Floating Flowers

I used to float candles. Now I flower... A rose from the tree in the garden scents the bowl with geranium. Delicate fallen orchid flowers; stay strong in water bowl. The frayed rose and gerbera that are no longer for the vase; float afresh.

Simplistic beauty.

New Year - Old Poem

I started Wishes and Writing (my blog) as a new year resolution for 2014. And I have kept to it!

So, to toast 2014 goodbye - here is an old poem written at the beginning of my writing path, many years ago.

***

Eternity 

Love burns

Like a candle

Never to be

Blown

Out.

Winter Garden

Not much to do in the garden - but there is still colour out there.

This is the little heather plant my daughter bought for pennies a few years ago, from the clearance at the local garden centre. If you've read other posts on here about this hobby we have; 'renovating' old plants, sorry to repeat myself. But really - what a lovely plant and still healthy too.

This little holly plant never grows much. I'm sure if I put it in the ground it would do better, but it looks so pretty in this pot.

December Haiku

White feathers like snow

A sign of peace from above

Scatter growing bulbs.

A Rescued Rose - Flowering in November

I could not believe my eyes this week; whilst raking leaves in the garden...

A rose; that had not flowered all year decided to bud. Luckily, I brought it inside; before the frost got at it. What a lovely bloom to brighten up the grey days of November.

Poetry Freeze - 'Ice Magic'

We had our first heavy frost this morning. Winter is here.

I thought I'd share a wintry poem that I wrote; for one of my A215 last course assessments. If you are thinking of studying Creative Writing, I can highly recommend the Open University course A215 (see here for details).

Anyhow, here is my poem for winter and Christmas time. I like the centred view on this poem; as I think it looks (a bit) like the shape of a Christmas tree...

 Ice Magic

A scattering of

flaking sky,

a splash of dust

like icing sugar

dropped without sieving.

Falling softly like fondant,

scattering white wherever it wants to.

A fleece blanket of cold marshmallow

Ice.

Turn and Blow Away

What a wet October; although it has been relatively mild. The trees are turning...



The leaves have started falling: the rain dampening their vibrancy. Reflecting memories of kicking up and crunching through paths; like streams swimming with crisp leaves, on the way home from school.

The colours are still beautiful though, brightening up grey days.

Thought I'd share these that I managed to catch before they pile up brown and waterlogged.

Sending 'Mister Blue Sky'

A reminder of amazing summer skies...

***

Stormy here today; hail, sunshine, rain, thunder and lightning. With a rainbow arching over the back drop - to cheer up the blackened sky. Autumn...

Next course

I am having to take a blog break...

My next OU course; 'Worlds of English' is about to start and from my quick reference - it looks quite 'heavy'. This meaning; I will have to focus on English language and it's complexities for nine months. It will be interesting, it will at times be - I am sure as any student knows (especially us mature ones ;D) totally frustrating. It will be all worth the effort in the end - I am sure. I need to brush up on my grammar and stop use of colloquialisms!

Wishing you blue skies...

Ali X

Still on the autumnal theme of squirrels...

We have a cheeky squirrel and his pal; that run across the fence at the back of our garden. They are quite fast and spirited.

The other day whilst quietly reading in the garden, one made me almost catapult out of my chair! This morning, from my kitchen window whilst doing the washing up; I spied the bigger one digging again, in the downstairs neighbours garden (we live in a first floor flat). Making muddy divots in the grass; like golf clubs do when swung through the air to release the ball - only with it's little paws.

I wrote this haiku last year - thought it worked with this post.

Acorns fill the tree.

Fall down for squirrel’s dinner;

Buried deep in soil.

October rains...

Well the rain has started but it is at least staying mild. Here are a few roses that are still flowering. The tiny white rose was grown from a plug pot; that I got from Co-op last year - as a baby house plant rose shrub. It seems to still like it outside.

I moved it to the front doorstep for a bit of shelter and the bloom has grown to this...

A Psychological Thriller

I have just finished reading Sophie Hannah's best (in my opinion) novel 'kind of cruel'.

