Anniversary joy!

Today is Tree and my Third anniversary, so I am a happy bunny today, despite the weather. Later on, we hope to be able to light a fire and watch the Perseids before they disappear.

Otherwise, there is not much going on, apart from making loads of stuff for the Plum Fayre. I have found myself turning my hand to new skills of late including weaving dream catchers and making felt mice, to go in my mirrors. I am also in the midst of making a scrying mirror.

Tree and I took time out to go to Glastonbury, last Sunday week, and on the way Tree spilt coffee all down her front, as you do. The only thing we had in the car for her to wear was a piece of Indian cloth we used to cover the seats. Tree was, needless to say, not happy with this. However, on walking up the high street, she soon realised that no-one even noticed and the cloth matched in with her top, so much so it looked like she was some kind of festie hippy chick in a sarong. She wore it, quite happily, until we bought a skirt.

Whilst there, we got chatting to someone from the Witches Emporium who, after explaining about the Druid's war and the in fighting, put us off taking up one of the new units in The Gauntlet arcade. Instead we shall carry on where we are as it seems to be picking up nicely now.

Happy Lammas and Phew! What a smell.

Well the flood waters have finally receded and what have we got left..a great big stink! You know that smell that you get at a festival, when the grass has been trodden down after the rain, well magnify that by 300 and you might be close to what Pitchcroft racecourse smells like. A combination of dead fish and rotting vegetation. I am happy on two points. Firstly, Tree and I haven't got an allotment by the river anymore and, secondly, we don't live in a flood plain. What amazes me is that you still hear adverts on the radio saying "Come to Worcester racecourse and get your heart racing". Trust me, you'll be lucky if you can breath with that foul stench.

On a more cheery note, I have started doing house and name signs for people and the first attempt isn't too bad, if I say so myself. Business is better as well, partly due to punters arriving for The Big Chill at Eastnor this weekend.

And most certainly last but not least, Happy Lammas! time to gather in the harvest both literal and spiritual. Take time to see where you have been and where you are going. Goodbye to the Sun and welcome the coming change. Be thankful and celebrate the fruits of your labours.!

All rained out.

Before

After


Every one has their tale to tell about the floods and I am the last one to get tedious about the whole thing. Suffice to say, Tree and I had a four hour ordeal trying to get through from Ledbury to Worcester. We were lucky in being one of the last to get through the floods, but got stuck on the motorway. Most of the M50 was closed and the M5 was down to one lane in parts. Ledbury high street was described as "a river", on the radio. I was unable to get in to the shop until today and, apart from a few bits of rubbish lying about, you would never guess how bad it had been.
Anyway, I am chuffed with myself for getting the A-boards finished for the shop and I think they are a definite improvement.

BEFORE AND AFTER

Hoorah! The painting of the passageway is finished and we can all relax. The difference is amazing and, at risk of sounding like an old record, the photos don't do it justice.


On a lighter note, Tree and I had a hectic weekend followed by a drive to Uttoxeter to visit our gemstone wholesaler. When we got back we were knackered and just when I had had enough I saw this on Tree's dinner plate by the sink. It is over a year and a half ago, but the same thing happened before. In fact, I wrote a blog about it called there's always something to make you smile . A happy kitchen ours!!

Forget the hanging gardens of Babylon!

Before & after

Who needs the gardens of Babylon when you can have hanging baskets by Tree. The passageway is now being painted and we have hung the baskets, and what a difference. These photos don't do justice to the transformation at all. I shall post the photos of the main part of the "courtyard" when it is finished. Hopefully by next Tuesday!

Blissed out at Blissfields.

