wednesday musings-allsorts!!

its dark outside already, where did today go? There's been such a strong wind again all day, but thankfully only a few small bursts of rain. The trees are baring quickly now. leaves swirling around on the ground, many that fell early shrivelled and breaking up now. This photo below is lovely Lily, taken not quite three weeks ago, the hazel behind her is now nearly bare. note the single feather on the fence top- moulting is still going donn there in Fowlty Towers, so not much egglaying is still going on too!

Lots of photos now... forgive me while I jump about from this to that!!

I have many photos of little George. I'll sort some out later for a separate post all by himself. He is growing so quickly, he has already lost his baby-blue eyes, and flashes green orbs at me now.

... I couldnt resist this photo, my beautiful Merlin.. I cant resist him, photo or otherwise, I adore this cat as you know...he wouldnt talk to me when we first brought George home, physically turning his back on me so haughtily, as only a superior cat can, and it really upset me!

Now an odd assortment of photos! I acquired this wooden wine-box last week, from someone at work. Does anyone want a box for breaking up as kindling was the question posed. Me! Not for kindling though...
look at the nice little comb joints. I know its mass produced and machine cut, but even so... The lid had been stapled on. With pliers, i carefully prised all the staples out...

I knew I had some small brass hinges somewhere at home. (lets be honest, I have most things here somewhere!) It didnt take too long to find them...

soon screwed on, and what someone saw as only fit to break up for kindling has now become a useful storage box... maybe I could use it to store kindling in when my firepace is eventually in use again, lol! I just need to find a small hasp for it now

next photos- outside in the garden this morning- I found, picked and ate a ripe red strawberry! amazing in november! It was small, but still nice. I thought afterwards I should have taken a pic, but then I spotted this flower and so-far-still-green strawberry on another plant...

I have seven Spring cabbages growing, not brilliantly, but still growing so I shouldnt complain!! ..I also still have a good few leeks out there too. this looked so nice with its sprinkling on raindrops...

a woman I work has been knitting christmas decs for a commission. I admired the christmas puds, and she made these for me!!...

I had a quick trawl through a couple of charityshops this morning, my little treat. I am so chuffed with these... I found a lovely goddess statue, carved in a dark stone of some kind.. Ive never seen anything like her in a charityshop before, and snapped her up for £1.50 (she is about four inches long, top to toe)
She is now on my altar...

a mug for 50p. Ive always wanted to go north to all the Islands, for a visit, to see them for myself. I couldnt live there I dont think, not enough trees for me, but I would love to see them . Ive read so much of the ancient history, the archeology, folklore, the natural history....

I also absolutely love a book I own- I've read a good few times now, and wouldnt part with it- I keep all my favourite books forever! 'Callanish' by William Horwood. Its the story of a captive golden eagle. (he also wrote another story about eagles, called The Stonor Eagles, both books are a fab read) He's a wonderful author, his books always make me cry! When I saw this mug on the shelf, the word Callanish leapt up at me, and I had to have it.. I will see the Stones for myself one day...

Finally, another oil lamp. I know, I know, but at only £4.50 I just had to! One day oil lamps may just well come into their own again, and I will be laughing!! This one is so pretty, around 12inches tall, with its china base and roses, and is already re-located to my dressing table upstairs!

sunday musings-another milestone!

I can hardly believe it myself, but yesterday was an anniversary- we have lived here for a year!

a whole year!

a year since I shut the door on my cottage for the last time, and closed yet another chapter in my life. We drove away, south, 15 miles to our new town, in my sons car, stuffed to the gunnells with people, cats in carriers on our laps, hens in boxes and houseplants in the boot. The cats were wide-eyed with anxiousness, and I was wide-eyed through trying to hold the tears at bay. It had been a horrendous morning. Like yesterdays massive storm, a year ago we had another. A humdinger of a storm once again. I wrote a post about moving day here

So its been a whole year since I left my cottage, since I left the lovely countryside that the cottage nestled into, the lovely views, my fabulous woodburner.. I left my wonderful greenhouse. I left a little of my heart and soul in the rolling Somerset hills.

Here, I have no real views, surrounded by houses as I am. I can see hills and fields in the distance, but I cannot step out of my door into them anymore- its a walk away now. I have many neighbours, Ive got used to the sounds of frequent cars again.(sigh!) Guy Fawkes Night just a week ago drove me batty, but the fireworks havent been limited to just that night, they have been going off for weeks, and again last night too. We barely heard any the whole time I was at the cottage.

I had moved to the cottage with my partner, full of excitement, full of hope for the future, full of plans and ideas... I moved away as a single woman again. Back to a town- something I never wanted to do. Sometimes decisions need to be made with the head, and not the heart. Single again, and unable to drive due to eye problems, I needed to be somewhere that I could Live more easily. The cottage I loved, but I couldnt stay there when my partner left, it was too remote for a nondriver and with infrequent buses. My sons and daughter are all young, early twenties, and they wont be at home forever for me to rely on for lifts, and I dont want them feeling obligated to stay - they have lives of their own to live, and its the natural order of life that they do that. I will not ever be an obligation or a burden to my children. So back to a town we moved, where I could find work to support myself, where I could walk to shops, banks. doctors , vets etc where i could be independent again.

emotionally it was a rollercoaster. Sadness at leaving my cottage behind, relief that in a recession we had managed to sell it and move!

I still had emotions all over the place concerning my relationship-it had been a very distressing and painful time for me. I needed to be somewhere that was just mine, and mine alone- to be able to put that relationship behind me and move on. Gradually over the last year I have done that, picked myself up, restored my self confidence, and my independence.

So, we moved. I did find work, it took several months, but work is scarce in a recession, and I was lucky to find a local job. Thats what is is- a job. Its not a career, its a job, a means to an end but it pays the bills, and when I leave to come home at night, I leave it behind. I didnt and dont want a job that I can never escape from, one that dominates my time at home too- that is MY time. My job means I look after myself now, am independent again, I support myself and my animals, and I can hold my head up and say I am ok now. Ive made a nice friendship with another girl at work, we have a similiar sense of mischief, and sense of humour, and it helps to make the days bearable when otherwise they might not be!

and in the time it took to find work, I began making this house our home. I had brought many plants and small trees with me, and I began the garden. We put up fences, sheds, a greenhouse. I put in six raised beds and even in our first year here, we have had a reasonable success with veg from the garden. I lost a few hens this year sadly, but have the four young ones that my sister hatched for me. I will have a few new ones next spring too. I dont have the time I used to have for homecooking and baking, for handicrafts either, but I do what I can still, there's always something on the go, I did a mountain of preserving, bottling and jam making this summer., and get huge satisfction from what I do achieve.

My kids have been my shiny stars and I am very proud of these young peope of mine.

So, a year on, I am fine. I dont know what the future holds, I hope that one day I'll be able to move back to a cottage somewhere. It wont be tucked into the middle of nearly nowhere again, like the last one, but there has to be one out there somewhere where my need to be in a town meets my desire and longing for a cottage and fields and views...

But for now, its my anniversary here, and I know we'll be here for a good few years to come. Ive come a long way this year, Ive put roots down, made friends, started again...we've even got little George to fill the house with laughter! and sod it, in celebration of this anniversary I may decide to pause the being-good-and-not-baking-cakes-diet for now, and head to the kitchen... :-) :-)

Yesterdays storm has passed, today dawned with blue skies and dazzling sunshine. Low in the sky its too bright to look up out there. After being confined against the storm yesterday the hens are out and happily scratching around in the mud- boy is it muddy now after all that rain! Its a lovely new day, and the start of my second year here....

photos- stormy day

just a few, its so hard to capture the power of a storm, even the movement of trees is difficult! this one below does show some i think, it was the best of them all...


dusk tonight, as the storm began to abate and move away...



and while Nature raged outside, Finn and Millie snuggled on the rockingchair and just let it be...

water on the moon

Some of you may remember my post 'outraged' concerning the rockets launched at the moon . (click here to re-read) In a comment earlier today Helen told me that nasa, in its recent assault upon the moon, did find water. I hadnt heard that news, I rarely have a tv or radio on, and I am so so sad. and angry.

even google has marked this with one of its images..


this morning, I sit here upset once again. I wished with all my heart that they would not find any, that they would then leave the beautiful Moon alone. We've messed up one planet already, how dare we move on to mess something else up? I dont want to look up at the moon in later years and see a different moon to the beautiful, haunting, magical one I see now. One with drilling, mines, buildings with lights shining down, and no doubt, litter and rubbish dumps...

here's one of the news reports...

bbc news

once again, I pray the Ladymoon forgives us.

saturday musings

the wind raged all night, rain woke me crashing against the windows. But this morning, its not as bad. The sky is blue in parts, the rain has passed, but a strong wind still dominates the morning. Here in Dorset, the localised reading is that the winds are 30-35 miles per hour, a lot less than the 8omph that we were warned of. Ive been outside, the hens are fine, the fence panels are all there, as is the greenhouse! So, not so bad really! Many more leaves are down, but not all of them, as I had hoped- it would be great to get all the raking up over and done with for the winter!

the small ginger demon is just that this morning! what is it about gusty, windy days that makes cats go all silly? he is even more of a firework this morning than usual, eyes flashing, tail twitching, his speed as he charges, leaps, runs, hurtles around is trying to match the wind that howls outside!

friday evening musings

Golly, there's such a storm raging here! its been going most of the day, rain lashing down, absolutely torrential. Unforgiving rain. Filthy weather, as they say! But wonderful all the same, I do love a really good storm!!The wind is howling, and the trees are being roughly tossed here and there, by morning I expect to see most of the remaining leaves shaken completely off...
its battering the branches, the fences, there's loose objects clattering around, helpless against the might of the storm.

the forecasters and newscasters have said this is the worst storm to hit Britain so far this year. when you consider the year is drawing towards its end, that tells you this is a powerful storm.

The animals can make distinctions. This storm is deafening, yet they all slumber peacefully, un perturbed by the noise outside. Last weeks noisy fireworks, an unnatural assault on the dark of the night, upset them all, yet the mighty, but natural, storm is accepted.

There's severe weather warnings in place here, parts of Dorset have localised flooding predicted, and across the South. There are roads flooding and closed, there's severe warnings along the Dorset coast and all over the South of england in general. Winds in the south are due to peak at around 80mph on Saturday morning. with predictions of trees uprooted and property damage. the storm will subside over the weekend with more big storms predicted for next week. Lets hope the actual results of the storm are a lot less than the predictions.

we are all fine, as are the animals. My mum and my sisters family are all ok, too. I got drenched coming home tonight, but we're all in the warm and dry. My wish tonight is for the storm, as magnificant as it is with all of Natures force within it, to move away without loss of life. My thoughts are with the lifeboatman, bravely putting to sea to aid stricken boats, the fishermen, the firemen and rescue crews who tend the problems caused... the unsung heroes out in it while we all stay warm indoors...

I shall go to bed early tonight, I love being snuggled warm under the covers, a cat or three curled close, and listen to the sounds of the storm...

Friday the 13th!

Its Friday 13th again today... here's a revisit to a post I wrote in 2007 with some follore concerning the date...

paraskevidekatriaphobia- fear of friday 13th!!

illogical though, isnt it, being scared of a date?

so, some explanations maybe?

its all to do with the number 13 being unlucky.. by why?

everyone knows about Judas being the 13th desciple at the Last Supper, and that traditionally there are 13 witches in a coven

heres some more...

According to Norse legend, 12 gods were invited to a banquet at Valhalla. This is the mythical hall of the glorious dead who were slain in battle. Loki is the Norse God of mischief, and he gate- crashed the party (theres always one!) bringing the total up to 13. With Loki's incitement Hod the God of winter, (who was blind) attacked his brother Balder, with an arrow made from a branch of mistletoe, killing him . This story predates the the Last Supper, and the 13th guest theme is constant.

Another example cited as reasons for ill luck is that of the Knights Templar Movement, who had become too rich, too powerful and too much of a political threat to be borne any longer by Pope Clement V and King phillip of France. The Templars were smashed on friday 13th October 1307

Some say its unlucky because there are 13 full moons in a year, and up until the middle ages a calendar of 13 moons within the span of 12 months was still used. (28 day months plus one day, giving us the expression a year and a day I believe) ...
Also, women menstruate every 28 days also(totalling 13 times a year) and had been deemed unclean at this time by Leviticus, Menstruation was linked to the moon, The moon has long been a female symbol, and the full moon was when (female) witches fly, according to (male) chroniclers of the time...so all these beliefs came back to the 13 moons in a year...
but Science had introduced more accurate ways of observing the passage of the earths movement around the sun, thus dismissing and discrediting centuries of lunar based observation which was associated with pagan worship.
the no 13 was associated with all the old beliefs.

In tarot decks, the 13th card of the major arcana is Death

Many hotels do not have a 13th floor, many streets do not have a 13th house, many areoplanes skip from row 12 to row 14.

Apollo 13 was the doomed space mission, but did you know the film of the mission was released on the 13th April 1995 at exactly13:13pm local time!!

good marketing there!

the state lotteries in france and italy have no number 13

traditionally there are 13 steps leading up to gallows

there are 13 loaves in a Bakers Dozen

there are 13 cards in a suit in a pack of cards

Cat Fun!

here's photos from earlier tonight- showing Billy and George at play on my bed...

starting with a lovely one of Billy, such a sweet face, so much kitten still in him despite being four now...

question-just how much fun can two little cat-boys have with one piece of string?

answer- below in the photos!

George is a little camouflaged on my bedspread- sorry!!

click to enlarge each/ all pics...

milestones

Billy making friends with baby George is a milestone.

Ive achieved another milestone this week too!

one hundred registered followers!!

many many thanks- a hundred thanks- going out to everyone of you for regularly visiting and supporting my blog!!

theres now been over 140,000 hits too- blimey!!

so to everyone who reads here, whether registered as a follower, or not- a humble and grateful thank you!!

thursday musings

good morning! BRR! another cold one here!

just a quick post before I get the family up and we all start another working day...

progress with the cat clan yesterday. its official, Billy and George are friends!! Its been evident since George arrived that Billy would come round first. More curious than furious at this little ginger interloper, he has spent most time watching the little one, often with the funniest puzzled expression on his face. He began with spits and hisses too, but gradually his curiosity got the better of him. (helped along by the knowledge that George had kittymilk and kittycookies in my daughters room no doubt!...) At first George was wary of this big black and white stranger, but he soon got Billys measure- placid, gentle, shy... the tables turned and George began stalking Billy around the upstairs of the house....

Poor Billy. there's nowhere to sleep peacefully when the ginger demon is wide awake. George would hurtle around, often with a running leap onto the bed where Bill was having a catnap- Bill would be shocked awake with an involuntary hiss and a dart from the room. Sunday afternoon intrepid George scaled his Everest (my ironing pile on a chair in my room) and from the summit launched himself directly onto an unaware sleeping Billy! this time a little kitty wrestling took place, George retreating for once, but looking very cross that he had been chastised!

