Loveliest of trees, the cherry now



I have a passion for blossom. Every year I watch for the first buds to break





Blackthorn is the first and this year it has been particularly sumptuous.

But today I'm talking of the apple, the plum and the cherry blossoms that froth and spill over the trees in such abundance that it makes me gasp with delight every Spring.

I love blossom so much that I decided to spend a whole day looking at and photographing all the varying hues, from pink so dark it's nearly purple-

Through the beloved (and slightly kitch) double pink cherry of my childhood-

One grew in our road in front of our house. I watched the tree through all the seasons.

This slightly more elegant pink cherry is so fluffy it that makes me think of a ballerina's tutu-

Whereas this one is delicate and ethereal

I have always wanted to own an orchard, so apple blossom is a particular favourite-

Maria " went on to the door in the east wall, unlocked it, and went through into the orchard. She had not been there for some while, and she gasped with delight when she saw the pink-and-white blossom that made a canopy fit for a queen over her head"
 ('The Little White Horse' Elizabeth Goudge)

A. E. Houseman's famous poem speaks for many in finding perfection in the single white cherry



Loveliest of trees, the cherry now

Is hung with bloom along the bough,

And stands about the woodland ride

Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my threescore years and ten,

Twenty will not come again,

And take from seventy springs a score,

It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom

Fifty springs are little room,

About the woodlands I will go

To see the cherry hung with snow.

I have very happy memories of playing with the fallen cherry blossoms at my primary school.
Two tall, beautiful trees shed their flowers on the bank at the edge of the playground. All springtime we would collect these and make nests in the grass full of the choicest petals and blooms and then thread these onto long blades of grass making necklaces that were much treasured.

Perhaps the double white cherries are a little over-the-top in comparison

But I love them too!


As I walked through the orchard

I have tried through my photographs to capture the abundance of blossom-

 the individual beauty of a single bud-

and the subtle patterns and grace of the flowers

What fascinated me was the subtle variation of colour from pure white to deepest pink.

I decided to try to create a piece of art from my photographs to show this.

It has turned out far to big for me to be able to photograph it successfully...

I added the words " Fifty years are little room" spread out throughout the piece.

It nearly works, I think!

It's a question of posies, top hats and the written word...

Back in March Bonnie kindly invited me to play questions and answers.

I've been a little late but here they are!

I do seem to keep talking about books...

 
1.  What is your passion?  Do you have more than one?

My passion is words and their power; I love to read a perfect line of poetry or battle with words to express exactly what I mean to say.

Dylan Thomas above my bath

I also love noticing things, whether it is the lone white bluebell, or watching the subtle ways people react towards each other.

2.  If a movie were to be made about your life, who would be cast to play you?

If I was feeling rather big headed I would choose Kate Winslet... when she was plumper!

3.  You've won a vacation sweepstakes, do you choose a mountain resort or a beachside cottage?  Where in the world would we find you?

For me it would be a beachside cottage. I love Devon, so if it was a small sweepstake I’d be there. If it was a magnificent win I’ve always wanted to visit the Polynesian Islands, which look so beautiful yet so different from anything I’ve ever experienced.

4.  Describe what makes a great book.  Is it prefect writing, a great story, good character development, a popular author, or just a great escape?  Or all of the above?

I think it is always the quality of the writing with me. That is why I love Jane Austen. Her beautifully balanced prose never disappoints. Otherwise, I do like novels to give me a real sense of place, with detailed descriptions, so when I re-read it I feel as if I’m returning to a well loved home.

5.  When you need to leave stress behind, how do you decompress?

I pick a posy of flowers from my garden, taking my time, looking at all my plants, smelling the air and listening to the birds.

A hot bath with Lavender oil, reading a favourite book

A glass of wine and a chat with friends

6.  What is your style. classic, sporty, bohemian, or trendy?  What one item can you not live without?

Definitely bohemian. I don’t think I have a particular item I can’t live without. The days of wearing my beloved tail-coat and top hat sadly have passed…

Luckily, some things are passed down...

7.  Tell me about the teacher who had the most profound influence on the person you are today.  Not all teachers are in the classroom.

I'm lucky to have been guided by many amazing people. If it has to be one, I would probably chose my dearest family friend Bob Cardona, because he was such a help and inspiration when I was putting my life back together after my husband left me.

8.  What was your favorite book as a child or teenager?  How did it affect what you read today?  Is it still a favorite?

I loved and still love Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. The passionate, brave voice of the narrator Jane was so different from most ‘old fashioned’ books I had read. It awakened my interest in the Victorians and in the Social History of Women.

As a child I also loved ‘Little White Horse’ by Elizabeth Goudge- She has a gentle spirituality and a wonderful ability to describe somebody's home. I still gain comfort from her books today.

9.  Here in the south there is the old rule of not wearing linen before Easter.  We have about two weeks before Easter.  Are you a traditionalist or do you throw the rules out the window?

I don’t like rules at all. I’m much more rebellious now than ever I was as a teenager!

10.  You are hosting a small dinner party.  Do you allow your guest in the kitchen and make preparation part of the party, or is it all your show?  How about the clean up?

