This is for James

A dragonfly carries the soul of a person recently died. This is for James, think of the soul flying in spring in joy.
Take beauty.

In the garden right now!

Wild garlic my favourite! I am trying to establish a wild patch near the ditch amongst the bushes.

White tulips

Solomon's Seal

Japanese Quince flowering in front of the door.

Berberis in full bloom a great favourite with bees and other insects.

Wednesday again

Every Wednesday when the weather agrees Ben comes to help me in the garden. He is my elf and my green wizard. Since I have fibromyalgia I find some things really difficult to do and so Ben comes and helps with the digging and weeding and in general he is a wise man with plenty of knowledge and experience. One of the most important things he says is to have patience.
Patience and to ultimately have time to enjoy the garden and not always be working in it.
He has been gardening for many years around here in this particular challenging climate and geographical lay-out.

Today he weeded around the roses and put horse manure and mushroom compost on them. He also planted lots of summer bulbs for colour and interest this summer. I let him plant them anywhere he pleased to surprise me when the time comes!
I am very lucky to have Ben I realise this.
He is in great demand. So these Wednesdays have become a joy and anticipation. We talk about gardening a lot and find that most of the metaphors are well-suited to life itself.
Half way through I make coffee for him and tea for me. I give him a Sheep mug and I drink from my I LOVE CATS mug. Usually we have a few bickies too, today we had drop scones and sat on the bench outside the cottage door.

Let's see if next Wednesday brings decent weather. I want to do more planting!

Walpurgis May Day Beltane

These days have brought an awareness of the inevitable arrival of Spring.
A Sweatlodge over the weekend, Morris Men dancing, and big cleansing purifying bonfires.
Welcoming opening up and letting light and warmth coming in.
The windows are open to the cottage, the cats spend more time outside, it is exhilarating...

Identity Parade

Snabdough Farm

This is where I go to get the best eggs in the valley and environs.
Rhode Island Reds are the preferred breed and the eggs are so tasty and rich. On egg alone can make a meal.They are also a beautiful warm brown with feathers and shit stuck on them!
The owner of the farm is a wonderful man who enjoys gardening and has a productive green house and likes a chat. He also let me try his blue scooter the other day and I am enamoured. That is what I want for my next birthday!

B-Earthday

I have had my very own birthday on Earth day! I love that the two are the same date.
This year I was in Grasmere in the Lake District for the day and night.
We had to go over to Dove Cottage, The Wordsworth Trust to film Tomas Venclova and Ellen Hinsey. They were reading from their new books in the church in the middle of Grasmere. It is a very unusual building and the Wordsworths are buried in the churchyard. The last and only time I was there was for Robert Woof's funeral and so it was especially uplifting to be there for a memorable poetry reading.
As birthdays go it was alright I suppose. A lot of work though and rushing around but then I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with my son in Hexham. He cooked us a delicious Japanese dinner. It was a warm sunny afternoon and we had tea outside in his courtyard and then took a drive in the countryside. Bought country eggs at Wall, sat on the bench with the glorious view at Anick and wishing the Rat was open, visited Barrasford and explored that area.
Today the kittens are 2. So they are officially cats now! We will celebrate them over the weekend.
On sunny warm days Northumberland has a unique feeling. Spacious and liberating.