#naphopomo Day 16 Deep in the Forest

Deep in the forest something stirred , broadcasting far and wide
a song for all who chose to hear. The call to return tugged hard
at a skirt hem, speaking of rewards for the soul.

The Silk Cotton

A couple of years ago, the ancient guardian, that had stood at the entrance of the steep sided road that winds a circuitous way to the village for as long as anyone could remember, fell. The earth vibrated with the deep rumbling crash as one giant arm of the sentinel hit the ground. We held our breath. The Silk Cotton Tree, having watched over this community for hundreds of years, home to spirits, Soucouyant and jumbie, had finally lost the strength to stand with outstretched limb. T took to the road with everyone else and went 'to see'. All traffic both in and out of the village ceased, electricity was cut off and before long the sound of chain saws and numerous instructions could be heard. A taxi driver and his passengers had had a narrow escape as did Bev who owns the adjacent spice shop but luckily everyone was alright. Here is a link to the local news report on that day.
Post by GBN Television News. 
Some time later, T returned home with all the talk and a slice of this great buttressed sentry which is where it has stayed, unadorned, until now. I have long been an avid reader and admirer of Rima Staines's
wonderful work and blog The Hermitage and in that spirit, but without her ability, set out to paint a memory on the slice of this special tree that we once ran past as night fell.

Tonight is Halloween, and I hope a fitting occasion to mark the passing of a keeper of souls.

Wrackline Strand

The Forestry

the forestry
the place
to be

the forestry
shares gifts
with me

the forestry
is where
I see

the forestry
brings quiet
to mind

the forestry
time to
unwind

the forestry
sings a
keening call

the forestry
home to all

the forestry
returns us
to

the forestry
of me
and you.

Just a little taster!

Last night
we took the bus
down to town
and spent a lovely
evening here at
the opening of the
Grenada Arts Council
Annual Open Exhibition.

There were wonderful
pieces on show and it
was inspiring to see
the diverse creativity 
that exists here on
this little island.

Observations
from nature
sit happily
besides
vibrant
geometric
designs.

Deep emotional
responses
to love and
affairs of the heart

rub shoulders
with evocative
sensuality.

Beautiful
photographic
images
gel

with
unbelievable
painting

The superb
works of
mother and son
hang side by side.

 Music

 lifestyle








Anansi

beautiful blooms

exquisite batik

sculpture,
jewellery....
heart work



.........and so much more.
All can be seen at the Grenada Arts Council's Gallery,
in Young Street,St. George's. from now until the 28th February.

Shadow

and Cathy
are
thrilled
to be there.

P.S. If you have
a link to any of the
images that
you would like
to include  here, please
let me know.

My Desk

Being allowed to nose around in other peoples' work places
is one of my favourite pastimes. To be invited to peek into
a private, creative and intimate space of those artists I admire
is such a treat.
That is one of the many reasons I invite you to visit
Jackie Morris
who is hosting "International Desk Day: or, nosing around other
peoples' spaces" on her blog. There, not only will you be able to
see her wonderful artwork, kittens, cats, bears, dragons and
home but also the delightful desks and work of others. You
can also join in the fun by posting your desk on your blog.

Happy New Year!

I just want to wish each and everyone of you who finds your
way to our little blog dot on the globe a very Happy New Year
for 2013! It is always a pleasure to find you were here with us.
I felt that I had had a difficult time during 2012, as I am sure
many of you did also, but yesterday Chookooloonks gave me
a gift of perspective which completely altered my view and
made me realise just how wonderful 2012 really was!
If you took any photographs during 2012 then you too can
experience this by visiting her blog. It may bring a tear or two,
but I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
The very wonderful T also surprised me with a gift today,
a hand carved fish he made to bring a smile to the face of a
Piscean who sometimes swims too deep.
I leave you in the safe hands of Mr Paul Weller xxx            

Craft in America

Rarely do we get to watch art or craft programs on television.
T subscribes to the sports channels, being an avid cricket and
football fan and we have a basic package that brings us various
'reality' TV shows, CNN, God, cartoons, local 'news' and 
advertisements that exhort us to purchase products unavailable
here. However, currently showing on Channel 44, PBS, is
Craft in America. Wonderful. Catch it while you can!
One never knows when our cable provider will decide we
have seen enough and take it off without warning, as recently
experienced with the final episode of Survivor Philippines!

Weekword!

This week found me feeling a little lazy, but then I read Peggy's post and her delightful choice of word and illustration for Weekword, 'Sloth'! I remember thinking how nice it would be to join in,  and then she tapped me for this week! Thank you Peggy.

So, energised, enthused and honoured,  my choice for this week's 'Weekword' is:

'Glimpse'

I do hope you will join in the fun and share what you can glimpse.

Oh and by the way:

How to Weekword

Each week (hopefully on a Monday) the week’s host will choose a word to be the Weekword.
All you have to do for Weekword is to respond to the word in any creative outlet you would like – painting, writing, poetry, lyrics, music, photos, collage, mixed media, drawing, verse, dialogue, videos, anything really, and post the results on your blog.
Let the host know you’d like to play in their comments, and the host will post links to the blogs of all the participants on Friday.

 

Decisions Decisions

Painting

drawing

sketching

research

experimentation

illustration

construction

cooking

looking

erasing

finding

losing

thinking

doing

taking

 

 

all of the above, flicking through old magazines and making a scrap book to remind me of where to put the energy.

 

Of football and flights of fancy.

We went up to the pasture to watch the football on Sunday. We had a great time, our team won 5-2 and the commentators were as colourful as the game.

The pasture is up the road from where we live and it was lovely to have a change of scenery and a day out.

On the way to the rum shop, with the promise of music and talk and lambie waters, T showed me this.

Home Grown

We are picking the cocoa from
the few remaining trees in
Corn Buck,






fermenting the beans in a bucket,
which seems to work fine,








and then drying them in the sun.
Xena has kindly allowed us to use
her house as the drying shed.
T has shown me how to 'parch'
or roast them, over the fire and then
we will grind them and make cocoa balls
for cocoa tea.





...but secretly, I would really like to do this......

Highways and Byeways

When I am stuck

I watch ants.

I watch them
as they struggle
through the bush,
over around and
under obstacles.

Place anything
in their way
they will
continue,
undeterred,
on their quest.




However,
when provided
with
opportunity,
they seize it
they claim it
they use it.

I am stuck

but I am
watching ants.