Earth, Air, Fire and Water

Earth, well, ish!

I’ve finally cleared the greenhouse. I know it may not look much, but all the pots are now emptied, and dead and dying tomatoes, chilies etc have been composted. As I was on a run, I gave kneeling a go given I have a multitude of plants that need planting out. It didn’t go well, at all, I seem to have forgotten how to do it! How can you possibly forget such a thing in ten weeks???

I’m delighted to see that the dyed orchid I bought last winter has now returned to it’s original colour. Why oh why do we constantly try to improve on nature?

Air

Spot the robin.

Birds fit this category methinks, I could write about the ferocious winds that have the house rattling, but I prefer to talk about a couple of my feathered friends. Here is the tenacious little robin that sings on throughout the day and night. How comforting it is to hear that song deep into the night, it’s such a beautiful lullaby.

Spot the magpie

I was in the back garden yesterday and clocked the magpie with the injured wing right at the top of one of my seventy foot beech trees!!! Oh….this was such a treat for me, not only is it surviving, it’s absolutely thriving. I watched, transfixed, as it FLEW straight as a die to another tree, droopy wing and all!

What an absolute TROUPER! How I admire it’s survival skills, it just gets on with it and goes from strength to strength. Obviously it’s learning new skills, a fine example for me! Who knew a bird could be so inspiring?

D.H Lawrence wrote,

I never saw a wild thing 
sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough
without ever having felt sorry for itself.

Fire

When the rains stop I’m out there, enjoying the most primal pleasure of all.

Fire and wind are a dramatic combination. Time can be lost staring into the flames. Eyelashes can be lost too.

Water

It’s like monsoon season here. Endless rain, hail and sleet. It’s lovely when you are hunkered down and warm, not much fun when out walking though.

Funnily enough, the dogs don’t seem to care! They would walk in anything!

And Finally……

The mugs are selling well….phew

As are the Christmas cards.

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43 Comments

  1. I love your cards and mugs, what a talent you have. And I am so glad your orchid has shed its false glamour.
    We had an enormous bonfire the other day, fires are the only time the Pianist gets enthusiastic about gardening. It’s funny how men never grow out of enjoying playing with matches.
    Well done on sorting out your greenhouse, a hideous job but very satisfying when it’s done.
    If the weather carries on like this much longer I shall be curling up with your dogs.

    • Thanks Chloris, glad you like the artwork. Funny how the chaps enjoy huge blazes isn’t it? Hubs has some terrifying bonfires, the neighbours are not amused, at all!
      I am pleased to have cleared the greenhouse, getting around to ordinary jobs is such a relief! I shall reserve you a place in the midst of the canines! Maybe you’ll have to borrow Hector!xxx

  2. Having learned that our robins aren’t your robins made it easier to spot the birdie — how wonderful, that its song continues to resonate. I was surprised to read that you’ve been having such nasty weather. Unless it’s a true horror over there, we don’t get any news of your conditions unless we seek it out. Clearly, there’s some good coping going on. The photo of the dogs is wonderful.

    I’m congratulating myself for helping my cat cope with cooler temperatures and her arthritis — I finally bought one of those 40 watt heating pads made for animals. She was having none of it — new thing, you know — so I put it under the towel she’s accustomed to on the sofa. Now? You know what her favorite napping spot is! I tucked the cord behind the pillows, but it’s steel-reinforced anyway, to better guard against any tendencies toward chewing. So far, so good. She can’t rouse herself enough from her cozy nap to do any chewing!

    • Our weather is downright strange, the days change so quickly. There are buds on the trees and bushes, hopefully growth will slow down now cold weather has kicked in. Weather is changing worldwide now, who knows how it will all end up.
      How lovely to hear that the heatpad is helping, warmth certainly eases arthritis, I can vouch for that!!! Bless her little cotton socks.xxx

  3. That orchid almost looks relieved to have shed the nasty dye. It’s lovely now. And how thrilling that the magpie is doing so well. Although I want to ask D.H. Lawrence how he knows that wild things don’t feel sorry for themselves. That small bird on the bough might very well have been feeling horribly cold and miserable right before it fell frozen to the ground.
    Well done on the mugs and cards.

