A Sunday Walk

This Sunday the sun was out and we drove to Trellisick Gardens which are very near us ,a National Trust Property we love to visit it in all seasons. Someone  has had a lovely idea to put a bow on the romantic tower that always reminds me of Rapunzel !

Without their leaves the amazing shape and texture  of the trees we could see was wonderful.This isjust one of many gnarled and twisted examples.

Have you ever read The Secret Garden ? Could this be it? What mystery lies behind the green door? I love doors , it must be pschological ,always searching for what is hidden.

Steve got snapping with his Blackberry and caught me looking at the rusty brown dead heads of this plant.

The Sensory Garden did not have many scents to share at this time of the Year ! Only the Rosemary was fragrant.

The shapes of some of the ancient trees  remind me of Rackham ,I can imagine a willowy fairy hiding here!

 Trellisick is on the banks of the Fal which in the words of Dylan Thomas often has "a heron priested shore"

I couldn't resist a bit of tree hugging,no one was looking!

We found that someone had decorated  the little summer house with seasonal paintings , leaves and crafts.It was very charming!

The shapes are incredible!

This is a really lovely picture taken by Steve , he is pleased with this one!

The trees,the river shining in the afternoon sun  and a kind of peace that only winter brings is very good for the soul!

The ivy is still green and the mosses that cling simbiotically to the resting trees.

I love this,who lives here? My imagination returns to childhood and I see the entrance to a magic world maybe?
It was a great walk and then we had a pot of Earl Grey tea at exactly 3pm how English is that and ginger cake too! Thanks to Steve for the photos,I left my camera behind that day!

A Little Moment of Magic

We are going to Majorca in the Spring,it has long been on my list for a Literary Pilgrimage and now at last I shall follow in the footsteps of George Sand and Chopin!

With this in mind I searched Amazon for some suitable reading to take with me.I found the two books shown above.Both lovely little paperback volumes used as they are described but in good condition.George Sand and Chopin stayed in the Cartuja of Valldemosa,he composed some of his most beautiful works and she wrote A Winter in Majorca while her children Maurice ,the adored son and the headstrong daughter Solange ran free in the corridors.George hoped the stay would cement their love and cure Chopin whose health was failing.

They arrived by boat and Chopin had his Pleyel piano shipped over.The corridors of Valledamosa echoed with the sound of his playing while George wrote and the children ran wild.

So many people have followed in their footsteps and I believe there is always a red rose on the piano which is kept in the Cartuja.

Imagine how lovely it was to open the book A Winter in Majorca and find pressed between the pages petals from the bouganvielia plant.This grows in abundance at Valldemosa and I imagine the previous owner of this book having it in his or her hand while touring the Cartuja.Then so as to remember the visit tucking a few petals between the pages.The book was probably put away and not opened again until I held it! Well that is my romantic fancy anyway! However I will take this book back to visit Valldemosa  again.I can't help wishing I knew who pressed those flowers, perhaps two music lovers had a tryst and wandered in the grounds together.

Well  I shall never know but  I am so glad this book came to me ! I am a hopeless romantic sometimes but Hey! Ho!

New Years's Resolutions!

Last night was the last day of a year that had many wonderful moments and some truly scary ones too.My husband Steve had a serious illness and I thought I might loose him, thankfully he fully recovered . Work was good with many events and exciting stuff going on a  the library where I work and facilitate a poetry group and reading group.Our poets have just published a small collection of their work over the last year and will soon have a launch and perform some of thier varied poetry for the  public.It has been a special joy to work with them all.The readers group is inspiring and much "book crossing" takes place .  We are all anxious about the fate of our public library system here  as the government is making swinging cuts to our public services however I live in hope!

A special highlight this last year was taking my Mum who is a glamorous 87 year old  to Hampton Court Palace where she attempted to be Henry the 8Th's 7th wife.Not a good idea Mum if you value your head!!!

We enjoyed  Christmas and now it is time to make plans for this empty canvas of a New Year. So I resolve to  to live ,love learn and hopefully be happy! I quote a poem sent to me by my Dear friend Karen a talented potter and renaissance woman if ever there was one.

"Departure"

Plans have to be conjured,

Magicians consulted,

escape to green leaves and willowing forests a priority,

Stealing away in pink dawn lights.

before the metal madness and fume filled streets erupt with maggot cars.

 New destinations ,more literary pilgrimages,I am excited!! Majorca in the spring to follow in the footsteps of George Sand and Chopin and Robert Graves!  That is the first  adventure. New books to read old books to savour and new and old friends to cherish ,how's that for a few attainable New Years resolutions?

A Happy, peaceful and creative New year to everyone who drops in on Bright Star, I was given Keat's biography by Andrew Motion for a Christmas present,how good is that?

Merry Christmas and peaceful New Year!

I just think this is beautiful!

Deep Midwinter

Tonight is the Winter Solstice,the moon and stars are very clear in the frosty air. Airports and stations have been closed and travel disrupted as once more Mother Nature teaches us that we are not  masters of this beautiful Planet but it's children.  The cold  and snow has made me think about the way we live ,always rushing, so demanding and obsessed with material things. I am as guilty as the next person, I do "Retail Therapy" sometimes but this extra cold winter has turned me inward .I have been reading about the myths and legends associated with the Soltice and Christmas.

A lonely human dwarfed by the winter landscape,what lurks in the dark woods beyond,wolves maybe!

The constant need for sustainance,staying warm to stay alive until the Spring.

Elemental fire,the Yule Log,the holly,ivy and bay!

So I have been sitting by the stove reading "The Winter Solstice" by John Matthews and imersing myself in old lore and hoping that the Glastonbury Thorn will survive the recent attack and bloom again!

Two skirts I would love to wear!

Ewa Y Walla again! I love her clothes ,they do inspire me to get sewing .

I think it would  be great to make things lke this with recycled fabrics and maybe dye the garments afterwards.....?

Bloggers Block!

Is there such a thing? This snowy weather has made me want to sit and do nothing but watch the flames go up the chimney!
Not entirely ,I have been reading a lot of poetry and browsing through cookery books to find winter warmers for supper.
I have some favourite cookery books, European Peasant Cookery by Elizabeth Luard is full of wonderful recipes .Real food that has sustained the life of ordinary families throughout Europe and it is full of information on tradition. Elizabeth Luard lived and brought up her children in several countries and is inspirational.
Roast Figs and Sugar Snow by Diana Henry is subtitled "Food  to warm the soul" and it lives up to that assertion.The food is cold weather food ,mouthwatering recipes from all over the world accompanied by quotes from poetry and literature. Just reading the recipes is deliscious! 
I made pancakes this evening and we ate them with cinnamon sugar,lemon ,honey and maple syrup!!!!