Shades of green

Autumn rushes ever nearer. Today has been freezing and it's a real shock to the system after last weeks heat.

 My tarot cards have been a mixed bunch this week. Lots of air cards. Almost as though the old ones are urging new ideas upon me. Look, listen as we speak. I do have thoughts of new things to make, new things to try in my femmes. New ideas for journal pages. A need to use some of the ephemera that sits in the IKEA boxes.

But I procrastinate, something catches my attention and I follow . A butterfly landing on the nasturtiums outside the front door, then rises to kiss my cheek before flying away.

The goldfinches on next doors tree, shouting as they fly amongst the branches.

The dawn light so different at this time of the year.

But I have started my "all about me " journal and that inspires also. A need to write my life as I remember each bit. Starting at around 4 years of age as that was the time I was happiest as a child. Despite the operations and hospital stays it was a happy time with my grandparents, away from home.

So from that time I write, although snippets of earlier days have crept in already.

The pictures are from a recent visit to the Galloway forest park. I hope you like.

Autumnal ponderings

Long time no speak and I have missed my blogging. Sometimes too many things can distract if you let them and sadly I did. Its the last day of August and almost time for Autumn. I have smelt her on the air so often this Summer, waiting not so patiently in the wings. The Summer has been like the rest of the year chez Mogs - not the best.

 I have this hope that Autumns gentle touch will renew and revive us both. There have been some good times but this year more illness, both physical and of the spirit. Low periods for us both and a reluctance to get out of bed in the morning almost ever day lately.

 I would hope that the magic of Autumn will bring back the sparkle and vibrancy of life for both of us. Why does Autumn hold more magic in her than any other season for me? I love the first Spring leaves, the warmth of the occasional Summer day and Winters sparkle as she dances ice across the land.

 But Autumn she resonates within my every being. On all levels she brings joy and promise. My physical self enjoys the colours as her gown takes on its russet overdress. It loves the feel of leaves under foot. All these delight me.

 My soul soaks in the wild magic, a barely heard sound on the wind that brings a sudden glimpse of faery.
My inner child fills her heart with ideas and inspiration. she has a need to create and to make. It matters not if that be spun yarn, or an elemental femme or indeed a painted journal page. There is just a Need to try and portray the very essence of joy that I feel.

 My tarot choices change in Autumn. I turn to the Druidcraft and the Faeries Oracle. I still turn my card of the day from the Wild Spirit Tarot. That remains a mystery I try to unravel each day. They don't always become clear immediately but then life itself isn't. For me the important thing is to draw a card and listen for the reply. Autumn is a time for journeying deeper. Is it for you?

The bobbin and batt are a new to me dyer Lanitium ex machina from Finland. I acquired the batts in a destash on Ravelry and today I thought they were perfect a mix of Summer colours with Autumn peeping through. This is going to be a mobius cowl for me I think.

Autumn

I bet you didn't think I'd blog again so soon:)
Today we went to a Greenwood fair, mainly to see a new artist who I had recently found. She has a definite affinity with hares. Her etsy shop is Wilderness Felt. We had purchased this a little while ago and I was entranced.

Isn't she gorgeous? so naturally when I found out Wilderness Felt would be at the fair we had to go along. There was quite a lot going on especially fun if you had children -lots of fun things to try. We had a little mooch of the stalls and spent a long time with the raptor charity who had brought a few birds along, all rescued some in absolutely heartbreaking circumstances. They had a little owl who couldn't perch properly as it had been found living in a hamster cage:( I spent some time communing with and stroking, a barn owl. he was beautiful.
Mr Mog purchased this felt picture

my photo doesn't really show the hare at its best, its actually more defined in real life. We didn't spend long there so decided to call in garden centre on way home for a bite to eat. there were more colours to be seen today

I sat in the cafe trying to find pieces of paper to write on, i didn't have my note book with me. I ended up picking up a couple of receipts off the tray that had been left on our table. I knew I had to write while the words were bubbling out. I was watching crows over the trees outside, hundreds of them. this is what I wrote.

 A murder of crows or is it a massacre when so many?

Trees of gold and red, russet glowing in Autumn sunlight.

The smell of earth and mold.

Of Winters chill not far away.

But still joy to be found in Lady Autumn's beauty.

Her coat of many colours rustling as she passes

We give thanks for Her bounty.

Sloes and brambles staining fingers as we risk the thorns to grasp them

Sweet chestnuts - again in hedgehog spines.The horse chestnuts drop conkers on my head as I try to pick the fallen ones.