Monday George seemed a little off colour and was quiet, so no adventures to report (Dont worry, he is absolutely fine, he probably ate a spider that didnt agree with him or something!)

Tuesday evening. with George back to his usual vigour, was the Grand Stalking Session. I had carried a round laundry basket upstairs ready for sorting. Billy was sitting quietly in the room, George rushed in (he rushes everywhere) and hid behind it, sneaking peeps at Billy, small ginger tail swishing. Billy took the bait. They spent ages circling it, at opposite sides, each thinking they were stalking the other, round and round they went, I sat on the bed and watched, so amused as round they circled...

Billy, may be quiet and timid since we moved here, a strange change in his character, but when we lived at the cottage, you may remember he was the Were-cat of somerset, the accomplished hunter also known as Billy mouse-bane! His skills may be dormant here, but they are not forgotten. As this clockwise hunt continued, Billy, so swift, suddenly turned about face and an unsuspecting George ran straight into him! Both cats leapt onto the bed and a good natured tussle followed. Followed by a joint washing of ruffled fur...

Now to yesterday. this blossoming friendship took a backwards step when a sleepy George tried to suckle Billys tummy, and was rebuked by an alarmed Billy with a quick left hook, but one that was claw-less.
Later this faux pas was forgotten as they shared, side by side, George's kittenmilk, and later still, they had a joint game of wrestling with ribbons (so macho!)

so, ten days after arriving, Billy has a friend. The others will now accept him more quickly hopefully, and also it wont be long before I might be able to get pics of him and Billy together.
~

While george slept yesterday afternoon, I managed to get a few chores done! Its impossible while he is awake! Hens cleaned out, and stuffed with nice fresh straw against this cold spell, leaves raked, and two new David Austin roses planted. I also put in two small shrubs that had been waiting patiently for ages! I even managed a little time with my christmas quilting project! blimey!

below, George with harrydog, who is a little wary of the the little orange fireball... understandably!

wednesday musings

its early, no-one else is up yet. Its very cold, proper November weather, and I can feel the chill of the stone floor through my woolly socks! Outside its still dark, with a foggy mist hovering, highlighted here and there by the glow of streetlights. All is very silent outside. I love this time of day, all quiet, peaceful, the steam from my first cuppa rising, alone with my thoughts- its a gentle way to start the day. I am not working today, well not at work anyway! :-) There's plenty to keep me busy here!

but despite that busy-ness, I will still take a few minutes in silent remembrance this morning- for its the eleventh of the eleventh, and no-one should ever forget.

more later, time to wake the family now. but i'll leave you with this....

Sunset Vigil

The news is spread far and wide
Another comrade has sadly died
A sunset vigil upon the sand
As a soldier leaves this foreign land

We stand alone, and yet as one
In the fading light of a setting sun
We've all gathered to say goodbye
To our fallen comrade who's set to fly

The eulogy's read about their life
Sometimes with words from pals or wife
We all know when the CO's done
What kind of soldier they'd become

The padre then calls us all to pray
The bugler has Last Post to play
The cannon roars and belches flame
We will recall, with pride, their name

A minute's silence stood in place
As tears roll down the hardest face
Deafening silence fills the air
With each of us in personal prayer

Reveille sounds and the parade is done
The hero remembered, forgotten by none
They leave to start the journey back
In a coffin draped in the Union Jack

Staff Sergeant Andrew McFarlane


read more about this here and join me in silence at 11am.

monday musings

As I type its a little past 6am on a very chilly monday morning. The air is damp, the sky a monotone grey, none of last weeks stunning hues this morning. Yellowed leaves, with the odd still crimson one, hang limp, half dead on baring branches. and my vapoured breath was visible as I went down the garden to open the hens door. its a cold cold November morning here, and soon I have to get ready to go to work.

the weekend passed so quickly. I had to do some shopping, I had to clean out the hens, and rake the garden. I had 101 things to do, all necessary, all unworthy of recording here!

Mum and Sis did call in for a cuppa, to meet the youngest family member. He did of course weave his magic upon them, and they too are captivated by my little ginger monkey. George is settling in well, strutting about the house as only a kitten can- as if he is really a tiger. The big cats still spit, but less so. I cant imagine the house without him now, and have no regrets at all about giving him a home here. Amidst the chaos he brings, he also brings amusement and laughter, kitty cuddles and affection. When he wakes after a sleep, or when we come in after being at work, he runs to us, miaow, miaow, miaow in his little kitty mewing-voice. and when we scoop him up for a cuddle, he purrs fit to burst, nuzzling into our necks.

A couple of pics from last night... It was very cold. Fireworks were shooting into the dark sky again (saturday was much worse) All the animals were safely indoors, all asleep here and there, Little george finally ran his batteries down and fell asleep. Sammydog, who loves this little creature, sat close....

sleep softly, little friend, i'll watch over you...

Remembrance Sunday

In heartfelt remembrance today, of all those, the whole world over, who have fallen in battle.

and are still falling....



In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

by John McCrae, May 1915

november- poem

November Morning

A tingling, misty marvel
Blew hither in the night,
And now the little peach-trees
Are clasped in frozen light.

Upon the apple branches
An icy film is caught,
With trailing threads of gossamer
In pearly patterns wrought.

The autumn sun, in wonder,
Is gayly peering through
This silver tissued network
Across the frosty blue.

The weather vane is fire tipped,
The honeysuckle shows
A dazzling icy splendour,
And crystal is the rose.

Around the eaves are fringes
Of icicles that seem
To mock the summer rainbows
With many colored gleam.

Along the walk, the pebbles
Are each a precious stone;
The grass is tasseled hoarfrost,
The clover jewel sown.

Such sparkle, sparkle, sparkle
Fills all the frosty air,
Oh, can it be that darkness
Is ever anywhere!

Evaleen Stein

1863-1923

friday musings

just a few very quick photos this morning before I leave for work...

I had to share the beautiful skies this morning- what a stunning start to the day!

and a few pics from last night- just to show some of the other animals- I am not totally absorbed by baby George to the exclusion of everyone else, the others are still getting equal attention too as I adore them all! They were mostly pretty unhappy last night as fireworks whizzed skywards for Guy Fawkes Night, but this was all mainly earlier in the evening, which was good, they all had lots of cuddles etc, and then settled down once the noise has stopped.

sammy

Pixie

merlin above- he doesnt really fit very well, does he? :-)

and finally..Finn

Musings- 5th November

5th november.

my lovely Dad died 6 years ago today.

Dad, often in my thoughts, always in our hearts.

miss you x x x

wednesday musings part two

what a wet day! Its been pouring most of the day and thats thwarted my gardening plans. We did have a brief spell of sunshine earlier, where, silly me, I hung the washing out, but the heavens soon spilled over again, and it came in wetter than it went out!! I did start to clear the garden, there's piles of raked- up leaves in several places waiting to be scooped into bags, but the rain really was too heavy to continue.

I had a quick walk into town ealier, after hanging the washing out- the usual chore of bank and post office, followed by the usual reward of a quick browse in the charity shops. today's treasure was a cross sticth pattern which took my eye. Entitled christmas gentlemen, its a frieze of 5 different Santa/ Father christmas figures. Readers who have been with me for more than a year, or from the start of my blog, will remember my quest for santa figures wearing traditional green rather than the 20th century red garb. This pattern does include three who arent in red so it took caught my attention immediately! Only one looks like a modern santa too, which is fab! I happily handed over a pound for this, plus another pound for an american magazine simply called "santa claus, a special interest edition", from better homes and gardens magazine. its 140 pages long, and everything is about Santa- knitted, cross stitched, patchworked, painted, modelled... so many different crafts in here...

I bought one other item, in a different shop- it made me smile, and I parted with 49p...

"Macphersons natural cookbook of easy-to-make cat treat recipes" it came with a fish shaped cutter/press to cut out 20 small treats at a time! I already have a book of dog recipes and bonio shaped cutters so I had to have this too! :-)

these 3 purchases all made me smile, reason enough to bring them home. I've read comments recently in blogland and elsewhere against charity shop shopping. That its no different to any consumer shopping.
well, I disagree. I work hard, I support myself, I earn my own money, and if I choose to buy what I deem as useful items, but some bloggers etc berate as frivolous items, I will. Its no-one's business but mine at the end of the day. In my view, buying second-hand means further of the earths resources are not being used to manufacture new things for me, when many items still have years of use in them but have merely fallen out of (the general perception of) fashion. I try to choose second hand or recycled over new as much as possible. The charities benefit, the earth benefits, I benefit, so win-win-win. William Morris is oft quoted that things within the home should always be either useful or beautiful, and everything I buy does meet that criteria!

I noticed today that my recorded followers has reached 96!! only 4 more to that milestone of 100, thats amazing! the recorded hit counter is not far off 140,000 either. golly! To all my readers, a big thank you to you all for reading my blog regularly- each one of you is appreciated! :-)

a few pics now, that I didnt get around to posting this week. First, the stunning Full Moon. she was so beautiful, this huge orb in the night sky...(with and without flash here...)

and finally, little George at play...

wednesday musings- the adventures of George

On saturday some kind people adopted me and took me home, and since then I have been getting my cute little kittypaws into all sorts of mischief! I was a bit bewildered at first, leaving my first home, and my mummy-cat, but I am 8 weeks old now. That means I am a big boy and I had to go off into the big wide world and find my own family. I like my new family, they look after me, and gave me a lovely bed all of my own, with a really soft blanket, and new dishes just for me, and they make sure I am safe and warm. There's other cats there, and two huuuge spotty things that are called dogs too.

there's 5 big cats, and they all spit at me. Sometimes it bewilders me, but Mum says not to worry, they will come round soon. Mum and the other big people all adore me, they always cuddle and kiss me and it makes me purr so loud. The big cats will love me soon too, afterall, I am very adorable, arent I? Already the black and one white one Mum calls Billy, is more friendly. He doesnt spit hardly at all now, and he comes in and eats my special cookies, too, so he will be my friend soon. The big white one hasnt spat at me today yet either. He just sits on those chair things and watches me.

Apart from the big cats spitting at me sometimes, Ive had an exciting few days!

Ive been up the curtains....several times. (its fun!)

I ran up mums legs too, and made her knee bleed.

I ran round a corner very fast, and bumped straight into a big cat. Mum said that was Pixie and she's only a little cat really,smaller than the others, but to me she was big, and she spat at me, and ran away. I must be really ferocious and scary to make a big cat run away, mustnt I?

I even ate a spider! one of the big people said that was disgusting, but I didnt think so! That was fun too!

Ive made friends with one of those big dog things too. I'd never seen one before so it was scary at first, but the silly one is desperate to be my friend, and he washes all my face and my ears a lot, and squeaks happily when he sees me.

Ive learnt to run up and down the stairs. I do that really fast too. I do most things really fast. Its fun.

I saw another ginger kitten in a thing called a mirror. It was copying me and I got cross, and all my fur went spikey, but his did too, so I ran away.

I am getting tired now, so I think I will have another little cat-nap before having more adventures this afternoon.

love George x x

sunday musings

November has arrived, and here it was with an onslaught of heavy rain and high winds. The rain woke me in the night, hitting the window with force, and I could hear the trees being tossed around outside. With the return of light, I looked out on a 'snowfall' of sodden golden leaves twirling and dancing to the wet ground. The rain gave way mid-morning and the wind dropped to a more gentle rustling of the trees. I have so many leaves to rake up - its almost impossible to keep up with right now!

Last week was such a busy week. I've been in my job for nearly 8 months now, and I think it was the most sustained busy week so far. I was shattered every evening. I had little energy for anything in the evenings, and the only baking Ive done all week- yesterday- is some simple scones. My washing pile is high, the garden needs more work, and I just havent kept up well this week.

Yesterday afternoon took a turn for the better though, with an impromptu trip out...

you will have seen on my previous post that we have a new family member. how gorgeous is little George? He has quite stolen all our hearts away already! there is no real story behind his arrival- very simply, he needed a home and we have provided one for him.

My son had seen an ad for homes urgently needed for kittens. I have been kitten-broody for ages. Some of you may remember me saying when we moved house ..new home, new baby!! well in just 2 weeks time we have lived here for a year, so I have been quite restrained really, waiting this long!!

The other 5 cats are a little disgruntled, they have hissed and spat, and then run away! there's no real aggression towards this tiny interloper though- and it will soon settle down. Sammydog, however, is overjoyed and so excited by this turn of events! He is so sweet, absolutely smitten with George and he cant take his eyes off him, wagging and wagging and so happy. Harry is quite interested, and a little scared too, lol, - but soon dismisses the kitten at the rustle of a food packet as usual!

It will take a few days/week for them all to get used to each other, but I am confident it wont take too long. they are all such lovely animals, very loving and good with each other, george will soon become accepted, and then let the fun begin!

a few more pics to make you all sigh!...

making friends with sammydog


inside my daughters collar!

hopefully over the next few days and weeks I can begin to show pics of him curled up with the other cats etc! I am confident it wont take long!

Other nice things this week. A workmate gave me 5 1L size kilner jars- wonderful! Sorting out her loft, she came across them, wrapped in newspaper dated 1972!, and wondered I could make use of them! a very kind thought, and a really useful gift!

and then the postie brought me this lovely cross stitched picture as part of a hallowe'en swap I took part in...someone has worked so hard on this, its so neat too! I shall find a nice frame for her at some point...a big thank you to whoever sent it to me!

introducing!!

meet George!! ....

newest family member!

and on the subjects of animals... my spottydogs are ten years old today- its their birthday!
so big doggy wishes to them too!!! :-) :-)

Samhain/ hallowe'en

a blessed samhain to you all! I had three pumpkins ready, and I've only found time to carve two, arghh! never mind, here's the two for this year...

folklore for halloween

If a young woman wanted to get a glimpse of her future husband, she would sit looking at her reflection in a mirror by candlelight at midnight, with an apple in her hand. Hopefully she would see the image of her future husband looking back at her from the mirror.

In some rural parts of the UK, folk would throw a stone with a personal mark on it into the ashes of the fire. These had to be retrieved to ensure luck for the coming year.

Welsh witches could not harm anyone tonight whilst the church bells were ringing. People went into church with ground Ivy leaves in their pockets to cause witches in the congregation to reveal themselves, and a rowan twig in the left pocket served as protection.



Children born on this day had second sight and were said to be able to communicate with supernatural beings. The Irish left entrances to burial mounds open and lit their interiors until cockcrow, so the dead could find their way. They believed that if you walked nine times around a faerie hill a door would open to reveal the faerie world, but if you accepted an invitation to join in their dancing you would never return.

