Sometimes

sometimes things can overwhelm
Pain, happenings around us
All serve to distract
The key I think is colour
Bright makes me smile
Rainbows lift the spirit
Natures hues most of all

The blanket was made by a good friend as a joint birthday present. Isn't it stunning?

A park in monochrome with added colour for interest

Today we ventured out for some fresh air. Luckily we found a disabled car space very close to where I wanted to be.

Although we are currently snowless(thankfully) there is some all around us.

 I love pictures like this where it looks as though I have been snapping in black and white.

 with slight tints of copper

 and moss green

 It reminds me of old photo albums, a frozen moment

 Glimpses of other places as you turn a corner

 Then home and the start of a one pot dinner. We found some candy beetroot yesterday in Booths and I thought it may add a little colour and taste to the savoury bean pot . Lots of different vegetables and beans and 3 tiny hot chorizo sausages sweated with ginger and garlic to begin

 The flowers are all in full bloom now and add a little colour to the Buddhas dark corner

 When you are sitting of an evening they release their perfume, just a slight aroma permeating the house.

New year

Happy new year again:)

The new year has started with sunshine, I am hoping that is a start of brighter days with a little less rain

 

As it was so bright we decided to have a little stroll in the local park and feed the birds. The chestnut buds are starting to grow and the fungi as you can see

I love primulas, they bring a welcome glow to the woodlands at this time of year

 We weren't just feeding the birds, the squirrels have to eat as well and they loved the peanuts in shells. They always amuse me as they try to fit several into their mouths at the same time

This tree is so vibrant it lights up the undergrowth

 and so do these

 in all the colours. They have been growing under the trees in the park for many years

I also decided it was time to show you some of the shawls I have finished lately.

This one is a pattern called wingspan and is a fabulously simple design but looks stunning finished as I'm sure you will agree

 This yarn is from the Knitting Goddess and is her same difference yarn in the bumble bee colourway

 This shawl is my favourite pattern Pamuya and the yarn is from a fabulous new dyer Woo sheeps.
I love the colour ways not just for the colour but for the unusual names both of the  yarn bases and the colour ways. This is Dick yarn and the colourway is Stupid Boy. Why stupid boy? The colour way is lavenders, anyone remember Dads Army? Pike (Ian Lavender) was always called stupid boy by the captain:) It is refreshing to see a dyer with a sense of humour as well as a great sense of colour. Other yarn bases up to now are Tom, George, Cyril. I think you get the idea? Go and check them out, you wont be disappointed. I am looking forward to the fibre that they hope to have on sale soon. I particularly like that  there will be repeatable colourways as well as one off colours.

This next shawl is Dragonfly wings pattern and made in Faery wings mohair/silk from Fyberspates. Isn't it lush?

I haven't made any resolutions as such but I do hope to blog more regularly as well as get back to creating fabric and paper art. And you never know maybe even some femmes.

Thoughts on an Autumn morning

The rituals of the day play out before our eyes.
Of some we are a part, of some merely an observer.

The sun will rise without our aid. We all believe it will and like a well oiled machine it appears above the horizon each day.

Some rituals we lead. The getting out of bed, the daily ablutions. Do we do them consciously or on automatic pilot?
 
We take part in a lot of the day as mere automatons.
Do we remember the first breath of the day?
The first view of morning.
Do we practice mindfulness as we go about our daily life?

Or do we just exist in these moments?


I find myself stopping, taking time to be in the moment.
To smell the faint aroma of Winter's arrival.
It wasn't too many days ago that the first breath of the day was warm. It smelt and tasted of a hot Summer.

Granted not many of those this year. But still, where did it go?
How come Autumn arrived so fast this year? How did the wheel change as it did?

The world looks different now. From the greens and yellows of Spring we now have golds and ambers and firey reds, turning before our eyes to brown.

Fruit on the hedgerows begging to be made into jams and pies or cordials.
My apple tree has proper fruit this year. The first since we moved in almost five years ago. I don't know its age but this years fruit is mature and lush. Not many but a crop none the less.

I will make a pie of them and give thanks to the Goddess for her harvest gifts.

The shawl I've just finished. I named it pumpkin field as it reminded me of the fields of pumpkins around this time. The yarn is Zauberball and crazy Zauberball.

We are ok chez Moggie, trying to enjoy each day to the full and not think of things we can not change. Not always easy but we try.
And you?

Walk on the wild(ish) side

Let us continue our walk through the woods shall we?

 There are many paths we could take, some like this are not as easy if you have restricted mobility but nice to take a peek down.

 Imagine who or what you could meet as you meander down this lane.

 More apples ripening in the sun

More flowers for your viewing pleasure

 the Buddhlea is flourishing here, it loves waste land and will gain a toehold anywhere it can.

 there were hedges of it

 Rowan berries almost ready for collection for making jelly. Excellent with venison or cheese

 the plant below reminds me of one we used to take stalks of and suck, it was very sour like rhubarb and we dipped it in sugar. I don't say this is the one so don't try this at home:)

 Just look at this beauty anyone know what it is?

Comfrey or knitbone an old country remedy and one plant that the bees adore.

EDITED TO ADD the yellow flower is toadflax, thank you Jane:)