    • It is lovely seeing that orchid restored to it’s natural beauty! Yes, I’m sure the wild things feel cold and pain, they just manage it so much better than us, maybe sitting still and quiet is a survival tool, they can’t afford to attract predators when injured or starving. Thanks Brenda.xxx

  4. Loved the ‘spot the birds’ pics, Dina – such fun! – but sorry to hear that you’re having trouble kneeling. I’m sure it will come back to you soon, a bit like riding a bicycle you’ll feel wobbly but soon gain confidence. Absolutely love the mugs and cards, I think the fox is my favourite! And, ooooh, that lovely cosy fire! Yes I can quite see the attraction to sit out near that! Have a good week, Caro xxx

    • Thanks Caro. I was surprised to find how difficult kneeling was, hopefully I’ll sort it soon! It probably is all about confidence. Glad you like the artwork, I’m relieved to hear they are selling well. Fire is wonderful, so very primal, especially in winter.xxx

  5. A fire in the fireplace on a cold night is such a comfort. And three cheers for the hardy magpie!

    • You just can’t beat a good fire in the winter, that’s for sure. That magpie certainly deserves three cheers. xxx

  6. As the days are gone by, which are flying as fast as my thoughts, seems that winter has finally arrived here as well. In the morning it is freezing, at noon is warm and if the sun is shining, you may stay outside without a jacket. Yesterday, I got a new winter wooden house for the robins… But I want to make it right and put it in a good place adapt for them… in a shadowy place (not in the sun) better if it is in a bushy place about 1,50 m hight and I shall protect if from cats & other wild predators (we have some martens, foxes and weasels). That means I shall get a 2 m pole and some plexy-glas to cover at the top of the pole since the wooden house must stay dry. Tomorrow I’ll go to the do-it store. Actually, I’m not that good as you are, but I guess I must give it a try.
    The fireplace looks really weird, with this huge flame coming out from the top, isn’t dangerous? But for sure is giving a nice warmth 🙂 your furry friends looks like having reserved the best place on the sofa! Eh eh eh… and no space for you?!
    I wish I had some time to spend painting or doing some writing, unfortunately, these last few months I couldn’t use my creativity, and this is quite frustrating.
    Your cards look so beautiful, as do the mugs. Drinking some hot tea from them could bring you afar with the mind!
    Take care, my dear friend, and keep an eye on your health… hugs, and kisses :-)claudine

    • I do hope your bird house works out, I find it takes birds a good few weeks before they find and use new birdhouses so be patient. I hope you get a little more time for you, to spend doing more creative things. Life can be so very busy can’t it?
      I’m quite sure that fire is dangerous, hubs does like a ferocious blaze, after each chiminea my clothes are full of holes where the sparks have landed. I do enjoy a good blaze though and always sit out in old clothes.
      So glad you like the artwork, I’m really pleased they are selling well. You take good care of you too. Love and hugs to you all.xxxx

  7. It’s clear to see that the wonderful doggys are definitely settled in and hunkered down..:) The mugs and cards are fantastic – they should be excellent sellers. As for kneeling after ten weeks. It doesn’t take long for our muscles and limbs to atrophy…and so my suggestion is to do a gentle knee exercise a couple of times a day to build it back up. From Doctor Reed:) Almost our anniversary of meeting in person….let’s hope another year doesn’t; go by before we see one another again.
    Sending lots o love and so pleased that the birds are thriving. Janet xxxx

    • Animals certainly know how to relax! Glad you like the cards, you would do a much better job!!! I agree re the kneeling, it’s surprising how quickly we can stiffen up isn’t it? I shall try the knee exercises, thank you for your good advice Dr Reed!
      Goodness, how the time has flown, we really must catch up again soon, maybe in the spring? All my love to you.xxxx

  8. I was so pleased to read about your Magpie, well done, helping him/her to have the confidence to reach the trees and the sky. Magpies are amongst my favourite birds, and all birds are amazingly resilient. I love your fire, I do love sitting by a fire, it is so relaxing and before long I’m asleep! …I’m just not very good at getting the fire organised, I either have a furnace, or a tiny glow.
    Also loved your mugs, I’m not surprised they are selling well, your drawings are wonderful, that fox has so much movement.
    Keep warm and hope the rain settles down..

