A Friend

02.11.09

I met her in the autumn of 2004.

I misheard her name in my nervousness and for the first hour kept referring to her wrongly.

But from that Thursday, we became friends.

At first just a weekly meeting whilst at college,

but then we met for children's birthday parties and weekend get togethers, then she moved into our village.

Although we are so different, we are so alike.

We can both say things like - Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' and know what we are talking about.

We can both lose ourselves in a plant nursery and love it.

We can both plan next season's colour or vegetables this season and have them sown and ready in our greenhouses

We both love the allure of yarn and beads and threads and material

We have been on holiday together

We look after each other's fur-babies when the other is away

I have dragged her hill and dale, through thick and thin, through mud and water

She drags me shopping................

I get her to join in our madcap themed parties where she has to make costumes and get dressed up,

she has taught me that matching china looks good, colour co-ordinated cushions actually do make the room and that our friendship is strong............

She looks fantastic in pink - I don't

She wears jeans and looks slim - I don't

She wears heels - I fall out of them......

She has long elegant nails - I have gardener's hands

She will leave a hole in my heart and in my life when she leaves - but I understand and agree why she is returning to her beloved island.

Happy birthday my dear dear friend - I love you.

Celebrate!

02.11.09
No sooner than the monsters and ghouls have faded into the crisp cold night and the cobwebs and spiders are put away safely for next year, when we be 'aving a pirate convenin' of the likes not held beforrrrrrre - not for the lily-livered - aarrgh.

On Saturday be wenches and pirates with yo-ho-ho's aplenty, with cutlasses 'n eye patches galore.

We be 'olding a pirate gatherin' of all pirate gatherin's ...  argh............. and I haven't finished making the costumes yet.

Oh dear - or I should be sayin' I be a scallywag and me boys be thinkin' of keelhaulin' me!

Good grief - it's exhausting talking like a pirate, so I'll give up, and reach for the crafting pile.

 For when the youngest pirate and his slightly more savvy older brother come home tonight, they will want to see some progress in the costume making department.

Or it will be the plank for me................................... (I have been warned!)

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I still have to go to work and finish my course work that has to be posted off by Friday...... now where do I start?

Thank you.

I wanted to say to Jan of bobbypinsboardwalk, 

that I am overwhelmed by her generous spirit

and her kind words.

Thank you.

Please go over to her site and see why she has been put in my inspirations list  :)x

01.11.09

With a change of month, a change in the weather.

Autumn's benign mood changed to one more unkind.

She has been hell bent on tearing off all the leaves,

making the trees bare.

Their twig fingers rake the grey sky as clouds hurry by.

Bark is wet and glistening and boughs creak and groan as they are ripped clean.

Leaves flurry and whirl on the wet roads,

clumping up on corners as if trying to hide from the winds.

Through rain spattered windows

we have watched and marvelled at her fickle moods,

yesterday she was feeling benevolent.

Today Autumn is definitely feeling 'under the weather'

31.10.09

Samhain

All Hallowtide

All Hallows Eve
The Day of the Dead
The Feast of the Dead

The beginning - not the end

We, still in the quest of entertaining youngest son 

whilst eldest is away,

went sloe hunting

it is traditional in our house

to collect the fruit after the first frosts to make Sloe Gin   (link)

The last few years have been poor picking 

but this autumn has been generous

we picked two tubs-worth.

While the youngest and giddy dog explored the woods 

for dragons and monsters

we picked and reminisced about past harvests.

May all monsters, big and small 

enjoy trick and treating 

tonight

30.10.09 Recipe of the day - Autumnal wreath

Ingredients
1 x bored 9 yr old,minus his brother
1 x autumn pile of leaves
1 x giddy dog
1x camera
a pinch of time
a pinch of persuasion (yes you really do want to do this....)
Loads of patience
Vine wreath
Cotton thread


Method:
Take one child and one dog and visit the libary.
Can I take my bike?
Can you leave it behind?
Can I take my scooter?
If you want to....
Can I leave them at home?
sigh
Collect leaves
Can I roll in the leaves Mum?
Take photos
Can I throw this for the dog?
Grit teeth
Can I roll down the hill?
Brush off mud and wet grass
Can I run down to the river?
Walk down, with camera, handfuls of leaves and reduce amount of patience
Simmer - quietly - whilst youngest and giddy dog run round in circles

Return home with muddy son and giddy dog, shedding leaves as you walk along

Wrap leaves around vine wreath
I am going to get my skateboard...
keep adding leaves
I need my shin pads.....
keep adding leaves
I need something to skate around - what can I use?....
keep.......adding.....leaves.......
Can I get my bike out?
stand back and look at wreath
I can't reach the lock can you open the garage for me so I can get my bike out?
Return to wreath, add more leaves
I think I've had enough of my bike - what shall I do next?
Help me hang the wreath up? I ask hopefully
ok - said in a very non enthusiastic 9 year old way
Attach to door, stand back and admire.
Why are the leaves falling off the wreath Mum?
sigh.

Youngest - before the rolling and the running and the mud...

Giddy dog - notable for it's giddiness ..........

Leaves - just need a few more

Finished!

29.10.09
The colours of autumn.
The symbols of samhain.
The fruits of the season.

One a flavour filled globe of fruit, the other a woolly impersonation.

The saying goes -  that imitation is the highest form of flattery.......

Can you spot the difference?