Crypt Stitch

The Twa Corbies - A 14th Century Scottish Poem

The Twa Corbies

A 14th Century Scottish Poem

 

As I was walking all alane,

I heard twa corbies making a mane;

The tane unto the t'other say,

"Where sall we gang and dine today?"

 

"In behint yon auld fail dyke,

I wot there lies a new slain knight;

And naebody kens that he lies there,

But his hawk, his hound, and lady fair.

 

"His hound is to the hunting gane,

His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame,

His lady's ta'en another mate,

So we may mak our dinner sweet.

 

"Ye'll sit on his white hause-bane,

And I'll pike out his bonny blue een;

Wi' ae lock o' his gowden hair

We'll theek our nest when it grows bare.

 

"Mony a one for him makes mane,

But nane sall ken where he is gane;

O'er his white banes, when they are bare,

The wind sall blaw for evermair."

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How eloquent! Ravens and Crows are one of my favourite birds - a single one flying overhead as I drive to work is enough to bring a smile to my face. I feel joined to them in some intangible way - their intelligence, their plaintive cry. There's no denying they have played a major role in the many cultures teachings and spirituality, and for this alone they should be revered. So I'm going to create a new category, and I think we should visit with our Sister Raven often, don't you? Caaaawwwwwwww.....

The X Files: I Want to Believe

The X Files: I Want to Believe 

 

I know. How excited are you? I am about to wet my pants. Can’t wait.

A new changeling doll

I have a new changeling doll. I love to do the changeling dolls, I think they are loads of fun and can’t imagine being a little girl without one. Or four. I think I’m going to make a bunch of different ones, I'm enjoying playing with material (colours and patterns) at the moment. This one isn’t as large as my moon phase changeling  or my cat changeling  She’s about 30cm tall, and I made her with young children specifically in mind (no small parts). She is ‘crow girl and shadow girl’, and she (they?) love to frolic with wild abandon in the garden (don’t we all?). She’ll be off to the shop today.

Alright, alright! Just a couple more, then I’m cutting you off...

Blue Mountains again...

A few more pics of the Blue Mountains sojourn. I very much enjoyed my stay there, and could see myself living in that area, no problem. I am particularly fond of Leura and Blackheath. And it was so deliciously cold! No snow unfortunately, but it actually felt like ‘winter’. I lament our lack of a real winter on the coast (though I know some won’t agree with me!)

Happy Yule!

Yep, I know I’m a couple days late (thanks computer very much) but I wish you a happy Yule none the less.  And a happy Litha to my Northern hemisphere brethren. My dear Acorn arrived in my yard on Winter Solstice four years ago, hence his name (in honour of the Oak King), though how old he is is for he alone to know! We have all the good things arrive in our yard here – Acorn was not the first. You would think we lived in the bush rather than suburbia, but I take it as a compliment that all creatures great and small (and long and slithery!) find Gothbury Manor inviting. Acorn is a Lavender Dutch bunny, and he loves roses the most, though he is also partial to trimming my oregano, and finds basil flowers tantalising (though the leaf a little strong). He did like tarragon, but I made a crack about rabbit going well with tarragon and now he turns his nose up at it. Yes, he is sensitive. And very soft and cuddly. We tried to find his owners, but alas no one claimed him, so we took it as a given that he came to stay with us. I spent over half an hour trying to catch him (one afternoon Mum asked if I had a rabbit now, and when I looked horrified, she said ‘well there’s one eating your daisies’) – I was worried he would go into any of our neighbours yards and they all have dogs who I’m sure would find a rabbit hunt a delicious pastime. Plus I could see he was a pet rabbit and not a wild one, and thought someone would be missing him terribly. I always think about how amused my Grandfather, a farmer, would be seeing his oldest grandchild running around concerned for the welfare of a bunny! But part of my family he now is!

Computer Blah....

Hi all, a quick note to let you know my computer is playing silly buggers, it is evil and will be punished. With a bit of luck I'll be back on Monday, til then, have a deliciously spooktacular weekend. Off to summon the computer faeries now....

Toy Museum...