    • Thanks Gerrie, I haven’t done anything for that magpie apart from leaving food and water out. It’s astonishing seeing it go from strength to strength with such a disability.
      Hubs always has to have a furnace too, I do enjoy a big fire! Pleased that you like the mugs, I’m delighted to see them selling!xxx

  9. Oh, those mugs look perfect! The little speckles make them look like stoneware. Hope you will soon regain all your bendy abilities.

    I had a big smile looking at those utterly contented dogs, sleeping, lounging, never bothering whether the camera will catch them at an awkward angle 😉 Your spot-the-bird photos made me think of the photo I attempted of all the little bushtits twittering and flitting from branch to branch in the lemon tree. I could spot a dozen or more, but when the photos came out, I’d be lucky to spot one! They are too fast for me and small enough to hide behind the leaves.

    • I’m glad you liked the speckles on the mugs, that was the effect I was hoping for! One good thing about those dogs is when they crash for the night, that’s it! Peace and quiet! It’s like having youngsters around. I totally get what you mean re catching fast moving flitting birds! Thanks Anne.xxx

  10. The weather is so changeable and it sounds worse over your way than here in the north east. The dogs know the best place to be after a run around outside. Love the fire photos, the thought of the robin singing you a lullaby, the good news about the magpie’s survival skills and the mugs and cards are selling well. It’s great that you’ve been able to clear out the greenhouse. Take care Dina and take it easy when you can.

    • I agree re the changeable weather, you just can’t call it any more. Climate change is certainly a reality worldwide now, who knows were it will all end? I am thrilled to have cleared the greenhouse, it’s wonderful being able to do such an ordinary task again. Good too to watch that magpie going from strength to strength. Thanks Linda.xxx

  11. The animal kingdom is remarkable in so many ways.

    The kneeling attempt was interesting to read about. It’s tempting to say ‘you’ll find your feet’. Some sayings do not quite fit the circumstances in their literal sense, but they can do in their broader meanings, rather like the T H Lawrence quote. There will be an alternative knack, and I just know you’ll sus it out. Your steady recovery is really good to hear about.

    Lovely glowing warm pictures. The dogs really do know how to chill out. Has curly cat hibernated?

    Glad your art work is flying off the shelves.
    Xxx

    • Thanks Menhir, your comment had me smiling, I’m sure in time I’ll find my feet so to speak! I am relived to have the worst behind me, walking is fairly easy now and I’m pretty much back to normal. Curly still has the lounge, not a single log burning night yet, hubs and I are stuck in the kitchen. I am loathe to move that cat as he is entrenched in the lounge. He’s getting old now….sighs….xxx

  12. Another lovely post – thank you! That chiminea is very dramatic! Stay warm, Dina xx

  13. Oh, wow, Dina, that fire looks so tempting, but I’d want to snuggle with Sam and Annie, too. 🙂 The greenhouse looks wonderfully ordered: good for you!

    I really enjoy your English robins and would so love to hear their song. Very happy to see the magpie is doing so well: you have a magical gift of healing, that’s for sure.

    What a treat to see your pure, beautiful orchid. It is stunning. And the mugs and cards???! Get out! I’m both thrilled and humbled by your many gifts, Dina; that you have such a loving heart and gentle spirit makes knowing you complete blessing.

    Gentle peace, Kitty

    • We do get so much pleasure from that chiminea, even on the coldest evenings, hubs sure does love to have it blazing away though! I enjoy your variety of birds, how I wish we had some of the more exotic ones!!! I’m SO pleased you like the artwork, I always worry that some images won’t sell! Bless you for your lovely comment, I’m not sure I deserve your kind words though!
      I see you are fostering an angel!!!!!! I do hope a home is found soon or I fear you may end up with four dogs. How you manage them all I’ll never know, but what lucky guys they all are to have found themselves at Full Moon. Now WHERE is this new blog?????? xxxxxx

      • Ha! May try to start one up in the new year; don’t think it will be much different from the daily round, though…thought we were going to move and change up our lives, but haven’t, and aren’t, right now!