The juice from the inner bark of the Elder was put on the eyelids of a baptised person to give them second sight, and if such a person stood under an Elder Tree on hallowe'en night, they would be able to see Faeries.

in Wales if Crows cawed over a house a member of the family or one of the animals would soon die. The same was said if a solitary Crow or Goose merely flew over the house.

Hazelnuts were also used in husband divination, to denote a future love each of the nuts would be given the name of a possible lover and placed in front of the fire, the hopeful young lady would then recite "If you love me, pop and fly; and if you hate me burn and die." The first nut to pop would be the girls' likely suitor.


Garlic was hung about to house to keep evil spirits away

In parts of Scotland it was customary to throw a silver coin through the front door of the house on the morning of November the 1st. The coin had to remain hidden where it had fallen to bring luck in money matters concerning the house.

In Japan ghosts are believed to be unable to say the syllables 'mo' and 'shi'. When meeting somebody on an unlit road it became customary to call out 'Moshi moshi' to reassure the other person that you were alive - and challenge them to do the same.Nowadays, Japanese people still answer the phone with 'Moshi-moshi'.

"to know whether the weather shall be gold or warm, go at all-hallowstide to a beech tree, and cut a chip thereof: if it be found dry, then shall the winter be warm "
(the shepherds procrastination, 1729)

a scottish belief-
if you take a three legged footstool and sit at a cross roads whilst the church bells are are striking midnight on halloween you will hear proclaimed the names of the parishioners doomed to die in the next 12 months. if you throw a piece of clothing belonging to any of those doomed people into the air and call out their name, you can bar Death from stalking their door in the coming year



"druids would not know this night
and witches would in wonder gaze
to see the festive costumed souls
that dash about the night in play
where ancient magick ruled the land
childrens laughter fills the soul
yet in this way the night is honored
much like the ancients long ago "

David Norris




a halloween song

the nicht is hallowe'en and the morn's hallowday
gin ye want a true love, its time ye were away!
tally on the window-brod
tally on the green
tally on the window-brod
the nicht's hallowe'en!!

(traditional halloween rhyme of the guisers)

the Eve of Hallowe'en

Tomorrow is Halloween, or Samhain. Its an important time in the pagan year, and its the time when the spirits of those who have gone before are closest to us.

Dear Ancestor

Your tombstone stands among the rest; neglected and alone

The name and date are chiseled out on polished, marbled stone

It reaches out to all who care

It is too late to mourn

You did not know that I’d exist

You died and I was born.

Yet each of us are cells of you in flesh, in blood, in bone.

Our blood contracts and beats a pulse entirely not our own.

Dear Ancestor, the place you filled one hundred years ago

Spreads out among the ones you left who would have loved you so.

I wonder if you lived and loved, I wonder if you knew

That someday I would find this spot, and come to visit you.

(unknown author)

Upon Each Samhain

I miss you most upon each Samhain
When the boundary turns to sheer
I wait until the veil is parted
At the ending of the year.
Sweet spirit, as you walk among us
At the tolling of this eve
I see your face beyond the sunset
And hear your voice upon the breeze.
In the glowing of the candle,
From the shadow on the wall
I watch for you in every movement
And hear your footsteps in the hall.
Can you sit and spend the evening
As the portal opens wide?
Ancestral dead, I bid you welcome
Most recent dead, I pray, abide.
When you come I sense your presence
I put my hand out in the air
A moment, then, we stand united
Palm to palm while waiting there.
I miss you most upon each Samhain
When the boundary turns to sheer
We share these hours until the dawning
Then bid farewell until next year.

David O. Norris

~


Echo

Come to me in the silence of the night
Come in the speaking silence of a dream;
Come with soft rounded cheeks and eyes as bright
As sunlight on a stream;
come back in tears,
O memory, hope, love of finished years
O dream how sweet, too sweet, too bitter sweet,
Whose wakening should have been in Paradise,
Where souls brimful of love abide and meet
Where thirsting longing eyes
Watch the slow door
That opening, letting in, lets out no more.
Yet come to me in dreams, that I may live
My very life again though cold in death:
Come back to me in dreams, that I may give
Pulse for pulse, breath for breath:
Speak low, lean low,As long ago, my love, how long ago

~Christina Rossetti

wednesday musings

a quick post tonight, as I am soon off upstairs...

its been a lovely day, I met my friend in town, and we had a wander around the charity shops this morning... this was a slightly more fruitful meander today as I bought a beautiful mirror in a lovely carved wooden frame, and a hand-embroidered traycloth.. its so pretty, a mint green, with such neat stitching, so much work goes into these little works and it seems so sad to find them abandoned to charityshops.. this one came home with me for just a pound..

if you click and enlarge you will see how pretty this really is..

my lovely new mirror, this will be hung upstairs..

it was hard to get a pic of the mirror without my reflection in it! lol

we also found two big (very big) bundles of new cotton fabrics in assorted patterns, loads of material in lovely lovely patterns...but mostly very christmassy. they were a little under £5 each bundle. We decided to buy both bundles, one each, we brought them home and split the lot in two, so that we both had half of each pattern from each bundle!.. here's my share.. when you think two fat quarters will cost around £5 now, this was a real bargain...

then we made tea, indulged in chocolate cakes, and settled down for an afternoon of natter and crafts. remember my fat quarters from last week? Ive started the project I planned, beginning with preparing the pieces ready for hand sewing..... i'm half way through this now..

back to work tomorrow, its gets dark so early now the clocks have changed, time really does fly by!

a quote for monday

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need,
but not every man's greed"

- Mahatma Gandhi

sunday musings

its been such a gorgeous day here today, bright bright sunshine, and warm for october. theres been a warm breeze too, lifting the fallen leaves and setting them twirling and dancing ,up and around and down and then up once again, in a crazy choreography thats both haphazard and exciting.
I worked outside for hours, cleaning out the hens and reflooring their run so that its nicer for them over the coming winter months. They rewarded me with an egg today, lol, just the one. we have been egg poor for the last few weeks as the little hens moult, so todays little egg was a lovely gift.
Ive played hunt the deposits! its difficult poopscooping the garden when so many leaves are falling daily!
a little like hidden landmines, its definitely a job to take cautiously lol, but all done now, and a big pile of leaves raked up too. With my sons help, we took some branches off the big plum tree, and then I planted an apple tree- a bramley- with my blessings to grow well and flourish. Ive planted some tulips. three loads of washing have been done and dried in the gusty breeze, and now I am indoors, with roast pork cooking. Ive hung my two hare pictures on the wall now, made a quick cake for lunchboxes, and had a good clean indoors. Its been a good day, a busy day and I am content.

St Crispins day

Today is St crispins day. I wrote the following post two years ago here on my blog, and thought I'd bring it forward for those newer readers here... ...I love folklore, it fascinates me, so heres some again to while away a gorgeous sunny sunday afternoon!...

the 25th october is St Crispins Day.

Crispin is the patron saint of shoe makers, cobblers, farriers and leather workers

the condensed history of St crispin is that Crispin was a Roman of noble birth who, along with his brother Crispinius, became a missionary to Gaul. They took up the cobbler's trade so the faithful wouldn't have to support them - or, depending on the version you read - so they could give shoes to the poor. Crispin and Crispinius became martyrs around 256, after being hanged.

However, I found the following on http://www.shoeinfonet.com/ which is far more interesting!.....

"......Actually there are two stories that seem to be the same...one in England, one in France. St. Crispin was born into a wealthy roman family in the third century A.D.. Somewhere fairly early on, he converted to Christianity. Since this was not an approved lifestyle for a noble Roman, legend says that he was disinherited. Forced to fall back upon his own resources, St. Crispin (not yet a saint) became a shoemaker. Although teaching the gospel was his life's work, he made shoes in his spare time--until he was put to death for his beliefs in Soissons, France in 288 A.D.. We know a little more about St. Hugh, the English counterpart to St. Crispin. Born Hugh, son of Arviragus--king of Powisland (modern day Wales), St. Hugh married a Christian princess, Winifred of Flintshire. She quickly converted him to Christianity, with roughly the same results. Thrown into poverty, Hugh became a shoemaker who preached the gospel by day and plied his craft by night. Both he and Winifred were put to death, ostensibly for rabble-rousing, about 300 A.D.. Legend has it that his fellow shoemakers kept constant vigil and consoled him during the time of his internment. After his death, by hanging, his friends pulled his body from the gibbet and dried his bones. These were made into tools for making shoes. For many years, in fact, a shoemaker's tool kit was called St. Hugh's Bones..."

charge of the light brigade

Todays date is more well known though as the anniversary of the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War, and of the commencement of the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

the following is an excerpt from Shakespeare's famous speech by Henry V in the play of the same name, that honours St crispins day...


......This day is called the Feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a-tiptoe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall see this day and live t'old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say "To-morrow is Saint Crispian":
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars
And say "These wounds I had on Crispin's day."
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day. (IV, iii)

battle of Agincourt

its just not on...

I have my sammydog alongside me here, shaking . I have little cats, eyes wide with fear, bodies tense and rigid, hiding under the sofa, or darting for the safety of upstairs. The hens, tucked up outside probably think the sky is falling.

outside the dark night whistles and bangs with the sound of fireworks.

For goodness sakes., Its the 24th October.

ONLY the 24th October.

Guy Fawkes night is two weeks away.

Tonights stupid disturbance isnt the first ones I have heard either.

And no doubt these intrusive noises will be a regular occurance from now until the new year celebrations.

I very strongly disagree with the sale of fireworks to the general public. They should be for group/mass events only, and there should be restrictions about when they can be used.
Even as I type this the shriek of a rocket whizzing skywards has filled the night, I despair.
and sammydog continues to shake...

saturday musings

I wrote here on wednesday that I was having a day off on my day off. Today has been much more active and busy. Just the usual running-a-home stuff, all necessary, all continuous chores that need doing week in, week out. Life's not exactly exciting most of the time, but you just get on with it, dont you?

The day dawned in streaks of pink but soon turned to heavy skies and rain. Brolly held aloft, I was outside the library at 9.30 returning my books, before heading for the PO and sending off some more letters. Posting letters with any enclosures inside is a minefield since they introduced the letter width rulings, so checking was needed to make sure the envelopes werent too wide. its just another way for the PO to make more money, and another way to frustrate and annoy its customers!

I did have a quick peek in the charity-shops but they arent very inspiring lately. the goods are overpriced in a lot of cases, and now a lot of shelf-space is given over to christmas cards so there's less on display. I did buy just one thing- this very pretty plate- so springtimey! That was all, and then it was a walk home, kicking through the carpet of leaves lying everywhere and home to the housework waiting for me.


I then took down the summer weight curtains, and hung heavier, warmer ones for the winter. some of our windows are very draughty, and it really makes a difference having thicker curtains up. The summer ones luckily are machine washable, so they have already been through the machine, and are now hanging up to dry. Ive put up a shelf in the utility room too, you cant have too many shelves!

the two pics below were taken this afternoon, I was outside sweeping up the leaves that are swirling like confetti around my patio. The Ladymoon was visible in the late afternoon sky, pale against the blue, and as lovely as ever... I am always drawn to look up, and i am never disappointed...

a thought for saturday

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music he hears,
however measured or far away."

- Henry David Thoreau

The Lonely Sock

The Lonely Sock

Oh woe is me. It cannot be
I've lost me other 'alf!
I thought we'd always be together
Walking together the same path
But we somehow lost each other
In the automatics' spin
And I fear we'll never meet again-
Oh what a state i'm in!!

© LHB 2009

on her way again...

tonights stunning new moon....

THE NEW MOON

Day, you have bruised and beaten me,
As rain beats down the bright, proud sea,
Beaten my body, bruised my soul,
Left me nothing lovely or whole —
Yet I have wrested a gift from you,
Day that dies in dusky blue:

For suddenly over the factories
I saw a moon in the cloudy seas —
A wisp of beauty all alone
In a world as hard and gray as stone —
Oh who could be bitter and want to die
When a maiden moon wakes up in the sky?

By Sara Teasdale

before you all start worrying, I havent had a bad day!!
but I love this poem, and its imagery, a wisp of beauty in a hard grey world..that sums up the moon beautifully doesnt it?

October days-poem

October Days.

Push back the curtains and fling wide the door;
Shut not away the light nor the sweet air,
Let the checked sunbeams play upon the floor,
And on my head low bowed, and on my hair.

Would I could sing, in words of melody,
The hazy sweetness of this wondrous time!
Low would I pitch my voice: The song should be
A soft, low chant, set to a dreamy rhyme.

No loud, high notes for tender days like these!
No trumpet tones, no swelling words of pride,
Beneath these skies, so like dim summer seas,
Where hazy ships of clouds at anchor ride.

At peace are earth and sky, while softly fall
The brown leaves at my feet. A holy palm
Rests in a benediction over all.
O silent peace! O days of silent calm!

And passion, like the winds, lies hushed and still;
A throng of gentle thoughts, sweet, calm and pure,
Knock at my door and lightly cross the sill.
Would that their fair feet might stay, their reign endure!

But storms will come. The haze upon the hills
Will yield to blinding gusts of sleet and snow;
And, for this peace that all my being fills,
The tides of battle shall surge to and fro.

Ellen P. Allerton.

wednesday musings

Where did this week rush past to? its wednesay already, and I havent been here on my blog since sunday. I worked very long shifts on monday and tuesday, and wasnt home until nearly half past seven on monday night, and just after seven last night. thats a long day when I had left home at 8.30am.

It was lovely coming home, my son had brought me a cuppa, and the cats and the dogs were so pleased to see me, all vying with each other for a pat, a fuss, a cuddle.

My cats are funny little beings, so shy generally with anyone they dont know. Usually its only Finn or Merlin who may show themselves, but not always then! With me though, they are so sweet, really loving and cuddly, suffocating me with attention sometimes!! My son and daughter had taken care of the animals before I got home, so I did little more than sink gratefully into a chair, animals all around, cats (yes, plural-two!) on my lap and doggies close too. Later on in the evening, I sank into a nice hot bath. I fell asleep so quickly both nights, very soon after sliding into my bed.

I should be such a hive of activity today, but frankly, sod that!
I am having a day off on my day off! I am not superwoman, and I am tired. I think partly its a residue of last weeks very sore throat, being under the weather can hang around a bit and its left me with lowered energy reserves.....but also that Ive worked bloomin' hard this week and deserve a restful day!

I did walk down to the PO to pick up a parcel yet again, I despair at our PO service lately. I didnt really want to go out but had to.

It was a nice walk though, early, in the breaking sunshine.. The rain from first thing had cleared and I kicked my way through the leaves that lie in drifts everywhere now. Ive never grown out of the sheer joy of kicking through great mounds of leaves- and no, I dont care if anyone sees me! Its one of life's small pleasures- and lets face it, there's precious few joys around in modern life is there?

