All wrapped up

Yesterday, I mentioned about the Spring-fling arts festival we'd happened upon. Another delightful installation had my heart singing out with love. Not only was it based on my favourite little cottage (in-the-world!!) but it was gift wrapped and we discovered it on my birthday.

This wonderful wonderful wonderful cottage was called 'COUCH' and had been covered in stretchy sofa material - apparently it had taken 3 months to make. It fitted like a dream with the corners being joined by zips and the chimney being completely covered - each brickwork lump and bump fitted and dressed in the fabric. I could have cried for the love of it.

I walked around and around. Took so many photos and stroked the house. We chatted to the installation artist - Alice Francis who was dressed in the same fabric too!

One day - I will live here, till then I will just have to look at these photos and dream!

Where have we been?

Here

There

Walking

Working

Crafting

Progress

Loving

Living

Normal transmission will return shortly 

when my life returns to normality. 

Ps watching the Eurovision (surreptitiously on my lap top coz Himself thinks its all a bit too girly!!)

A hearty♥♥ surprise

Here follows a transcript of a conversation between myself and Himself from yesterday.

Let me set the scene first....I am hobbling about trying to get my right leg to move in sync with my left and feeling frustrated that I should still be using a crutch and steadfastly trying not to when.....

Love...I've got something here for you

I frown, still feeling grumpacious and irritable, to see him place two white tissue wrapped parcels.

They're for you

Really? wow, why? I am surprised, Not at his generosity, for he is, but am surprised at the timing.

He grins sheepishly

Open them 

I don't need prompting a second time, carefully (but not too carefully) tear open the first of the white tissue papers and am amazed and delighted (definitely delighted) to find a clutch of three heart hooks .♥♥ 

Wow! they are beautiful 

He grins sheepishly again and I am really touched at his thoughtfulness (as I type this he has just made be a mug of tea - lucky lucky me)

I reach for the second parcel and unwrap (rip open) the paper. To find this♥♥......

Again I am speechless at his perfect choice of gifts but am curious to know why I am being given such wonderful gifts now.

Umm..... well, I actually bought them for you for chrimbly and hid them........ then forgot where they were..... I've just kicked them - they were under the bed.....

Oh I do so love him♥♥♥♥♥, even if he has a memory like a sieve :)

My wooden heart♥

On the way to a camping break last summer, I was crocheting(my usual in-car-entertainment) when Himself, who was driving, told me to look across the valley. As I lifted my head, the boys both yelled to 'look at the heart!' I was amazed and delighted to see - this.......

Heart♥ from Nature

I grabbed my camera and took a photo a smidgen too late, so it is a bit of a squiff heart, but for better images have a look here and here and here. (Thanks to the Cumbria Picture library)

There are several stories spoken how the heart shaped was formed, ranging from a love-sick tongue-tied farmer (would also have to be very patient to wait for his saplings to grow large enough to to profess his love) to the more romanticised where two lovers killed themselves in a suicide pact or a memorial to a lost soldier during a war. Some people also believe that this heart represents the centre of mainland Britain.

The more probable (and mundane) explanation seems that the woodland is'nt really heart-shaped at all, it is just how is appears due to the land form and it is all that is left from a woodland from the mid 1800s. 

What a shame..... Think I prefer the lovelorn farmer myth :)

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

So, what heartening things happened last year?

Today is the day - will let you know how it all went!!

Tomatoes are still an issue...........**

A Picture says more than a thousand words...............

I love you

**And the title? well, follow this link to last year's post to explain all.

Happy memories heart

Today's heart

is

a small crocodile clip photo holder

It holds a photograph from about 5 years ago and is of my boys laughing in mock terror as they clasp each others hands while they ford a small but swiftly flowing stream. Small enough to just step over, deep enough to walk in, so guess what they chose...... The shrieks of delighted alarm as ice-cold water splashed around the tops of their wellies soaking their feet and socks. Oh the naughtiness of it all! 

Youngest holds his bigger brother's hand tightly, his right fist is clenched shut as he feels the sheer iciness of the water as it drenches his shorts, all the while he sports a cheeky grin. 

Eldest - more cautious is holding his little brother's hand high - protectively as he too tentatively wades into the water, his shorts are also dripping and although his face is down hidden by his hair -  he watches the water swirl and sparkle around his boots,  his left hand is relaxed - he is in control.

A second step by each boy and they have crossed 'the raging torrent' so they turn and repeat the expedition to return to the other side. Where.... yes you guessed it, they repeated the crossing....again...and again...and again - oh the laughter, the giggles and the fun of being 5 and 7 and camping in a field up in the Southern Lakes. 

