Fodder for the soul

Are we sharing similar thoughts as we watch the cattle being fed? Fodder. Winter. Action.

The structure of everything is revealed by winter, so I am aware of this Robin following me. It's a territorial thing with Robins, they own the place. Making my way along the lane, he continually swoops on ahead always landing in full view on some perch or branch.

Letting me know who's cock of the walk.

As soon as I get closer, he's gone. Then, around the next bend, he twitches and chirps from the top of an improvised gate post brilliantly hewn from an old telegraph pole, the top of a clay jar , a piece of wire.

He's not the only one standing by agog. Other birds are gathering as the tractor arrives with this years silage. I know I say nothing much happens around here, but hey look at this, everything is going on today!

Lost in leafy light

Do you share a memory of lying under trees, watching the light flicker through the leaves? Did you throw yourself onto the grass and stare into the sky? Did you roll in leaves and kick them down the path on the way home from school, or half close your eyes to see faeries dancing between the branches and the sunlight?

Although Ireland should be covered in trees, outside urban areas the forests tend to be the monotonous evergreen pines planted all over Northern Europe. Sadly there is a lack of autumn glory in this part of the world, here autumn is over and winter has arrived.

But today under this rare group of copper beeches I revisited dreamy schoolgirl moments. Perhaps the world has enough photos of autumn leaves? What the hell, here are even more!

The cool balm of rain

Needing balm, something to soothe and cool, I turned again to the simple task of looking. Fired up and blasted off like a rocket that morning, by the end of the day I was dragging myself around.

Too many stories had caught my eye. There were so many burrows to explore. Strategies and crucial questions filled my brain. The simple task of looking would freeze the urgency.

The bracken still had tinges of green. The sky filled the frame with navy blue. Droplets held calm worlds within their lens.

Even now the smell of the earth and the undergrowth is a sweet memory that will get me through the busy days ahead.

Taking flight

The family of swans living on the lake are nurturing their fly-by skills at the moment. The resident small family also seem to be babysitting 5 extra cygnets for the last few weeks. Where have these new babes come from and why? I don't know.......

Every day they circle the lake in flight formation. I am usually so drawn to the sound of their wings and the power of this sight that I am too late with the camera, but will keep working on it!

As it happens there is a moody Swan Christmas Card for sale this year. This was a shot taken on dark November day last year. (A bit of poetic license was taken with the editing, unlike my usual naturalistic restraint and to be honest lack of photoshop skills!)


Feel free to have a browse my friends!

The edge of our future

We are wandering close to the edge of our future.  While the International Monetary Fund pack their bags we in Ireland are left with much unfinished business. My usually upbeat tribe of creatives are struggling to stay grounded. Looking for direction, going up blind alleys, flying kites.

There are flashes of brilliance. No shortage of creativity. No lack of purpose.

What do we do now? How can we nurture the new seeds we are planting in such unfertile ground? How can we move forward with a "lost decade" in tow?

It's dark November and time to begin the hibernation. More questions than answers as usual.

But will all be well? We will have to do a lot more than just keep our fingers crossed.

November rhythms and roses

As November takes hold, maybe winter begins?   The community on the hill and here on the lane are winding down, burrowing in behind closed doors.

Close to the window there are white roses budding and flowering, in their own rhythm. Sure they don't seem to know if it's day or night!

And in the workshop there are sounds of tapping and clacking as words pour out onto the screen. Longing to find a heartbeat, imagined projects swish around in the two hemispheres. 

Light a candle, put the kettle on and get to work.

Faery creatures dancing in rainbows of dew

When you are out there early in the morning, you see things.  Mostly you see the usual things but once in a while nature surprises. These tiny rainbows within rainbows are a combination of dawn light, frosty dew and gorse spikes. Moments later, as the sun comes up, the dancing faery creatures fade.

We all have our short lived beautiful moments in the sun.