To say that it is amazing and really quite scarily true to life in some places; would be understated. If you like books by James Herbert, Jodi Picoult or Stephen King I am sure you will love this. I first read 'little face' which began my love of Sophie's crime writing. All her stories link by using the same detectives - particularly following DC Simon Waterhouse; who has a special connection with the characters that always twists as it moves along the plot.

If you like a good crime novel - take a look at Sophie's other books. My previous post about Sophie Hannah's work refers to my favourite poem by Sophie and her website link.

Pink Lily

I bought some oriental lilies the other day. They have just started opening; spraying their noxious perfume and dropping pollen. I like to cut out the stamen as it opens to reveal the opening flower's detail.

I have just popped one in my bowl (see my floating flowers post here). Lilies don't work... too big - they fill like a rowing boat taking up water.

***

Lily Pollen Stains

Pink lily floating in the bowl

Sinks deeper meaning in my soul.

I don't like lilies any-more

They make me cry dry tears; that pour.

I don't like lilies any more.

Today my diary says: "UN International Day of Peace"

Yesterday, I had in my head this title 'Turn' ; a song by Travis. If you listen to the lyrics it makes a lot of sense.

A special photo that was taken by my daughter. Sending hope to all on International Day of Peace.

Fall

October gusts by

Dropping acorns like bullets

Oak tree sheds new life.

Lake view

Yesterday...
I walked back in time to a lake I used to feed the ducks with my daughter - then a toddler. The ducks are still there. A crane perches, head held high; he owns the lake. The swans glide and flow under the bridge and through to a stream; duck follows suit. A roundabout like the ones in the playground we used to spin. Waterfowl play.

Take a walk - inspires a haiku

A signature neck

Sails serenely over lake

Craning out anger.

Still flowering - September in my garden

The rose tree in our garden is still budding. it's been flowering since April - this years record.

The petunias have gone 'leggy'; a phrase I am sure I have picked up from my Dad at some stage... It always makes my husband laugh! The violas in the pot are still there albeit 'very straggly'. They will be for the recycle bin soon...

This rose flowered for my birthday - an unexpected flower from a rose that looked finished for the season. Lovely warm days this week have helped there I think.

Gorgeous Cosmos. Love this colour; grown courtesy of my Dad.

I come from a family of growers/ gardeners; but nobody can beat his plants for longevity. I have not inherited his power (or indeed patience) for potting and sowing but my daughter and I love to bring back 'unwanted' plants from nursery clearance sales. We have done well with a heather bought for pennies two years ago and it is doing really well. Waiting to see it flower when it turns a bit colder.

Enjoy the sun and blue sky whilst it lasts.

September - Life Writing

I wrote this as part of my final assessment on life writing (a new genre to me). Thought I'd share it here...

My September

I sit on the cold damp timber wall which was once a railway sleeper. Eyes are closed shutting out the sharp sun rays. The sun is peaking behind the overgrown conifer that I hide behind; mulling things over. The garden is tidied to a point; growing wildflower. A garden as nature intended.  The summer sun has not left; still burning my arm.

Weeds raise high above the raggedy grass. Football is no longer played here. A few raindrops hit my head. Birds twitter to each other through the branches of the oak trees behind me. Wood pigeons annoy me with their droning calling. I remember husband threatens to shoot them down; like he did with his air pistol when he was a young lad; bravado boys talk.   

*

Through the dirty cobwebbed glass I see a vibrant yellow butterfly. My hands burn as I still run them under the hot tap. Day dreaming as preferred, not watching or feeling the scorch today.  A flash of fluttering iridescent wings catches my eye. I think dreamily that it is like the sparklers in your eyes before a migraine. An aura of beauty precedes blinding pain. A large dragonfly beautifully elongated swoops across the abandoned next door neighbour's garden. It is free falling in the wildflower meadow where it belongs until the end of its day.

***

Happy haiku to you... Autumn brewing early

Today is my birthday. I love September; back to school, lovely sunsets and the scent of change in the air.

Taken last September - down at Milford on Sea, Hampshire.
Beautiful cloud formation; looked like pink marshmallow.

I thought I'd post a haiku. Here is one I wrote last year and used for my coursework. As autumn is approaching seemingly early this year judging by the mist outside right now; I thought this suits the day...

