Sunshine, Spinach and Celtic Focals

Sunshine, Spinach and Celtic Focals

   Spring is being kind to the fens this year, mornings are filled with bright sunshine and long light evenings keep both fen tigers and gardeners happy, even the odd shower of rain has that wonderful smell riding it's back, I love the smell of rain, a cent only found in spring and summer along with that of fresh cut grass.
   The vegetable garden is already producing a harvest, the first salads are finding their way to the plate and that wonderful green spinach is already a great addition to evening meals, tho my hoe never seems to rest. I still find the hard work really worth it and fully understand why those who moan about the flavour of shop bought veg do so, there really is no comparison and the fact that within minutes from being cut or pulled they are cooking makes one feel very lucky and grateful we have the space and opportunity to grow them.

   On the bead side of things, it's been and interesting week, I'm truly addicted to making wild and wonderful focal beads at the moment, the results of ivory coloured glass and turquoise never cease to amaze me, a marriage yet to be surpassed in my eyes. With the addition of silver and a few wild ideas, every morning the kiln seems to produce the odd gift or two along with a big smile upon the face of this bead hermit.
 

Rains Wash The Fenland

Rains Wash The Fenland

   Cool spring rain welcomes us this morning, washing the dust from the fen and transforming the flat dark soiled east into a green backdrop for that wonderful early summer theatre that mother nature delivers every year. Every blade of grass, every leaf that plays between blossom is clean, clean and new, awaiting those warm summer winds in which they will dance gently while fen tigers warm their bones.
   For this bead hermit a day of work lies ahead and as rain runs down my window my eyes will once more watch the magical movements of my flame as it kisses and caresses the glass in my hand and the sounds of rain on timbers above my head will again remind me just how lucky I am to work warm and dry.

Bank Holiday Beading

   Bank Holiday Beading


   May bank holiday and the sun is warm, the doves are calling and the world in the fens is very quiet,  but this bead maker has beads to make. A trip to the coast was an option or a visit to Ashwell, but no, this old bead hermit as decided to spend the day working, I have things to try and I'm sure my flame can share the holiday with the vegetable garden.
   Kiln is heading towards 500 degree while I enjoy a cuppa and my usual inspection of the greenhouse, every morning new green seedlings are appearing and new rows are making their way through the soil in the vegetable garden, I love this time of year, can there really be a better season than Spring ?
   Still the great water fowl are filling the wide fen skies and grey heron return from early morning hunt, lilac blooms turn their colour and the white cherry blossom hang in bunches while the great little workers pollinate every stamen, if the lord did put us upon this earth, then to witness Spring was one very good reason for doing so.