I do intend, if ever I can get myself into gear today, to bake a chocolate cake this afternoon - (my sons favourite, and my mothers-sense tells me he needs a chocolate cake) But apart from that I intend only to drink copious amounts of tea, while curled with my books,or my sewing project. I intend to deliberately not see the washing pile, or the ironing, or that fact that the stairs need a vacuum, or that I was going to sort through for some heavier weight winter curtains to hang. I wont bother noticing that already the cobwebs are creeping back, and it was only last week I had a throrough de-webbing session.

I have declared today is a day off and I am sticking to it...

scary stuff!

lets set the scene a little...

a gargoyle..spitting his toxic curses from old crumbling edifices...


an eirie and deserted graveyard, probably the stroke of midnight.... no sound but for the screech of an owl, the occasional crack of a twig underfoot, yet no-one is walking tonight, at least not those who still live...

a spooky candlabra, no doubt upon an dusty, cobwebby old piano, that plays by itself...

a menacing swirling mist, clammy and cold upon the skin, as if the very fingers of Death himself had brushed his icy fingers across your face as he passed...

and then BATS!!! a cloud of bats....

ok, did I have you spooked? !!

several people asked to see a pic of my small bats. here they are ....
not exactly scary though, so I thought I'd better add some atmosphere!! :-)

saturday musings

Everything is as it should be- today, it feels like October.
Its very chill outside, with a cloudy sky and an occasional gust of wind rustling the trees. This morning was brighter, but as the afternoon has arrived, the clouds moved in and the temperature dropped. I do like my seasons to follow their seasonal blueprint. I am quite happy that its chillier now, that the evenings draw in more quickly, that the leaves are spinning and twirling to the ground. I like drawing the curtains, turning on a lamp, settling down indoors, listening to the weather outside, feet tucked under a throw (or a dog!) and a book on my lap...I would light a fire if I could, I really do need to sort the chimney-reopening as soon as I can afford it...

I took the bus into town this morning, and after trips to the bank (what a queue!) and then to the PO (ditto!) the morning was mine.just over an hour later I was boarding the bus home, with a few bits and bobs from the charity shops. I only made a few modest purchases, just a few pounds spent but I am pleased- and they are things I will use..

a few pieces of china- all will go into everyday use. its funny how I was drawn to everything blue today!


a lovely hardback book, in brand new condition. This is still available on Amazon at just under £23 so my £2 was a real bargain!


and erm, two small bats. I like bats. I have a small collection of (soft toy) bats that sit on my bed, so I had to bring these two home at 39p each... Ive just googled the collective noun for bats and was given two options, a colony or a cloud... I rather like a cloud of bats.... :-)

Before heading home I made two more purchases- these fat quarters for a project I have in mind for yule (I bought 6, there's two each of the middle two patterns)

and lastly, two pumpkins for carving at the end of the month. the ones I was growing here were wantonly vandalised by the local rodent population giving me no option but to buy some..... and that needed to be early to ensure they hadnt all sold out in the run up to Hallowe'en...

I still have a sore throat, I have had it most of the week now, and its finally easing- it was shockingly sore earlier in the week. I am now indoors for the rest of the day, and plan a quiet restful evening, I have templates to cut out for the fabric above, and Ive cast something on to my knitting needles last night....so watch this (blog)space!! :-)

The moon and me

The moon and me

I will go up the mountain after the moon
She is caught in a dead fir tree
Like a great pale apple of silver and pearl,
Like a great pale apple is she.

I will leap and will catch her with quick cold hands
And carry her home in my sack.
I will set her down safe on the oaken bench
That stands by the chimney stack.

And then I will sit by the fire all night,
And sit by the fire all day
I will gnaw at the moon to my hearts delight
Till I gnaw her slowly away.

And while I grow mad with the moons cold taste
The world will beat at my door
Crying ‘COME OUT’ and crying ‘MAKE HASTE’
And ‘GIVE US THE MOON ONCE MORE’

But I shall not answer them ever at all
I shall laugh as I count and hide
The great black beautiful Seeds of the Moon
In a flower pot deep and wide

Then I shall lie down and go fast asleep
Drunken with flame and a swoon
But the seeds will sprout and the seeds will leap
The subtle swift seeds of the Moon

And some day, all of the world that cries
And beats at my door shall see
A thousand moon-leaves spring from my thatch
On a wonderful white moon-tree

Then each shall have moons to his hearts desire
Apples of silver and pearl
Apples of orange and copper fire
Setting his fire with a swirl

And then they will thank me, who mock me now
‘wanting the moon, is she’
oh, I am off to the mountain after the moon
‘ere she falls from the dead fir tre

Fannie Stearns Davis

wednesday musings

beautiful Pixie

today is my nephews birthday so if you are reading A, a big happy birthday to you! (not that he will be reading of course, reading your auntie's blog just isnt cool, is it? :-)

Today is also wednesday and my day at home. Its a glorious autumn day outside, it was chilly early, with a nondescript dawn and grey skies. That did clear away by midmorning and the sun has been lovely, highlighting the changing colours that are creeping in all around.When my sister and I travelled up to Cambridge and around the East at the weekend, both of us noticed how the autumn transformation was more ahead there than down here in Dorset/ Somerset. The colours there were truly stunning, golds and bronzes, crimsons and scarlets. I should think the East is a good one to two weeks ahead judging by the green still visible here, mixed with the autumn palette . You wouldnt think in this little country of ours that there would be such a noticeable difference.

Sam and Finn

Here today though, its very beautiful. The sun is filtering through the thinning branches, and the birds were singing so beautifully earlier. Its been such a lovely day, and not least because I havent been out all day. I treasure my days indoors. My home is my special place and my sanctuary from an increasingly crazy, selfish and disastisfying world. I work because I have to, need to, and I'd love to be able to be here all the time once again.

Ive cleaned, dusted, swept up the doghair tumbleweeds that plague me, lol, and generally caught up with all the things that need doing constantly. Ive moved some furniture around- oh how I enjoy doing that! the re-arranging, and then sorting everything out into a new place! Ive taken china down from high shelves and washed it all sparkly clean again now and free from dust and cobwebs- the spiders this year are many manyfold, and so are the cobwebs! Outside, Ive cut the grass, and my nose flared with that wet grass aroma. Ive been sneezing so much today! Ive swept crisp dry leaves from the patio, and cleaned the hens out. They have really enjoyed the sunshine today, stretching little wings out to gather in the suns warmth, rolling on the sunny, dusty ground and just enjoying a gorgeous day. Little Pixie cat dozed in her usual spot on top of the hen house, sitting upright, eyes closed to the brightnness, but alert nonetheless- her green eyes flash open in a breath if she hears a sound. The dogs have stretched out in the sun, following me companionably as I moved from indoors to outside and back again.

My son and daughter will be home soon. There's a nice dinner roasting in the oven, a small joint but plenty for the three of us, and the kitchen smells wonderful. Its the little things like that that are so nice, the aroma of dinner wafting from the kitchen, the scent of beeswax polish in the living room, a big pile of clean fluffy fresh-air-dried towels returned upstairs- all the little things that say Ive been here today, and have been able to care for my home, and my family. Not the usual rush as we all arrive home tired and hungry on a working day, and grab something quick to eat, the rush to check the hens before the dark of the evening falls, seeing to the dogs, unloading the washing machine, just a turmoil of things to be done quickly before I sink into a chair, tired. my daily ration of energy spent.

Merlin, my beautiful boy.

Its been a lovely day, and days like these are bittersweet for as much as Ive enjoyed every minute it also reminds me that this is not my every day life anymore, that tomorrow its back to work..

the photos on this post were all taken last night or today...some of my beautiful companions..

tuesday musings

I am home from my travels, but back at work this morning.

above, the waning moon visible in the inky sky at 6am this mornig, followed by the dawning of this new day...

Sherborne Pack Monday Fair

this is unique to Sherborne, and takes place on monday (12th october). the date is important- its always the first monday after the 10th October, which was the date of Old Michaelmas. Similiar fairs did take place at this time of year in other country towns, known as Mop Fairs or Hiring Fairs, sherborne has the only Pack Fair!

The fair has been taking place for hundreds of years. The true origins are lost, replaced by theories and opinions. who's to say which one is correct? ;-) Some accounts say 700 years, saying its origins were an agricultural fair, and gaining its name from a corruption of the word ‘pact’ as this was the time of year that the new agreements were made between farmers and labourers taken on for casual work.

Others say it dates from a celebration to mark the completion of building of Sherborne Abbey back in 1490...some say that in the 15th Century fire severely damaged the abbey, and workmen, under foreman called Teddy Roe, carried out repairs. When work had been finished, the labourers packed up their tools and celebrated by marching through the town blowing on cow horns. This tradition carries on to the present day, as the fair opens at midnight on sunday , with processions through the town blowing horns and whistles and banging saucepans!!

the modern day fair fills the whole town centre! the streets are filled with market stalls, street traders, food stalls and entertainment. A funfair is also present, and many thousands of people visit this small corner of dorset!


Its typical!! I've never been to this and would like to see it for myself now I live in Sherborne, but I will be away in the east sunday and monday, arriving home sometime on mondaylate afternoon/ evening so I will miss the fair this year. If we make good time and I get home earlier than expected, I will take a walk into the town centre, and soak up a little of the atmosphere!

the photos, all from previous years, on this post are all sourced/borrowed from the net, mainly the bbc news site and other dorset tourism sites, so a big thank you to those sites!

this below is an old postcard of the sherborne pack fair, dated 1905

Saturday Musings

today started quietly, with a blanket of heavy mist shrouding the town, even the bottom of the garden was hidden from me. Cobwebs, still draped throughout the whole garden, hung with dewdrops, and the air was chill. The gorgeous autumn mist has lifted now, burned away by the rising sun, and its looks promising for a nice day.

I lost my hen Willow last night, I had to take the decision to end her life, and it was not an easy thing for me to do. But sometimes difficult decisons have to be made, she was my responsibilty and her needs were greater than my sensibilities. so RIP my little hen. x

I will be away for a few days. My oldest son is at uni in Cambridge, so, with my sister, I am going to visit him, loaded with supplies of course! Then from there to visit our other sister on the east coast, and from there, south to visit my nephew!
We are both really looking forward to seeing our sons, and respective nephews, and we havent seen our sister for months so its lovely to be able to catch up. We will be back home here on monday evening, and I am back at work on tuesday morning!

So I have a lot to do today, before we leave- most importantly, washing to get done and hung up so its dry for my return, and the hens to clean out. (My younger son here will care for all the animals while I am away.) I also need to bake some goodies for my son- he is missing my home baking!!

here in Sherborne, big preparations are underway for an annual event, staged here for centuries- Pack Monday fair. Its typical I wont be here to see this, but away on the other side of the country! I'll write a separate post about this fair, I love its tradition, and will make sure I am at home next year!!

outraged

regular readers will know I love the Moon. To me, She is organic, magical, special. I have a deep sense of outrage today at the awful news that Nasa is bombing the Moon. Launching missiles to bury beneath Her surface, smashing into her at great speed, twice the speed of a bullet apparently. Scientists expect the blast to be so powerful that a huge plume of debris will be ejected into the void of space. The scientists are looking for water, necessary in order to establish a moonbase there. Ive also read newspaper reports that they will later be mining for various minerals and even speculation about moon hotels for the richest of people - the ultimate holiday destination. That other nations, China, Japan, the continent of Europe as well as the US are all planning moon missions. I sit here, appalled and outraged. These are not moon missions, This is Moon desecration. How arrogant of all these governments to sanction, sponsor these 'missions' and attacks upon the Moon. The Moon does not belong to any one country, She is there for all life on this planet. Not just human beings, but ALL life. Any 'mission', and I spit that word out, should only go ahead with the consent of every citizen of earth, every creature, every life form that she shines upon. and of course, that would never be obtained.

Throughout eons of time, the Moon has been sacred, revered and worshipped by some, important to the rhythms of our planet. We have a symbiotic relationship with Her. The Earth needs the Moon, its as simple as that, and in return the Moon needs our protection, Not our missiles. I could cry. I am really upset by this.

Mankind has come very close to destroying our beautiful mother planet. Our Earth. We have plundered and pillaged her fuels, her gems, we have polluted her oceans, destroyed her forests, sent many species of life into extinction. We have poisoned the very soil with chemicals, very nearly destroyed the ozone layer, and irrevocably damaged the polar ice caps. We are a selfish, tunnel-visoned virus on her surface and I am ashamed to be a human when I learn of the atrocities we continually commit. I truly believe the Earth is wounded now, she is sick, and only we can reverse the rot.
and we can start by leaving the Moon alone.
We have done such harm here on Earth, we should not now be starting on the Moon.

I am just one woman, angry and upset by this, sitting in my small home in a small country town in southern england. But I will try to make a difference. I will be lighting a candle tonight, and praying for the Moon, or rather, praying that these hostile attacks on her prove fruitless, and are abandoned. I will pray the missiles fail and never reach target. I will pray that the Moon forgives us. I will pray for healing for the Earth too, that its not too late for us to put everything right. I fear my prayers will be in vain but I will try anyway. what else can I do? I ask anyone out there who feels as I do, to light a candle tonight too, to join thoughts and prayers with me and other healers also praying tonight.

thank you for reading.

friday musings

I couldnt sleep last night. I tossed and turned, I fidgeted, I tossed and turned again. Sleep just wouldnt come. I came back down, and made a hot chocolate. Through my kitchen window, I caught a glimpse of glow in the dark of the night. The wind was tossing the trees around, but there was no rain. I took my drink outside, and sat on the wooden bench, my warm breath and the steam from my mug both visible in the cold. Pulling my dressing gown tighter around me, I drank my chocolate outside, the world silent but for the swishing, rustling trees, and I let the Moon soothe my restlessless.

Ive always loved the dark, and the Moon is magical. I returned to bed eventually, and sleep did come, although this morning I am tired. At least its friday, and there's only today to drag myself through at work, before the weekend!

a quote for thursday

How ridiculous and unrealistic is the man who is astonished at anything that happens in life.

Marcus Aurelius

daybreak

at 5.50am this morning , the sky was still soot, and the now waning Moon still filled the darkness with her beautiful silver glow...

light began to return subtely around 6.30..
soft pastels began to seep into the now dove grey sky




7.1o, and the blue of the day is now apparent..

7.20am, pink streaks now stretch across the growing blue...

now, at 7.45, these pink tones have now drifted away, and the sun is trying to shine.

Yesterday was so grey and wet, It was raining nearly all day, starting mid morning and enduring for the rest of the day. The garden thirstily drank all the rainfall, we have had very very little lately, and a good drenching was overdue.As I went to bed, I could still hear the rain on my window, and I fell asleep to its drumming rhythm.

The forecast is for a dry day today, but the rain returns tomorrow.

a quote for tuesday

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

- Marcus Aurelius

poem for monday -Bronte.