*******************************

Well, it's been fun sharing this wonderful memory with you today, I had originally planned just to show the heart and leave it at that, but once I started writing, it all came out - and it is as fresh as if it was this last weekend.......how I love memories :)  

Well, have yourself a lovely Wednesday - I am about to go out quickly and give the dog a walk before I go to work - the sun is actually shining and it would be silly to waste it - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Valentine's day Heart

Today's heart is brought to you 

by an old poetry book - The Faber Book of Modern Verse (1936)

and a 

small red book mark 

marking a poem by

W.S.Graham (1918 -1986)

********************************

Where you (in this saying) lag in the waving woods

under climber moon tonight under branching

industry

of all my homing opposites, this paidout saying

serves us again the upward legging oaks

heaving air.  This fastened fire awakes,

filament between us full of the sleeping rooks.

This wood's around us under the curlew's overweep.

glowormed in the myrtle beds, under the stoop

of the starry harrier boughs, we kindle this memory 

up.

To still lie low together, heart and hand fast,

we hear the windkindling trees around us move

these words bribe words away. Man and woman 

lie at their best, lifeline crossed on lifeline

and all signs sail in their holygranted garden

kept in one element, devoured in an ore of heaven,

they're lifebled back to this now double night.

So are we bedded burning in our infinite

immortal filament where continually our dead cry out.

So you (in the flame-fastened saying) beneath

bullhorned goatbearded oak, look up at the night

falling away across the staining sky.

Our branching veins remember us and flower

the morning's first bright resins burning over

our two kissed lives. Our present morning ever

handing us back to forgivenness lands us back

to under a stiller sky. The daybreak cock

fixed in the calyx east crows seven bright heavens awake.

***********************************

And those of you who know me, will know why I have chosen this poem/poet.....................

***********************************

Now for something less arty-farty and more down to earth - follow this link to see what we got up to last year!

Hearts from nature

Today's heart 

is brought to you

by scatterings of drift wood left by the sea. 

I love the feel of sea sculpted shapes of wood, 

so tactile, so textured, so beautiful.

Each small piece tumbled to soap like shapes, the rings and knots forming decorative blemishes and tattoos.

Small drill holes made by sea creatures, made by man.

Salty infused, sand encrusted, organic.

****************************************

PS.....

I did it again - I forgot to add the link for last year's hearty happenings!

10.10.10 - important date - to me

August 1985. 


He reached up and pulled out of the back of the pick-up my entire belongings...I had just arrived, flustered and tired, having travelled for hours and hours,  first by coach, then by train and finally by the company pick-up down to Devon. 


As he lugged my suitcase he grunted ....

'F¥**! <  H3$$! what have you got in here - the kitchen sink?' 

I was partly shocked at his statement and totally taken in by his deep voice and northern accent. And give or take a few days, we have been inseparable since -  25 years of friendship and love.

Happy birthday to you my best and truest friend - I shall always love you.


***********************************


And to celebrate his birthday - Himself declared a day of walking.

It was a gloriously warm and sunny autumnal day. With a picnic of birthday cake (ginger and apple) vegi sausage rolls, egg mayo sarnies, tea and apples we set off.

The rays of sun through the trees sparkled on the leaves, reflected brightly off the river and warmed our faces and our moods.

I took many many pictures, I love the shades of autumn, the crisp colours and honey scent of decaying leaves. I love the lengthening shadows - making me over ten feel tall!

I love the historic reminders of an industrial age, they are silent testament to the strength of self belief and mistaken invincibility. Enormous monuments to the power of the few and the sweat, blood and probably death of many. 

At a confluence of two rivers, we stopped and observed the strength in the flow of water. Trapped by rocks were clusters of mosaics and tapestries made from fallen leaves.

We followed ancient drover's tracks, packhorse ways,  a Victorian ha-ha and riverside walks. We went through and over many different stiles with great anticipation how giddy dog would tackle them. She 'throws' herself at them with apparent lack of planning or care and some of her attempts are quite spectacular, others have us gasping with laughter or admiration.

The views were  glorious as we sat in the sun and toasted  to Himself's birthday  with mugs of tea and munched on cake, and finally when we came off the hills it was almost dark. A quick stop off in a favourite town on the way home to buy steaming hot fish and chips to eat with burning fingers and gusto.

And, later, much later Himself said that, when in the morning I told him to cut his cake and make a wish (like I do for the boys) he had wished for a lovely day, good weather and a wonderful walk

and his wish came true....... I so love him!

23.08.10 - Happy Birthday!

Youngest turns 10 today - that is in - 10, ten, TEN, double figures!

He has been counting down to his birthday since, well since last Christmas........ 

talk about anticipation.

And, as we have been getting closer and closer to today, 

he has been getting more and more excited!

He is such a cheerful, cheeky person, with a face that says 'butter wouldn't melt in his mouth' 

when you know full well 

he-is-the-culprit. 

But one look as his smiley face and beautiful green eyes 

and you (well I) forgive him instantly 

despite all the evidence saying otherwise.................... 

Happy Birthday my beautiful boy xx

Keep on being you x

02.03.10 - Happy Birthday!

Today, 12 years ago, Himself and I became not just us two, 

but us three. 

12 years ago yesterday , I went into labour in Johannesburg on a hot and sunny afternoon.

