A Sad Day

I have just heard that the hugely talented amazing Maya Angelou has passed away.

Her poems will live on as well as her huge charisma.That beautiful smile and her resonant laugh...

I am sharing my favourite poem here; And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou in deepest respect.

Another legend lost. RIP Maya.

(poem reading credit to 'The Poetry Station' website accessed and shared 28 May 2014)

Beautiful

I have finished my course today - just sent off my assessment... What to do...The sun is out again today and the strawberries are growing. 

The rose tree has shed it's petals already; they bloom - they fall.

Just been looking through my photos and found some beautiful flowers my daughter took when she was eleven. She is very good at photography and has an eye for it - now though the ipod has taken over. I thought I'd share some here. I hope she won't mind... (thanks daughter X).The two bottom ones are from Nymans the same year. I think my husband may be due credit for those two (thank you X). I have their old digital camera now and am trying to capture ordinary things. I am no photographer - I just like to play - like I do with words. They were taken a couple of years ago but thought they'd add a splash of colour to my blog right now. They deserve to be shared. Enjoy...

Love this one - such fragile beauty

Nymans 2011 - Heavenly...

Magnolia avenue

Summer Day

Here are some photos I took on my phone. <3

There's a bee in there... can you spot it?

If you could just smell this rose; it is divine...

Sunshine following showers

The Rose Tree is Out - the Beginnings of Summer...

The rose tree in our back garden is blooming. The blooms last for such a short time for the bees to fervently collect nectar. The scent is like geranium and attracts the bumble in numbers. If you stand by the tree it hums with the busy bees making the tree come alive. The petals fall so quickly like confetti to the ground; the last rounds of wind and rain have battered them too soon.

I hope this is a sign of approaching Summer; not too hot though -last year was like the desert!

I am finishing my coursework for A215 now and will be out in the garden more I hope pottering as I do. I still hope to keep writing and the course has really been the best thing. I wish I had done it years ago.

Enjoy the warmer weather - whilst it lasts and may the lighter days continue to make things better for us all.

Pictures - Polesden Lacey

We are lucky members of the National Trust and have been now for many years; for which we are grateful. It gets us out of the house and provides beautiful walks, historical education and some amazing breath-taking views that kind ancestors of this country have passed onto the public.

I can highly recommend this as maybe a gift for a loved one or a gift to yourself and family. It is worth it; the only further cost then is tea and cakes; which I have to say are my downfall... You have to treat yourself though don't you; otherwise life is not worth living.You can read more about membership here

Lambing season at the Polesden Lacey fields

I thought I'd share these photos. On Sunday, there was a vintage Bentley car collection on view down by the house. Unexpected and a nice surprise for many. The cars were decked out and sparkling. Picnic baskets as per vintage times; left on the back seats added a special feel to the display - especially as it was set outside the front door of Mrs Greville's front door.

I can just imagine sports cars pulling up for parties and picnics ; I would have loved to be living like that in those days.

Many people were having picnics on the large lawn in front of the house; children running down the hills with delight. Very British or English scene; I prefer to say. There is more information about Polesden Lacey on the National Trust website here .

Looking up through a huge tree at the entrance. Sun filtering rays captured.

Jazz Bounces Back

Going through my poetry for the final A215 project. Thought I'd share this one on my blog. I really like jazz music especially Ella Fitzgerald, jazz funk and piano jazz. This was written for an exercise on listening to music. I listened to Miles Davis miles to go CD for this one (the title 'Billie's Bounce' reflects the piece). 
Listening to quiet music such as jazz or classical piano helps me focus.

Jazz Bounces Back

Toe tapping,

head nodding,

pencil drumming

to write. 

Saxophone sassy

Piano keys drool.

Trumpet swings to

the beat.

Ella, Miles

American smiles

Immortal jazz;
create.

***

I have added a music poetry page see here; which includes another listening inspired poem. This was created after  listening to Eva Cassidy’s beautifully haunting version  of ‘Fields of Gold’ ( Cassidy, E., Sting, 1996 [1993] ). I did use it for my TMA03 not too successfully but now I have changed the title it may make more sense to the reader? I hope it does anyway.

Bibliography:

Eva Cassidy, ‘Fields of Gold’ in Songbird, 1996, ©Sting, 1993, EMI Blackwood Music. 
Miles Davis, 'Billie's Bounce' in miles to go, Compilation © 1999,  Prism Leisure,
Corporation PLC.  

 

Things That Help Me Write

I had a 'Rant' published before in a great magazine for women called Mslexia. They are running a little magazine alongside it and I must subscribe at some point. I used to; then as said before on my blog things happen and writing got put on the 'backburner' so to speak.
You can see their website here https://www.mslexia.co.uk/. I have entered competitions and sent work and they are very good at letting you know outcomes and if you get work published you get a free magazine, as well as whatever the payment is. I got £20 last year and was so chuffed I photographed the cheque (very sad but true). It really gave me a massive boost after what was then eight years of rejection and nothing. It was real publishing as it should be and I hope to send more work there in the future. What I am trying to say here is:

'Don't ever give up'...

May Flowers

The garden seems to be fending for itself this year. I sowed wild-flower and planted bulbs in between what has been growing in the garden for years. Our back garden has a woodland area which is natural and I planted a Eucalyptus in there about three years ago. Nearly lost it in the storms but it has been propped up (rather like the fences) and continues to grow.

The rose tree is bursting with leaf now and the geranium scented rose will likely appear soon; if this warm weather has anything to do with it. Unfortunately it makes me sneeze but I know not to stick my nose in it this year!

This is another hardy that flowers beautifully every year... Not sure of its name but it is very pretty.

The garden is definitely a pink, purple and blue theme at the moment; blue from cornflowers and bluebells. Lots of aquilegia make up the pink and purple; a swaying haze of femininity.

I love our garden in May. It is at it's prettiest. Lovely lilac welcomes bees and butterflies. I wonder how many years it has been there. The garden is very established and now has become quite low maintenance - which is good for me. I come from a family of 'growers' but am very low key in comparison. I just like to potter and put a few baskets up. Lets hope this sunshine continues through...but looking outside today at the rain; we can but hope.

My 'blurry bees eye view' of the flowers!

These strawberry plants are doing well. I have heard this year should be good for strawberries. I think the flowers are very pretty. For some reason my baskets always get pecked at by nesting birds. They seem to like most liners particularly these coconut matting ones. If I put a basket under the tree the squirrels and birds dig out the compost. What to do... Lets hope the strawberries get to June without being swiped by greedy blackbirds!
As usual the planting was down to me - daughter does the choosing then it all seems to drop off with watering etc.. not that I need to worry about that with all the rain.

Those naughty birds... sparrows  nesting ; bless 'em