LIFE, believe, is not a dream,
So dark as sages say;
Oft a little morning rain
Foretells a pleasant day:
Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,
But these are transient all;
If the shower will make the roses bloom,
Oh, why lament its fall?
Rapidly, merrily,
Life's sunny hours flit by,
Gratefully, cheerily,
Enjoy them as they fly.

What though death at times steps in,
And calls our Best away?
What though Sorrow seems to win,
O'er hope a heavy sway?
Yet Hope again elastic springs,
Unconquered, though she fell,
Still buoyant are her golden wings,
Still strong to bear us well.
Manfuly, fearlessly,
The day of trial bear,
For gloriously, victoriously,
Can courage quell dispair.

Charlotte Brontë

Sunday musings

its been a quiet day here, lots of tea drinking, lots of reading, a nice full roast dinner, I baked some cookies, and thats about it really!

Its the full moon tonight, and I fear all her shiny silvery light will be obscured by cloud. Its been overcast all day, and raining all afternoon.

The washing is on clothes airers all over the place indoors, and the garden is cold, wet and unwelcoming. The cats and dogs are all indoors curled and cosy in various chairs and on various cushions.

I took this photo on thursday or friday. Now these beautiful roses are bent with the weight of raindrops, babypink petals laying scattered below. The roses have done well this year, but its October , and they are bowing out now...

I planted up the hyacinths this weekend, as I said. This larger bowl is the one I bought this week, next to the smaller one I already had. Obviously produced by the same pottery, the designs are different but complimentary, and they will look lovely in a few months with the fully grown flowers in them. I enjoy doing this at this time of year, not so much really for the flowers in the festive season, but more to lift the spirits afterwards- in the cold, flat months of january and february, a little hint of the springtime to come is so soul-lifting.

some hyacinths have also gone into a china garden pot outside, and the last few into pretty teacups, a lovely way to display them, on their matching saucer... They are all in a dark cupboard now, we wont see them again for a while...

I made some cherry shortbread cookies... we love shortbread in my family...I was hoping these would last for my sons lunchboxes this coming week but I am not so sure.. already some have mysteriosuly disappeared...

maybe its those pesky faeries again.... or maybe not!!

MEME

I found this meme online. it was twice as long so I've cut it down to suit me.... feel free to copy and have a go yourselves...

1) Never in my life: will I bungee jump!

2) .When I was five: I lived in australia. when I was five my grandparents bought me my teddy- I still have him!


3) I will never forget: my Dad.

4) By noon I'm usually: at work, and counting the hours until i can come home

5) Last night I: sat outside for ages, watching the moon

6) If only I had: listened to my head instead of my heart!

7) There's a person I know: who is 6ft 7!

8) When I turn my head left, I see: my beautiful cat Merlin, my mug of tea and a pile of books (the next- to- read pile!)

9) When I turn my head right, I see: my vintage Singer sewing machine, 1926

10) You know I'm lying when: i immediately blush- I cant tell lies easily!

11) By this time next year I: really hope fate/ karma is smiling more on me and my family.

12) I hope that: Man never returns to the Moon, builds hotels there, excavates her minerals , or mines her. does anything there. All the current speculation really bothers me

13) I have a hard time understanding: animal cruelty

14) My favourite thing is: all my family-( 2 and 4 legged!! )

15) The world could do without: greed and selfishness, most politicians, Big Brother and other reality shows, OK and Hello type magazines, chewing gum, really annoying cold calls on the telephone, and...... oh I could make such a long list here!!

saturday musings

The weather men predicted the first frosts for this week, but we havent had any yet. They have also predicted high winds, and so far we have only had blustery gusts. Its shaking loose the early-falling leaves from the trees, and stirring up those already gathering in drifts against kerbs and walls. Its cold though, the wind is keeping temperatures down, and it feels decidedly chilly. The photo above was sunrise this morning, but the sun didnt stay for long, its grey and overcast. We've had a few spots of rain but the blustery breeze is keeping it away for now.
I was out of the house before nine, I had a parcel to collect from the PO and a library book also was reserved and waiting for collection. a few other chores- printer ink and some medicines being top of the list- and then it was quickly home to warm my hands on a mug of good strong hot tea! But not before i bought a lovely old book in the charity shop! It was in the 50p bargain bin outside the front door-
'the Countryside Companion' . Its a first edition, published in 1905. I love these old books, its so poignant reading even little snippets, the descriptions of the countryside as it was then, the flora and fauna, the country ways. A hundred years has seen so many changes, and many not for the better.

one interesting paragraph though, and I quote...

"unfortunately many of us have been so long divorced from natural surroundings that we have grown up woefully ignorant of the infinite variety of interesting and beautiful features to be found in the country"...

If Mr Stephenson thought that about the general public back in the last years of Queen Victoria's reign, what would he make of us sitting here now in the 21st century?


Ive been indulging a desire for crafting today. Knitting my little ghost last week has rekindled the bug, and while I sat and watched a DVD earlier, Ive knitted half of another one! Ive also sorted the threads to carry on with a Yule/christmas cross stitch, maybe it will be finished in time for this year...
(but I said that last year too!!...and the year before that!!!) Ive left it out on the table, and intend to stitch some more tonight.


back in june (here) I posted a pic of two faerie cut-outs I had bought for pennies. Well, I am behind the times , as summer has departed, but I finally got them painted and varnished and next spring/summer now they will dance in my garden!! Not much point putting them out now really, what looks like around 40 million leaves from all my trees will shortly descend on the breeze on my garden, and would bury them! but at least they are ready now, their dancing paused until the first shy tips of snowdrops push through the soil...

they look blue in this pic, they are shiny crow- black really!!

thats better....

A few weeks ago I bought these two very lovely drawings. They are by an artist called Hannah Willow, and were inset into greetings cards. Hannah has a website- (here)

last week I found two tatty and scratched gold picture frames in a charity shop box, for 50p each. A quick spray with paint transformed them...

very carefully I removed the drawings from the card mounts and earlier, I finished them. I now have two very lovely pictures, at a fraction of the cost of buying ready framed prints...

As Ive been typing this up, the sky has filled with menacing grey cloud, hanging low in the sky and threatening rain. Its really very cold today. Its times like this I really miss my fab woodburner in the cottage, and I long to have my fireplaces opened up here! Theres something so magical about the crackle of logs in the dancing flames, and the radiating warmth of a fire...

I am off now to cook some pasta for the hens, It will be a chilly night, and a warm supper will help them keep warm and snug later...

Autumn Woods- poem

Autumn Woods

  Ere, in the northern gale,
The summer tresses of the trees are gone,
The woods of Autumn, all around our vale,
     Have put their glory on.

     The mountains that infold,
In their wide sweep, the coloured landscape round,
Seem groups of giant kings, in purple and gold,
     That guard the enchanted ground.

     I roam the woods that crown
The upland, where the mingled splendours glow,
Where the gay company of trees look down
     On the green fields below.

     My steps are not alone
In these bright walks; the sweet south-west, at play,
Flies, rustling, where the painted leaves are strown
     Along the winding way.

     And far in heaven, the while,
The sun, that sends that gale to wander here,
Pours out on the fair earth his quiet smile,—
     The sweetest of the year.

     Where now the solemn shade,
Verdure and gloom where many branches meet;
So grateful, when the noon of summer made
     The valleys sick with heat?

     Let in through all the trees
Come the strange rays; the forest depths are bright?
Their sunny-coloured foliage, in the breeze,
     Twinkles, like beams of light.

     The rivulet, late unseen,
Where bickering through the shrubs its waters run,
Shines with the image of its golden screen,
     And glimmerings of the sun.

     But ’neath yon crimson tree,
Lover to listening maid might breathe his flame,
Nor mark, within its roseate canopy,
     Her blush of maiden shame.

     Oh, Autumn! why so soon
Depart the hues that make thy forests glad;
Thy gentle wind and thy fair sunny noon,
     And leave thee wild and sad!

     Ah! ’twere a lot too blessed
For ever in thy coloured shades to stray;
Amid the kisses of the soft south-west
     To rove and dream for aye;

     And leave the vain low strife
That makes men mad—the tug for wealth and power,
The passions and the cares that wither life,
     And waste its little hour.

William Cullen Bryant

day and night....

conkers

a few photos from today... from my walk to work. Autumn colours, early sunshine, and shadows from the low sun, autumn hues of golds and crimsons creeping into the greens...



the little dot in the white sky to the right of the tower isnt a dirt speck on the lens...


and then, the day is done, and night falls... once again the Moon rides the cloudy skies...

1st october

"October is nature's funeral month.
Nature glories in death more than in life.
The month of departure is more beautiful than the month of coming - October than May. Every green thing loves to die in bright colors."

- Henry Ward Beecher

wednesday musings

where did today go? I think the later dawning of the day and the earlier nightfall is really noticeable already, the day doesnt seem to stretch as far as it did a few weeks ago! its less than a month now until the clocks change yet again, and then we really will be in the dark half of the year, I shall be walking to and from work in the dark I think!

I had an email yesterday, from the local library. I had ordered/ reserved a book online, and it was ready for collection. After initial chores here, I pulled a brush through my hair, pulled on a cardi and set off for the library only to find it doesnt open on wednesdays, arghh!! That particular chore will now have to wait until saturday! I did pop into a charity shop and bought such a pretty small bowl, just perfect for some hyacinth bulbs . I have a similiar bowl already, and I picked up a few hyacinths in a small brown paper sack before coming home. I didnt get round to doing them today- I am allergic to the bulbs, as many people are, and my skin reacts badly to touching them.I am sensitive to quite a few things, annoyingly! I need gloves on before I can plant them, so I'll do that at the weekend (when I've found where I tidied the latex gloves away to!)and put them in the dark, ready for forcing later on. I'll take a pic of the bowl then, its so pretty.

I cleaned the oven today. What a thankless task that is. Time consuming and tiresome, and nobody notices its been done anyway! I poopscooped the garden. Within half an hour it had been, erm, graced with a presence again! I changed all the bedding. Now that is one job that does get noticed, for one of life's small pleasures is sliding into a freshly laundered bed!

I ladled all the mincemeat into jars, saving the last spoonful for me of course! a little taste of things to come! Ive made a lot, enough for Mum and Sis too, and its now stored away, to sit quietly and mature, ready for those seasonal mince pies..

the rest of the day? armchair, mugs of tea, cats on lap and a book! well it is supposed to be my day off!!!

last nights moon

the first pic was taken just after I got in from work, and was having a cuppa in the garden, and talking to the hens, like you do!


then as daylight began to drain from the heavens, she began to wear a pinky hue...


and as Night finally cloaked the sky in darkness She shone so silvery...
only 4 more days until the Fullmoon now...

the small bright dot is Jupiter...

michaelmas- 29th september

Today is Michaelmas Day

Traditionally this is the day celebrating the feast of St Michael, the Archangel.

St Michael was the patron saint of the seas, ships and sailors, as well as horses and horsemen. In Legend, he is the angel who evicted Lucifer from Heaven

Michaelmas Day is also the final day of the harvest, which traditionally begins on August 1st. In some areas it was also the start of the winter curfew, which was marked by the ringing of the church bells at 9pm every night. The earliest record of a curfew bell is dated 1380, and Chertsey in Surrey still upholds the tradition of ringing church bells at 9pm on Michaelmas Day.

In times gone by, Michaelmas was also one of the four quarter days of the year. These were the days when tenants had to pay rents to landlords etc


"And when the tenauntes come
To paie their quarter’s rent
They bring some fowle at Midsummer,
A dish of fish in Lent,
At Christmas a capon,
At Michaelmas, a goose,
And somewhat else at New Yere
For feare the lease flie loose.

George Gasgoine
English poet, 1577
~

In some areas, this day was also called Goose day, and some towns still hold Goose fairs at this time of year. It was often the custom to roast a goose at Michaelmas, and various sayings still exist in folklore records…

"If you eat goose on Michaelmas day,
Want not for money all the year"

"He who eats goose on michaelmas day
Shant money lack for debts to pay"
~

traditionally today was the last day for picking blackberries. This belief was linked to the Bible’s vision of St Michael and his angels driving Lucifer out of Heaven and down to Earth . One legend has it that he landed in a blackberry bush on 29th September, soundly cursed the prickly plant and its fruit, and spat on it!

Michaelmas was also the traditional day in England for choosing new magistrates and bailiffs. The townspeople would go into the streets and throw cabbage stalks at each other, in a ritual called the lawless hour, following which the new bailiffs ceremoniously paraded through the town.

Michaelmas Folklore and Proverbs

Eat less and drink less, and buy a knife at Michaelmas’.

~
If St Michael brings many acorns, Christmas will cover the fields with snow.
(trad. english folklore)
~

‘A dark Michaelmas, a Lighter Christmas’

~

At Michaelmas time, or a little before,
Half an apple goes to the core;
At christmas-time, or a little after,
A crab in the hedge,
And thanks to the grafter.
(Traditional English proverb)

~

So many days the moon is old on St Michael’s day,
so many floods after.
(Traditional English weather saying)

~

Harvest comes as long before Michaelmas

as dog roses bloom before Midsummer.
(Traditional English weather saying)

~

If it does not rain on St Michael’s and Gallus [Oct 16],
a dry spring is indicated for the next year.
(Traditional English proverb )
~

I dined on goose yesterday, which
I hope will secure a good
sale of my 2nd Edition’

Jane Austen
30th september 1813

~

Three things that never come to any good:
Christmas pigs,
Michaelmas fowls,
and parsons’ daughters.

(Traditional English proverb)

~

The Victorians held the belief that planting new trees on this day would
assure they would thrive and grow well.

Michaelmas Daisies (Aster family)


The poet Virgil wrote of the aster being used in wreaths used by the Gods.

The ancient Greeks wrote that Asters (the word Aster means star) were created from the tears of Cirgo. As he looked down from heaven and wept his falling teardrops blended with stardust and became asters on earth

the ancient Greeks also claimed asters were a cure for snake bites, and in the 1600’s were said to be a remedy for the bite of a mad dog!

~

"The Michaelmas Daisies, among dede weeds,
Bloom for St michaels valorous deeds,

And seems the last of flowers that stood,
Till the feast of St Simon and St Jude."

The Song of the Michaelmas Daisy Fairy

Red Admiral, Red Admiral,
I'm glad to see you here,
Alighting on my daisies one by one!
I hope you like their flavour and although the Autumn's near,
Are you happy as you sit there in the sun?"
I thank you very kindly, sir!
Your daisies are so nice,
So pretty and so plentiful are they
The flavour of their honey, sir, it really does entice
I'd like to bring my brothers, if I may!"
"Friend butterfly, friend butterfly, go fetch them one and all
I'm waiting here to welcome every guest;
And tell them it is Michaelmas, and soon the leaves will fall,
But I think Autumn sunshine is the best!"
Cicely May Barker

The Michaelmas Fairy

no two the same...