Today is Eldest's birthday.  

Born in Africa, like me, we feel bound to that country although we don't call it home any more. 

He is my ally. 

We often work successfully together using a pincer technique on Himself or Youngest 

when  we want something doing. 

We are good friends - I am very lucky to have him. 

I just wish he would eat TOMATOES 

(then my life would be complete!!)

Happy Birthday C xxxxxx

*******************************

With all the attention so blatantly directed at Eldest (according to Youngest), said Youngest has put in another request - he has asked me to make him a.... no - not going to say, you have to guess!!

So as I progress, I will show a photo as a clue - here goes.

Clue one: -  An easy one to get you started.

24.02.10

Today's Heart  is..........

...a yule present from Himself to me.

14.02.10

Today's heart is.....

Is made with recycled buttons, 

hanging off a vase

filled with roses,

alstromeria

and

gypsophila

From Himself, taken by candle light.

This morning, a coffee was brought to me in bed. The curtains were thrown open and the sun poured in. 

When I came downstairs, on the table for me was a vase full of flowers and a card. 

I am smiling now as I write.

I gave Himself the lovebirds I made and he seemed genuinely pleased.  The boys, however, were indignant as they were not represented as little birds and I was firmly told to add two more - Himself and I just grinned.

It was in August 1995 that I met him.

I had run from a disastrous relationship in Africa and was immature, brittle and smart mouthed. I'd  managed to get a live-in job at a Field Studies Centre in Slapton, South Devon, where I scrubbed toilets, planted trees, waited at tables, made beds, built stiles and fences, milked cows and grew to love the countryside. 

The first person I met was Himself as he lugged all my worldly possessions out of the back of a pickup truck and nearly dislocated his shoulder. His first words were... " %!**#?  ^&(( - what do you have in your suitcase - the kitchen sink??!!"

It was the first time I'd heard a northern accent. He had such a deep voice. And something inside made me want to see him again. He was also at the Field Centre as one of the placement students. When we weren't working, the staff would go out in groups to thelocal  pub or to town, and occasionally a placement would join us. Sometimes Himself, sometimes one of the others.

After a while, only we would go exploring the moors and beaches, the villages and lanes. We would range far and wide discovering the world and each other. We became inseparable, and when at the end  year he had to go back to college and I had to go back to Africa, I followed my heart and followed him.

Years later he told me, that as he was driving down to the Field Centre, he had stopped at a motorway service station for a quick rest. As he was quietly dozing in the car with the radio on, there had been a tap on the window. He looked and saw a woman standing there, he rolled down the window and the woman  said "You are on your way to meet your future wife"

Himself said at the time he thought - **you're barmy** and just smiled at her, wound his window up and drove off (quickly).

It's strange how fate turns out. But I would do it all again.

My three, under a big sky.

11.02.10

Today's Heart is ..........

Part of a story,  are you sitting comfortably?  Then I shall begin.

Still under the influence of a pernicious cold that has lingered for nearly 10 days, I took to my sewing machine for comfort and crafting pleasure.
That and the fact that nearly three weeks ago I challenged our Knit n Knatter coven to make something on a Valentines day theme and I still hadn't started mine.

(Please note gratuitous usage of a scrappy heart pin cushion so to continue this month's theme)

I had been gifted some lovely fabrics and one in particular wove itself into my mind for a particular project. So after wearily doing yet another load of pungent washing, I cut out two little bodies.

(Please note further gratuitous usage of a scrappy heart pin cushion) 

At this point I have to say that the house is looking similar to  Mr Woo's Laundry as I am surrounded by  washing hanging everywhere, but - hey - that is so much more preferable to yesterday's bad smell everywhere!

Oh - where was I? 

Yes, yes, 

Today's heart and tonight's Knit n Knatter. 

After some delicate bird surgery, even more delicate cutting of the smallest hearts I have ever made - remind me not to do that again, I went cross eyed....

I have for you now , via a shaggy dog tale....

Today's Heart(s) are .......

.... on two Love Birds

Twirling in the winter sunshine

I will gift them to Himself this Sunday

with my love

05.02.10

...And today's heart is...

A little treasure box that shelters my rings when I am not wearing them.

Made by Youngest at cubs and presented to me on Mother's Day 

complete with little chocolates 

wrapped up in crinkly red tissue. 

Each little heart stuck on with generous globs of glue.

The wobbly handwriting.

I will always love it.

He will grow up and become a man  

And this little box will keep safe a  precious memory of his 8 year old self for me. 

I will always love them, my boys, no matter what.

It is a binding, unbroken invisible cord that wraps my love around them.

I had never intended on having children, we were happy with just us and our cats. Then I discovered I was pregnant with Eldest and was horrified, I didn't think I could cope.

Something my Mom said to me was.... don't worry, they bring the love with them once they are born...

She was right. 

But what she did not say was how powerful and unbreakable it was.

However, I still yell at them when I have had enough of their antics!!....... 

I might love them dearly

but I am still the boss :)x