Spring; the difference 2 years makes

 March 2014; the daffodils outside my house, well in bloom.

January 2016; the daffodils in the Chapel grounds, about to emerge.

The season has certainly been wetter, warmer, and in terms of the plants, faste, this year. Daffodils are out all over the place in Yorkshire. The snowdrops have only just come out; and at the same time, so are the daffs. Today is lovely and bright sun; though it's still cold. I'm longing for the brightness though; these grey days have gone on and on, relentlessly. So I'm welcoming the bright yellow, of sun, and daffs. Heralding spring ahead; despite the warning of global change.

allotments

The cob building at Woodcock St allotments. It's roof is made of sedums etc; a living roof.

The rear of the building; I wish my peas and beans looked like that! Slugs have decimated my peas; though the beans are looking better.

Cornflowers and trailing lobelia in a planter mum bought me years ago on one of our visits to local garden centres. I got some flower, herbs, and vegetables. Will be potting up into planters, rather than straight into the soil, to try and deflect the slugs and snails.....hmmmmm....we'll see, won't we?
We are having tremendous downpours of rain. Stair-rods. Then sunshine. Humid. Tropical. Perfect slug weather!

eggStone stoneEgg

 

Happy Easter.

above & below

And this is the updated photo. Not quite the whole sample; but most of it.

This is one of the samples I'm making. Fabric collages. This one is called 'My Family' and the fabric comes from my dad, and my brother. It has frayed edges. Lots of frayed edges. That we regularly find in families.

 As above......

.........So below.
The sky in March was spectacular. Not today though; we've had 3 days of pollution warnings, and grey, grey skies. Like being stuck in a gloomy November. It feels like a time machine; we're in April, and heading towards spring, yet the world feels as though it's winter....brrrrrr.
Those daffodils were caught on a day of brilliant sunshine. The daffs are almost gone now; but other plants are coming through. I've planted seeds; peas, beans, lettuce, courgettes, tomatoes, peppers. Some are in pots, and on windowsills, some directly into my raised bed, and protected by glass. I'm looking to the future; yet aware of the past.
My mum would receive daffodils from the Mothering Sunday church service. It was Mother's Day last Sunday. I took flowers to the grave where her ashes are. I put some daffodils in. She still had them, for Mother's Day.

trees

Today's been a gorgeous sunny, warm day. I've been out in the garden; clearing away; cleaning the pond to get it ready for the frogs; planting up some Lilly-of-the-valley that Rob gave me; threading wire through the drilled holes of the fallen birdbox, almost ready to pop back up in the tree now; sawed up some wood; prepared a relief print.

Spring felt like it was on it's way, and I could almost imagine the garden all greened up like it was last summer.

The trees aren't greened over yet though; still look more like this! But there was a real shift in the season today.
I put a pomegranate dye-pot on today; soaking it first. Will boil it up later in the week, and pop in some fabric. Not used pomegranate before, so it'll be interesting to see how it comes out.  

winter nights like these

On dreary winter evenings like these, when you're fulla cold, all you can do is switch on the slow-cooker and prepare a hot, filling meal of veggy stew! I keep expecting to wake up and open the curtains to that blue-whiteness of snowfall. But none here so far.

Having spent most of the last few days dosed up with paracetamol, and sleeping and sleeping the time away, I've been living on the slow-cooked veggy's. It's got me through the worst, I hope. I must say, it smells lovely with the scent of cooking drifting through the house.
Stitching has slowed down. Hoping to be up and about more now.
Happy Imbolc!

winter walk

With the low light we get in winter, strange shadows, colours, and pattern, can be seen, especially in the mud.

The angles of the sun shining on emerging catkins makes the trees look as though they still have xmas decorations on their branches. The colours brighten the brown and black landscape.

Trees fallen during the winter, remind me of sculptures.

spring......ing

 daffodils

 borage

hazel

Spring is a-coming. These were in my garden last week; green coming through the bleakness. And the days are slowly lengthening. Lightening. For which, many thanks.

I've been doing some more clearing up in the garden today. Got out while I could. Good timing, as we've had roaring wind, and pouring rain this afternoon! When I get up tomorrow, I expect everything will have been blown all over.

