Reconnecting!

We have had some time off and travelled about a bit but we are home now and we decided to go wooding  together. We are so lucky to have spectacular woods only a short drive from us,actually driving is not necessary if you are feeling energetic you could just walk out of Truro and feel you are in the wildwood with no trouble. Ratty , Moley and Mr Badger could be round the next corner.

The trees are just starting to turn from green to the flaming colours of Autumn and there  is a calmness in the air that is soothing. I love each season with all the wonderful changes but I think I favour Autumn the most.

We found various fungi but this little crop were glorious !

As we strolled along the path through the woods the constant sound of trickling water accompanied us. The water was clear and fast running with the occasional darting of very small fish if you looked closely.

I always think that the roots of venerable old trees are the homes of elves and fairies or Brambly hedge like mice. OK I don't really believe it but the enchantment is delightful.

I was feeling very low this summer ,thinking about the demise of our country in the hands of the Tories,their mindless cruelty to the poor and needy and the way they are dismantling many of the things I hold dear, The NHS, the Library Service etc but I feel a tide may be turning. ! This walk has started a reconnection with nature which is always the way to counteract depression.

I picked up various pieces to take home and make an Autumn Solstice table decoration,some pine cones,bits of fallen pine leaves,beach leaves and Old Man's Beard!

When we came home I added some poppy seed heads and fennel and it looked good on the table in candle light when we ate our supper which was a new recipe. It was ,Puy lentils,sorrell and venison sausages with onions a little garlic, herbs and seasonings. It had a slug of Armenac added which finished it off very well . I will do that dish again !!I also made an apple and pear with spices pie which was gingery and great with yogurt.

We filled a bag and a rucksack with bits of broken small wood ,very good when dry on our wood burner.

We thought  needed to walk more ,we are getting tubby! Got to burn off the pies and sausages !! Thanks to Steve for the pictures! 

The way home.!

Perhaps it is time for Bright Star to Twinkle again!

I have not had the inclination to update Bright Star for probably over a year. The reason may have been that that the re-election of a cruel and ruthless Conservative Government  made me so angry with my fellow humans that I wanted to hide away!The selfishness,ignorance and just plain vileness of the Murdoch press with its hate filled headlines and lowest common denominator reactions depressed me greatly.

The Tories calling fellow human beings benefit scroungers and further torturing the sick and disabled with ATOS.Then idiots labelling desperate people economic migrants when most are refugees and dubbing them "cockroaches" as they drown, these are men ,women children and babies ! To keep us from thinking about anything important there are TV series about  the most banal of subjects which seem to promote greed and ignorance and  do not inspire at all. However along comes Jeremy Corbyn and says quite a lot of practical,fair and decent political alternatives to this incessant fear,envy and targeted austerity.  Perhaps I feel better that people have been flocking to hear his words.The human race cannot survive without co operation and  empathy.Thanks Jeremy for cheering me up!

So  now for something completely different as the Pythons would say!

Summer flowers are an endless joy and many artists have depicted them gloriously on their canvasses as though they want to save them for posterity.

 We need not worry because every year another outburst of colour and delicacy starts in spring and follows through until the last days of autumn.

 During the winter months however we can gaze at the paintings and remember warmer days!

Here are some that I would like to share with you.

This is by Gauguin,his colour is unique.

This one is another by a favourite of mine,Redon.

This is glorious and by Degas!

Cezanne capturing the glow of Chrysanthemums. We were lucky enough to visit his evocative studio in Aix last year.It was as though he would just come along anytime and start to paint! His coat was hanging on a hook,his jugs and fruit for still life were laid out and his easel was ready.

Spring flowers by Monet ,so beautiful and full of hope!

Pansies are such a favourite,they just keep flowering and have vibrant colours. They are like velvet!. This is by a Russian painter called Peske. When my Mum was staying recently Emma my step daughter said that her eyes were like pansies and she is right Mum has very beautiful eyes.

Here we have Matisse.

If I could paint I would love to paint flowers like Klimt!

I love the intimacy of the painting by Bonnard !

The vibrancy of this work by Suzanne Valadon is great.

Another wonderful Gauguin.

This is a lovely piece of work done by a Korean master,it is so delicate and effective.

I love the dream quality of Chagall's work and have just started to read his biography.

What can I say the fabulous Georgia O keefe,one of my heroines!

This is another Valadon but it is much gentler than the other on this post.

Well that is feast for the eyes and the soul!

 I hope you will enjoy looking at these paintings.  I send a bouquet, a big bunch of sunflowers to Jeremy Corbyn for 

 helping to bring me a bit of faith back in human nature and getting Bright Star up and running again.