Wednesday, 30 June 2010

A week of corvids


It's been a topsy - turvy sort of a week. Joyful highs, and crashing lows, the sort of week that leaves you feeling exhausted by the end of it. Sometimes, when days are bumbling along, one after another in repetitive monotony, I moan that we live too insulated an existence. Too many degrees of separation between us and 'life', the hard graft of living according to the seasons, being aware of nature's cycles and having to work with them in order to survive. We do try to maintain that connection as best we can, but I'm well aware that we are only really playing at it. The joy of baking our own bread, of eating our own fruit and vegetables, of making do and mending clothes is great, but at the back of my mind, I know that if it all went wrong, we could just go out and buy the bread, the fruit, the clothes. Not in great quantities, and not the best quality - we really do live like this for economy's sake , but we could get by. The small, puritan bit in the back of my mind is glad that the weather is so hot it is causing difficulties. Secretly I enjoy having to lug containers of water across the fields twice a day, to fill the ponies water troughs. There is only time to live in the moment, no time for stress and worries about the future. At least, until the car breaks down AGAIN.


There are days when all the bills come at once, and however much you rob Peter to pay Paul, you just can't make it work. And yet, however despairing I feel, sitting in the garden at dusk and listening to chattering bird chorus, overwhelmed by the heady scent of roses and orange blossom, I am reminded to always enjoy the moment. I am generally of a 'Pollyanna - ish' temperament, and gloom doesn't last long. The postman doesn't always bear bad news - twice this week he has brought me rare treats, exciting, longed for packages. The first was the wooden magpie in the first picture - a beautiful treasure from Moonlight and Hares. It is so much more beautiful in real life!


And the second treat was this Raven's head, from Pyewacketts. I had been admiring him for such a long time, and am thrilled to finally get my hands on him! Again, the pictures really don't do him justice.

I dismantled the exhibition tonight. 'The Naming of the Hare' will be carefully packed away, and I will set about listing the pieces online, ready for sale.


And finally ( it should have been firstly, really) a huge, heartfelt 'Thankyou' to everyone who commented on my last post, offering tips and advice, or simply sympathising with me :) My computer is running painfully slowly at the moment, and it makes it almost impossible to browse online, and get around everyone's blogs to thank them individually, but I am most grateful.
XXXX

28 comments:

Clare Wassermann said...

Wow I shall look forward to your shop. Isn't the weather amazing this year for growing - dry yes, but ripening unswervingly x

The Equestrian Vagabond said...

any 'week of corvids' is a good week overall.
: )))
- The Equestrian Vagabond

Whitney said...

Loving the crow.

Anonymous said...

nice blog. congrats on blog of note! follow my blog @

http://jenniferscavone.blogspot.com/

Golden the Pony Girl said...

My most favorite family of birds! Wonderful!

cj Schlottman said...

Danielle,

Your writing is wonderfully descriptive and easy to read. Thank you for sharing your thoughts - not to mention your awesome photos!

cj Schlottman

Tuesdai Noelle said...

How artistic, love the patterns of the designs..... also CONGRATS @ being this month's feature of "BLOG TO NOTE". Have a fab day :)

A mermaid in the attic said...

I thought I recognised Karen's lovely work! I can empathise with everything in your post, I'm feeling it too, a lot more lately, that we're somehow not really 'living' because everything is on hand at the flick of a switch or the turn of a tap, and we don't stop to think about how lucky we are, or to savour the beautiful precious moments. I've been overwhelmed the last few months with a yearning to slow down, to get away from the city and all the things that go with it like noise and light pollution, and especially advertising on a massive and ugly scale. We've made the decision to sell up next year and move to a quieter place, and hopefully reconnect with nature, and quietude, and in the process, with ourselves too. By the way, I love that final hare painting!

kikaypinay said...

hi! i'm amazed with your blog! i am from the Philippines and having ponies and horses in a backyard is an unusual sight here. i thought a place like yours only exist in books and movies. but there are actually real life places like yours! hope i could visit your country some time. =) God bless

Yarrow said...

I totally know how you feel and am in a similar situation. I just wanted the World to slow down a bit yesterday so that I could catch my breath!

Love your treasures, how wonderful :) I do hope you have a better time of it soon.x

Madeleine said...

Danielle,

You are doing a great job. Playing at it is working at it and where is the distinction between reality and illusion?

You and Steve have children with strength and character thanks to the way you are.

Just give yourself a pat on the back.

from...a mad relation! :)

Kath said...

Your life always sounds idyllic to me and a lot of other people I suspect. Enjoy your lovely home, your animals and your family, sounds like you are getting it just right :D
Love the magpie by the way.

Adhy said...

nice blog to you.... please visit back... I Live in indonesia

Karen said...

Danielle, I'm so pleased that the magpie gave you some pleasure at a time when you needed it most.
Thanks for sharing it on here :)
We are lucky that we live in beautiful surroundings as it helps when things are rough. And you have the added bonus of those beautiful ponies of yours.
Take care xx

Dan said...

What an interesting post on the balance of life (and the struggle to make things work!) Danielle! I love your magpie and crow!
Have you ever read Corvus: A Life With Birds by Esther Woolfson? I think that you would like it.
Dan
-x-

FairiesNest said...

I just saw that yo were a "blog of note" yesterday! Congratulations!!!

YouthWorldIMPACT said...

Wow! The crow is really great!

-YouthWorldIMPACT
youthworldimpact.blogspot.com
~Inspiring youth of today.

Dan B said...

Wow, these are some really excellent pics!

http://rantingsofapsychopath2.blogspot.com/

A Good Moroccan said...

What a super blog.....the hare is wonderful !

Joelle said...

heyya! i'm from the philippines and I was curious about this blog since it's on blogs of note. congrats!
anyway, I love the art, since I am an artist myself. I want the rabbit. And horses! I love horses so this is a perfect blog for me. :)

well, I dunno if you have time to read my sort of blog but here it is anyway: http://youthfulsatire.blogspot.com

congrats again!

Linda said...

Love your new Magpie and your Hare painting its so vibrant, I covet them all, so Glad youre pleased with Moire.:)
Lindax

Lindsey said...

love your hares! time allowing - have look at our collective blog http://thecelticyear.blogspot.com
Lindsey

Misty's Creations said...

Wonderful art! Enjoyed my visit very much!
Misty

Señora B said...

Just discovered your blog. I love your work - it reminds me of my childhood and gives me a warm glow inside. Will deffo be back to see more.

Anonymous said...

Congratulation on being Blog of Note! My name's Chris Bassoo, and I came across your site while searching things like fraudulent emails, google analytic, franchise sales, etc, and read all about your plans for your shop. I think that's awesome and look forward to reading more about your journey! Again, congrats on being blog of note! Warm regards -- Chris Bassoo

Anonymous said...

Danielle, may I just say, I really love your work. I love reading your posts too, they're always so heartfelt and inspiring.

Mystery Bruises said...

wow you have some really amazing works!
great job, keep it up
xx
www.mysterybruises.blogspot.com

Joey said...

I am an avid reader already. I identify with you; I carried water for my calves when I was younger... many times after getting them fed I would sit down on a barrel and put my head on my chin and sigh.

What a feeling that was! I long for those days.

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