Autumn leaves fall down

Pile up in garden corners;

Blown away by man.

Reading Poetry

I have always enjoyed reading poetry; especially to relax my mind. I have just picked up a first edition (Goodwin, 1999) - edited by Daisy Goodwin 101 POEMS THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE. I borrowed it a few times from our library but bought my copy for a bargain 99p at Oxfam Books, whilst on holiday.

After reading many Wendy Cope collections from the library over the Summer holidays - (to keep sanity at bay) and mainly as Wendy was judging the Mslexia Poetry competition - alas it did not help with my competition entry... The plus side being though; I really enjoyed Wendy's poems and shall be ordering Serious Concerns and more of Wendy's books for my Kindle too. My favourite poems by Wendy have to be 'New Season', 'Loss', 'Flowers' and 'The Orange'.

Here is a poem that I wrote a while ago for my life poetry page.

Love reading, love books - keep it going.

***

Bedside Table 

Library and charity

Upon my bedside table;

Supporting

The community

Keeping the library

Open for everyone

A British tradition.

Give your books to charity

For others to browse

Through; or buy if they

Want to.

Recycling words

In paper form

Before they're extinct.

A Favourite Poem for Today and All Days

When I am doubting myself I turn to poetry. This poem by Sophie Hannah is my mantra. It is hard to keep to but whenever I need to ,I turn to it and know; the most important thing is to be myself. In a competitive world it is hard to be individual. We only have one chance at life so go be yourself <3.

If People Disapprove of You; by Sophie Hannah; courtesy of Poetry Channel accessed 6 Aug 2014.

You can view more about Sophie Hannah here on her website.

The Wandering Wildflower Walker

Yesterday morning I went for a walk. Alone. Before the masses had turned the paths into a cycle and dog race! I only saw a few cyclists; sedate ladies and two more ladies with dogs. I often get jumped at by dogs but luckily these two were very well trained.

Here are a few pictures all taken early; when the plants were dripping with dew - a most impressive and inspiring start to the day. I highly recommend early runs, walks or cycles. The air is so fresh and clean.

Here is the view from the bridge I walked to. Actually quite eerie...

This is such a beauty...

Stormy and humid

School holidays means rain and lots of it. Well we've had a few storms over the last week or so but the garden is surviving - just. The petunias have had a bashing but are growing back strong again, after some serious rain lashing.

Here are a few pictures I took before the rains came at the end of July. Sadly the roses seem to have stopped on this shrub now. The blooms last for only a day or so. Glad I snapped them when I did...

Going for a walk - the 'Down's Link' way

Yesterday I had to get out for my 'oh no; impending school holiday'/ "get me out of here" walk! I always have done so - for years. I highly recommend it. I only manage a couple of miles but I am not a competitive soul.

We are very lucky to live right on the 'Down's Link' see here and also a more tourist guide here.

Here are a few photos I took on my phone in transit...

Lots of lovely wild flower that is so tall up the banks. Beautiful buddleia - a fond memory of my childhood; catching butterflies with a net and storing in an ice-cream tub : D ( with holes punched in the top of course) but always letting them go. Wonderful.

This area is under development I believe; "fields of gold" in more ways than one...

Looking back...

My favourite bench stop: for resting or a turning point; depending on how I feel. It looks out to a field and a house which keeps horses.Lovely.

Hope

I am so sad after reading today's news. So, so sad. I know I have had people from both Russia and the Ukraine read my blog posts. I feel for both sides but will not post politics here.

I am sending a rose to you and my thoughts and love. Where to now?

My daughter has just been studying the '9/11' story in class. We were only just discussing it last night after tea. What do we tell our children but the truth as they grow to make up their own minds. She was two when '9/11' happened. The fear and terror continues. All we can do is hope and take care of ourselves and our humanity. This is not nature.

All my love to those left behind. So sad.

White Roses

White roses signify peace and harmony. I had a hand-tie on my wedding day. We leave a white rose to those that are no longer here; at the graveside. White - a sign of peace, purity, beauty, life.

White rose in my garden