my wilderness

Spending the morning here was bliss. I wanted to take J to see this particular tree. I used to climb it as a child... see that long long branch stretching out to the side... its like a big arm with which the tree scoops you up and lets you sit in its branches.
I would build a small house here if I could, just to live in this wilderness where I used to hide and where my other half proposed and where I know my daughter will also love to play surrounded by trees and rabbit holes.

lichen-inspired

Everything I am making right now is inspired by lichen and moss. I see it everywhere. I have done so much walking this week. my feet ache. so time for an afternoon in. to sew cuffs and crochet fairy moss crowns...

rabbit tracks & roses

Yesterday we found wild rabbit tracks in the snow. you could see where he had hopped across the grass, where he had stopped alert...

We enjoyed the 'wilderness'. It sets you free.

I am not sure if this snow will ever melt... its a good thing its pretty.

diary, letters

This is the illustration on the front of my day to day diary for this year. Its kind of perfect. I think I might have to make myself a hairband like that. Today my wishes are for letters from a friend to arrive soon...I miss words like unravelled yarn, tumbling...

hey, love, castle

My house is my castle and full of the things I call treasure ... but the roof is leaking again and I am uncertain of many things. yet rather than brood, I always seem to be somewhat observational in these situations and perhaps ever hopeful that fortunes will change... I would like to type this sitting in the kitchen sink, for I am in a rather Cassandra Mortmain sort of mood today...

Everything is so pretty but there is a terrible draught...

Under a fir tree

This little tea cup filled with fir and pine cones sits on my mantlepiece...

My birth tree is the Fir tree (the Mysterious)... and according to my reference this means I have extraordinary taste, I handle stress poorly, I love anything beautiful, I can become depressed at times, I am stubborn, I tend to care for those close to me as well as helping strangers, I am rather modest, I am a hard worker, I am talented, I am unselfish, I have many friends, I don't want foes, and I am very reliable...

I would say this description is pretty well accurate... and I am glad to be an evergreen.

heart shaped box

Today was one of those perfect sort of days. The frost was thick and there was ice on the lake, and we took a walk to visit our swans...

J was dressed in her favourite coat - she calls it her 'white bear'...

There was frozen moss...

a tree framed view of the palace...

and lunch in our favorite cafe with toast and pink milk and turkish delight ice cream...
and as we arrived home the snowfall came thick and fast... it looked soooo beautiful...

then we ran inside for more homemade gingerbread and hot tea but the fire...

today there was something magical in the air... something I wanted to catch hold of and keep in a heart shaped box...