What a brilliant weekend! Tree and I took a long needed break for a few days and went down to Hampshire for the annual sojourn that is Blissfields festival. Before we went, Tree did another hair design for me. This time we did "Bliss" as that is both the name of the festie and the surname of the people who own the farm and created the festie. We usually trade there but, because we opened the shop this year, decided to go as punters for a change. Paul and Mel, who run the whole thing, invited us down early on Thursday so we could chill and catch up. Sadly, as they got short of stewards and helpers, tree and I ended up fixing the marquee and doing a bit of traffic directing. We had a laugh doing it though. The weather stayed dry and we couldn't complain. I met up with a couple of Hedge carpenters and was shown how to make a geodesic dome, my next project. We packed up on Sunday and headed home via Avebury and stopped to have lunch. Whilst there we paid our respects to Mike, whose ashes are cast in the circle somewhere. We then headed out to Tewkesbury to catch the end of the Medieval Fayre and found a couple of new wholesalers in the process. Monday was chilling time and we did absolutely nothing, which was great! Anyway, the photos tell it all...enjoy.

Rain, rain and more rain.

Will it ever stop raining? I got the train today, because the car and van aren't working, and tried to find cheer in my surroundings. Fat chance of that! As you can see, British Camp disappeared under a cloud and the hills at Malvern looked like they had been edited in photoshop. Oh well, at least I don't have to water the garden or cut the grass!

Shop update.

Just a quick one to show some of the modification to the outside of the shop.Having painted the passageway, I have now covered that awful gate on the right up to the shop. Hooray! No more looking at that ugly bin. I think you will agree that there is a definite improvement. Thanks to Tree, the hanging baskets go up this weekend as well!

Spine Skateboarding

I've just got off the phone from Chris at Spine in the Hopmarket, Worcester ,having had a good chat putting the world to rights, and must mention the excellent work he has been producing of late. His unique style and individual view of life is fascinating.In addition, he has a gallery space featuring other artist's work, also of an outstanding quality.Take time out to pop down there and have a look!

No walk today!

I had intended to write about how the Lime trees, lining the walkway on Pitchcroft racecourse, were so beautiful this time of year and how the heady scent of their flowers attracted all the bees, from near and far, until all you could hear was a constant buzzing in the background as you walked under them. I also wanted to mention a tree with a perfect heart shape in it. This I hoped to convey following a nice long walk. However, on arriving there, I was met with the aftermath of all this rain and Pitchcroft was flooded. Not unusual that it floods, but this time of year!

Even as I write, Tree and I have just managed to get to the shop in Ledbury after driving for over an hour, trying to find a road that wasn't closed or blocked by floodwater. Anyway, the pics of the flood and the Lime tree blossom look quite nice and I shall settle for that.

Happy Solstice!

Just a quickie to wish one and all a happy Solstice. I was awake at 4 am and made the right decision to not venture out. It wasn't raining, but the horizon was obscured and I was glad I hadn't sat up all night on the Malverns. Tree and I are observing ritual at the weekend and I think that is the important thing. I mean, if you want to be pedantic, the solstice was actually just after midnight anyway. I think it is a good time to reflect on what has past and where one is going, to feel the balance of light and dark and, like the sun, stand still for a moment.

A few days in Wales

Tree and I escaped for a few days in Wales and stopped at a place called Tresaith. The campsite was excellent with a beautiful view of the beach and headland from outside the front of our pitch. Surprisingly, the weather wasn't too bad either. We had some rain, but most days it was okay. However, on the last day it belted down and we came home on the evening, early, to avoid the floods! Hopefully it will be good for next Thursday and the Summer solstice. Anyway, here's a photo of the pitch and Tresaith beach.

Hair yesterday....gone today..er..back tomorrow?

I was going to post a photo of my recent attempt to grow my hair long again. I did promise myself that I would let it grow at least two foot long, when I left the bank, but after only a few weeks I have got fed up with it and chopped it all off again. Besides, how will I be able to have the fantastic designs, that I want for the summer, with long hair. At least another half hour is saved every day in washing and drying as well. In fact, it should be every ones aim to cut down on pollution from chemicals and the waste of electricity by shaving their heads. Tree has decided to cut a labyrinth into my hair for the summer, using Eco-friendly dyes, naturally. She even suggested having the business name cut in, but that's just being silly. I shall leave you with a copy of the photo from Beautiful days festie, last year. A good year for spirals!