This is a pic of the toy and railway museum we visited in Leura.
The house and garden were absolutely amazing - I could see myself living there no problems. The house was choc-a-bloc full of toys and period furnishings and paraphernalia - so many little goodies to  ponder on. There were loads of Alice in Wonderland figures and books, including one with a Latin cover (and I'm guessing the text in Latin) - with figures both very old and quite new (and somewhat gothed up and kind of angry looking - where the Cheshire cat has less of a smile and more of a leer. Now those I'd like a copy of - have to go google searching!). Everything was, of course behind glass cabinets - no touching. And no photos. Our trolley bus driver told us to let the owner know he had sent us and we would get a discount on admission. Someone had obviously forgotten to tell the owner about this arrangement, and he look flustered and vaguely nauseous at the thought of a discount. In the end, after much umming and ahhing he gave us two dollars off each, not really worth it, but hey, the scenario was good for a laugh. The house had a bit of a 'big brother' vibe, what with all the cctv cameras and signs proclaiming 'you're being watched' everywhere. S told me later he poked his head around the corner towards the entryway to see which way to go next and found the owner all hunched over his monitors, watching obsessively and wide-eyed. Creepy. Hee hee. Granted though, the place must be worth a fortune for it's contents alone. And oh, the dolls. Cases and cases of them. My favourite without a doubt was the mid 20th century creepy little girl doll looking menacingly out ogf the corners of her eyes, holding what appeared to be a strangled goose. My first thought was the X Files episode "Chinga". She had the whole 'I WANT TO PLAY' vibe, in the yes-I-strangled-this-goose-with-my-bare-hands-and-you're-next kind of way. Most amusingly though, there where two other dolls in the same case with absolutely horrified looks on there faces. Now, as I've mentioned before, I am still not entirely convinced, even as an adult, that toys don't get up n the night when you're asleep and play. I don't know what the creepy little 'Chinga' doll had done to the other two, but one looked shocked and about to burst into tears and the other looked genuinely afraid for her life. Mum and I laughed nervously at the scenario, but we were both obviously creeped out. I mean who would make dolls like that? And what does it say to the person you're giving it to as a present - "here, I want you to be terrified so I'm giving you a doll whose expression will be enough to induce nightmares"? Weird. Upstairs there were many many more dolls including some early 20th century dolls whose once skin coloured cloth had gone green with age, and now made them look suspiciously zombie like - again the glancing out the corner of the eyes look only added to the effect. What is with the looking out the corner of the eye thing? And Barbies, Barbies everywhere. Yes I had Barbies when I was young, and as incredibly uncool as it may now seem, I loved them to bits. I had the car, the van, a bedroom set up, the horse and fashion acoutrements untold. I don't know how many Barbies I had all up, but I know there was only one Ken. That was enough of him obviously, as he wasn't really  important to the play-story lines anyway. Well not until my older Aunty and cousin explained why Barbie liked to have Ken around. Not that he was anatomically able to perform said duties of course. Giving them away is one of those 'THINGS I WISH I HAD NEVER DONE' - I would love to be able to pass on all that tackiness to my own daughters. In any case, I discovered a Barbie (and yes, even a Ken) I would like to have as an adult. And here it is:
Barbie and Ken as the Munsters. At $400 a pop though, I think even Santa is going to balk at that one!

Blue Mountains Expedition (Trees: Episode 1)...

Well, !'m back! Only a three day sojourn, but I was as excited about this trip as I would have been if it was a three week vacation. And who knows, mayhap I'll have one of those again too! So much to tell you, but for now (before I fall into a deep slumber) I want to show you some "up-branch" shots of some awesome trees I discovered on our many, MANY miles of walking! Standing under a tree and looking up is one of my most favourite things to do - it makes me feel small but not at all insignificant; only in awe. Sometimes it looks as though the branches are reaching down to hug you back. Yep, that's the 'awwww' moment of the day. I. am. so. tired.

Garden Blooms...

Not a lot at the moment, being that it is winter, but a couple of delights to share:

 

A single Rosemary blossom! Beautiful and blue, it looks as though it would be somewhere where faeries would delight in playing. Imagine the beauty that bees see every day!

 

Some Grevillea (Moonlight Glow from memory) – and glow they do. A perpetual lolly shop for the sugar crazed Lorikeets

 

Mulberries! Yay! Purpley berry lusciousness! That’s if I can get to them before the birds. At the moment they look hard and spiky, but with a promise of the deliciousness to come.