St. Jude's Day Storm

Stormy sea with blazing wreck (1835-40)

"Winds from fiery holes in heaven
Piled the hills darkening around them
To awe them..."

Ted Hughes

Stormy sea with blazing wreck (1835-40)

All night we listened
to the powerful storm wind
battering our house walls,
and marvelled at the courage
of the lifeboat off Newhaven
fighting the violence of the waves.

Steam boat off a harbour's mouth making signals
in shallow water and going by the lead (1842)

We were tucked up snug
in our warm little house
with candles flickering by choice.
So much to be grateful for.

Shore scene with waves and breakwater

Turner understood the grandeur of the storm
the vulnerability of those trapped by the sea,
and the quiet of the day after.

The morning after the deluge (1843)

Nothing has changed.

*****

All paintings by J M W Turner RA (1775 - 1851)

winter rose

I found it this afternoon,
sheltered by the apple tree,
a pink cushion of rose,
unexpected summer.

Now it is laid carefully
onto white linen,
clove fragrance seeping
into the warm kitchen.

I would not have it back,
that summer, but I am glad
of the fragrance sweetening
the first day of winter.

beyond the (purple) door

Pinterest is a strange place. I find it very absorbing but I think it uses the part of my brain formerly occupied by stamp collecting. It gives me great satisfaction to bring together a disparate selection of images into a coherent theme. My favourite board based on the colour Purple and includes a glass door knob, aubergines and sheet music - it is a curated gallery rather than an inspiration board.

There is so much to think about in Pinterest Land...

1.
If Americans call prawns shrimp, what do they call shrimp?

2.
What is arugula? And chimichurri?

3.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Popovers.
Just NO.

4.
Will Pinterest change my photographic style?
Expect more sunsets.

5.
Somewhere in the world
there is a door of every conceivable colour.
Or is it the magic of Photoshop?

6.
I have a weakness for pictures of puppies
which I am trying to manage without medication.

7.
If the most successful food photography looks inedible
why is it so appealing?

8.
Dear marketing manager of the refuse disposal company
I salute you for your innovative use of social media
but I think you are mistaken.

9.
Does Mary Oliver get commission?

10.
I feel a collection of knitting pattern swatches
coming upon me. I'm resisting.

11.
Enough of Halloween already.

12.
"How to Defibrillate Dying Kale?
Why?

On the other hand I bought those Victorian silver earrings from Grays Antiques after seeing them on Pinterest.

It's not all puppies and popovers.

a perfect day for tea

We have known each other forever. I was introduced to Sue by the midwife at antenatal classes, Helen moved in next door not long afterwards, I shared a school run with Jane and met Caroline through postnatal classes. In the intervening years our children have gone to different schools, Caroline has been abroad and family commitments and jobs have got in the way of spending together. Today we met for tea to celebrate all sorts of things - new jobs, house moves, plans for early retirement, holidays. Sitting by the fire, listening to the laughter, it seemed like a miracle to me that our friendship has survived the lean periods when we have been too busy to see each other and I was so grateful for these wonderful, enterprising, funny women that I am fortunate enough to have as friends.

heartsease

All summer long the back garden catches the sun
We sit under the cherry tree, grateful for shade.

Now the days are shorter, sunlight is precious
and the table has been moved back to the patio.

I was planting pots and window boxes today.
Tiny gardens which give me much pleasure.

The pots in the back garden are pale blue and white,
reflecting light from the house at night.

In the front garden the window box is bright yellow,
a burst of sunshine for dark winter days.

Supper will be late...

MrM is stuck in a traffic jam
so there is time to play with the camera.

blackbird wanted to see more of my kitchen.
There's not much to show...
it's very small.

I'm crazy about mushrooms this year
check out these Portabellini!

Yes - I know that it looks tidy.
I cleared up before I took the photo.
Obviously.

Delicious cabbage!
There is a ban on kale
after a recent disaster.
Let's move swiftly on.

Woahhh - a spaghetti spoon!
Where did that come from?
Did MissM leave it there?

Mashed potato.
It's smoooooth
and floaty-light.

And lo - sausages in red wine
with thyme and mushrooms
just in time for MrM.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The Iron Age

The Ironing Maid
Thomas Harrington Wilson

You might think that
with so much time at my disposal
the ironing basket would be empty.
You would be wrong.

Turns out I have an attitude problem.

I am trying to address this
by downloading audiobooks.
28 hours of Anthony Trollope
seems suitable punishment .

flowers in the rain

On Saturday afternoon
we walked around the corner
and found shoes with flowers.

There was a desk too,
and a wind-up gramophone
playing inexplicably awful music.

What did it symbolise?
I have no idea
but it made me smile.

I hope that you too find
something unexpected today
to make you smile.

Apricot Roses

A fabulous gift

from dear friends

catching the late afternoon sun.

running in the rain

Don't think for a moment
that it is always sunny. Or dry.

Today it was cold and wet.
I saw hedgerows vanishing in mist,
a stag bellowing in the rain,
a hawk hovering in a grey sky,
road menders enveloped in steam.

I thought about making choices.
For me, today, it was running in the rain
and if I keep on being brave
one day it will be easier. Perhaps.