See The Flaming Skies!!

Last night I noticed how the light in my room had changed ...walking outside I saw the most wonderful sunset....it was magnificent......uplifting....an 'end of the world' type display of cloud formations....the sun shining but the rain falling....I thought of fabulous Turner paintings.......old masters who thought that the end of the world may yet come to them before they caught on canvas such beauty.........of foreboding and prayers.....






A song immediately came into my head....I didn't know all the words but have just found them..it tells of our brief time on this earth and what will become of us....if you ever saw the film 'Cold Mountain' you would have heard this sung in the 'Battle of Gettysburg' scene.


And am I born to die? To lay this body down!
And must my trembling spirit fly Into a world unknown?
A land of deepest shade, Unpierced by human thought
The dreary regions of the dead, Where all things are forgot.
Soon as from earth I go What will become of me?
Eternal happiness or woe, Must then my portion be!
Waked by the trumpet sound, I from my grave shall rise;
And see the Judge with glory crowned,
And see the flaming skies!

Idumea by Scared Harp Singers Liberty Church.

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Favourite Things on a Rainy Day

Today I have a day off....I've done the washing...hoovered.....posted a parcel.....bought dog bones and wild bird food.....made some lunch....done a bit of sewing.....opened the door to take The Lodger out..then closed it again..Its horrible out there!!!!!


Now I'm bored.......I bore very quickly....I used to annoy my Mum no end telling her I was bored...now I annoy myself......

I was having a conversation last week about how little we really needed to have around us and how much unnecessary stuff we cart about....now I have moved a lot and have tried to reduce my possessions to a very few things....but as I dusted this morning I thought what would I really miss....well all my photos and boxes of memories..that goes without saying.....but I really couldn't part with this....a sketch of my Dad, drawn by a fellow solider in WW2.....probably when they were bored waiting for the command to GO GO GO maybe on DDay......


..I couldn't send this to the dump even though its all broken and re-mended....the only mark on it is an incised 'D' but its probably one of the oldest bits of china I have and it belonged to a remarkable old lady who owned a wool shop...it was given to me when she died by my sister-in-law who knew I loved blue and white transfer ware.....I love its imperfections and the memories it holds.....

I see this picture last thing at night and first thing in the morning...each time I look at it its as if I see it for the first time....I adore it...Of course its only a print but I did see the original at the National Gallery when 'Vermeer and The Dutch School' exhibition was on a few years ago and my heart was immediately captured.....the gallery was darkly lit and this little fellow shone out....Everyone seemed to be drawn to its beauty and simplicity......it makes me humble that a tiny goldfinch that lived a short life, painted by a master 350 years ago could hold us in raptures.....

The Goldfinch by Fabritius.....Holland...1654....

This is a papier mache fire screen, I bought it many years ago at a car boot sale....I walked past it a few times and even though it was the last thing I needed I went back and bought it...I am somehow drawn to these black pieces ... I could look at this for hours......

It is painted incredible well but it is the addition of fine slithers of mother of pearl that makes it come alive, all the parts like the boat on the water, the trees,the gravestones and of course the Church windows, shown as the moonlight reflections and highlight the scene....you could imagine the people at evensong the candlelight glowing out into the darkness....its just wonderful.

Lastly on my never getting rid of list is my big pine kitchen table......its Victorian and came from a house my parents once owned (they unfortunately had to leave the huge pine built in dresser!!!) its nice but its the memories of all those family meals..the laughter and the arguments,..the birthdays, Easters, Christmas's...the breakfast, lunches and dinners....the painting, homework and sewing all done at it..the games of cards, monopoly and scrabble fought over on it....its big, its chunky....its had repairs.....but however small a place I live it..its coming with me!!!!

What couldn't you live without?

Textures of Summer

I saw the first combine harvester out today.....so I hastily snapped the fabulous textures in the fields around me......all the grass has set seed and sways in the breeze...as blond as a fairytale princess's golden lockes......

..very soon the fields that shimmer and sway will be flat again.....the farming cycle goes on.

Mmmmmm!!

As promised Raspberry Cheescake brownie from the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook....

yes..it is as good as it looks!!!

Sticky out tongues!!!

The guys over at rocky creek scottie adventures had a 100th post and you had to post a photo of your dog with its tongue sticking out!! The photos are just great and if you need a smile this is the place to go!!!

