Author: sareenmclay

Nature · Poetry · Seasons

Springing into Life

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This week we had the first day of spring so I had to take a photo of these beautiful crocuses. cropped-thumb_img_8697_1024.jpg

Last week I was asked  what I blog about  and my answer was ‘It’s a blog about well … a little bit of everything.’

I think this blog suits me, I really enjoy writing it, I’ve had some lovely responses and as a bonus, there is a use for all the photos I take of the flowers in my garden!

Over the years I’ve realised I am a ‘Jack of all trades’ – well a ‘Jill’ really.  I like to try things, I am a learner, I have many interests, I’m never bored.

However, things do not happen quickly in my world, I still think I am a bit of a tortoise and I plug away slowly trying to learn new skills, sometimes leaving them but then usually, going back to try, try again.

Recently  I heard a quote that struck a chord:

‘Nothing will come of nothing.’    Shakespeare, King Lear.

(Guess what play my daughter is studying!)

Well, isn’t that the truth? In fact I would like to add to that, ‘Something will come of little and often’. So it may be a very slow process, my writing this blog and sending it out to the world, but little by little, as the days grow longer, it is growing.

 

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Books · Poetry

Laughter and Literature in Children’s Fiction

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Set the scene, the Lady of Shalott floating gracefully down the river. All is calm.

Outside the isle a shallow boat 
Beneath a willow lay afloat, 
Below the carven stern she wrote, 

       The Lady of Shalott. 

 

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The Lady of Shalott features in Anne of Green Gables

Now imagine Anne Shirley in the place of the great lady, one minute drifting along, the next her boat has sunk and she is clinging to a post in the river!

It could only happen to Anne of Green Gables. Even though I read this as a child, the thought of Anne’s escapade and its dramatic conclusion still makes me laugh today.  This was my first introduction to The Lady of Shalott by Alfred, Lord Tennyson and I have remembered it ever since.

Perhaps it is one of the greatest compliments a writer can pay to another, to acknowledge and include the other’s work in their own with the hope of introducing it to a whole new audience.

 

After all isn’t it natural to want to share fiction we love?

 

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Hellebores in the spring sunshine
Inspiration · Nature · Poetry

Looking Forward (2)

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Sometimes we have an experience that is a wee nugget. Something to cherish.

In one of my first blog posts, back in September, I wrote about my time attending workshops at Woodend Barn in Banchory. As part of the ‘Flourish’ project, Elaine Reid used the wild garden to help inspire our group to write poetry.

This week an exhibition, created by Elaine about the whole ‘Flourish’ project is open to the public, for free, at the Barn.

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The group poem we created in the Flourish workshop

So, yesterday I had a lovely afternoon wondering around the exhibition, reading the poem I had helped to create, walking a labyrinth and enjoying a delicious bowl of parsnip and carrot soup in Buchanan’s Bistro.

The whole experience of attending these workshops in the wild garden, meeting other writers, collaborating and sharing our work has been a joy.  I feel I have learnt so much and have certainly been inspired.

 

I am looking forward.

 

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With poems from the workshops at the Flourish exhibition

 

 

Books · Inspiration · Trees

Naturally, Fiction.

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If I go for a walk I look at the trees. Each one is so individual it seems to almost have its own personality. thumb_IMG_8593_1024

Reflecting on this I wanted to consider the role trees play in fiction for children.

For me it all began with The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. I thought of trees as magical, kind, fun – after all wasn’t there a huge slide!

When I looked up trees in fiction I came across this article which suggested a couple of books I did know and some  more to add to my reading list, always a good thing!

It made me think, what did trees mean to me as a child?

Well, they were for:

playing on rope swings,
climbing or should I say scrambling,
using sticks and leaves for games and potions,
collecting conkers to play conkers,
tree bark rubbings,
gathering acorns, using the cups for fairy cups and
hiding behind for hide and seek. 

I’m sure others have many more things they could add to this list!

With all this in mind I hope I can include trees in my own writing. Like everything there are always two sides to a story so it may be that some of the trees behave like the Ents while others are more like Whomping Willows!

Have you taken a moment to look at the trees around you? What’s your favourite tree in fiction?

 

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A Christmas card scene – in March!
butterflies · Inspiration · swimming · walking

A Kaleidescope of ‘Butterfly Moments’

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Now, I am a person who enjoys exercise, mostly once I’ve finished! I love the sense of achievement.

Owning a dog has made me walk in weather I probably wouldn’t have otherwise and I’ve spoken before about the ‘butterfly moment‘ on a walk when your mind suddenly seems to relax and fly free. Leaving your thoughts clearer to return to everyday life again with new enthusiasm.

A special butterfly ‘moment’.

Well, I’ve been going swimming and something I’ve noticed is that at a certain point I smile when I swim. Slightly bizarre I confess, to smile under the water but there we go.

I think it is probably the same as when I walk, that moment when you begin to enjoy the exercise for what it is and relax into it. I would like to call this my swimming ‘butterfly moment’ but there is no chance of me swimming the butterfly stroke so perhaps it’s not such a good analogy here!

Now, I’m no lepidopterist but there must be something in it as when I went for a run (unfortunately a rare occurrence) recently I again found myself smiling, call it the endorphins, call it what you like, it’s definitely very inspiring.

Have you noticed what gives you your ‘butterfly moment’?

 

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Spring arriving!

 

 

Dogs

Year of the Dog

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I had a request recently for more dog photos! Always happy to respond to a request if I can, I am going to introduce Molly, our Springer Spaniel.

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Eat two dinners? Me?

It does seem appropriate considering the Chinese Year of the Dog has just begun.

So, Molly, a bit of a rascal, perfect in kennels, a runaway in the woods, grumpy before dinner, would eat pretty much anything, (two dinners if she can get away with it!) very keen on carrots, sleepy the majority of the time, patient when patted, attention seeking, frightened of a bath, cautious of other dogs but happy to play and chases rabbits in her sleep!

Has been described as a dalmation due to her black and white markings, silky soft and often very fluffy!

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Molly

 

 

 

 

Perhaps a bit too anthropomorphic but she has become a fully fledged member of our family – and worth a whole blog post of her own!

 

 

 

 

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First snowdrops