Days of Pencil Sketchiness

the year pauses and takes a breath

days of pencil sketchiness

with a misty wash

spikes of last years hedge trimmings

brutally exposed

weep tears of dismal drizzle

silence

wrapped in fog

protected

cloud whispers to earth

 in muted undertones

 longstanding companions exchanging news

aware of each others rituals

grey days

a breather before the rush of spring

Lambs Tails...

... or hazel catkins, if you prefer! As a child I always looked out for 'lambs-tails' and hoped to be the first to spot them... what type of tree was irrelevant then. We may have a way to go before Spring arrives, but catkins dancing on the breeze are such a refreshing sight at this time of year... flashes of yellow in an often bleak or dreary time of year in England... 

These are the male flowers of the hazel, usually the first tree flowers to burst out with colour. 

I was lucky enough to catch them on a sunny morning, which is rare at the moment.

I'd hoped to catch them before they burst out & see the first ones, 

but they have progressed at a great rate in the couple of weeks we were away. 

The baby catkins have been on the trees since last year...

 toughened up for winter & waiting 'til the time was right, 

each one like a little chrysalis.

There are plenty more still to open.... 

there is a wide variety of stages to be seen on one tree, 

from new buds to old husks that held last years hazelnuts...

I can't resist them... 

like bunches of golden caterpillars, 

basking in sunlight on their way to becoming butterflies...

The stamens of the male flowers are starting to unfurl outwards,

and soon will be releasing clouds of pollen... 

Look a little closer... 

see that little red tuft emerging from it's own special bud?

These are the female flowers... pollinated by the wind. 

Successful fertilisation only occurs from other trees,

a single tree cannot pollinate itself.

Gorgeous aren't they? And so easy to overlook.

From these will grow the fruit... the hazelnuts.

I look forward to seeing them grow.

The March edition of The Festival of Trees will be hosted by

Rebecca in the Woods

so if you have a tree-related post of any kind

why not send her your link to include in this wonderful monthly tree-fest?

Grey Days

Grey days with heavy skies have been predominant of late... some bright ones here n there, but the exception rather than the rule. The type of days that people tend to complain about... moaning about dull & dreary dampness. But I must confess... i like grey days. 

Not just for striking silhouettes of last years seed heads... just as beautiful in their dried out state as with their summer green... perhaps more dignified somehow... simple shapes and yes, dull colours that blend into the background on brighter days.... but these stark shapes against the grey take my breath away...

These are in-betweeny days as the year hangs between winter & spring, just holding it's breath, pausing, before the frenetic growth yet to come... grey days have an ethereal beauty that whispers to the senses, rather than shouting for attention...

Days of pencil sketchiness preparing for the full colour paintings of seasons to come. I've always loved a palette of watery greys & pencil or charcoal sketches and love the nuance & texture of pencil lettering. There are probably more shades of grey than any other colour... to explore, to revel in...

Damp & drizzly grey days... when clouds & earth sit close in tender conversation... sky, kissing the trees & curling my hair...  I feel cocooned & protected, walking between worlds somehow, comfortable with a foot on either side... mmmm, i like grey days....

ps.... essex didn't work out. we are back in yorkshire... steve managed to get another job within half an hour of jacking the london job!

New Horizons...

On Friday we venture south towards the big city... London bound are we, as Steve starts working on the "2012 Olympic Village". We've resisted attempts to send us that way for a long time... more people, busier roads... we're just not city folk. So we've both had more than the usual pre-headingoffinto the unknown nerves. But, the project he was due to start on has been delayed until after Easter and work is work! I wonder what my new horizon will be like next week?

Finding a suitable caravan site has been a problem... there are fewer options, often extortionately (in my opinion) priced, & i've experienced attitudes I've not had to deal with before. We travel with a caravan & a little trailer... which is our garden shed, aswell as housing motorcycle & where the dog sleeps. Apparently this makes us, I quote, "pikeys" (gypsys) and "we have to think of our other caravanners". I know some elements of the Gypsy/Travelling community do cause problems and some of them don't help their own cause, but it's the first time I've encountered such blatant hostility based on what I might or might not be. I suppose I'm lucky compared to many who are subject to various prejudices on a regular basis. Some sites haven't wanted us before, but they haven't been nasty. The tin lid on it all was when he asked what I do... I said I'd look for a job, & thinking he was actually interested I told him I walk, write, paint, read blah blah... the result? "Well, I'll definitely have to say no then"!!! His loss! We have got somewhere though.... just north of the Dartford tunnel if that means anything to anyone!

The pictures are all of recent sun-rises.... even though most days lately have been a bit insipid, cloudy, drizzly affairs... I love them all in their own way & I guess I will soon find the charms of the place we are going to. I think being a country girl I have mis-conceptions about "london"... i've visited a couple of times & it's been fine so i'm sure all will be well when we get there ... yesterdays nerves have given way to anticipation & I'm intrigued to see what happens & where we will be... new horizons are around the corner, I wonder what they'll bring?

Silence...

... is golden, they say, and I certainly have been silent in the bloggy world of late. But, there are only so many things a girl can give her time to, and with other distractions I just haven't had the compulsion to write. That isn't strictly true... there is so much I want to write but words haven't flowed when I've had the time & haven't had the opportunity to be here when they do! Ah, such is life sometimes!

A secret place, at the end of the valley where we stayed in Lanarkshire, Scotland...

 a place to hold your breath as you enter the silence... 

with reverence...

 like walking into a cathedral and gazing in wonder at the architecture. 

Indeed it is a holy place, 

with lofty spires leading your eye

 & lifting your heart... 