Big Brother / Sister

Yep, it's that time of year again. I'm not too bothered this year, as I think it has run its course, apart from the idea of an all female house. Should prove a novelty. I find it more interesting to watch all the people who say they aren't going to watch it and then start coming out with stuff that is happening in the show.
Anyway, I didn't mean to come here and talk about Big Brother, but rather about how beautiful the full moon was last night. I couldn't sleep and, rather than wake Tree with my restlessness, I sat and watched the clouds tracing their feathery patterns over the surface of the moon. I recommend it as an aid to sleep, as in no time I was feeling tired and went back to bed and nodded off. I just hope that the Summer solstice is as clear a night as last night

Taking time out.

Now that Tiddesley Wood is behind us, Tree and I have taken time to reflect on the little things that have been neglected of late. I have started walking every day to try and lose a bit of the weight I've gained, since I no longer cycle to work, by walking at least once round Pitchcroft every day. I thought I would meet a lot of other like minded people but, judging by the grass on the bench, it looks as though not many walk this way.I particularly had a good walk the other day and rounded it off with a spectacular sunset, after the sun had cast dappled shade through the Lime trees surrounding Pitchcroft.Everything seems so much brighter, when you're feeling fitter, as you can see from the lilies that bloomed only today!

Tiddesley Wood, Spring Open Day

It was only two days ago and yet it seems like a week! The weekend started out with a freaky coincidence on Saturday. I was sitting in the shop reading about orthimancy, (the belief that one can divine the future by watching birds) when a blackbird swooped into the shop and sat next to me. It looked around and then, without distress or panic, flew out again. Now, you might say that was coincidence but I had just read that a blackbird indoors is an omen of bad luck. Just then the phone rang and Tree told me that the van was at a garage and wouldn't start! Freaky or what!!
Anyway, to cut out a long story, we got to the wood, with the help of a lump hammer to hit the starter motor each time the van stopped, and set up the tent with, literally, minutes of daylight to spare. We took a walk, later on, into the wood in the dark, which was cool! I slept at the foot of the doorway to the tent and during the night we had a visit from an inquisitive badger trying to get to our food. All I could see was his nose poking under the flap!
It was better that we set up the night before as this meant we were a lot more chilled before the off. The weather was cool, yet dry, and we set up an altar, to mark Beltane, next to the Haj tent.
Lots of people we knew came to visit us including Dave and Nathalie, Dan and Sarah, Linda and Emma. I also got to meet with Sam and Vicki ,from the Pagan Association, who made the effort to come from Birmingham to see us and the fayre.
All round it was a good day and the mirrors went down well. We were too tired when we got home to do anything and I spent Monday doing absolutely nothing. We had hoped to go to The Green Man at Clun, Fayre but Tree had to do some paperwork and the van had a flat tyre, so we gave it a miss.

Tiddesley wood, an all that!

Well, here at last, nearly, ish. From my point of view it is, as I have a mad panic to get loads done in the last few hours before we go. I only have to sort the van, make two mirrors, pack all the stock, do all the signage, finish making a wand and collapse, all in the space of four hours. I love it really! I'm hoping to meet a load of people from the Pagan Association as well, which will be cool as I can put faces to names.

Asides from that, I thought I would find time to post a rather nice photo (if I say so myself) of the British Camp at Malvern. This view can only be seen from the train, as there isn't a road through this field! It's rare to see an ancient site uncluttered by roads and modern housing .

Do cats pray?

I couldn't resist posting this photo of our Herbie. He has this delightul way of stopping dead in his tracks and burying his head in his paws. If you didn't know different, you'd swear he was praying apart from the fact he starts snoring pretty soon after!! What with his fetish for feet as well, he is quite a mixed up cat.

Beltane blessings

Just a quick one, to wish everyone a merry Beltane. The moon is full and the sap is rising! So get planting those seeds and jumping the fire!

The beauty of an Iris - It's all in the eye !!

I woke up this morning with a head that felt like I had cotton wool squeezed into it and about as much motivation as a dead sheep. Three strong coffees later, which I know is not good for you, I feel a little better and I have busied myself hanging and photographing two more mirrors for the shop. Best of all, I sorted these photos of the Irises in our garden which I took this morning. Even a cotton head feels better for seeing these beautiful flowers first thing every day. We have moved them around the garden several times and each year they get better and better. Its name is derived from the Greek word for rainbow and its petals form a perfect landing stage for all the good pollinating insects in the garden. It also has over 100 uses including medicine, essential oils and artists colour. Definitely one of my fave plants !

