Friday 9 February 2024

Just a few days ago I posted a photo of a painting found in Norwich Cathedral... a painting that brought to minf a sense of awe and wonder... today, although its been pouring with rain and is still dull and overcast, I can see from my window some blossom that always gives me a great feeling of joy, together with awe and wonder that these trees can posibly be in blossom so early in the year... its only early February after all :
hazel catkins & almond blossom at the bottom of the garden... amazing how these small signs of Spring give joy and hope, even amidst the tangle of bare winter branches, and on such an overcast day with dark clouds brooding above the heavy roof of the large house beyond the hedge... for I know that when the clouds part and blue skies appear once more, these white blossoms will shine against the sky whilst the bees buzz around them and there may even be nuts later in the year

Friday 2 February 2024

A few years ago John and I took the train to Norwich for a day out... we walked along by the river and eventually found the Cathedral... do look on the website of Norwich Cathedral to discover what a beautiful place it is... its also a very holy space... very silent... and we soon discovered that they had times of the day when the Cathedral was kept open for silent prayer... one could certainly sense the presence of people praying within that place with its depth of silence... and then as we later walked into a side chapel we saw this painting... and stood looking at it, wondering who the elderly man was... we guessed the artist was portraying him as holding the Christ Child, from the sense of awe and wonder in his face and the light which seemed to be shining from the baby... At first I thought it must have been representing Joseph holding the baby... but I think it is actually meant to be Simeon, the elderly priest in the Temple when Mary and Joseph went to present the child and give thanks for his birth [ St Luke ch 2 v 25 - 35 ... ] I'm so glad I found the photo I took of this painting, so that I could share it with you today: for today, 2nd February, is when we celebrate and remember this event... and remember the awe of Simeon as he realised how special this baby is, and forsaw how he would be a light to enlighten all people... I found this painting communicated that sense of wonder to me, and I hope it renews a sense of awe and wonder for you as well...
Its a long long time now since the Covid Lockdowns prompted me to begin this daily picture on my blog... but I remember feeling very helpless when the lockdown began... asking myself "what on earth can I do now ? " We were in the middle of a series with 2 groups each week coming to do an overview of the Bible... and we were just about to begin studying the New Testament when we had to stop abruptly because of the Covid Pandemic... Then my question "whatever can I do now ? " was quickly answered by my thinking " well, I have several paintings and photos, perhaps I could just do a daily blog... and I soon discovered through emails from people following this blog, that a picture each day was helpful during that difficult time. So, what next ?? Well, sadly, we are still living in difficult times... I don't need to enumerate... you know for yourself what comes to mind... but we can still find hope... I have come across so many things recently that are examples of people finding hope even when they had almost given up... and perhaps you would like to read about these people as well ? I do not expect to be able, this time, to give a daily picture... but... well, I will try and share some signs of hope now and then... Lets begin with a book I found soon after my husband died last May : it contains 40 reflections in paintings and words on "A Landscape of Grief" by Jenny Hawke... you can find it on the Leprosy Mission site / I bought it from their shop. [ apologies : I have just taken a photo of the front cover so you would be able to find it more easily... but all I seem to be able to access from my album of recent photos are a series of photos entitled "memories" and I cannot find the photo I have just taked anywhere :( Clearly I need to learn more about digital things...] On the off-chance that you might like to see a photo or two from this section I could find... I will upload what I can... here goes...
Well... thats a surprise... this is the photo of the book I was looking for before, and this time it was the only photo I could find ! Perhaps next time I will be able to access photos more accurately... lets hope so

Monday 25 April 2022

Wivenhoe Art Trail. 13th— 15 th May 2022

- have you everfound that coincidences can be quite odd ...like that bumblebee buzzing by just as Iwas writing about pollinators yesterday...? well I've been thinking recently about calling my studio "wylde garden studio" just for fun... and then this morning I was very surprised to see a large pheasant hop down from a tree branch and walk across our garden! All kinds of birds seem to love our garden, but Ive never seen anything quite so colourful before. You never know what you might discover if you join in the Art Trail this May... Look on the website for a preview... www.wivenhoearttrail.co.uk
Reflections at dawn : oil on canvas: Janet Driver (After Monet) one of several paintings you might enjoy looking at during the art trail...

Saturday 23 April 2022

our small apple tree in blossom now
Ravenna Mosaic c 6th Century AD I just happened to pick up a copy of the Big Issue that was lying open on the kitchen table... and was shocked to read " The UK has led the world in destroying the natural environment" [Sarah Wilson, quoting research by the Natural History Museum in 2020 ] Apparently our biodiversity losses are acellerating at an alarming speed ! Fortunately the writer continued by saying there are a few things you can easily do to help... imagine my smile as she then said the easiest is also the laziest : don't mow your lawn & if you can, plant an area for wild flowers, even if ts only a window-box... to help pollinators... at that moment a large bumblebee buzzed by... and I remembered how we are trying to grow wildflowers in a small part of our lawn down the garden, where we won't notice too much if the grass just grows untidily long and the wildflower seeds still don't grow again this year ! However, one thing she suggested was to help record wildlife...so Butterfly Count here I come again this year... though I've seen precious few butterflies so far... a lovely peacock butterfly and some large white buttrflies, rather blown around by the strong north winds that now afflict our garden, are all I've seen so far...

Wednesday 13 April 2022

each time I looka at this painting by Jyoti Sahi I find something new to focus upon... What can you see ? ... give it time...

Saturday 9 April 2022

despite awful winds, flowers and cherry blossom are beginning to come out. They bring joy in spite of shivvering cold...