I found it too late to enter but I thought I'd show again the photos of my Old Boy Louis..sadly no longer with me......licking out a yogurt pot....he loved his food that chap!!!

Yep, thats his tongue.....I really do miss that boy......

Hummingbird Bakery

I treated myself to this fabulous book last week.....absolutely everything in it is divine.....


I started off with Lemon Cupcakes for our works 'Friday is cake day' !!....well they all went in about a nano second...

..and tomorrow for a big lunch we have on I have made a Raspberry Cheesecake Brownie x 2 ..well there's a lot of people.!!....I haven't tasted the cooked mixture yet as I thought a bite out of the corner might have looked somewhat unprofessional!!!....However the licking out of the bowls went very well!!

If I remember I try to get a photo before its all scoffed!!

A Mad Walk in the Country!!

Yesterday was my day off....after a weekend that was VERY busy.....I think I counted 55 meals at functions over a few days not including general family stuff and I was looking forward to a lazy day!!!

After a few chores I took the Lodger on a walk .. the poor boys walks had been a bit on the short side lately what with the heavy downpours and the workload.... the rain had stopped for a moment...and we headed off to a bridleway that takes us past an ancient barn..past acres of fields into cooling woodland...bliss!!!...

or that was the hope.....leaving the car at the roadside we started off....the barn in the distance looked somehow different......as we got closer the ironwork of scaffolding came into view...and the ' keep out' signs where evident everywhere....so no rooting about looking at the swifts nesting....as we rounded the corner we where confronted by several army vehicles parked up and soldiers in full camouflage gear and blacked out faces standing chatting or sleeping...must have been night manoeuvres..we kept our heads down and hurried on....

the track gets quite narrow in places as we started to enjoy the sunshine..the lodger sniffing new smells and generally cocking his leg a lot!!..a rumbling behind us shook me out of my country walk trance as behind us was a massive dumper truck filled with hardcore hurtled towards us...grabbing the lodger we pressed ourselves into a hawthorn hedge as the dust clouds from the track engulfed us.....

Right enough of this .....we diverted into the fields of corn.....into a veritable pillow fight of feathers from some animal carnage...I dragged the boy past before he had a chance to snatch a quick snack of whatever animals innards where scattered around us......I by now had lost the will to have a peaceful walk and started stomping back to the car......but I didn't want to walk past all the Dorset army lads again so scampered round the back of the barn..through the field ....only to hear the distant sound of helicopters....we get lots round here...all the time.....but these were coming straight for US and they were quite low in the sky....I almost felt the need to duck as they buzzed past...did a couple of circles round the barn and then flew off......

I don't know somehow all we wanted was a quiet walk and we end up involved in some pre- Afghanistan army manoeuvre.....

as we charge back to the car two dumper trucks pass us.......I pull The Lodger into the corn field in fear of him getting squished...I have since found out they are constructing a new road through the Forest so the trees can be harvested......
then a land rover pulls up ...I know this lot so stop for a chat.....then a couple of gamekeepers going to check on the young pheasants.....

Honestly this is like Piccadilly Circus...so we go home for a cup of tea to calm my nerves....

Photos of peaceful field before we turned up on helicopter radar!!!

Moon thoughts and appreciation

Last night the moon was so beautiful.....my photo can do it no justice.....but I thought I'd show you anyway!!

I am quiet

and my soul opens,

as I think about my life, I see all is good,

all that I fail to see is because of my own darkness

I am filled with gratitude, abundance and joy,

as I take time each day to appreciate all my blessings, the light fulfills my desire,

I live fully each moment

Instead of looking back with regret, I concentrate on appreciating what I have now,

and what I will continue to have.

Meditation No. 63 in The 72 names of God.....Yehuda Berg

Finished!!

Lovely flag cushions finished and on sale in Miss Magpies store!!
All made from vintage fabric and buttons...wording in hand embroidery...covers based on new hardwaring denim and linen with non feather fillings.
Made in England with love......

Happy 4th July!!

To all the lovely people from the United States that read my blog.....I know you're out there!!....I wish you all a peaceful and happy Independence Day.....

These are some cushions that I have been making...will show you more when they are finished and plumped up!!