I've been in the studio too. Did another collograph print onto fabric last week, so wanted to check it, and see what I could do with it. It's pinned up; awaiting my needle and thread.

Yesterday I visited a friend who lives near IKEA. We walked over the fields to have some dinner there (a first for me) then had a stroll round. I bought some tea-lights (doesn't everyone!?) and a rather fetching pinny. Been wanting one to use for printing; and although India Flint in her book 'Second Skin' recommends using an old shirt to make one, and includes instructions, I ducked out, and went for the easy option!

So quite a busy couple of days; and even got some jobs done. Don't know if I'll get into the garden tomorrow; weather forecast is grim, even though we're having a fairly mild winter, and not experiencing the massive snowfall they're having in the USA. 



Xmas Eve

A different Xmas Eve.
I went with Pauline to visit her Polish friend Gosia. We watched Polish TV (!) without understanding a word, though we did make out the carol 'Silent Night'! Gosia kindly made us a traditional Polish xmas eve meal; saurkraut; carrots; onions; cabbage; white mushrooms; cooked together, and yummy. Thank you Gosia. We drank tea, and wine. And exchanged gifts. Which we then opened! In Poland presents are opened on xmas eve, not xmas day, as here in England. We shared chocolates, and looked at our gifts. It was a lovely way to spend the evening. And fascinating to hear how other people celebrate Xmas.
'Have yourself a merry little Christmas..............time.'

s0LsTiCe

The winter solstice.
The dark of the Year.
The wheel Turns.
'We rend; We end; We return, again'.
The stars shine on.

winter; sunset & sunrise

 A couple of evenings ago, the sun set like this.

 One morning walking to work, the path led into mist.......

The sun was rising over the railway embankment, illuminating the grasses on the field.

The beck runs through this field; the beck that leads to the river Calder.

The sun is low in the sky now. Dropping down to the solstice.

season....autumn

 Some rainy weather brought jewels to my path. Diamonds on a fallen leaf. 

A couple of weeks ago, Pauline and I took Minnie, her friend's dog, a walk round the grounds of Nostell Priory. We tired all of us out, and finished with coffee and cakes in their caff. Round the edge of the lake we saw this tree....I saw a face (two faces actually! Kissing! In public!) only later when scrolling through the fotos on my fone.

We'd had some blustery winds earlier, and the leaves were starting to come off the trees. This copper collection, gathered in the water, set off against the green rushes.

And Evening Primrose! Still flowering in (then) October! Reminder of sun gone; and sun to return. Some day.
I don't know much about the growing season of Evening Primrose, so maybe they are usually found in flower in October? They seemed fragile to me, in that cold October daylight.

compost dyeing; avocado

The whole piece of silk; wrapped around the stone of the avocado, then placed inside the 2 halves of the skin and tied, then popped into the compost bin this summer. 

 Detail of the piece of silk that was closest to the composting material.

Close up of the silk that was wrapped furthest inside the avocado skin. Who would've thought I'd get such lovely delicate shades of yellow! The silk is still wet, from the rinsing, and has dried a bit paler.  A lovely surprise. The summer has been very hot and sunny, so the compost has been particularly active. I think I'd like to fold and tie up some fabric, and place it into the compost just as it is, to see what patterns emerge. Will consider that for next summer.
Meantime; myself, brother-in-law and niece have been to St Helen's church to the service for All Soul's Day, in remembrance of those who have died. I called up at the cemetery after, to put some flowers on the grave where mum's ashes are. It's a wild and wuthering day; windy, wet, and cold. Winter is a-coming in.

hallowe'en

'October it has gone and left me with a song'

Sandy Denny

A suitable ale, for the time of year.

Happy Samhain.

 

Too much of the magic brew, results in the effects below!

autumnal

Ivy growing up the ash tree in my garden. The flowers are an important food source for bees in the autumn.

The ash tree where said ivy grew. The ash tree that is gone. It had got way too tall, and I'm hopeless with heights, so couldn't get up a ladder to saw it back. So, very sadly, I had to get someone to come and take it down. I really hate chopping down trees! I've spent so many years planting trees; growing saplings from seeds. It breaks my heart to lose one. Especially when ash trees are now under threat from ash die-back. But; it was too big; and blocking out the light coming into my garden; so I had to take steps.
The bonus is for those of my friends who have stoves or open fires! They've been given a 'windfall' of ash logs. As ash wood burns green, and doesn't need drying before putting on the fire, I've been a very popular person! We've been raising glasses and toasting the ash tree; and they've been toasting themselves!

