- - is frightful" - seriously - not snow {I wish, I wish - - well JUST for Christmas day really} but wild weather is battering my island home! We are experiencing real "Sou'westers" - gusting, blustery winds, - - the sky grey, heavy & menacing, looming over the hillside crushing the light, emptying its load in sheets of rain onto the sodden fields below - - can our tiny island really soak up any more water? - already the farms are waterlogged from earlier downpours! - - whilst the sea races in - - crashing over the seawall, on to the road to catch the unwary motorist, - - heading home through the storm, blown spume skipping across the windscreen then dancing madly in the headlights like mischievous little imps!
Coming in from this, buffeted down the steps, hair tangled, damp and not a little breathless - my home feels so welcoming, - - - once indoors the cottage settles into the hillside - drawing its thick stone walls closer, wrapping us in safety and protecting us from the worst of the weather - I do so love my home!
It made me think about the weather - and actually had me pondering what would be the perfect weather for Christmas Day - and I have come to the conclusion that I am very much a traditionalist at heart, hopelessly romantic and completely taken in by the "cosy Victorian Christmas" illustrated in "A Christmas Carol" - I blame Charles Dickens myself!!! So ideally I want snow - just enough to turn my world white and sparkly - just for one day - - cold , bright & sunny - - the kind of day that makes you want to go for a walk after Christmas lunch!
It doesn't seem to happen much anymore - and I can't remember many when it did - snow was almost always before or after Christmas when I was growing up - -and these days I live by the sea - so very rarely see any snow at all. We do get some lovely sunny Christmas Days though! -Perhaps not this year - will have to wait and see.
Please feel free to leave a little comment if you stop by.
Gura mie ayd, J x
A wordsmith - dreaming & wandering along the highways & byways off the thoroughfare called Memory Lane. Sometimes stopping to take in the natural beauty surrounding me - making "stuff", taking inspiration from others, visiting friends near & far and trying to come to terms with the greatest loss I have ever experienced.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
"I Declare - - -
- - that I am going to make a Christmas Journal - to capture my December 2009 for eternity - to look back on and remember and to reclaim the magic that this season of the year is to me. I will GIVE myself a few minutes each day to make an entry in my Journal without stressing and purely for the delight and pleasure it brings me, so that at the end of the month I will have a record of this Christmas. Along the way I will post entries here, try to share my creations with other Christmas lovers around the world and make a little time to admire and be inspired by THEIR creations too - - but most of all I declare my intention to re-claim my enjoyment of the season."
Today is the start od Shimelle's JYC class for 2009 - I am an alumni of a few years now being on. I think, on my 4th or 5th journal so - really I think I ought to know what I should be doing. The class is such fun to be a part of - - even if I fall by the wayside as the month gets busier! I do have all my stuff collected together and all my blank pages cut ready to go - so if I print out my manifesto - - as above - - I'm good to go!!
I have managed to make a couple of ATCS for Craft Club swap tonight as well - so I good start so far - long may it last!
Do feel free to leave a little comment if you stop by,
Gura mie ayd! J x
Today is the start od Shimelle's JYC class for 2009 - I am an alumni of a few years now being on. I think, on my 4th or 5th journal so - really I think I ought to know what I should be doing. The class is such fun to be a part of - - even if I fall by the wayside as the month gets busier! I do have all my stuff collected together and all my blank pages cut ready to go - so if I print out my manifesto - - as above - - I'm good to go!!
Do feel free to leave a little comment if you stop by,
Gura mie ayd! J x
Monday, 23 November 2009
Life
has got in the way a little this last couple of weeks. Not only have we had auditors in at work - but my home has been flooded with the sheer volume of surface water so the drains in my village couldn't cope!
I now need plasterers and floor fitters to get everything sorted - but getting estimates from them is proving to be rather a nighmare.
Will be back when I can!
I now need plasterers and floor fitters to get everything sorted - but getting estimates from them is proving to be rather a nighmare.
Will be back when I can!
Friday, 13 November 2009
Birthday Celebrations
Its Friday - - Yay - - its as good as it gets as we say where I work at present.
As you know it was my birthday on Remembrance Day - - however its not a very practical day to celebrate with friends - so this evening we went (as usual on Fridays, to our local hostelry) as my friend Heather's husband David was 65 on Remembrance Day and this year we were having a get together in honour of his retirement. We have had a lovely evening - - - though we came away to go home before many would be going out. We had lovely grub - - AND a really great chance to chat!
As you know it was my birthday on Remembrance Day - - however its not a very practical day to celebrate with friends - so this evening we went (as usual on Fridays, to our local hostelry) as my friend Heather's husband David was 65 on Remembrance Day and this year we were having a get together in honour of his retirement. We have had a lovely evening - - - though we came away to go home before many would be going out. We had lovely grub - - AND a really great chance to chat!
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Remembrance Day - -
Soft puffs of silver grey clouds - pearly and shimmering - - the rising sun paints them peach and rose - stretching his fingers of light wide so that suddenly the sky - - so grey a few moments ago is turned into mother of pearl. A quiet sky but so , so beautiful - - perfect for remembering
FOR THE FALLEN
"They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. "
Laurence Binyon
- - -when I was a very small girl - - -the 2 minutes silence was faithfully observed in my infant school - - and in my innocence I thought that when all the class stood up with respect and quietness - - it was just for me - - - Because you see - - today is my birthday.
