Link up party for September

Welcome to September's Scavenger Hunt Link up Party !  

Are you ready? 

Remember it is a photo inspired by a word 

and words inspired by photos.

Let's get started - just add your name and let the party begin :)

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September's photo hunt

Not really sure where the day goes. I know I am a class one procrastinator, I know I am a fritterer of time and collector of dilly-dallying however I also know I am busy with an art festival, busy with the comings and goings of adult or near adult children (who drift in and out like wild birds - stopping long enough to rest and to feed then fly off again) I know I get involved with groups and friends and I know I need to have space and time to myself - more than I used to, much more.

I also know I berate myself each time with what ever I am doing.  I should be doing this or rather that or could be-should be-can be-would be. So, with that - I am now going try and complete this month's word hunt .... I would ask you to wish me luck however it would probably be wiser to look at me with a light look of despair and a pointedly folding of arms. Either would probably be helpful in giving me the essential punt of encouragement.

Tally ho.

Brightly coloured

I have this wonderfully eccentric friend who has a style all of her own. All through summer at our knit and natter group she randomly selects brightly coloured yarns and using two contrasting strands will knit herself a chunky winter scarf. There is no reason or rhyme to the pattern and by the end of each summer she has her scarf. There is always a ceremonial 'wrapping around of the neck' moment to check it is done, then with a self depreciating chuckle will cast off. Around her feet and tumbling out of her bag are her yarns in various stages of pupae - unraveling and tangling, label-less and in a colourful brawl. We all agree she has that 'effect' on yarn - for as soon as she is in touching distance - the ball of wool or yarn regurgitates itself in a labyrinth of knots and loops.

Upside down

I have been toting my camera around (not a chore as it is usually is my co-conspirator when I am out and about) in the hope of the perfect reflection.  After a month of windy, rainy inclement weather - I could see I was not going to have a current image and so resorted to a mug of tea and piece of fruit cake for comfort as I trawled through my archives.

A stone bridge not far from Chapel Style in the Lake District. Bosh.

Ink

Some times my brain can surprise me at her lateral thinking - this one is a perfect example. I was about to go and find the image I'd taken of inks as part of an art project when .... I was reminded of a moment, when I lay on the floor a week or two ago, on a stone chipping carpark and took a photo of these ....  Coprinus comatus - the shaggy ink cap mushroom - which according to the boffin that Professor Goodle - is a fungus often seen growing on lawns, gravel roads and waste areas.  You can see in the distance my other companion - Bob - I have not even closed his door in my haste to get this photo ....

Bag

I dislike the restrictive qualities of a 'coffin' shaped sleeping bag - the name itself is enough to put me off and for years I have used a rectangular one until eventually the zip broke. We tried rather unsuccessfully to replace like for like. Technology has moved on and for what we need - an affordable 3 season sleeping bag for some one with restless legs - a roomy one did not seem to exist. Until that is ... we discovered one described as ... for those star fish sleepers .... ME!
So now I have an almost circular red and acid green snuggle sack - big enough to sit cross-legged inside with the hood up and over my head - perfect for wild camping.  My photo is taken from the inside of my bag, sitting up as I wait for my coffee to cool enough to sip.

Pattern

Although, in my own art style,  I do not feature repetitive  'patterns' preferring landscape or sea and skyscapes - it is with photography I am drawn to shapes and repetition. Old benches with their ornate iron backs, decorated wrought iron gates or railings, striped fields freshly mown, sand bars ridged and furrowed as the tide recedes. The regularity of woven fabrics or knitted garments. Patterns that I find difficult to replicate by pencil or brush preferring to offer a representation rather than a faithful copy.

My own choice

An image from the walled garden during summer. After a rather disorganised and disheartening  beginning which myself and the other volunteer persistently slogged through, to the end of a happily colourful and bee and butterfly filled garden - we have loved 'our' walled garden. Sadly it looks like this particular gardeny-guise will vanish and the space will take on a new personae - we, the volunteers, are staying to assist the 'powers-that-be' and help make it as best we can - but, for us,  it will not be the same.

So. There. Completed it - as usual it has taken longer than I anticipated but seeing how driech it is out there - may be sorting images and drinking tea is not a bad option.

Off now to see what you lovely lot have got up to this last month.

Dropping in

Despite today's unexpected and most welcome sunshine, it is definitely feeling more and more autumnal. These last few days feel have flown by either drenched by rain, battered by wind or covered in cloud. I have spent most of them either steadily working through my list of commissioned art or trying out new techniques.

I keep reading posts both on other blogs I read or on facebook, where this time of year is affectionately and  wistfully described as magical and mystical. Where cobwebs glisten and rose hips glow. I read lovingly written words describing this being a favourite time of year.

I see the reds, the russets, I see the decay and the cobwebs and I mourn the loss of the warmth of summer, I yearn for endless blue skies, I ache for summer. I feel bereft. Fortunately Himself is aware of my unease of this time of the year. My need to try and balance my mood with the seasons.

So we walk. 

Which is bitter sweet in a cruel way - I love being out, I love seeing the far horizon, I love being beneath the sky but I also constantly reminded of the winding down of the year, the ending of summer and the imminent arrival of winter.

Am I odd?

Do you feel the same?

Or do you revel in the turning of the seasons and the rise of decay?

and today ...

Today the sun did not get up however we did.

Still - now, as I type - all we have a rather sullen sky and a dreary outlook. Hey ho.

Never mind I shall re-think on yesterday's walk and revel in the memory of the afternoon sunshine.

There are signs of autumn - blatant signs, 

no slipping in quietly and pretending to have been there all along. 

The hedgerows are full of berries - rowan, hawthorn, honeysuckle, sloe as well as apple and damson.

 

 

Right, best get on,

a fair bit to do.

So, if you'll excuse me, I must go and if I don't blog for a while,

don't worry - I am still here, just busy elsewhere.

xxxxx

New words for September

A rather cross Pepper-cat as she realises we are off on a walk.

Thank you everyone for joining in with the photo hunt - once again they were a delightful mix of entertaining and sharing but I have to say that Louise using 'My Own Choice' to reveal a wonderful and carefully planned secret deserves the gold star this month - congratulations.

As I type this, the house feels very quiet and empty - every one is off out at work, the cats have slipped off for an all essential cat nap and Moss is at the vets having surgery. :(

We were out walking yesterday - a most wonderful one (bar the Moss and barbed-wire-fence-torn-leg-incident) which I will blog about properly later on in the week. 

What I will share with you today are this month's (September - what already?!?) words.

Brightly coloured

Upside down

Ink

Bag

Pattern

My Own Choice

A photograph inspired by a word, 

words inspired by the photos. 

September's Scavenger photo-hunt list 

enjoy!

Remember to think laterally, interpret as YOU fancy, be it a current photo or a favourite one from your past. We'll reconvene and post our words and photos from Friday 28th September -  have fun!