A change is as good as a rest!!

Needing a break from everything mundane, Tree and I spent a few days down in Glastonbury to revive our flagging senses and celebrate her birthday. We stayed at Heaphy's, right in the middle of town, which gave us a good view of the monument and hill. We had our usual, fantastic, lunch at The Rainbows End and spent some time in the bookshops. Needless to say, we also spent a lot of time finding new suppliers, talking to Terry at Dillaways, etc, etc.

I was mightily impressed by a new mural that has been painted in the passageway leading to the assembly rooms. The more one looks at it, the more one sees. I recommend you click on the photo to enlarge it and see what I mean.

Monday started out quite drab, as it had been raining all night. We had breakfast at The Blue Note Cafe, which was pretty good, and chilled reading the papers for a while. Not to be put off by the weather, we went to Wookey hole and took a walk through the caverns. It was nice and quiet, as there weren't any children there, and we spent some time going round the place. However, I wouldn't want to go there in season as it is plain to see how busy they can get. As usual, the people who were there in the caves with us marched off to the cafe as soon as they got out of the caverns and failed to notice the 1000 year old Yew trees nearby or the calming sound of trickling water, coming out of the hillside! Tree and I were quite pleased, as this meant we had the place to ourselves.
Now we are back, I will be concentrating on creating stuff, ready for Tiddesley wood at the end of the month. Not forgetting that we also have the Beltane celebration this weekend to look forward to.

Spring has sprung

Spring has sprung indeed! I love this time of year when every day brings something new to see and hear. Every morning now, we hear blackbirds calling for mates and see another one of the plants burst into life. The Sycamore tree, at the back of our garden, has just opened it's buds and is nearly in leaf. Meanwhile the bluebells and wood hyacinths are in full bloom, giving a burst of sweet fragrance as we walk down the path. This spring has been particularly warm as well !! With Beltane just around the corner, we should get busy with planting seeds. I am sure we will make an extra effort to celebrate this one!!

Eostre and back from the brink.

Eostre blessings to one and all!!!
What can I say ? I have been without broadband for a whole week and cut off from the cyber world of blogging. The lesson I have learnt, is to never trust ISPs when they say they'll sort you out in a couple of days !!
Otherwise, I have been having a good time in the real world. Tree and I gave ourselves a break over the Easter bank holiday and needed every minute. Sunday, we went to Westonbirt, and bought shed loads of wood, and Monday we chilled out having lunch out with Elliott, Katie and Sandra. It turns out Elliott is really good at photography and we spent the afternoon round at San's looking online at some of his work. It must be hereditary, as my grandfather and my father were both keen photographers as well.
I have got the confirmation for Tiddesley Wood Fair again this year and I will now have my head down working non-stop until the end of April making mirrors, wands and staves. Deja-vu
I think!

Walking back to happiness.

The clue is in the title I think. Tree and I went over to Symonds Yat yesterday and clambered up to Yat Rock to see the view. Apart from the heat haze obscuring the far distance, you could almost see to the Malvern Hills . The wind was strong and quite refreshing as well. You don’t realise how high up you are until you see that the trees in the photo are 50 foot Oaks!! Tree and I then went on to Ledbury, in search of some wood, and walked the pathway that was once the old steam railway line. You get a different view of the town from up there, as the line used to run on a steep embankment right across the middle of Ledbury. We came back via the Malvern Hills and I stopped to catch a photo of a beech tree that is just to the right of the road as you ascend to British Camp. The root system is fantastic and you would almost believe this tree could get up and walk.
After all this walking, you can imagine, we were fit to drop and too tired to do anything when we got back. Fair play!!

Look up to the sky !

Tree and I were up early today to take the van to it's MOT. However, it was reluctant to start and we abandoned the idea until tomorrow. This meant we were ahead of ourselves and set off to work a little earlier than usual. As we came over British Camp, a deep fog enveloped us and we weren't clear of it until we got to Ledbury.At this point I noticed the sky was a distinct shade of pink, as the sun tried to push through the layer of mist above us. Weird yet wonderful. Is this what they mean by sky blue pink?