I am incredibly passionate about this Charity - - I have a Poppy for everyone of my coats - I have one on my 'puter ar work and one on my cardigan as I type. These days I sometimes think that many people buy a Poppy to remember the 2 World Wars and that they forget that the Poppy is the symbol chosen to celebrate PEACE for Armistice Day 1918 - - and to encourage us to take a few minutes to remember ALL those who serve their country, THEN and NOW.
The Royal British Legion continues to support our Service Men and Women and their families and offer support for them in difficult & tragic circumstances - - we do still have boys serving in Afghanistan
- - soldiers are still paying with life & limb - -
- - and though they no longer look as youthful as my Grandfather did when he volunteered in 1915
- - many are still boys
Please think of them all at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month.
Thank you
Please feel free to leave a little comment if you stop by.
Gura mie ayd, Jx
FOR THE FALLEN
"They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. "
Laurence Binyon
- - -when I was a very small girl - - -the 2 minutes silence was faithfully observed in my infant school - - and in my innocence I thought that when all the class stood up with respect and quietness - - it was just for me - - - Because you see - - today is my birthday.
I am incredibly passionate about this Charity - - I have a Poppy for everyone of my coats - I have one on my 'puter ar work and one on my cardigan as I type. These days I sometimes think that many people buy a Poppy to remember the 2 World Wars and that they forget that the Poppy is the symbol chosen to celebrate PEACE for Armistice Day 1918 - - and to encourage us to take a few minutes to remember ALL those who serve their country, THEN and NOW.
The Royal British Legion continues to support our Service Men and Women and their families and offer support for them in difficult & tragic circumstances - - we do still have boys serving in Afghanistan
- - soldiers are still paying with life & limb - -
- - and though they no longer look as youthful as my Grandfather did when he volunteered in 1915
- - many are still boys
Please think of them all at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month.
Thank you
Please feel free to leave a little comment if you stop by.
Gura mie ayd, Jx
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Glion Dhoon - - -
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Wednesday Words - - - Wind
If you haven’t already noticed I do love words – I write way too much – and maybe you think I do witter on – so if so – my apologies! I also find writers who can paint pictures with their words truly inspirational – and at the moment am finding myself remembering snippets of lines and words (and even whole poems ) more than I ever used to - - - perhaps its a sign of old age!!
The change to the more seasonal autumn weather has caused all sorts of words to come floating to the surface of my brain – things I thought I had forgotten from childhood - (this post was the first of them)
Today the sky has been stormy all day , heavy, menacing clouds pinned to the sky like a dark grey curtain, draped & looped back with tiebacks of unexpected silver light– and tonight the wind has risen - so tonight - I can’t get this out of my head - - -
Sometimes the wind has a voice like the sea,
I hear it when I’m in my bed,
Softly it sings as it scurries around,
In the chimney pots high overhead.
Sometimes it shouts like a boisterous giant,
With a blustery, flustery roar,
Then whistles and sighs as it spins on the roof,
And rattles the latch on the door.
But here inside, we are safe and secure,
By the fire all cosy and warm,
So softly it sighs, as it taps on the pane,
Won’t you please let me in from the storm?
I can no longer remember who wrote this, or even if I have actually remembered it correctly as it doesn’t feel quite right – it was in a book of “Bedtime Stories” I think – no idea who might have published it - -but am not sure. I only remember how a picture appeared in my head as mummy read it aloud to me – and I can still see the page in the book in my minds eye - - so clearly - - with the illustration of the wind , a face with huge cheeks blowing swirls onto the page. Mainly black & white with occasional blocks of colour - - - -
I must be in my second childhood - - something from so long ago still surfacing when I hear the wind outside - - but maybe not - - especially as I now have a real fire again. I don’t know who wrote this poem – but it still it paints pictures in my mind – so the writer is inspirational for me – and I am truly grateful to whoever they may be - - if my memory is at fault and you know the correct words – please let me know!!
Please feel free to leave a little comment if you stop by.
Gura mie ayd, J x
The change to the more seasonal autumn weather has caused all sorts of words to come floating to the surface of my brain – things I thought I had forgotten from childhood - (this post was the first of them)
Today the sky has been stormy all day , heavy, menacing clouds pinned to the sky like a dark grey curtain, draped & looped back with tiebacks of unexpected silver light– and tonight the wind has risen - so tonight - I can’t get this out of my head - - -
Sometimes the wind has a voice like the sea,
I hear it when I’m in my bed,
Softly it sings as it scurries around,
In the chimney pots high overhead.
Sometimes it shouts like a boisterous giant,
With a blustery, flustery roar,
Then whistles and sighs as it spins on the roof,
And rattles the latch on the door.
But here inside, we are safe and secure,
By the fire all cosy and warm,
So softly it sighs, as it taps on the pane,
Won’t you please let me in from the storm?
I can no longer remember who wrote this, or even if I have actually remembered it correctly as it doesn’t feel quite right – it was in a book of “Bedtime Stories” I think – no idea who might have published it - -but am not sure. I only remember how a picture appeared in my head as mummy read it aloud to me – and I can still see the page in the book in my minds eye - - so clearly - - with the illustration of the wind , a face with huge cheeks blowing swirls onto the page. Mainly black & white with occasional blocks of colour - - - -
I must be in my second childhood - - something from so long ago still surfacing when I hear the wind outside - - but maybe not - - especially as I now have a real fire again. I don’t know who wrote this poem – but it still it paints pictures in my mind – so the writer is inspirational for me – and I am truly grateful to whoever they may be - - if my memory is at fault and you know the correct words – please let me know!!
Please feel free to leave a little comment if you stop by.
Gura mie ayd, J x
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