Sadly not home-grown produce; but gifts given from people at the textile group I go to. Buy pumpkin tomorrow for Hallowe'en. Seasonal produce; celebrating the season.
And we have gales forecast tonight and tomorrow. The wind's been blowing the leaves from the trees creating golden confetti. Me and Pauline took puppy Minnie out to Nostell Priory yesterday, and blew our cobwebs away.
I'm indoors now sweeping cobwebs away on ceilings and walls, as I decorate. The nearest I've got to using a paintbrush for months! I'm getting ready to hibernate; hunkering down in response to the diminishing light, and entering the darkness. Samhain on Thursday. Celtic new year; I'll be glad to see the back of this year; it's been a tough one. First, there's this darkness to travel through. One foot in front of another is my mantra.

MayDay

 

When I visited Bridlington last week, I bought this interesting little gizmo! It's a 'Witch Needle Threader'.

You put the needle into the funnel, and placing the thread across the notch at the base of the funnel, press the white lever on the right, and hey presto! the thread is pushed through the eye of the needle. It really is quite magical! 

Today, the MayDay Bank Holiday, has been glorious and sunny!
Traditionally British Bank holidays are wet, with miserable weather; but not this one! Here is how the sky looked from my garden....blue, blue, electric blue! I've been out in the garden with the cats; reading; stitching; listening to the radio; drinking; eating buns brought round by my neighbour Pippa, and her two sons! We all stood gazing into the pond at the tadpoles swimming about.
The studio door has been open, and I've been pottering about. It's been gorgeous. Just how I imagined having a home-studio would be. It's a lovely day! 

winter jasmine

Last weekend; more snow.
Me walking out to buy basics and cat food from the local shop.
Dressed in hat, gloves, kagoule, walking boots, waterproof trousers I set out in the slippy, slidey snow.
It was hard work.

Today; most of the snow has gone. Some piled high in the hedgrows, out where it's colder, and the temperatures are lower.
But today we've had sun. Full, bright sun, the sort that warms through! Hurray!
This has been such a long, cold winter. I want spring, and sunlight, and sun-warmth. To not need to wear boots all the time. To cast off some layers of fleeces, and thick socks! Mmmmmmmm.
So here is the last of the winter jasmine, hopefully indicating winter is finally moving, and we can start to make tentative steps into the Spring. I hope so. 

snowdrops

The snowdrops aren't through yet. This photo is from last year. Tiny green shoots are forcing their way through the earth, but they aren't in flower. I'm continually amazed by how tough these fragile flowers are. They come up in some of the least favourable weather; the coldest, bleakest part of the year. That post-xmas/new year period, when we're still entombed in long, dark nights, and short days.
But when these beauties arrive, I know that Spring will follow soon after. They are my personal heralds!
The snowdrops seem late this year. 
By Imbolc (2nd February) they're often showing; 'candlemas bells'. I await them, and the turn of the year.

snow.....the white stuff

It's snowing again. A fine, sparkly snow, unlike the wet flakes we had earlier in the week. This is settling, and covering everything with a glittering white blanket. 
I'm hoping to get out in it tomorrow, and take some photos.
Today I've been seated indoors; reading; stitching; drinking tea; keeping warm. Entertained by the cats' puzzlement when they come in wailing, wondering why I can't make it warmer for them outside!
The winter of 2019/2010 was a snowy one; I took the photo above of a frozen berry in my garden. And the one below is the view from my studio at Westgate Studios, the same year. 
Over in the distance is Emley Moor mast. Whenever I travel I always know I'm close to home when I see the mast! It's quite a landmark.

new years' eve

Winter water.
In 2008 I made paper boats, and sailed them away on the lagoon nearby. This was the first.
I love the way this one seems to be held by the branches of the trees. And the reflections of the trees are so clear on the water's surface.

This is the beginning of a new project. 2013 will be a new challenge, creatively. A new journey is ahead; and this water-course will play a major part in it.

The end of one year, the start of another. 'Let's hope it's a good one.....'
Happy New Year.