The apples now are ripe and drop gently into an outstretched palm at a flick of the wrist.

 our nasturtiums have had a second flush and are so vivid around Mr Mogs railway

Did you miss me? very long post

its been a long while since I blogged, too long I think. I've just been reading 2 blogs ,blogs that I have followed for many moons.
 Both had inspired me to start my own. This was a time when blogging was very new and not many people wrote them. I collected a reading list as time went on and some (a few) are still here but the rest have long gone sadly. As Antoinette says, we have an instant world now, Pinterest Twitter facebook all snippets and sound bites but no substance to it. I wasn't sure I would ever blog again time seemed to pass and I did other things, read other things. Got on with life stuff.
But I miss musing on paper, or what passes for paper. So let's see how it goes.
How about a small snapshot of what has been going on since we last spoke ? No particular order on the pictures as I am being lazy;) So here goes

 Autumn now. And a trip to a local garden centre for lunch gave me chance to capture pictures of these glorious acers at their best.

July saw me going back into hospital, this time to resurface the kneecap on the same knee that was replaced last year. the consultant  told me that it was a 50/50 chance of removing pain but a chance I had to take. Sadly it hasn't worked and the pain is worse if anything. Ah well there were some consolations.

lots of flowers came to greet my return from hospital 

Going into hospital a friend insisted I borrowed her tiny drop spindle. "You need to spin in hospital "she said.

so I did and I knit socks

One of the things on my bucket list has always been to ride the Settle to Carlisle railway line
I anticipated just being able to do that but a very dear friend arranged a birthday surprise for me (us)

A return trip from Lancaster to Carlisle on the Fellsman steam train Not only that but first class with breakfast and dinner silver service. a trip of a lifetime and we both loved it:) The journey encompasses the Settle Carlisle section and we travelled through some stunning countryside.Everywhere you looked there were people at the side of the line taking pictures or just waving to us.

Mr Mog goes to a railway club a couple of times a week and the enthusiasts there kept on about a Black 5 steam engine and hoping he would be lucky enough to travel on a train pulled by this engine. as you can see he was:)

Everywhere you looked there were people at the side of the line taking pictures or just waving to us.

 At Appleby there were vintage buses waiting to take people for a cruise on Ullswater. they would meet us on the way back.

 these flowers were on every table in first class and we were requested to take them home at the end of the journey.

 I think the engine driver was enjoying himself.

 Carlisle looked quite magnificent in the August sunshine

 I love this reflection

 Taking on water

 All these pictures were taken with my little fuji camera from a moving train so I am very pleased with how they turned out.

 these remind me of gravestones, I wonder if they are too help keep back the snow from the railway line in winter?

 set up for dinner on the return journey

 so many people enjoying the trains journey

 the wagon driver stopping to take a photograph.

 even a solitary cameraman

So the birthdays. Mr Mogs birthday celebrations lasted a week. It was a milestone and needed to be celebrated:) So the week started with open house on Sunday  for family and friends. 

This was the first cake:) purchased from supermarket last minute as it was a sudden thought of mine to have a cake. decorations from Mr Mogs collection;)

many many cards and gifts arrived on the actual day .

This was the second cake, made by eldest grandson for the actual day. it was very tasty also:)

Cake the third was made by a friend of ours for the following weekend when we attended a wool event in Cheshire and more friends and family came to help him celebrate:)

It has a bicycle as Mr Mog has been a lifelong cyclist, bells because, as those who know him can recall, he always has bells on the bottom of his trousers. started when grandsons were young as a joke but has continued. At least I always know where he is;) Cats for obvious reasons and knitting as our friend couldn't find a spinning wheel:) The cake went very quickly.
Week after was my birthday and Mr Mog surprised me with a cake made by the same friend and first cake I have had since my wedding.

Again lots of elements that reflect me.

my cards:) 

There has been creativity

and storing the tastes of summer and autumn. Lots of strawberry gin and vodka, blackberry gin and vodka, raspberry gin and vodka. also plum brandy, damson gin on the go as i couldn't find sloes. there are blackberries and damsons awaiting turning into wine. first time I will have made wine in over 15 years I think. Hope it turns out ok. watch this space. this picture shows just a small taste of whats stored.

There always has to be shawl knitting of course:) This one I spun the yarn and knit the shawl. Fibre was BFL and Silk from Freyalyns fibre on easy Colourway is silver skies.

And always socks, hospital knitting continues apace and I have found a new love for socks. look at this fabulous yarn. Doesn't it lift the spirits ? Mr Mog loves wearing these. The yarn is Regia  Fluormania,  colour way is rainbow in case you hadn't guessed.

More socks.

Current knitting also bright. a shawl in Solstice yarns changeling

Colourway Dream of India and I am afraid I don't know the purple colour ways name.

So current stuff? Mr Mogs PSA is up a little so he has ct and bone scans booked for Monday, hopefully no bad news. He continues to amaze me  with his positivity and long may that continue.
Phew going to try and get back into the rhythm of blog writing. I do enjoy it. Hope you are all well.
Thanks Antoinette for rekindling the flame:)