The first two photos are the moon and sunset from sunday night....

and now, the moon and sunset from last night...

am i crazy, lol?

take a look at the photo directly below- the one I took earlier of the spider dangling from a branch....
every time I look at it now, I dont see curling leaves.
All I can see is a row of funny little bird creatures standing along the branch, leaning forwards and looking down at the spider!

Please someone tell me they can see them too!!

I am off to sit in a darkened room now.... :-) :-) :-)

sunday musings

is it a bird, is it a plane? no its one of the army of spiders that have taken up residence here, see previous post! they are everywhere!

its the most beautiful, glorious september day here in Dorset. A day that makes you smile, just because. Ive been so busy, but good- busy, and I really feel like I've achieved things today- and I dont always get those feelings all the time anymore.

First thing, I made the mincemeat for yule/christmas. I meant to do this in my time off last week, and completely forgot, so thanks to Sarah for reminding me! This is now becoming happily inebriated in brandy and I'll get it sealed in jars in a day or two. its nice that I could use apples from my own tree in this, I dont know the variety, but its a big gnarled old tree, with lovely shiny (mostly)red apples, crisp and sweet.

Next was the rest of the cooking apples.(from my sisters trees) These turned into an apple pie for now, and a large le parfait jar of stewed apple for the storecupboard.

while I had been busy in the kitchen my washing danced on the line in the sunshine. The hens enjoyed the glorious sunshine , happily lazing the day away...while I worked on the garden...

here they are, six of them... I think this should be captioned 'pretty maids all in a row' !!

click to enlarge..

from L to R- Belle, Sylvie, Flora, Marigold, Hazel. Lily
yes, the young ones are moulting!

I've dug a new bed, well, not a bed as such, but Ive dug over the ground beneath the jews mallow, and planted up wallflowers and sweet williams for next year. Its a scruffy area of garden and I am hoping this cheap quick-fix will make it look nicer next year. I am realistic about my garden- it will take years to get it the way I would like it, and thats not possible yet- big dogs have big clumsy feet and toxic pee! the dogs will be around for a few more years yet, and until then, its not worth investing too much money in the flower garden. So for now, the wallflowers have gone in and I have some bulbs to plant too, but have run out of time yet again. the weekends pass too quickly, sigh!
remember a few months ago, I foraged/ scavenged 1 dozen or so old wire shopping baskets from a skip? well, they have been brought into use today, protecting the said plants from the said clumsy feet! By the time the plants have grown enough to need the baskets off, they should be strong enough to withstand any doggy onslaught!

Finally for now, I watched Lords of the Rings last night. And while I did so, I sorted out my patchworks, sadly neglected since last winter. There just hasnt been time to keep up with everything. Ive barely crafted all year, and I am looking forwards to resurrecting these over the coming dark months. I even sewed a few dozen hexagons onto paper as I watched the film, to kickstart me again! I bought Simply Knitting magazine yesterday, tempted by the fabulous vampire bat pattern shown on the cover! Its wonderful, and I really want to have a go at him! (whether my knitting skills are up to it is another matter!) With Halloween/ Samhain not far off now, I also knitted a small ghost and chains last night, finishing him off earlier by sewing him up and stuffing him.

Here he is atop a candlestick- he looks rather regal doesnt he, just like Nelson on his column!!

gossamer threads....

Its very early. Day is breaking, and a heavy dew lays everywhere. Gossamer threads criss cross my garden. I am not sure its my garden right now, I think it has become realm of the spider! This last week or two, we have had so many spiders move in, stringing their intricate lacework from bough to fence to branch. Its impossible to walk far out there without walking into one of these long single threads stretching yards across the garden. With all my big trees, overgrown hedgerow along the bottom, and blackberries winding their way through the garden, its ideal for spiders and there are cobwebs everywhere, as are the master weavers who created them. I dont mind spiders, but my daughter has a real phobia, and the garden has become a no-go area for her right now!

Early mornings the webs glisten with dew, late at night the growing Moon adds silver highlights to them. they are very beautiful.
in this pic below you see some of the single strands. they are everywhere, and almost invisible, these silky tripwires.

apparently, the climate this year is beneficial to spiders, who do perform valuable tasks for us. have a look here... (the bbc website)

autumn dawn, autumn skies......

a thought for friday....

Most of the shadows in this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

moon music

Ive avoided it for a week or so, but I am back talking about the moon again.

But She is so very very breath-taking tonight that I cant help it.

I was out with my son in his car, travelling west as the sun bid its farewell. The sky was aflame with this huge fiery burning orb, too bright to look directly at, like molton bronze, with a final yellowy halo of gold.. it was a stunning sunset, and I sat quietly as the car travelled along, completely in its thrall, watching the drama play out in every tone of orange and pink across the twilight sky.

Now, an hour and a half later we are home, and our return journey was in velvety indigo darkness. This time my eyes were fastened to the Ladymoon rising into the heavens in a silvery arc. And once again I was silent, captivated, held in her silvery light as a moth is held by a cobweb.

The sunset was stunning, absolutely so, but the Moon is music to me. So much more than stunning. its the only way I can describe it.. when I watch the moon, time slows, She is a symphony that plays to my soul. She is powerful, and magickal, and mesmeric. She is growing again now, waxing, and as she does so, her energy is building, and her magnetism too.

It was my birthday this week as you know, on the equinox. On the night of my birth, the Ladymoon was waxing to her first quarter too, just as she is tonight. Had my mother looked out of her window that night, the moon would have appeared to her, as she does to me tonight. Looking up at her tonight, knowing that it was in that form she greeted my birth makes me feel quite emotional.

these photos are with the flash, and they show her with an orange tinge. I do not see that with my naked eye, I see her silver sheen, and her beautiful silverblue glow .

what is funny is that in the photos the 'man in the moon' is so clear, and yet, the Moon is so so obviously 'female' in spirit. the sun is male, the moon is not. the Moon is the Ladymoon, and why we say 'man in the moon' is beyond me.

Late September

Late September

Tang of fruitage in the air;
Red boughs bursting everywhere;
Shimmering of seeded grass;
Hooded gentians all a'mass.

Warmth of earth, and cloudless wind
Tearing off the husky rind,
Blowing feathered seeds to fall
By the sun-baked, sheltering wall.

Beech trees in a golden haze;
Hardy sumachs all ablaze,
Glowing through the silver birches.
How that pine tree shouts and lurches!

From the sunny door-jamb high,
Swings the shell of a butterfly.
Scrape of insect violins
Through the stubble shrilly dins.

Every blade's a minaret
Where a small muezzin's set,
Loudly calling us to pray
At the miracle of day.

Then the purple-lidded night
Westering comes, her footsteps light
Guided by the radiant boon
Of a sickle-shaped new moon.

By Amy Lowell ( 1874— 1925)
From Sword Blades and Poppy Seeds

look what I am growing now....

wonder what the latin name for this is? I cant seem to find this rare blossom in any of my gardening books!!

I expect its something like Millie-cattus splendida?!!! :-)

autumn equinox...

blessings of the season to everyone who reads here.....

clouds...

I mentioned this morning fantastic clouds...here's the pics

we woke to a huge cloudbank (the edge of a weather 'front' I believe) moving across our sky here. I had my first cuppa of the day- birthday tea!- sitting outside watching it traverse the sky... later it began to break up into cotton wool fluffiness...

a good day to be born!

its my birthday today!

Another year older, hopefully another year wiser, but the jury is probably still out on that one!

Its also the autumn Equinox, the time of equal light and dark, before the world turns with increasing darkness towards the coming winter. the harvests are over now, and we can reflect on what we have achieved throughtout the fertile months we are leaving behind.

I will probably post some more about the equinox tonight, if time allows. it certainly doesnt allow now, as despite it being my birthday, work beckons and i need to get ready. there are some amazing clouds outside this morning. I'll take my camera with me on the walk to work...

I'll leave you for now with Blakes poem- To Autumn....

To Autumn

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stain'd
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou may'st rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

"The narrow bud opens her beauties to
The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;
Blossoms hang round the brows of Morning, and
Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve,
Till clust'ring Summer breaks forth into singing,
And feather'd clouds strew flowers round her head.

'The spirits of the air live in the smells
Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round
The gardens, or sits singing in the trees."

Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat,
Then rose, girded himself, and o'er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.

William Blake

World Peace Day - today

In honour of world Peace day today I post below the Earths 10 Commandments by Ernest Callenbach.

I do hope its ok to reproduce these words here, they are full of thoughtfulness, message, and teaching. I am posting them here in that spirit, that the Earth needs all of us to sit up and listen...

as a pagan its not often I post something that sounds soo biblical in its structure! its the message thats important here, rather than the structure I think!


do also have a look at Mr callenbachs website here

* * * * *


Thou shalt love and honour the Earth for it blesses thy life and governs thy survival.

Thou shalt keep each day sacred to the Earth and celebrate the turning of the seasons.

Thou shalt not hold thyself above other living things nor drive them to extinction.

Thou shalt give thanks for thy food to the creatures and plants that nourish thee.

Thou shalt limit thy offspring for multitudes of people are a burden to the earth.

Thou shalt not kill nor waste Earth's riches upon weapons of war.

Thou shalt not hide from thyself or others the consequences of they actions upon the Earth.

Thou shalt not pursue profit at the Earth's expense but strive to restore its damaged majesty.

Thou shalt not steal from future generations by impoverishing or poisoning the Earth.

Thou shalt consume material goods in moderation so all may share Earth's bounty.

* * * * *


a note- no 5 says limit our reproduction, I acknowledge this is emotive and contentious to many and I myself have 3 children, and an absolute unquestionable blessing in my life they are.
However, the more I read the more I have to admit that this Earth of ours cannot sustain population growth as it is right now . the facts re unsustainable population growth were not so publicly discussed when my children were born, indeed, I seem to remember political argument that more babies needed to be born to pay N.I towards pension funds to help cover pensions for the increasingly ageing population!
I fear for the Earth and for the quality of life for those generations yet to come, but I have no answers to these difficult questions of population control

a quote for monday...

for man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together.
for nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad...

~Edwin Way Teale

sunday musings

I am sitting here at the end of the day. At the end of two weeks away from work. Tomorrow morning my alarm will go off when its still dark. the evenings are drawing in quickly now too. For the wheel is about to shift again and already we are seeing the changes in the hours of daylight.

Tomorrow morning sees me back at work, at the beginning of a new week.
Tuesday is the Autumn Equinox, and also my birthday.
So its also the beginning of another year of life for me, and its the beginning of another cycle in the eternal turning of the seasons.

I have enjoyed being at home these last two weeks, and I am not looking forward to returning to work tomorrow. I work because I must, simple as that. I'd much much rather be here.Ive been a mum and housewife all my adult life, its not easy when your life changes course. Ive been at my works for more than 6 months now, time does march onwards...

Ive had a busy 2 weeks here at home , a few nice days out and time to catch up with things here at home, all the things that working almost full time prevents me always keeping up with. The major theme of the last 2 weeks though, has to be berries. I am very nearly all berried out now, but I am pleased with the results of my efforts. Today was the berry finale, with a dozen 250ml bottles of elderberry rob added to the store. Plenty for my family and my mum and sis over the coming winter.

Its been nice spending time with the hens again. little sylvie has been broody for weeks, and there's been little I could do about it being out all day. she has lost weight, and was slender to begin with, and ive been very worried for her. Being here Ive been able to make sure she eats better, and she is finally now coming through it. Belle is now a little broody though...

heres Sylvie, with Lily, up on the fence this morning. its lovely to see her out of the nestbox, however this fence is the edge of their run, and they shouldnt be up there! (sylvie on the right)


I too have been climbing around the garden, up a ladder picking apples and hazelnuts from the trees in the garden. Pixie made me smile, while I was up the ladder and half hidden by the dense thickness of the hazel, she darted up the tree and peered at me closely through the leaves!
I adore being with my animals and really wish I could stay here again tomorrow. My lotto numbers let me down again last night, so maybe next week!

hawthorn

A hawthorn berry

How sweet a thought,
How strange a deed,
To house such glory in a seed--
A berry, shining rufously,
Like scarlet coral in the sea!
A berry, rounder than a ring,
So round, it harbours everything;
So red, that all the blood of men
Could never paint it so again.
And, as I hold it in my hand,
A fragrance steals across the land:
Rich, on the wintry heaven, I see
A white, immortal hawthorn-tree.

Mary Webb

saturday musings part two

I havent been in the charityshops much recently, ive been so busy with autumn berrying and fruit processing! The few times I have there has been little of interest- Very few things that I really wanted to come home with me.
the few bargains that I have bought recently are these very pretty sundae dishes for two pounds for the set of six, and this brass lamp (electric not oil, for a change!) which was four pounds.

I paid £1.25 for this pretty robin plate, just perfect for yule/ christmas treats.
I do have one robin plate already, thats packed away with all the festive decs, so I cant compare!

I have found three books this week, ones that caught my eye, and only cost me pennies really...

There and Back again- An Actors Tale, by Sean Astin. this is a harback book, only published in 2004 at £17.99 and I paid £1.29 for it!! I am a die hard LOTR fan, loved the books, loved the films. this is Sean Astins behind the scenes account of the two years it took to film, anecdotes, recollections etc. I am sure it will be interesting to read!

then two more little books for 50p each-

another in the 'favourite recipe' series. this one is favourite romany recipes, and each recipe comes with anecdotes from the romany contributors. some fab recipes I will try out at some point.. creamy nettles, a treacle pudding, appleby junket, ballivas pudding. I dont think i'll be trying rook pie though!

the third book caught my eye in an instant. Mary Chafins Original Country Recipes from a 17th Century Dorset Cookbook. (long title I know!)
Mary Chafin was one of 11 children from a well- to- do dorset family. she was married at 16 in 1698, living at Cranborne Chase in Dorset, before then moving to Puncknowle Manor in west Dorset. She spent the next twenty years giving birth to seven children, and she also recorded family recipes and cures in a leather-bound book. Recipes include 'rare martlemass beefe', 'jelley of pippins' and' potted mackrille'. well worth my 50p!

saturday musings

this mornings dawn...

it was a beautiful autumns day yesterday, the bluest of skies, and a gentle autumn breeze.

I spent the day at my sisters place, theres always some new hatchling to coo over, and I am still captivated by the young geese. they are so adorable. At this time of year there's so much bounty in the hedgerows surrounding her land, and after lunch we took a relaxed amble around picking berries.

acorns for my autumn/equinox altar next week

hazelnuts

the goosey trio

gorgeous Oak, acorns and leaves turning now...

blackberries, above, and elderberries below

finally a pic when I got home. Lily, in the early evening sunshine...

thursday musings-

North Dorset is very blustery today. Despite the sunshine, its cold, with little warmth to the sunshine, the wind is whipping through the trees and blowing flowerpots around the garden.

