Inspired by Squash

I love growing squash, but this year, I reckon because of the drought, the harvest was disappointing. The squash were much smaller. However they have made a very good Still Life subject. I feel inspired by their textures, colours and those fabulous stripey designs. I actually like the dried slightly mouldy wizened stem!

My painting is work in progress, in oil on canvas gesso board. The oil is quite damp so I’ve got time to think about any changes I want to make.

The weather is warm here, the light fabulous for showcasing autumnal colours everywhere in nature. I’ll miss the swallows though!

I hope you’re having a good autumn.

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Stag in a magical woodland

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I have been walking alot through woodlands lately, enjoying the amazing light filtering through the trees and the warm copper hues of the fallen leaves. A couple of times I have spotted deer running startled by the dogs. I love them, they are magical creatures and have inspired me to draw and paint this scene of the stag in a magical woodland. I hope you enjoy it. Have a great weekend. 🙂

Holly hocks ball

​Ruby red holly hocks,

Silk swirling frocks, 

Mingling at the summer ball.

A scented breeze,

Timely sends bursting buds to

Rest upon the lawn.

Purposely the lover places them in

A wicker box, ties it tight with forget-me-nots;

With red rose ink he pens

‘Holly meet me tonight at the folly’.

The story begins.

Summer colour in the cottage garden

The above link to my Lavendermoongirlsbrownharecottage wp site will take you to where the inspiration came from for this poem and photo and will give you more insight into my cottage garden.

Musing…

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Tracing grooves in ancient oak bark

With tingling fingers, soothed; 

Sheltered in the wings of strong silent boughs.

Wooed by whispering tales from distant shores.

Amber acorns break onto fresh  fallen crushed leaves

Seeding under misted mosses and musty funghi

Where stories weave. 

Challenging the poet with Prose

Is writing my poetry blog a deliberate distraction from the challenge to write a novel in a month?

Or…

Is the act of writing and rambling a way of getting the creative juices going?

I have had the main characters in my novel swirling about in my brain for a couple of years, may be longer. When I’m walking with the dogs, watching them and noticing the changing cloud formations or ripples on water, I can zone in on the action of the novel and what the characters are feeling and thinking. When I stop and feel close up to nature, my world reverts to poetry.

I find at first light I greet the day with my cup of coffee and pen poised to write about 1800-2000 words. My husband has gone out to work, the dogs are stretched out on the sofa. I love the quietitude. If it is calm and silent, my felt tip fibre pen takes off. I know this novel won’t be perfect because if I was using the language of poetry, it would probably take me the rest of my years to finish the first draft. I’m just letting the innocence of the novel flow and see where it ends.

For the Nanowrimo website I created a quick cover design and thought of a title: this may change.

I will always be a nature poet and photographer who writes the occasional  novel. Even the genre is a  tricky one. I don’t want to restrict myself.

Writing is freedom.

Synopsis to follow. Thank you for reading my friends.

The Writing Garden ~ Issue Nine

https://thewritinggarden.wordpress.com/2016/05/17/the-writing-garden-issue-nine/

A little late folks but I’d like to introduce you to Suzy Hazelwood’s wonderful Poetry zine called The Writing Garden. She selected my poem ‘Ivy Weaves’ for her May edition. My poem is 10th on the list, however there are lovely poems to read by talented poets. Enjoy! And many thanks to Suzy for choosing to publish my poem.

I must get on and make Sound clouds! 🙂

Reviving rain

Rain revives waning blossom,
A faded, aged May Queen’s trane.
Tuneful, cooling teeny tears
Fall from scented ‘ears’,
Dissolving fears;
Blessing those who choose
To be the poet’s muse
And walk along the enchanted lane.

Yesterday,we waited forever for the torrential rain to ease so that we could

 

Swanky Swallows

On Saturday morning I went on an early morning bird song walk around the village and our woodland. It was so wonderful to learn so much about birds’ songs, how to identify birds by their songs and how they communicate to each other, it was fascinating and inspired me to write this poem.
My nature walks will never be the same again! I wish I had a fabulous long lens for my camera but then I couln’t realistically take my dogs on the walks and the dogs and I always walk together. Enjoy and have a lovely day. 🙂

Chair Affair

Find out here about my passion for chairs.

My first upholstered chair is completed!  My husband loves it!

Frosty seeds and winter trees

This Solar print was inspired by my moonlit frosty dog walks. The seedheads were encrusted with ‘fairy dust’ reaching out to the moon.

This solar print was inspired by my photos of trees in winter, taken In what I call the ‘Fairy wood’; a beautiful, quiet, well planted woodland where we often walk. Every day there is something new to see. The Green Woodpecker has been a recent visitor. My dogs love to chase squirrels and jump over the piles of logs, the woodland is a natural Green Gym.