But even though I didn't, my little white hare got lucky!  :)