I've nothing exciting to blog about today, I've just been trying to tidy the garden, all those little end-of-season jobs, and it was all frustratingly slow. The gusty breeze kept blowing dirt and dust in my eyes too, despite wearing sunglasses, and my lenses rub with the grit. My silly eyes are more sensitive than the average eyes, and that doesnt help .

My lawnmower flatly refused to work, giving a half -hearted pathetic little whine, and that was it. It wasnt going to work, whatever I tried. I tried everything too. Stifling the childlike urge to kick the thing, I sat on the bench with my runny, gritty eyes, and gave a 'humph'. The grass just wouldnt get its overdue cut today. Not the end of the world though, is it? The fact that I am fully expecting to see wild animals roaming in it any day now is neither here or there, it will have to wait until 'the mower problem' is sorted!

I never feel 'humph' for too long. My attention was soon taken by the most gorgeous furry caterpillar sliding himself along the arm of the bench, his body arcing into an inverted U shape with alternate movements, and then stretching flat by return.

He was the colour of bronze, the sunlight highlighting the rich rich colour. He had long hairs standing upright along his substantial length, black tipped, and he was a chubby little fellow. I did fleetingly think of all my ravaged brassicas, all my thwarted efforts, converted to caterpillar portliness, but not for long. My cats, garden vandals that they sometimes are, sharpen their claws on the arm of my bench, and the wood is rough. Shredded into spiteful shard-like points. Ive had a nasty splinter before now from it.

I could only think of his fleshy soft underbelly rasping on the unforgiving wood. I gently picked him up, he curled instantly, ammonite-like, in the palm of my hand, and I moved him to the safety of the shrubbery. More hardened gardeners would not have saved him, seeing him as a predator and destroyer of veg and other plants, and thought nothing of squishing his life force away, but I could not have hurt him. I try to garden in balance with Nature, that means no pesticides, and that also means that I lose some plants sometimes to bugs. (for ''sometimes', read 'far too often' !!) I admit to beer traps for slugs, but I dont hurt caterpillars.Even the masses on my broccolli were picked off and transported elsewhere!

So, maybe this particular caterpillar's happy fate is to transform safely into a butterfly or moth and fly away, or maybe its his fate to become food for a hungry bird, now that the weather is chill.
It certainly wasnt his destiny to meet an un-gentle end by my hands.

and then there's one final thought...maybe in saving my furry little friend from the splintered danger of the bench, Ive scored a few karmic brownie-points and if I try my mower tomorrow it may just work!!

wednesday musings

its bright today, but VERY blustery outside. the wind is tossing the trees around with some force outside. its also tossing my washing around on the line, and it will be dry in no time today!

Here's yesterday's industry- 6 more jars of plum jam, 6 assorted kilners of plums bottled in syrup, and one tall kilner of hedgerow pie filling. This is a mix of plum, blackberry. a few elderberries and 2 smaller cooking apples.(the jar on the left of the photo) I also made three apple crumbles, these are now in the freezer.

tuesday musings/ blackberries

I am so enjoying not being at work this week...
the list of things to get done while I am off work is huge, and I doubt I'll get through everything. It didnt help being poorly for more than half of last week either. I've been a little snowed under with fruit too, ( I am not complaining!) that all needs dealing with quickly, so thats taken more time than expected. I am my own worst enemy though, because...
I’ve been picking blackberries again!
I couldnt help myself, there they all were, just begging to be picked, plump and juicy and ripe. I saw them while I was out and had to return with some plastic boxes. I hate seeing them rot on the branch, its such a crime!

so, once again. I am busy in the kitchen with blackberries, plums and apples...

The Song of the Blackberry Fairy

My berries cluster black and thick
For rich and poor alike to pick.
I'll tear your dress, and cling, and tease
And scratch your hands and arms and knees.
I'll stain your fingers and your face
And then I'll laugh at your disgrace.
But when the bramble-jelly's made
You'll find your trouble well repaid

Cecily May Barker

so, as I am so fruitily occupied right now, , I am repeating below some tidbits of stuff about blackberries, that I posted a few years ago...

People have been foraging blackberries, for as long as there have been people and blackberries. The plant is known by various names, amongst them bramble, cloudberry, thimbleberry, dewberry, and goutberry.

It was the ancient Greeks who associated blackberries with a cure for gout, and chewing leaves to a pulp has been a recorded treatment for bleeding gums for around 2000 years. Seeds from the blackberry were found in the stomach contents of a Neolithic man dug up at Walton-on-the Naze in Essex in 1911.

the blackberry has been attributed with diverse healing properties- for example, a tea of the roots and leaves being a cure for diarrhoea and enteritis. They have been used as tonics, and the leaves as an atringent.
Gerard (Gerards herbal) recommended mixing blackberry leaves that had been first boiled in water with honey, alum and a little white wine to make a lotion for 'fastening' the teeth’ back in! blackberry vinegar has long been a remedy for treating fever and colds

Brambles, or blackberry bushes are distinctive in the way their branches trail down to the ground, long spindly and spiky arms stretching down to grasp the earth. Often these take root, and these natural arches were believed an aid to healing. On a sunny day, the patient would crawl through the arch backwards and then forward again three times, going as close to east to west as possible. This would, it was believed, cause boils, rheumatism, hernias, whooping cough and even blackheads to disappear.

Bizarrely, a blackberry bush actually saved a man's life only a few years ago! A British man, sky diving in New Zealand in December 2006, survived a 15,000 ft fall when his parachute failed. He fell to earth at around 100mph, but landed in the bushes, and miraculously only suffered a broken ankle and a punctured lung!


Traditionally, Michaelmas Day (29th September) was the last day for picking wild blackberries, as they then became unfit to eat. This was linked with the Biblical vision of St Michael and his angels driving Satan out of heaven and down to earth (Revelation 12:7-9). the legend tells that Satan landed in a blackberry bush on 29th September, soundly cursed the prickly plant and its fruit, and spat on it., rendering the fruit thereafter unfit to eat.

I found this little piece of folklore on the Shee-eire site…

" The blackberry plant is also used to heal scalds by dipping nine blackberry leaves in spring water and then laying them against the wound gently, while saying the chant three times to each leaf (27 times in all)....

Three ladies came from the east.
One with fire and two with frost.
Out with fire, in with frost.

This is an old invocation to Brigit , the Celtic Goddess of poetry, healing and Smithcraft."

winding down and preparing....

It was still dark when I rose this morning, with a distinct chill to the air and almost a scent of rain. even now, several hours later I can feel it. The trees are motionless, leaves hanging still, early autumnal tinges appearing on their tips. The sky is dull, a blanket of matt dullness across the sky, which paradoxically has an unpleasant glare to it. As I rose, I put on the slippers I had shaken from my feet at bedtime. Its a sure sign of the wheel turning when I seek out slippers, rather than the barefoot state I favour as often as I can in the warmer months. My floors are either stone or wood, delightfully cool in summer, shockingly cold in winter! Autumn is here, hedgerows bend with the weight of berries, ripe, inviting, at their peak for a few short days before going over. Apples swell, and fall, if not picked in time, the scent of rotting apples in the long grass heady and evocative of the season.

its a time for looking ahead and making preparations. I am not taking about Christmas. I am talking about winter. Already the shops are full of christmas goods. I despair at this. People as a whole allow themselves to be dictated to by the shops... there is such pressure... buy early for christmas..... get ahead. .... you must buy this, you really need that....

In my view the only acceptable early preparations are culinary... the making of a cake or the pudding, which need time to mature, making chutneys or pickles, or wines.. these also need time... and then, if a gift is handmade, time needs to be allowed for that... I dont buy into (literally!) the corporate brainwashing of the supermarkets and other shops ....

I was in Sainsburys a few days ago, and there was a whole stand of christmas puds, mincepies and cakes. An elderly lady, mincepies in hand, smiled at me and said 'how lovely, what a treat, I shall have these tonight'. I smiled back, replying... but its only september, its the wrong time of year... Her reply was 'I was a child in the war, we had nothing, there was nothing. For years we went without. I can now buy what I want, when I want, in any month because aeroplanes can bring it to me or because shops stock it.' This really saddened me. I personally dont want , for example, strawberries at christmas, strawberries belong in the summer. Strawberries shriek summer to me, I pick them warmed by the sun and often eat them there and then, I dont want them jetted in from summer somewhere else in the world when I am in the midst of my winter. Nor do I want to be eating mincepies in september.

I have these two weeks off work- last week plus this new week starting today. I chose these weeks deliberately. not only is it my favourite time of year, but I knew I would need time here, at home, for its this season that demands time, both in the kitchen, and in preparing the garden for the winter ahead too.

Outside, theres so much to do. so much tidying and pruning and cutting back. the grass needs cutting again. I have bulbs and wallflowers to put in. I need to take cuttings from fuschias and geraniums. The greenhouse neeeds cleaning out, and all the flowerpots etc washed and stored. My beans and peas have died back, a tangled heap of browning crispy stems, and I will take them down later today. I have carefully dried the pods left to go to seed, and these are now very nearly ready for careful storage... each small globe a promise of next summers flowers and food.

above- the latest seeds to be dried in my kitchen....left to right, beans, nasturtiums, sweetpeas.. below- calendula and marigolds

herbs hang suspended in my utility room, drying slowly, its lovely- the odd breeze through the open door rustles them now and then and a fleeting scent of rosemary or lavender is detectable. Already one large crop of lavender is dried and stored away.Probably destined for lavender sachets or home made soaps etc. Onions and garlic are hanging plaited in my shed. A trug of apples from my own large tree here sits on the floor waiting for me to check them over, wrap in newspaper and store. The less-than -perfect apples are destined for my cider bucket later this week.

the storecupboard groans, bursting with jars- my jams, jellies, preserves, pickle and chutneys, jars of bottled fruits- pears, plums, apples and berries. Syrups and Cordials, a few tipsy treats, the rhubarb schnapps, the sloe vodkas. jars of pasta sauces and bottled tomatoes. Some smaller jars of handcreams and salves, so useful in the winter months for chapped lips, for dry cold hands.



the wonderful pile of fruits (see yesterdays post) that my sister dropped in yesterday will be processed today and tomorrow and add to the store, which is all shared my mum and my sisters family all winter too.

Ive sorted out and rewashed all the extra winter blankets, (all hand-knitted or crocheted, and so warm) this week too, taking advantage of this extra time at home and the few lovely sunny days to dry them in the fresh autumn air on the line. now all fresh, they are ready to be added to beds when the nights turn chillier. Afterall, its only a week until the Autumn Equinox, when the world shifts again, and we have more darker hours than light... and that darkness, which I personally love, brings the colder nights...

last nights sunset...

sunday musings

Ive spent today in the garden, trying to catch up. I havent had a lot of time lately out there, and that is is apparent! the sun shone lazily through the trees, and the big tidy up began! Its likely to take me a week or so to get it all neat and tidy again, and that will be temporary- as soon as the leaves of autumn begin their tumble earthwards I will be awash in leaves. I have so many big trees encircling the garden...

my sister popped in at lunchtime, and brought me more produce to deal with...
tomorrow I'll be busy in the kitchen I think!


apples from my sisters trees, some eaters, lots of cookers...


2lbs of blackberries, plus loads of elderberries. these still have to be de-stalked and havent been weighed yet...


and more plums, almost 13lbs in weight! the two boxes at the fore weigh 5lbs each, and the one at the top is justtwo ounces short of 3lbs!


I worked on outside after she had left. Two hours more work, and it doesnt all show, not yet!

ugly carrots!
I pulled these this afternoon to have with dinner tonight. these are the round or globe carrots, and I think next year I'll stick with traditional ones. these taste very nice, despite their ugly appearance, but they are more fiddly to peel or prepare etc...


I pulled out all my caterpillar decimated brassicas last week, and i've now replanted the bed with new little plants. ive added more netting as protection and we will try again... its a constant battle against marauders. I had even planted some sacrificial plants to try to deter the caterpillars. it worked to a degree- they viewed those as their hors d'ouevres before moving on to the main brassicas course! i dont have a lot of room for many brassicas, as each plant is pretty substantial in size , but it would be nice to have a few home grown ones surviving...

so, new hope! ....

....the rest of the chilli peppers picked for drying. The first batches picked have dried nicely. Half have gone off to my brother-in-law, and the other half with my son to uni, for his curries there. he makes a mean curry!

furry friends....

a few pics taken yesterday and today of my animals. I am always taking pics of them, my poor pc photo file is groaning... theyre all very important to me, my pets, and I cant imagine not being surrounded by my little loves...

pixie in the sunshine, and below.dozing...

Merlin...
Millie....
Finn...

Harry...
Billy...
Sammydog...
Finn again...

recipe

shortbread recipe as requested ...easy as pie!

a basic shortbread is very easy..

150g/5oz butter
275g/10oz plain flour
100g/4oz caster sugar

knead all together until you have a firm dough. (I usually substitute 1oz of flour, with 1oz of semolina, it gives an extra crunch) press this firmly into your baking tin and bake at around 180 for about 35-40mins. it really depends on your oven, keep an eye on it, it should be a buttery golden colour. remove from oven, and leave to cool in its tray. it will crisp/harden as it cools, you can them loosen the edges and turn out.

to make a caramel topping, optional... this makes twice as much as you will need for above quantity so either make a double batch of shortbread, or halve these quantities (i usually make the double shortbread!)

175g Butter
175g caster sugar
4 tbsp golden syrup
1 x 397g can condensed milk
200 g dark chocolate, broken into pieces

put the butter, sugar, syrup and condensed milk into a saucepan and stir over a low heat until the butter has fully melted and the sugars dissolved . turn the heat up a little and
bubble the mixture gently for five to eight minutes, stirring all the time (thats important) until it darkens a little and becomes thick and fudge-like. Pour over the cold shortbread in an even layer. Leave to cool. then melt the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of boiling water (or in a microwave if you have one?) leave to cool...... eat and enjoy!

saturday musings

Its a gorgeous sunny day outside, and for the third saturday in a row I am going out! This is so unlike me, but sometimes things just happen like that and things, planned for months, fall on consecutive dates/weekends. First the wonderful Oak Fair two weeks ago, and then last saturday, the lovely day at Monkton Wyld.
Today I am off to North Devon to meet up with some friends. and I am really looking forward to the drive down, through the beautiful Dorset and then Devon countryside, bathed in early autumn light and the beginnings of autumn's stunning hues.

Ive been baking again, we all take cakes etc with us, and Ive made caramel shortbread again, its always nice, and is a current favourite...

I was also busy with plums again yesterday, one of my favourite pastimes- making jam. My son commented the other day that everytime I am left unsupervised at home I make jam! and that come the apocalypse, we will be ok, as we have the largest supply of jam in the south! mum, he said, some people measure wealth in gold, you measure it in red!!
~

from this....

...to this.....

to this....

8 x 1lb jars of gorgeous plum jam, job done!!

friday musings

do enlarge this to really see the colours, you can almost feel the serenity of the moment...

