This is Tinker, who has been — quite happily — living wild for some time. The staff at the school he adopted, however, decided to take him to an animal rescue, so last Tuesday an Intervention was staged and here he is. Mostly he likes to wander, but he has decided that humans are a good source of food & attention and I will do as well as any other. So we have adopted each other. He’s about 18 months old and a terrible fidget. But he’s very sweet when he wants anything – which makes him a cold-hearted manipulative fiend, as I had already suspected.
I went down to Hepwright’s Vintage to talk styling with Catherine for an upcoming photoshoot. While I was about it, I took a few pictures. For research purposes, of course.
I’m probably just showing off my limited saint knowledge, but I’m really rather fond of mostly-ignored saints. Also, you can make St. Stephen’s Pudding if you don’t like traditional Christmas fare (as, on the whole, I don’t), and it’s hard not to feel fond of saints who have somehow managed to be immortalised in pudding.
I hope you’re all having a lovely time, whatever you may be celebrating. (My philosophy is that many religions, past & present, have agreed that midwinter calls for a Great Big Party and who can argue with that?) I managed to make a lot of presents this year, for which I’m glad, and most of the others I got from Tools For Self Reliance, which is one of my favourite charities.
I had a stall alongside TFSR at the Art House’s November craft fayre, and nearly bought one of their toy tigers. (I’m not a toy collector, but really, they were adorable.) I thought both tigers had been sold by now — Ruth took one for her grandson — but then another appeared in the Art House and I chose to view it as Fate. I’ve named him Barquentine.
Clockwise from left: Barquentine, with Doodlypop (who was my
mother’s & who always looks Very Concerned) and Horatio Hieronymous
(a small bear of forgotten origins who likes to sign himself H.H. with a flourish
and is unamused when I respond by calling him Humbert Humbert). And a
beat-up whisky tin that has found its life’s purpose as my knitting needle holder.
Barquentine & my Christmas book stash. I generally get given books,
craft supplies &/or pretties. I’m easy.
My great-grandfather Alec died a few weeks ago. I never met him, apart from when I was too young to remember. He was born in County Cork in 1914. He walked around Germany in the 1930s. Upon hearing of Pope Benedict’s state visit to Britain in 2010, he declared, “Bugger the Pope!” which (I’m told) was unusually strong language for him. Then he said it again.
I spent this weekend selling knits & jewellery at the Art House, which was a fairly successful venture, and my tin of business cards went right down.
And so I feel the need for a quick update, should any Art House perusers come to peruse here as well, because a lot of the wares I was selling today aren’t yet listed online. I do intend to get some photographs on here soon for posterity & so forth, and you can let me know if there’s anything that takes your fancy. I will keep you all posted on where you can buy them, be it online or in person.
It was lovely meeting you! I had a Very Good Day. I might start doing fayres more often.
I did a shift in the Art House café with Miles, who did a little dance, sang a little tune, and said, “See how I don’t panic? I just FLY through it all!”
Today is Saint James’ Day — that is James the Greater, as opposed to one of the numerous other Jameses. While I don’t celebrate Saints’ Days myself, I’m always fascinated by saints & rituals & suchlike, particularly obscure ones (in fact, I only ever like rituals from an academic point of view). Must find a good book on saints & their ‘eccentricities’.
I really want to find an illustrated book of mythological creatures, like I used to read at the library when I was little; one of my teachers had a beautiful one. I have a fantastic book of magical creatures, but would that it had more, well, pictures. (O, I want more books. Every so often I start pining for more poetry & folklore.)
I’m starting work on a new projekt; I won’t go into it, but I’m enjoying myself so far. From my preparatory stash:
perished
one chance
carrying its curse
still
the will
of time
restore
the years
strangers
appearing
beyond dusk
the body
of the slain
I went cycling yesterday for the first time in years and I loved it. I was curious to see whether or not my legs would hurt this morning — after being so out of practice — but they seem fine. I felt terribly uncoordinated when I was back on my feet, though. Planning to go out again tonight. Let’s see if I can walk straight afterwards.
“You see beauty in the peculiarities, which is a great comfort to those of us who are peculiar.” R.
“I love your pictures . . . they made me feel something I’m not sure how to describe, very beautiful. You have a gift for noticing the small things — the important details that make a scene unforgettable.” B.
“You are a poet . . . the way you think, the way you talk.” K.
I try to give credit to all the artists, photographers & writers that appear in the Blog, but if any of the works are yours and you wish me to remove them, please contact me and it shall be done.