I have such a tiny kitchen; it only really fits one person! Anyway, I like to do all the preparations beforehand, so I can enjoy the evening. As to clearing up- NEVER until the next day, if anybody is still there… then they can help!

11.  Why did you begin your blog?  Has it turned out as you had hoped?  Have you discovered anything about yourself?

I have always wanted to be a writer but realise that I don’t have the qualities within me to create decent fiction. I love to capture life (by words or photographs) so a blog allows me to do this. I like the discipline of it and I am amazed and so grateful to readers and followers who from their support and comments now feel like friends. It has brought me such pleasure and comfort in this last year.

Please visit  Bonnie's blog and all the other wonderful and eclectic sites.  They each have a story to tell and they do it beautifully.
http://livinglifebytheseatofmypants.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/lets-play-tag.html

 Thank you Bonnie, I have enjoyed myself!

I feel like I've lost a very useful part of me....!

This is a short post as  I have managed to lose my beloved camera.
 I can only think it fell (or was pinched) from my bag. I know I had it a week last Friday but despite scouring the house, it is not to be found.
I have been desperate to write and illustrate some new posts...
I have two new hens - who will join my present ladies

As they are not laying as well as they were last Spring...

I've been swimming in the sea -in March, I can't believe it!  I took my rather speedy dip in Man o' War Cove, just along from Lulworth- the other side of Durdle Door in Dorset.

Lulworth Cove

But there are no photographs and I have had to rootle through my old ones to just find these.

I have seen a bank of celendines that made me think of a Mediaval Tapestry and I'm aching to get out there and capture these sights and tell you about them.
I will have one last look tomorrow ( and maybe just one more at the weekend ) and then I'll have to accept my camara has gone.
Hey Ho.... the trials of 21st Century life!

The happiness of being loved

In the midst of trouble, sometimes a happy day can shine out, lighting up all the others.
It started with a beautiful hand-made card from Emily-

I love her quirky collages!

Then David nobly drove us both to the Artisan Spring Fair where we had such a cheerful, friendly day, with good sales and great customers.

Back home that evening, Sam set the table and the scene

with candles, flowers and a bottle of my favourite Freixenet, it looked perfect

The room was lit up and seemed full of colour

And from the kitchen came wonderful cooking smells as the two of them created the most scrumptious meal

Chicken breast stuffed with mozzerella and asparagus, with Anya potatoes and peas

The chefs were satisfied

And David and I were completely happy too

I'm not very keen on puddings but my very favourite chocolate was brought out with great ceremony...

Heaven!

I felt well loved and truly spoilt, I am so lucky to have my family.

And finally Sam brought out his card for me, so in character- simple, succinct and says it all...

It has been a very happy Mothering Sunday for me, I hope yours was too.

Spring Fairs- Spring Cleaning can wait...

It must be Spring, or very nearly so, because the time for Spring Fairs has arrived!

I have put aside any thoughts of housework and been going through old photographs of my stock to try to find the ones which sum up my rather varied collection... My apologies if  you have seen some of these before. It's really hard to choose which ones to put into brochures and on websites.

The first I'm doing is The Jubilee March Fayre, this Saturday 3rd March in the Guild Hall in Salisbury

http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/site/whats-on/salisbury-committee-cancer-research-uk-jubilee-march-fayre-p1326823

Then there's The Artisan Spring Fair at Middle Woodford Village Hall on Sunday March 18th
http://artisanfairs.blogspot.com/

And last but not least, which isn't until May but I've just heard I have my place booked, so I'm feeling excited about it...
is The Vintage Nostalgia Show 25th 26th and 27th May in the Wyle Valley
http://www.vintagenostalgiashow.co.uk/

And I added the photo of me holding a great pile of old books, which I love as they hide my not inconsiderable tummy!

I hope I've made a good choice of photos. I'm actually planning a slight different theme to each fair, it's much better fun that way but harder to capture using old photographs rather than a picture of what I'm planning to take each time.
I think I had better stop writing about things and actually get on with doing them. There is an awful lot of sorting, labelling and packing to do. I'm so looking forward to these fairs-
 I can truly say - I have a spring in my step!

Last days before the Beginning

In just a few days my marvelous Emily will be 20 years old!

I think many mothers become nostalgic around the birthdays of their children and I admit to shedding a tear when I looked at the photographs from so many years ago. She is now off at university and leaping into and loving her life there, so actually I am happy and wouldn't change a thing!
The early spring when I was awaiting her birth seems such a long time ago now. I remember how strange it was to be part of a natural cycle that is so very normal and ordinary but to me so earth-shatteringly amazing and life changing.

Last days before the Beginning



I am fat and tight as a lilac bud.

I am waiting, still and quiet as a bulb in the dark earth.

Soon Spring will be here, pushing, bursting and blossoming.

As for now, I like to watch for the early flowers

The slim, frail snowdrops give me courage

that I too will be brave and bring forth my burden.

It's hard to imagine a new life inside me

but as the poet says-

" Nothing is certain, only the certain Spring".



Happy Birthday my dearest girl.