I've re-visited this place many times in my heart since we left... it seems so quiet at first, but as I sit amongst the tree roots, tucked under the branches sounds emerge... the chatter & twittering of tiny birds, hidden from view... the laughter of the brook a way behind me... the whisper air through the needles.... sounds of trees breathing and moving... Depending where I shift my focus any of these can seem either so loud or barely imperceptible... the song of the forest...

the song of the forest entangles me, 

a refrain that entices and draws me in,  

whispered lessons filtering through...

the wisdom of ages in each flake of snow

I've not been able to comment on some blogs for a while, so though I have visited & read your words, I've been silent on that score too (as well as not being able to view blogger stats or access the template designer!) The stats have re-appeared, but I still can't comment on those that have comments embedded below the post, pop-up window comments seem to be ok. There are still a few fixes to try, but I've not had the heart to spend time on removing/replacing stuff to see what works(or not) yet. So, if you haven't heard from me, rest assured I do think of you & send my love. Sometimes by the time i've tinkered with a few more things, i can't be bothered to say anything.... sorry... techie stuff is a chore to me. 

In some ways it feels like the universe is conspiring to keep me silent.... but like the forest, there is much going on... just tuning in to different things... my fingers are starting to itch though!

Winter Solstice

december 21st... winter solstice... 

it began with earth moving between sun & moon...

all in alignment...

a time to think about how we are aligned within ourselves...

to evaluate our shadows...

to glow in the light of our own worth...

i was working, so couldn't photograph the sunrise

but the setting solstice sun was a sight to behold...

infusing a golden warmth

over frosted fields...

a totally different vista in the opposite direction... 

of palest pink & blue & violet...

 a surreal pearlescent glow...

what do the solstice skies speak of to you

as the days now begin to lengthen in the northern hemisphere?

can we successfully integrate these vastly different aspects...

of personality... of culture... of humanity...?

the evening solstice moon...

full... potent...

regenerated from the shadow of eclipse...

rising in phoenix colours...

whispering her message to those who will listen...

Return From the Wilderness

Well... where do I start? For the last few weeks I've been in an internet black hole... at least on my mobile network. We've been staying close to Leadhills, the second highest village in Scotland... in a valley with rushing stream, wild heather moorland and a fir plantation at one end...

It snowed the night we arrived which added a touch of sparkle to the hills as the sun smiled. In the days to come we would see the clouds roll over these hills, engulfing each one in turn. We couldn't tell what type of weather was coming until it hit us... lashing rain, drizzle, mist and then more snow all made their way over into the valley bottom, clouds either creeping or surging in fascinating patterns...

At the opposite end of the valley, to the west, was the forest that often had trails of mist weaving through it... 

Elsewhere it was tree-less, apart from an occasional stunted little beauty bravely making a statement... Some would say the landscape was bleak.... but I thought of it as Mother Earth with no make-up on. A wild, rugged beauty that I could appreciate as I wandered...

  It felt an honour to be there, to connect with Earth & Sky. Somehow it feels like I have entered a new cycle of my life... everything that has gone before is stripped away, only the most resilient... necessary... parts of me remain to make the next phase of my journey. Like this landscape that may seem barren, the things that grow deserve to be there and are capable of surviving no matter what the conditions...

Light & shadow painted ever-changing patterns and the stream offered a constant musical accompaniment. A rhythm that sang to my heart and an energy that I could feel with every breath...

And so, we're back in North Yorkshire for a few weeks, or maybe more, with tales to tell & thoughts to share. I'll write more as time goes on. 'Tis good to be back, though I have enjoyed the isolation of the last couple of months.

Little Acorns...

18th july

Back in July acorns began to form,

soft rosettes curious to see the world...

24th july

by the end of the month, cups were toughening up

& the promise of acorns could be seen...

8th august

rapid growth in August...

27th august

baby acorns no more...

most definitely aware that they are the seed of mighty oaks!

7th october

and so the leaves turn...

and acorns fall to earth...

20th october

back to earth... a return... re-turn...

to begin a new cycle...

those that are not eaten will be gradually covered by earth... 

they'll gradually put forth roots and begin to grow...

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow...

 The next Festival of Trees is to be hosted by Arati at 

Trees, Plants & More

If you have a post on any tree related subject, just

  pop over here for submission details

Calligraphy Exhibition at Ripon Cathedral

North Yorkshire Calligraphers are holding an exhibition in Ripon Cathedral in North Yorkshire, UK. It runs until 31st October... so if you are nearby or can make the trip you have time to catch it. Going by the standard of previous exhibitions it will be well worth seeing....  the Cathedral is a stunning setting & Ripon is a lovely little town to wander with plenty of places of interest in the vicinity.

This was the group I started off with way back... err, a few(?!) years ago (1992 ish). Some of those people are still involved and some are calligraphers I have taught... the group is thriving and talented.... and I really wish them well with this exhibition x

Red Moon, Silver Moon

Just in case you had any doubts

that i am inspired by the moon

a couple more canvasses are over here

and if you didn't know

i seek out her shining glance

over here

A Magical Place

Behind me, to the south, a magical cobweb pathway & ash trees...

beside me, to the west, a mystical glade of birch & oak,

leading to woodland with ancient trees, 

where all kinds of birds & creatures wander...

in front of me, to the north, rolling fields and meandering river...

to the east, pine trees, marshy ponds and a view of the sea 

with waves breaking just beyond the estuary....

Low cloud with a persistent misty dampness has been the pattern, which has not allowed a glimpse of the new moon & merest glimpse of sun... but i am deliriously happy.  There is a contagious joy to this place and I bask in the kiss of the clouds embracing the the forest. Surrounded by birdsong, the call of crow & buzzard, heron, gull & goose passing overhead... it is peaceful... thankfulness exudes in every direction, above & below... and from me.