Just about bordering on odd, I see things through different eyes.The heading says it all - I live, I love, I craft, I am me...

30/11/2018

November's scavenger hunt

I had quietly dwelt under the wrong impression that after the arty weekend at the end October I would be able to drop back into blogging with ease.

Strangely that has not happened. In a good way though - I am still very busy.

So, now, here at the beginning of the week I am trying to get my words and photos down. It is early morning and still dark, Himself has just left for work and Youngest will be doing the same shortly.
I can remember those 'going-to-work-in-the-dark-and-coming-home-in-the-dark' days - and I don't miss them.

Post/mailbox
This little box is actually a 'letterbox' - you might wonder what makes the difference - well, in 1854 an intrepid hiker - James Perrott - set up a cairn in a wild and windy spot on North Dartmoor. There he stashed a glass bottle where the next walker could drop off a card and pick up the previous one. It was seen as a rather exciting and dangerous venture.

I imagine dressed in full Victorian walking garb - just setting off out to the shops was a rather epic.

Any hoo, fast forward and letterboxing is still a 'thing' and although still predominantly in Dartmoor in Devon, it has spread out into wild and wonderful pockets all around the UK. This particular one is in Langass Woodland on North Uist. A place with some wonderful stories of it own.

Decay
Chosen because of the season here in the northern hemisphere - after a long and glorious summer, autumn firstly flattened out the garden with her winds and rain then winter started join in - for a brief moment or two there was that beautiful inner glow autumn sometimes shares before the decay sets in.
On the moorland side of our village is a waterfall which has an otherworldly air - like minded folk are drawn there and small talismans and gifts are quietly tucked into the trees.They too fade and decay this time of the year.

Secondhand
Nearly all our pets are 'secondhand', rescues and adopted from shelters or veterinary surgeries. We take them on without knowing their backgrounds or 'baggage'. Some have been the perfect addition to our family - others have been a little harder to reach through their 'self defence' walls. We had a cat who had to learn again to walk in a straight line and eat without falling over - we had 'Awful Annie' for 16 years. Then there was 'Polly' who through no fault of her own was to be destroyed (her owner never came to collect her after surgery) she was my personal furry angel for 21 years. Our latest three also have their own backgrounds.
'Pepper' abandoned in a box at the back of a pub - the cheekiest little furbag imaginable - has no personal barriers and firmly believes in 'what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine too prrrr).
'Pan' - a Princess with a feral beginning and a suspicious heart. She lives alongside us rather than with us and has moments of magical purry-love and days of angry eyes and flattened ears - we would never abandon or rehome her as we understand her mood swings and accept her for what she is - someone else might be less tolerant.
Then there is Moss - we are her 5th and forever owners. She is an amazing dog despite all the trauma and tragedy this dog has had in her short life - she loves her pack (us) so fiercely and loyally.
Strand
I have a permanent dull ache for the sea, so it seemed only right that my strand was a strand line - however, when I trawled through my photographs of the sea and coast line, I ended up falling into the rabbit hole of holiday memories. It took some time before I surfaced and decided on this image. An abandoned fishing boat on the Isle of Skye, left high and dry with fetid seaweed on the strand line.
Fold
I have found a new distraction for my hands - or rather, I have found a new direction for an already acquired skill. I have always loved origami and have transferred that into making little books - be still my beating heart.
My own Choice
I've been busy 'makkin' in the studio - for a couple of festive events and pop shops - these wooden apple roundels I made on Monday evening - I just liked the way the wood glows in the evening light. I just need to finish the art work on the back, add ribbons and package up.


Right, off to see what you lot have been up to :) Have a lovely weekend.

10 comments:

  1. Loved your selection & the accompanying stories. I too long for the sea & have used a similar one for stranded. My favourite would have to be the PETS & you'd understand why. Aha, so you have used the origami for folded & those apples look good enough to eat. Clever one! THANK YOU so much for hosting these hunts & long may it continue. Take care.

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  2. The pet story made me shed a tear. That is a lovely, and I bet they all think their humans are wonderful, I've been letter boxing when the boys younger and when we lived in Devon, great fun!

    Julie xxxxxx

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  3. Never heard of such an unusual letterbox but then you do have lots of interesting stories to educate me with. my favourite has to be fold, closely followed by secondhand. Great shot of Pepper!

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  4. I always love the selection you curate but this morning 'Secondhand' has made me cry. A lot. xx

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  5. I had never heard of Letter Boxing. It sounds fun. And you found one on North Uist too. Lovely. :)
    Ahh your pet stories for second-hand were really touching. Your furry brood are all lucky to have you and vice versa. My cat Slinky is second-hand and a very big part of my little family.
    Interesting photos and stories as always.
    Have a fab and not to stressful lead up to Christmas. :)

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  6. Wonderful photos. Your little books and apple roundels are lovely. I love the photo of the old fishing boat and really enjoyed reading the stories are your precious 'second hand' pets. Have a lovely weekend:)

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  7. That brings back memories - I did quite a bit of letterboxing on Dartmoor when I was at college in Plymouth in the mid 1970s.

    Thank you for hosting the hunt and I hope to join in more of them in 2019.

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  8. Love those Roundels. And your pets.

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  9. Secndhand pets .... love that one. All mine have come to live here after having other owners.
    The apples are stunning, they'll be snapped up quickly.
    Looking forward to next years hunts.
    Enjoy the festive season and take time to relax and well as work xx

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  10. A great collection, I like your secondhand pets!

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