Happy Easter

I'm a bit behind with reading and commenting on blogs right now.  The year seems to have notched up a gear and I can hardly believe that it is Easter already!  I've hardly had time to think!  Some good weather has enabled me to spend some time in the garden tidying up and making plans - but I don't have time to put plans into action!

This year I really want to have a half oak barrel with water lilies as a water feature and screen off an area at the back of the garden.  I have many more plans but these ones are do-able (I just need to make them happen!)

Today is overcast and cold.  A time for staying indoors and eating hot cross buns and especially a time for reflection too.

Happy Easter!

Welcoming Easter

I put my new hare stamp to use straight away printing a tea towel for my kitchen which has red accessories.  I think it is rather jolly - do you?

Although I am on a non- sugar health kick I didn't want to deprive any one else at home of a sweet treat and have put a few chocolates out to brighten the house for Easter.  On a 'bad news' day it is good to be uplifted by nice images.  As I said (in other words) to a blogging friend the other day  'if we focus on all the good things the 'bad stuff' won't get a look in.'  Here's to cramming our lives with good things; food, friends, thoughts and images.

Linden Tree

I took this photo of the Linden tree that stands outside my house, a week ago.  Today the tree is almost devoid of leaves.  I do love the last burst of glory before the tree falls into its winter sleep.  I have loved the autumn colours this year but not spent nearly enough time out in nature watching the leaves turn from greens to golds. 

I am a little melancholy today for things that could have been.  Sometimes I find it hard to see a way forward other than to just keep going until the fog clears.

Beltaine

It doesn't feel much like Beltaine today as it is cold, wet and miserable.  However I thought I would get into the spirit of things by lighting a tea light under my Beltaine soy wax melt.  A fragrance described as offering wild bluebell, jasmine, freesia, orange blossom and gardenia with a touch of peach, warming clove bud, lush green leaves, sensual white musk and amber.  I may be feeling low but the house smells divine!

The garden has taken centre stage recently and little house work has been done.  As I look out of the window and see dozens of snails ready to ravage my plants, I wonder if it has all been in vain?  On the up side there is still time to sow more seeds and grow more plants.

Blogland has been very quiet recently and I am not getting the same buzz from as it as I used to do.  The whole point of blogging for me was the friendly interaction from like minded folk but they seem to have all but disappeared apart from my constant faithfuls whom without I would cease to blog!

Back in March I decided to do a giveaway.  I then postponed the giveaway due to unforeseen circumstances which led to the necklace being sold.  The reason I have not reinstated the giveaway just yet is I have no idea what to give away!  I am unable to replicate the necklace as it was a one off.  I have been scratching my head but am at a loss as what to make.  My creativity has packed itself up and gone for a holiday so it seems.  Any ideas what I can do, make for the giveaway?

Well, I have a whole day ahead of me so I think it is about time that I got up out of this chair and get moving!

Happy May day! x

All Change

Nature dictates when it is time for a change.  In the garden vibrant flowers have been replaced with woodland fruits.  Boughs of  the apple tree are burdened with rotting fruit that I failed to pick.  The air is dank and sickly sweet and windfalls cover the ground.

Soon I will put the lawn mower away and leave the earth to rest until the following spring, but for now there is much clearing up to be done in the garden.  It is time to sweep away the remnants of summer and to celebrate what is to come.

Social Media

I am having a hard time getting to grips with social media.  I love blogging but I really have not taken to facebook which is just as well as it is refusing my login at the moment.  I don't really understand it.  It feels so impersonal to me and I keep getting emails telling me that a friend of a friend had commented on a post etc. Why do I need to know that?   I tried to put a link to my etsy shop on facebook this morning but it put up the wrong photo with the link and then I didn't know how to delete it!  I really miss the camaraderie of blogging and feel that the blogging community is breaking down with so many bloggers defecting to facebook.  Please come back!

If my etsy shop doesn't pick up over the next few months I think I will stop trying to sell the things I make on line.  I may even keep them for myself!  I have considered doing an 'open house' for the neighbours to come and see/buy what I make but at the moment I just don't have the budget for buying more materials to make things with to put on a big display.  It is very difficult to know what to do for the best.

On my last post I mentioned some of the other bracelets I have been making.  The bracelets above are part of my 'transitional' range when we change over from one season into the next.  The idea is to wear the serpentine (or lemon jade as they are known in the trade) bracelets in the summer months when the slightly acid lemon compliments a sun kissed skin and then adding the dalmatian jasper as we cross over into the autumn months.  In the autumn the dalmatian jasper can be worn as a stand alone piece of jewellery that blends with the colours of the season.  They are so tactile and feel lovely worn against the skin.    Serpentine is supposed to aid in unblocking chakra's and removing stagnant energies and dalmatian jasper helps to decrease any disillusionment you may be feeling, and helps you to let go of the things that are no longer of value to you and encourages faith and loyalty in your relationships.  Whether or not you believe in the healing properties of the gemstones they are nice to look at and give a person a sense of individuality when wearing them.  I am sure that owners of dalmatian dogs would love a dalmatian bracelet!

Celebrating Seasons - Imbolc

Here in the Northern Hemisphere we are coming to the end of the dark half of the year.  I am not particularly fond of the period from Samhain (Halloween) to January/February, the latter part being known as the undertakers harvest.

This weekend sees the start of the journey towards the beginning of the light and the welcoming of Spring. My diary of Country Wisdom and Folklore notes Saturday 2nd February (this year) as Imbolc.  Imbolc is the time of year when we begin to 'sense a change in the air and although spring is still some time away, the first signs of life and growth begin to show, beautifully illustrated by snowdrops and other emerging bulbs.'

I have noticed a 'sense a change in the air' over the last couple of days.  The air seems fresher, the grass is none the worse for its snow carpet earlier in the week, and I feel a sense of renewed optimism.

Imbolc is a great time to emerge from our winter cocoon and sow the seeds of hope for the coming months.

Ideas for celebrating Imbolc (The Festival of Earth Awakening)

Sow some seeds in pots and nurture over the coming months

Plant a tree

Light up white candles

Plan something to do later in the year

Take up a new hobby

Shake up your routine - do something different

Make a seed cake (caraway or poppy) and make a wish 

 

Decorate the house with spring flowers 

Let an idea germinate so it can come to fruition later in the year

Meditate

Listen to music that calls to your soul