Monday 22 August 2011

Three weeks in the life of me

Did you miss me? I've been doing everything but blogging lately, so here is a pictorial wander through my recent life.

We were invited to a Lammas homewarming and stew-and-potato feast. The sun shone, the dogs ran, my daughter fell off a chair.


This very handsome man gave Rima her first ever lesson in archery (best to start with imaginary arrows)...



with a little 'help' from Pickle in her Miss Havisham dress.


With a little of Baba Yaga in her eye, Rima fired the best round of anyone.


Lisa joined her in music-making round the fire...


and it seems they (and the rest of us humans) enjoyed it more than than Warlock, our local alpha lurcher, who was more intent on the sausages sizzling at the end of his nose.


As the stars came out, Tom told us the story of Lugh, warming up his storytelling muscles for a performance at Uncivilisation, the second Dark Mountain festival. Very sad I missed his bear dance, but hoping to go another year.

My girl nodded and nuzzled towards sleep, until her kind Gappy (Great Aunt Philippa) took her into her Romahome for a snoozy snuggle so Thomas and I could drink and loll unfettered by a staggering toddler.


Other nights have been quieter, just me and my man and beautiful sunsets. There are huge rewards at the turn of the seasons. The rain can seem relentless, but I wouldn't leave this temperate, rainforest climate when I get skies like this.


We've been to Dartmoor Folk Festival to see more morris dancers and the genuinely alarming Minehead hobby horse.




I've completed another piece for my exhibition, which is now in five days (I will be ready; I will be ready; I will).


We went to Chagford Show, saw very impressive rams,


llamas which I thought were cute until one looked like it was going to spit at Pickle,


miniature donkeys - cute by anybody's standards, but the calf (do donkeys have calves?) was only three months - too young for so much fuss and attention, I felt.


We saw people spangling around the field in big bubbles,


 and the highlight - totally out-of-control terrier racing. 'Terrier' here means ' anything four-legged'. I'm surprised the llamas didn't join in. Once they've been thoroughly wound up and released roughly at the same time to go in entirely separate directions, there's the even more entertaining race between the humans to recapture their dog (who may well be barreling through picnics/toddlers/people perched precariously on stick-stools) and not be the last one yelling and lurching and grasping at thin air while the crowd laughs.


In relation to such ape japes, the beautiful heavy horses were a model of dignity, despite the silly hairdo's, 


and I was quite taken by the fine whiskers of this judge.


Sadly too late to get a stall of his own, Thomas's pixie doors (which now have a dedicated blog) made an appearance on the edge of Miriam's unique jewellery stall


and next to Yuli's stall of felted wonders.


We've been spending our Sunday 'family day' time picking gazillions (I counted) of apples in our incredibly abundant allotment. If you're local, we're looking for good homes for cookers and eaters. 

The trees actually seemed a bit relieved when we took the weight off them, but the three of us did a little thank you dance anyway, just to be polite.


And, most importantly, I have been doing hours and hours of this, soothing my girl as she grows her first molars:


What have you been doing lately?

12 comments:

  1. Lovely blog :0) I well remember the molars ! You have my sympathy :0)

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  2. Poe-tree looks really good.... That sunset was impressive as well.

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  3. Wow! Well, why on earth would you be blogging when you could do all that instead?! I did archery at school and loved it...it was the only sport I was remotely interested in, and I was actually good at it too, an extra bonus! Love the Lammas feast, love the dog race and the Clydesdales (my hubby wants one...called Lancelot!) Wonderful blog post Lunar, I've said it before and I'll say it again, I want to live THERE!!!

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  4. Snippety Giblets, have you got any tips for preventing biting while feeding? OW!
    Thanks, Ent.
    And, Christina, come! At least for a visit. You'd be welcome to stay with us, but we don't have the space for your whole family. I bet we could find you all a place to be though. Hurray for the internet, letting us see so far and hear stories from people we've never met.

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  5. Lunar,
    These pictures are amazing. The life you are leading...how do I get from here to there, my friend. The road diverged...
    Two other things, that tree!! That tree, that tree that tree! Love. Absolutely, positively, love. I tried to blow it up so I could see the words, but I couldn't. Is it a poem, a story? I am mesmerized by that wondrous tree.
    Two, I know I told you the breastfeeding debacle that was my life, so you can understand that when I saw the molar comment I laughed and then breathed a large sigh of relief. Phew. There is my one upside of not being able to breastfeed and I will carry it with me.

    You are going to be fantastic at your show. Take lots of pictures for me.

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  6. Lyra, I so wish you could come visit my exhibition and cheer me on - your support is deeply appreciated.
    Like most bloggers, I don't tell the whole story. In the last three weeks, amongst the wonderful things above, my husband's had a health scare which we don't yet know the scale of, a good friend has taken a step back from me and I've had an early miscarriage. The grass this side is green, green, green, but still there is the occasional thistle underfoot.
    It was kind of deliberate that the tree's words are hard to read - like it takes so much time and stillness to be with a real tree. But I'll post a close-up just for you :o).
    And, yes, get glad your nipples are safe from sharp little teeth. Haven't sussed that one yet. Your comment got me re-reading the breastfeeding thread (http://lunarhine.blogspot.com/2011/04/illusory-reality-and-breasts.html) and feeling touched by all you great people.
    Thanks Lyra. x

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  7. Oh, Lunar.
    I am so sorry for the miscarriage pain. As I've told my kids, the angels weren't ready yet to let your baby come to earth. My heart goes out to you.
    Love.

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  8. Dear Luna,
    it's always the way, isn't it, life is never perfect. Wonderful one moment, devastating the next. One day I will get to Chagford, and no, I won't land all of us on you ;-), but a cuppa by the campfire would be marvelous! Take care, and look after yourself, your man, and your little pickle.
    xx Christina

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  9. Lunar! Hello there.
    Thanks for extending a bloggy-hand! I've been here before... to your web door but never knocked (blame it on distraction or shyness, either).

    Anyways, hello! I commented on this post because we've been watching Lammas episodes and shooting arrows and going to festivals over here, too. Which is very far away from you I do believe, though, looks much the same in lots of ways. I think it's the people.

    Looking forward to stopping by more often.

    Cheers! ∞

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  10. Christina, the storm kettle (best to be prepared out here) is ready for action whenever you arrive :o).
    Zen Forest beauty, it's always good to connect with like-hearted fellows, wherever they are, and I very much look forward to seeing more of you. Thanks. x

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