  14. What a pain, the dyed orchid, it’s so typical of our vanity as human beings. We seem to want our imprint on everything around us. The way people cut bushes on certain properties, so they look square or cubic. On the other hand, though I believe that Lawrence was trying to teach us something valuable about living life, and maybe he was right about birds. The scientists tell us they predated most of the animals we are familiar with. But I have seen mammals feel sorry for themselves… As for the rain, hail and sleet… yes, while we are inside next to a warm fire. We’ve had rain this week, but where I live people really worry about getting enough. And the weather can cause tension. Enjoyed the post dear Dina.

    • It is sad to see people constantly meddling with nature and trying to improve on perfection, when will we learn to leave well alone.
      Yes, domestic animals certainly feel sorry for themselves, wildlife seem to suffer quietly, maybe it’s a survival tool, to avoid attention from predators. I hope your winter is as natural as possible, the weather is becoming so unpredictable worldwide now. Always good to hear from you! xxxx

  15. Busy…as ever. Must continue to take care, though.
    We also have a robin who seems to be trained for singing….Delightful!
    Love and Hugs!🤗🤗

    • Thanks Bushka. glad you have a melodic robin too, they really stand out at this time of the year. I’m taking things slowly and am pleased with my overall progress. Love and hugs to you.xxx

  16. I love the cards especially the hedgehog. I did manage to spot the birds as for rain. I know one dog that isn’t impressed if expected to go out in the rain. As for the knee I hope it mends soon and you learn to kneel again soon.

    • Thanks Sue, pleased to hear that you like the cards. Wish our dogs weren’t as enamoured with rain, nothing stops them from wanting out. I’m sure my brain will recall the knelling process, I hope so anyway. I’ll just have to stick with it. xxx

  17. Awww, your doggies have got the right idea, they sure know how to relax. Archie hates going out when it’s raining, we open the door, he takes one look at it and then his ears go back, his head goes down and he tries to turn around, we really have to force him out there. I can see why the mugs and cards are selling well, they’re fabulous.

    • Animals are expert at relaxing aren’t they? Ours can nod off at the drop of a hat. How funny that Archie won’t go out in the rain, I wish ours were the same! Thanks Jan, so glad you like the mugs. xxx

  18. Good post and pictures. I can still kneel okay but getting up is a bit harder nowadays.
    Nice to see that your cards and mugs are selling well. xx

    • Thanks Flighty. I had problems getting up too, that’s something else I’ll have to work on. Yes, good to know the merchandise is moving, a huge relief!xxx

  19. I cleared out our greenhouse last week – it’s very satisfying isn’t it. Your fire photos are gorgeous – I might put a fire pit/chiminea on my Christmas/birthday list. So glad that your magpie is thriving and I love the D. H. Lawrence quotation. Like Jan, we had one night of strong winds (very cosy) but the rest of the week has been calm. Your mugs and cards are beautiful and deserve to sell well. Good luck with the kneeling! xx

    • It’s always good to have the greenhouse sorted at this time of the year, most satisfying as you say. I would recommend a chiminea, they really are good value all year round, we get a lot of pleasure from ours. That magpie is astonishing, who knew a bird could survive so well with such a disability. I shall have to work on the kneeling….still, everything else is coming along well. Thanks Veggiemummy.xxx

  20. lowcarbdiabeticJan

    Looing at recent news and weather reports the weather your way has been dreadful. We did experience heavy rain and strong winds one night this week, but woke up to beautiful blue skies and sunshine! I donned my coat and walking shoes and had a wonderful walk in the park.

    Loved seeing all of your photographs. I love seeing robins and so pleased the magpie is doing well. We had one take up residence in our tree, hiding behind some leaves at the beginning of the week – but by the end of the week the leaves have almost dis-appeared.

    Glad the mugs and Christmas Cards are selling well.

    Take care and continued good healing.

    All the best Jan

    • Thanks Jan. Those gorgeous blue skies do make such a difference don’t they? Here’s to more of them. The leaves have been stripped from our trees now, we have had some ferocious winds. I’m really pleased to hear the cards and mugs are selling well. xxx

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