She Walks in Wind

If I were to have a Native American name, it would surely be Windwoman or maybe, She Walks In Wind. 

March was made for wind and I am ready for it. 

If I could lasso the wind, I would.

I'd have a wind garden and walk it every day.

I will never, ever tire of the wind.

These beautiful words, written by Ania from the Scieppan Blog, could be written for me:

"Though I plait and bind my hair,/ 
Alone I set it free/ 
For blowing in the wild wind,/ 
It's more a part of me./ 
And though I close and bind my soul,/ 
Alone I set it free:/ 
For wandering wild with the wind/ 
Is what I am to me."

Words used with permission - copyright Ania,  Scieppan

Only She Who Sees

Remind you of someone?

Source - Karla's Kottage

One of the blogs that I enjoy reading is Karla's Kottage. Karla is an artist, and I was reading a post of her's where she had created, from scratch, a gorgeous original image of Snow White for a craft affaire she is hosting. At the end of her post she shared some book illustrations she had taken out of old children's storybooks, again of Snow White. This was one of them (above), and of course, I was immediately drawn to it because it reminds me of Waterhouse's Ophelia, a favorite of mine.

To take it even one step further, here is Megan Follows as Anne Shirley, recreating the final setting of Tennyson's The Lady of Shalott.

These just speak reverie and peace to me, being completely at one with nature and your surroundings. Serene and calm, in the moment, if you will, and totally unmoved by anything else in the world, apart from your own gentle and tranquil thoughts. Just beautiful to me.

Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Elizabeth Browning...

"Earth is crammed with heaven,
And every common bush
afire with God,
But only he she who sees
takes off his her shoes;
The rest sit round and
pick blackberries."
— Elizabeth Barrett Browning

My shoes will remain forever off 
As I wander and seek out 
What is yet to be seen.

Lady of Shalott Short Film

The short film of The Lady of Shalott that I mentioned in some earlier posts            ( here ) has been released online! Here is it, enjoy.

Bronte Parsonage Remodel...or, This is as close to visiting the Bronte Parsonage As I'll Get

Book Illustrations

Here are two book illustrations from two different books listed in my shop. Can you guess which classic books go with the pictures? The first one should be easy, but the second one isn't as clear.
I love the old illustrations, they do not make books the way they used to!

Photo Credits - Richard Lebenson and Skip Liepke

I See

You see winter, but I see signs of spring.

by Enchanted Nature

Early Bird

Today I braved the bitter wind and went on a walk -- and my reward was seeing a robin. I have never seen a non-winter bird appear so early in the winter season before. I was amazed when I heard its familiar sound, first, then saw its tiny red form on top of someone's roof. I hope this means we will have an early spring...early bird -- early spring, makes sense. That's what I am hoping for anyway.

Thank You.

Thank You for the winter birds.

(I could not find a credit for this beautiful photo) --- Update: Photo by Fiona Childs

Top Withens

Open Window

Outside the open window
The morning air is all awash with angels.
~Richard Purdy Wilbur

Blah Blah Blah

I refuse to talk about the bitter, unforgiving, blah-blah weather outside for any length of time. It surrounds me and has settled in for the duration of this first month of the year, it is the elephant in the room and I acknowledge it, but only just. I will try to be cozy and calm, for that is what mid-winter is for....watching favorite movies cozilly wrapped in fleecy goodness from head to toe, sipping tea in cozy cups while reading a good book, and shopping online without having to leave the house or even your room.

So here are some things on my mind this January that are not even remotely blah-related. 

I discovered this darling Australian television series called "McLeod's Daughters," (thanks to my sister), that aired starting back in 2001 for eight seasons. I adore it. Just watch (Netflix or Youtube), and you'll be hooked, ...it's smart, sophisticated, romantic, and funny. Nothing blah about it. There are so many seasons they had time to develop the characters and story lines, and they did a great job with it. Two sisters reunite, after twenty years apart, on their late father's cattle station in the Australian Bush.


Another blog posted about this Cabin website and I just find it a perfect fit for winter because the pictures there are so comforting and familiar. You want to pull up the hearth, sit and dream you are a world away in a variety of quaint little spaces. Basically it's people posting pictures from all over the world of cute little cabin spaces such as this one, ...notice there is no blah at this cabin.

Photo by James Dennit - British Columbia

On a shelf in a remote room, sits this gorgeous, massive, blue collection of romance poetry from the likes of Tennyson, Coleridge, Shelley, and Byron. It is for sale in my shop rather than for my personal collection because...

 ...as much as I hate to admit it, my own collection looks like this....

...less massive and less beautiful to look at, but readable for my tiny-lazy-poetry-brain. I want the massive set in my head, but I'll settle for the baby version at least for now. Baby steps and motivation might get me into some "cast away the blah's" mid-winter reading.

As you can see, there is hardly anything blah-blah about January if you really think about it.

Starry Starry Night

I saw the twinkle stars to-night,

Unusual on a mid-winter night.

Clouds had broken murky cover,
Offering a view far and wide,

Inviting to touch the sparkle of,
Winter diamonds hung in the sky.

I saw the twinkle stars to-night,

An unlikely starry starry winter night.

Thirst

I highly recommend this little-known Aussie film called, "Thirst." 

Such a great message in the film, and the acting is amazing. 

You will fall in love with the stories played out by the four characters brought together through a fateful series of events, as they learn to live fully, and remain positive and happy in the most daunting circumstances.  It can be purchased or rented on iTunes. Be aware that it contains strong language and content unsuitable for children. (I cut out the scenes I chose not to watch by fast forward).

Official Site

Anne - Winter

Christmas Blessing

It's (finally) beginning to look like Christmas outside. A very Narnia-like storm settled in overnight and left a covering of heavy wet snow on trees, roads, cars. Everything is white and crisp and new. A Christmas blessing, ...heaven falling down for every living thing below, at the most needed time. 

Heaven's Coming Down

by First Call 

Out in a field nearby

The humbled shepherd's heard
An angel's holy word
The night the love of God was stirred
For here in Bethlehem
A mother's heart stood still
Her fragile arms were filled with her child
The crowning of God's will

Tell all creation to sing
To worship the King
Heaven's coming down
Shout from the earth to the sky
The one reason why
Heaven's coming down
He'll save the world from dying
There will be no denying
Where our hope is found
Heaven's coming down

There in Jerusalem
The House of God was made
In a room above
They stayed the night
They waited, watched and prayed
Suddenly the sound of wind
Rushed up the stair
The Spirit filled the air with fire
And our Savior met them there

Tell all creation to sing
To worship the King
Heaven's coming down
Shout from the earth to the sky
The one reason why
Heaven's coming down
He saved the world from dying
There will be no denying
Where our hope is found
Heaven's coming down

Gloria, gloria, gloria

Tell all creation to sing
To worship the King
Heaven's coming down
He is the opening door forevermore
Heaven's coming down
Shout from the earth to the sky
The one reason why
Heaven's coming down
He'll save the world from dying
There will be no denying
Where our hope is found

Heaven's coming down
Watch and pray
Till you see heaven coming down