I wanna stay in bed another hour !!

Tree and I were up and out, not too early, yesterday and made our way to Cirencester. It was good to see the circle has improved even more since we last came. We cleared some fallen branches and had a lovely celebration to mark the Spring Equinox. Afterwards we went on a walk to the farthest point of the woods to find the deer antlers I had spotted some time ago, but to no avail. We found the skeleton of the deer some way from where it had been originally and suppose that a fox had dragged it there. Sadly, we did not find the antlers. Nearby we found some large burrows in the ground which are either a fox or badger sett. Oh well, it was not meant to be. No doubt I shall find some others soon.
Today was difficult, as I always find the clocks going forward messes with my sleep, and it always takes a couple of weeks for me to adjust. At least the evenings are lighter, which is so much better!

Bright blessings for the Equinox celebrations

Yet again I have to offer belated greetings for the passing of the Spring Equinox. Most people we know are celebrating this Sunday, as indeed we are. Tree and I have been invited to a gathering at Mosely Bog but have decided to go to Cirencester to celebrate. I spent most of yesterday writing the form of the ceremony and I look forward to getting there. The weather looks promising as well, not that it matters too much but I do like to be dry. I may get a chance to use my new stethoscope that Tree got me and listen to the trees talking in the wind. Anyway, have a good celebration, however you mark it, and be full of cheer for the herald of Spring! Bright Blessings!!

That Monday morning feeling

This morning I did indeed wake up with that Monday morning feeling.Tree and I didn't get out yesterday, as we hoped, mainly due to the weather being so horrid and I wasn't too well stomach wise. Instead I slouched on the sofa for most of the day, apart from the odd dash to the loo. However, the plus side of the day for me was that Herbie shocked us both by sitting on my lap. Now you might not think this strange but, if you knew him you'd know, he NEVER does that.He'd rather chew your face off. I have been working for months now trying to get closer to him and bit by bit he has warmed to the idea. Over the past couple of months he has sat between me and Tree, but never on our laps. He may be mellowing at last !! It's only taken 5 years!!!
Anyway, as i say, I wasn't feeling good this morning either and was 50/50 whether I should open the shop or stay at home. In the end I thought what the heck and came anyway. A good decision, as on the way we saw the Malvern Hills capped in snow from last night. We stopped to get a photo (which doesn't do them justice) and watched as everyone else rushed by with anxious expressions, oblivious to the beauty that lies all around them. Life is too short to get stressed to the extent that some do. This made me feel a lot better and I look forward to Beltane even more.

A belated Imbolc greeting to you all!

In all the mayhem that is post Yule I completely forgot to pass my wishes and blessings to all for Imbolc. Tree and I went to Shrawley wood, on one of our rare days out, to get in touch with the spring. Whilst there, I came upon two amazing pieces for wands and they have already begun the transformation. I also have my eye on some deer antlers that I came across a couple of months ago. I am waiting for Mother nature to take her natural course and strip them ready for me to turn into ceremonial staves. They will hold great significance and power as they are only a few feet away from a spot that is very important to me.
Other good news is that my son Elliott got in touch with me and we met up the other day. He has shot up and is now taller than me!! Most people are anyway!! Dan and Sez came over to the shop and I think Dan may be putting some photos on his blog, so give it a click. Blissfields tickets are on sale now, so get em quick. Otherwise, there is not much to report, a blessing in a way as I am beginning to gear up for Tiddesley Wood Spring fair. At least I enjoy my work now!!!!

Loony eclipse.

Well done to Dan for reminding me about the lunar eclipse last night. I was thinking it was going to be about 1am but noticed it was already happening at 10pm. A bit of a race to get the telescope out, but I managed to get a few photos. Unfortunately the camera had a problem with the image being dark and they weren't as sharp as I would have liked. The moon at the height of the eclipse went a beautiful shade of orange and resembled Mars, which was cool. As the pics are all very much the same I have just posted the two, a sort of before and after thing.