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Beltain 2025

~ Ashley ~ 48 Comments

Describing this pagan Cross Quarter festival, it is probably best that I quote from Glennie Kindred’s book** Sacred Earth Celebrations.  She describes this period as “a celebration of the fertility and rampant potency of the life force.”  Goodness, how accurate that is!  Stepping out into our little garden, I wonder at Mother Earth’s amazing energy during these days.

(Please click on the images to view clearly) 👀

These photos show the 7ft hedge that is currently fizzing with new growth. It’s an old hedge, as it was here on our northern boundary 20 years ago when we moved in. Somewhere in there, are a couple of old unknown trees that a previous owner of the house must have chopped down, and that has allowed the ivy to flourish. Also, there is privet, holly, beech and some blackthorn. I love it, because it accommodates so much nature as a food source and a place of safety for so many insects like butterflies and bees! The downside is that it is also about 6ft in depth and as someone who cuts the hedge with a pair of shears…..well, it can be a chore. I gave up garden machinery many years ago but if I’m honest, it helps me to keep mobile. Another joy is that garden birds also use the hedge for safety and for nesting. We are currently being entertained by juvenile sparrows, a robin and several species of young tits.


The sky is filled with birdsong,
The trees and hedges, greening;
Mother Earth is bourgeoning.

Happy May Day.

Ashley

** Find out more at: http://www.glenniekindred.co.uk

Spring rain

~ Ashley ~ 72 Comments 

Spring rains,
From grey skies;
Earth's greening.

Ashley

 

NB.  I don’t understand why my uploaded photo appears to be out of focus.  My original is perfect and if you click on the image is appears to be okay.  Technology!  I’m not coping well with it!  It seems to change daily and sometimes it’s just too much!  Is it just an age thing?

Treasure Trove, Kick-About #129

~ Ashley ~ 39 Comments

The latest Kick-About asked that we think about the term “treasure trove”.  Below is my artwork and a poem.  

There is a world
out there,
that glows and thrives
without my anguish;
if only I could see
without fear of height or hurt.

There is a world
right here,
that glows and thrives,
a home,
a garden,
filled with light and birdsong.

Our home, our garden,
right here!
Our treasure trove.

To see how others have interpreted the prompt, head on over to Phil’s blog at:

The Kick-About #129 ‘Treasure Trove’

Ashley

Donaghadee, again!

~ Ashley ~ 25 Comments

There is something about this County Down seaside town that keeps drawing us back! Perhaps it’s the history with its connections to Scotland, perhaps it’s just a great place to visit with its variety of little shops and places to eat; my wife’s Scottish DNA may have something to do with it! Whatever it is, we’re back again, this time for a couple of days. We stayed at a wonderful location, right on the front:

Five Star Luxury – Sleep by the Sea

We were able to find out about One Shore Street through the TrekNI website:

Home

I’m not a historian but here are some things that might interest readers with history on their minds:

There is an Anglo-Norman motte from the 12th century. It must have been great defensive site. There has been a permanent RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) station here since 1910. Grace Neill’s bar has been in existence since the 17th century although it began under a different name. We had a wonderful meal there. Here is a link to its website:

Home

Here are a few photos from our short visit to Donaghadee:

We chose to walk along the path south towards Millisle. Looking back to the lighthouse was a completely different view. We met and chatted to lots of friendly people, many with dogs getting their daily exercise.

Perhaps this is where we should have returned to, 20 years ago! On our day of leaving, the temperature dropped and it felt like winter once again (come on Spring!) Nevertheless, what a great visit.

Ashley

James Gillray: Kick-About #128

~ Ashley ~ 33 Comments

This was something I’d never have considered, that is, drawing a caricature of a current figure in the news! So, head on over to Phil Gomm’s Kick-About by clicking on the link below to see what the other Kick-Abouters have been doing.

The Kick-About #128 ‘James Gillray’

James Gillray was a British caricaturist during the 1800’s. His etchings of the political life of the period are hugely important, he has been dubbed the “father of political cartoons”. For further information go to:

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/James_Gillray

Here are my caricatures:

The Emperor’s New Clothes

The Emperor’s New Throne

We all know who they are!

Ashley

Spring Equinox 2025

~ Ashley ~ 42 Comments

A country lane,
The hedgerow filled with birdsong;
What do they know?

Yesterday, as I took my morning walk, it was so cold I had to wear my hat, and my gloves.  The cold didn’t seem to bother the birds in the hedgerows though.

The Spring Equinox falls today, Thursday 20th March.  It signifies that both day and night are of equal length and it is sometimes seen as the first day of spring, although if the ancient calendar is followed then spring began at the start of February.  Confused?  Yes, the cyclical seasons have certainly changed since ancient times!  And so have we, with all our technology!

However, let’s not get bogged down in technology but instead think about why the ancients celebrated this day!  Day and night are of equal length, so light and dark are balanced.  We can also imagine that the inner and outer worlds are stable, that is, the conscious and the unconscious realms.  What about looking forward and backward with a balanced view?

What a great opportunity to celebrate and think of these things before summer activities take over our frenetic lives.






Ashley

			

	


				
					


				
					


	

			
My Spring
		

				

						 ~ Ashley			 ~ 59 Comments					

				

		
Just before Christmas I came down with a viral infection and so I spent the next few days in bed.  No Christmas Day lunch with family, no wedding anniversary (our 53rd) and no New Year celebrations!  We were determined that we should still enjoy those celebrations but at a later date.  Thankfully, I was able to move the night out we had planned for our anniversary to February, when it was also my birthday.


We have just returned, having spent a couple of days on the shores of Belfast Lough.  First it was a birthday lunch in The Stables, Groomsport and then on to Donaghadee where we spent the night at Pier 36.  Here are some photos from Groomsport:








Having feasted at The Stables we drove on to Donaghadee.  With the skies starting to dim, we signed into Pier 36 for our one night stay.  Here are some photos from Donaghadee:








On arrival back home after our little adventure, I spotted some bright yellow flowers in the garden:






From dark days,
To brighter days;
Look, daffodils!




Ashley


Note:  In case you’re wondering if you recognise Donaghadee from the television, you’re right.  The town was featured in a series called Hope Street and called Port Devine.  The series also featured a pub/hotel called the Commodore which in real life is Pier 36. 
			

	


				
					


				
					


	

			
My first “Kick-About” Rorschach #125
		

				

						 ~ Ashley			 ~ 36 Comments					

				

		
Finally, I plucked up the courage to enter Phil Gomm’s Kick-About.  My special thanks goes to Phil for his blast of encouragement, and also to Kerfe, a regular K-A contributor.  The subject for February was Rorschach’s Ink Blots and since I missed the January Kick-About when the subject was Self Portrait, I decided to put the two together.  Follow this link:






The Kick-About #125 ‘The Rorschach Test’