I feel so much better today, my cold is waning now, almost gone. I slept for eleven hours on wednesday, and it did me so much good, just allowing my body to dictate what it needed, and by yesterday afternoon I was feeling so much better. Its frustrating that I havent done as much as I wanted this week, but never mind. I have done many little chores here at home that needed doing, tidying, sorting cupboards and drawers, all things that please and calm my virgo psyche!!

I went for a walk at dusk, wanting, needing some fresh air. At Eventide- what a lovely word, one that should be used more frequently, an old english word meaning evening, and one that seemed so fitting last night as I stood quietly and watched the day depart in gentle autumn tones. I saw no-one else, and saw lights come on in houses in the distance, and a few birds silently sweep across the sky, to roost somewhere safe until dawn. I felt so much better for my walk, for some time 'to stand and stare' as the poem goes. I still miss the fields and hills where I used to live, ten months or so have passed, and I wonder whether the people who bought my cottage have that connection with the land that I had there.

today has dawned bright and sunny, but there's a definite nip in the air, and the dew on the spiders webs is glistening in the early light. Ive already hung the washing out, but the sun has no warmth this early, and there's no breeze yet, and it hangs sullen and still upon the line. My garden needs several days full attention, but before that I have 7lbs of plums in the kitchen to deal with.

The gorgeous fruits of late summer and autumn wont wait, they demand immediate processing, and Ive said before, I feel its almost criminal not to use these. I walk past many gardens, with apples and plums rotting on the ground, and yet people buy plastic wrapped fruit, or jars of jam in their shopping- madness! a few houses put boxes of fruit outside their gates, but its a small minority.

so, this morning the plums beckon me into the kitchen. I have cakes to bake too, for I am off out again tomorrow to meet up with some more friends in the afternoon, and then, sunshine allowing, i'll start the garden!

a quote for thursday

'Study Nature, love Nature,
stay close to it.
It will never fail you.'

(Frank Lloyd Wright)

wednesday musings

stay back! Ive got a cold!

Its just a cold, nothing more, I dont have flu, or swine flu, or any other nasty, its not fashionable to just have a cold, but thats all it is, just the plain old boring old common cold.

So, with kleenex to the left of me, and my home made remedy to the right, I'll just post this poem from the very wonderful Pam Ayres, and I'll back away from the pc, and keep my germs to myself!

Oh No - I Got A Cold
by Pam Ayres

I am sitting on the sofa.
By the fire and staying in.
Me head is free of comfort
And me nose is free of skin
Me friends have run for cover,
They have left me pale and sick
With me pockets full of tissues
And me nostrils full of Vick

That bloke in the telly adverts,
He's supposed to have a cold.
He has a swig of whatnot
And he drops off, good as gold,
His face like snowing harvest
Slips into sweet repose.
Well I bet this tortured breathing
Never whistled down his nose.

I burnt me bit of dinner
Cause I've lost me sense of smell,
But then, I couldn't taste it,
So that worked out very well,
I'd buy some, down the cafe,
But I know that at the till,
A voice from work will softly say
"I thought that you were ill".

So I'm wrapped up in a blanket
With me feet up on a stool,
I've watched the telly programmes
And the kids come home from school,
But what I haven't watched for
Is any sympathy,
Cause all you ever get is:
"Oh no, keep away from me!"

Medicinal discovery,
It moves in mighty leaps,
It leapt straight past the common cold
And gave it us for keeps.
Now I'm not a fussy woman,
There's no malice in me eye
But I wish that they could cure
the common cold. That's all. Goodbye.

monday musings... highs and lows

Saturday was such a lovely day.

Sunday was bittersweet.
My eldest son left home, to return to uni in Cambridge after time away due to health problems. Any mum out there reading this will empathize, its never an easy day when a child leaves, even if he is all grown up and a whole foot taller than me! I confess to some tears. Proud of him for going, missing him even before he had gone.

...and then on to today.
my younger son had his driving test.
He seemed to be gone forever, time seemed to have slowed. I had a candle lit for him here.
Finally I heard his key in the door.
he passed!
I cried again! I am an emotional wreck this weekend, but very proud of both of my boys.

Monkton Wyld

I had a day out yesterday, and it was wonderful. I attended a Harvest Moon Gathering hosted by an amazing lady, and wonderful author of the Stonewylde book series, Kit Berry.
It was a mainly pagan, but not exclusively so, gathering.

We all gathered at a venue called Monkton Wyld, in south Dorset. Its a victorian gothic-style mansion, and was a fitting setting for the gathering, set in rolling Dorset hills and woodland.

There was a tangible energy there, in the very stone of the huge house, walking through the grounds, touching the twisted, aged trees, breathing the cooling autumn air.


Most people had gathered there for the whole weekend, I attended as one of the few day visitors. Monkton Wyld provided all the food, all seasonal, vegetarian, and mostly grown there itself or from very local suppliers. Hens too, scratched about outside.

There were various workshops to attend, tarot, crystals, drumming, singing, chakra balancing, soul journeying, reiki, healing, making corn dollies, to name a few, and a few attendees also had stalls of their own wonderful crafts to sell-ie glorious jewellery, wooden items, carved or pyrographed, fabulous soaps, kits own sister Claire with her stunning artwork.

Late afternoon was a cake-fest, everyone had brought cakes with them and it was afternoon tea for the gluttonous! I baked caramel shortbreads to take, and the tables were groaning with so many cakes, so much choice!

I met some wonderful people. I also met in person for the first time, some people I have known as online-friends for a while, and its so nice to finally meet in the here and now.
All to soon it was time to leave and return home, enriched for having been there.

I hope the photos dotted about this post capture a little of the atmosphere of the day...

I deliberately dont post photos of the people attending, I do not like my own photo taken and afford others the same rights of anonymity! all photos can be enlarged...

a mural painted on one of the outbuilding walls

on friday evening those there held a Harvest Moon ritual, which included the harvest tree above. Thoughts, thanks and blessings for the harvest were written down and tied to the tree, along with fruits, flowers etc. This was a dead branch, not a living tree, and would later be added to the ritual fire, sending those thanks and blessings soaring... (I added my own to the tree before I left)

gorgeous handmade soaps, how I wish you could smell these, divine!

I bought one, lavender scented...

I took part in the corn dolly workshop, and this above is my creation!
I know- dont give up the day job!!
its not very neat, but its very individual!!

finally, below, I couldnt resist this pyrographed crow necklace...

harvest moon

The Harvest Moon

The flame-red moon, the harvest moon,
Rolls along the hills, gently bouncing,
A vast balloon,
Till it takes off, and sinks upward
To lie on the bottom of the sky, like a gold doubloon.
The harvest moon has come,
Booming softly through heaven, like a bassoon.
And the earth replies all night, like a deep drum.

So people can't sleep,
So they go out where elms and oak trees keep
A kneeling vigil, in a religious hush.
The harvest moon has come!

And all the moonlit cows and all the sheep
Stare up at her petrified, while she swells
Filling heaven, as if red hot, and sailing
Closer and closer like the end of the world.

Till the gold fields of stiff wheat
Cry `We are ripe, reap us!' and the rivers
Sweat from the melting hills.

Ted Hughes

with thanks to Tui, who sent me this poem.

Silver

Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers, and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;
One by one the casements catch
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
Couched in his kennel, like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
From their shadowy coat the white breasts peep
Of doves in a silver-feathered sleep;
A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
With silver claws, and silver eye;
And moveless fish in the water gleam,
By silver reeds in a silver stream.

- Walter de la Mare

Its the full moon tonight, and she is visible out there, so radiant and silvery and magical. all the photos here were taken between 8.30 and 9pm.

FULL MOON

One night as Dick lay fast asleep,
Into his drowsy eyes
A great still light began to creep
From out the silent skies.
It was the lovely moon's, for when
He raised his dreamy head,
Her surge of silver filled the pane
And streamed across his bed.
So, for a while, each gazed at each-
Dick and the solemn moon-
Till, climbing slowly on her way,
She vanished, and was gone.

By Walter de la Mare

a quote for friday....

The mellow moon, the changing leaves,
The earlier setting sun,
Proclaim at last, my merry boys,
The harvest time begun.

- C.G. Eastman
from the "Old Farmer's Almanac" 1899.

thursday musings

yesterday was so very wet. The heavens opened and such heavy rain fell, almost unceasingly all day.

I busied myself indoors.Sunday's blackberries and elderberries, having languished in the fridge for two days, demanded immediate attention!

I gently cooked the blackberries and apples , and filled and processsed two more kilner jars of apple and blackberry, as pie or crumble fillings. Then it was the turn of the elderberries, so rich and juicy and dark. I had started a kilo of these in the morning, for I was making Pontack sauce, and that demands the berries are simmered gently in cider vinegar in the lowest of ovens for hours. I last made this the year before last. I didnt make any last year due to our house move in the autumn, so this year was time for some more. while they were slowly releasing all their juices and goodness into the vinegar in the oven, I turned the remaining berries into Elder Rob, an elderberry syrup, really good to have in the cupboard in winter to help with all those coughs and colds!

I made three bottles of this, and then processed these too.
finally time to finish the pontack sauce. considering the volume of ingredients you start with, the yield is low, half a bottle , so I had doubled the ingredients to end up with a full bottle.

jars of pie-filling
one bottle of pontack sauce on the left, 3 bottles of elderberry syrup on the right. the bottles look so similiar but the taste is worlds apart!

the moon was beautiful again last night, despite the heavy rain and cloudy skies. The clouds were whooshing across the leaden skies, revealing and obscuring Her in turn. You can still see Jupiter, now appearing just below the Moon....

the moon tonight...

only three days to the full moon now....

above, without flash, and below, with the flash

the tiny star, the white fleck, you can see to the left of the moon, is Jupiter

tuesday musings

"September: it was the most beautiful of words, he’d always felt, evoking orange-flowers, swallows, and regret."
Alexander Theroux,
1981

september has arrived.
this early in the morning its dewy, still and very quiet.
I love autumn, but then I am a september baby.
I was born on the autumn equinox.
When my newborn eyes first began to focus on the amazing world I had arrived in, I would have seen the hues of autumn- the golds and burnished coppers, the flamed scarlets, the myriad of subtle colours as the trees faded to their winter sleep. My tiny nose would have smelled apples and bonfires, my new born skin would have felt the occasional shiver of an autumn chill and been carefully clothed in tiny, oh so soft cardigans handknitted by my mum. I may have seen the swallows cross the sky above my pram, in their poignant seasonal farewell.
Is it any wonder I adore the autumn when she gave me some of my very young sensory experiences?

sunday musings

what a contrast in the weather from yesterday. today has been grey and drizzly all day. I had jobs to do outside though, so at least 'only' drizzle meant I was able to carry on. The chickens now have their new fencing up.... lets see how long it is before my little houdini-hens figure out a way out of this again! my son started it yesterday for me while I was at the Oak Fair, we needed to leave the cement to set overnight, and we've finished this morning. next task was lifting the last of the potatoes...


todays other harvest, including a very large swede, which would win any ugly veg competition, but is redeemed by its wonderful smell! , toms and peppers, and 7 small apples from another baby tree. these ones are James Grieve....

this is the 'thing' I bought at the fair yesterday, its so lovely- a woven/wicker cheese dome. Of course, being of the opinion that cheese is completely and utterly disgusting, I would not ever sully such a beautiful thing with such vile nastiness- it shall be used for cakes... a much much nicer employment, yes? ;-)

and, to prove my point.... :-)

this afternoon I went out berry-picking in the drizzle. I am back at work tomorrow, despite it being the bank holiday, and the berries dont last long once ripe. if I left it til next weekend, they may all have been taken by birds , or gone over and going furry! berry picking is one of those must-do tasks, you cant wait.. ironing can wait, writing a letter can wait, berries wont. I dont mind the rain, and I had the lanes and byways to myself. However, when I went out berry-picking last week in bright sunshine, it was the same then. So few people bother these days, and I think thats so shortsighted and sad, in a way. Apart from benefiting from Natures wonderful bounty few things beat that thrill of reaching precariously forwards, just that bit-too-far for that huge berry, King Berry, lol, risking tumbling headfirst into that nettle patch, which always guards the berries, doesnt it? and then, victorious, and with relief, popping that berry beauty into your pot!

the blackberries here weigh 2lb 5oz, and the elderberries 2lb 10oz

the oak fair part two

the main exhibition of this years oak fair was an exhibition called 'rebirth of a dorset oak'.

During last years fair, an oak was felled. It had died several years previously from a viral infection.. Local craftspeople were invited to take away pieces of the felled tree, and to bring it alive again in their creations. They did not disappoint, and some of the pieces that rose, pheonix-like from the pieces of the stricken tree were truly stunning, and the spirit of that mighty oak will indeed endure in these wonderful pieces of art or craftsmanship...

I would happily give credit to each artist by name if I knew the right names for each piece. I am happy to add names if they are supplied to me. I am in awe of their talents...

all the photos can be enlerged for a clearer picture...

carved onto a plank of the oak...

do enlarge this photo, these sculptings/ carvings are amazing, the rays are alive, what skill to capture such a fluid graceful creature so perfectly, it was as if they could just swim away... the hare in the background too, was perfectly poised to flee...

this was my favourite piece, until I saw the huge hare in my last post. even now I may have to list them as joint favourites rather than first and second. this was, simply, stunning, a simple oaken chest, with carved acorn catch, and inlaid with burnished copper. I have been guilty of much covetousness today...

and inside...

a twiggy deer, lifesize...


a perfect goldilocks bed!

another plank, painted with a greenman- spirit of the oak perhaps?

an owl, he looks lost in thought...

finally, some of the tree was used conventionally too...

The Oak Fair....part one

today was the oak fair...

We were so lucky with the weather. Slightly overcast this morning, the sun soon won the day. We think this was the biggest and busiest year yet, thousands of people attended, and all milled around good naturedly, the whole feeling of the fair was relaxed and happy. With so many stalls and displays to look at, time flew by...and yet we meandered around, in no haste, looking in depth at all the wonderful displays and crafts, chatting to the craftspeople, and thoroughly enjoying ourselves...

gorgeous gate

gentle giant..

there were a few plant stalls, with added attractions of visiting bees and butterflies ....


now some of the crafts... I just love woven-wares... I succumbed to one piece, I need to take a pic of it still.

and yet more....

this (below) is a beautiful piece of Yew, which had just begun to be worked on...

and it is destined to become one of these beautiful long bows....

more craftspeople at work....


bee boxes....

a wicker/willow angel, taller than me by a lot!

and my very favourite piece, a huge carved female hare (and her sculptor) this is english Oak, and was being carved for an exhibition, but would have a price tag of £600, worth every penny too! it was mesmerising. It pushed my until-that-moment- favourite piece down into second place!! I covet this lovely piece and wish she could live in my garden!