Sunday 22 February 2009

Burnt orange evenings




W
HEN THE SUN goes down, our evenings are orange. Lit by oil lamps and candles and smoking logs, lugged far and sawn to keep us warm. We squint at our meals cooking and peer into the shadowy sink to find spoons, read books by little circles of orange where the furthest away words on the page fall off the edge into the darkness.

The other day we took our home to the garage to be mended.. we hope the six expensive new diesel injectors will make the engine breathe more easily. While we waited for the work to be done, we drank pots of tea and ate scones too early in the morning. We wandered into interesting old bookshops and I bought a chamberpot in a brickabrack place. I found a delightfully dog-eared story called Tale of Sister Vixen and the Wolf with turn of the century Russian illustrations, a beginner's guide to Anglo Saxon Literature and Ted Hughes' collected poems which I find just beautiful. We sat by the wharf in Faversham, ate monkey nuts, and read the books until the engine was better...

And we have spent days hunting for lovely spots to put our house with not much luck, though there is a perhaps place by the sea where we might sneak for a few days. Life in the carpark is not so bad ... I have been drawing and painting and the days have been mild like the beginning of spring, and I sold the original painting of The Visitors too!
I leave you with some words made beautiful by Ted Hughes about an evening.



Full Moon and Little Frieda

A cool small evening shrunk to a dog bark and the clank of a bucket -
And you listening.
A spider's web, tense for the dew's touch.
A pail lifted, still and brimming - mirror
To tempt a first star to a tremor.

Cows are going home in the lane there, looping the hedges with their warm
wreaths of breath -
A dark river of blood, many boulders,
Balancing unspilled milk.
'Moon!' you cry suddenly, 'Moon! Moon!'

The moon has stepped back like an artist gazing amazed at a work
That points at him amazed.

Ted Hughes

33 comments:

laoi gaul~williams said...

oh i hope your wheeled home runs well and you find a beautiful hideaway to settle for a time and enjoy the spring that is creeping upon us
xoxoxoxo

Jess said...

Turn of the century Russian illustrations eh? Sounds right up my street. I tried hard to look at your photo of the book for a closer look but my eyesight isn't good in the orange glow!x

FreeDragon said...

I know your every day tasks are difficult but really you make every thing sound wonderful and enchanting. Good luck with your wheeled home.

Kathleen Coy said...

Lovely. The poem is breathtaking, and the burnt orange colors stir my soul like no other...

beadbabe49 said...

oh my dears...I'm so sorry it's so difficult to find lovely lay bys for camping. We have so many folks here boondocking (camping sans outside hook-ups) that there are many places to park...and many of the US and state parks allow boondocking for 2 weeks (free) before moving on.
well...I'll send some place-finding beams your way.

Barry said...

For those of us tied to our homes, with winter's endless blast keeping us indoors, your life seems the very stuff of magic.

Acornmoon said...

When I first learnt that you were starting your adventure in the depths of winter I worried that you would find it too difficult and uncomfortable. Now that you have been through what I imagine to be the worst, life can only get better, evenings brighter and days warmer. I am always thrilled when you do a new posting and inspired by your enthusiasm. Good luck to you both x

Aleks said...

you are my new inspiration,I did not belive I would drow again untill I saw this wonderfull world of yours.You live my dream,it realy great to know that.Greatings from Aleksandra

Half-heard in the Stillness said...

Hi Rima, I've been checking nearly every day to see how you are faring. Your wait for the engine to be fixed turned out to be not too unpleasant by the sound of it. What luck to find those lovely books. I haven't read many Hughes poems, I think I'm converted! The orange glowing photo's make your home look cosy although I know it must be so hard for you both presently. But it is almost 5pm and still very light, a sure sign that Spring is not far away. Lighter warmer days are ahead, I hope that a better place for you to moor your home turns up this week. We are all waiting... the tide will turn very soon!

Hugs,
Jane :)

Anonymous said...

I hope you find somewhere great to stay soon, glad your home has been fixed. It does look magical in that orange glow :-)

Arija said...

Hallo again Rima, it's been a long time since my last cup of te with you.Sorry, with you roaming about, I had lost your address.
We often loose power during storms and although candles and lanterns are soothing and romantic, we alsoo have wind-up torches which are bright and don't cost anything except the initial outlay and some muscle.

tut-tut said...

I'm sorry you are finding it difficult to secure lovely surroundings. Outside should be as magical as in.

Kay said...

I found your blog through another and so glad I was curious enough to look. You're artwork is truly amazing. Tui's work making your new home is simply gorgeous. Nicer than some houses I've lived in. What a incredibly talented couple you are and so inspiring.
You will find that special place to park and enjoy when the time is right. Your journey will be so full of ups and downs but oh what memories you will have in the end. I am so envious. I wish I would have been so courageous at your age.
Take care and be safe!

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

Hope your wheels keep on moving.May god keep you safe and i want to see the chamberpot.LOL...XXOO Marie Antionette

Anonymous said...

Bookshops and early morning scones sound irresistably decadent. Life should be full of little treats like that.

Well done for selling The Visitors.

I hope your engine runs better now. I hope you manage to find somewhere to park up for a while off the beaten track.

Nancy said...

What are monkey nuts? I find the term is interesting.

Your blog is so wonderful.

Carl V. Anderson said...

I love reading your posts. You seem to approach life with a spirit of romanticism that I admire and that inspires me. I do my best to look at life that way as well. As I look at these pictures I can feel the warmth and smell that wonderful sent of wood burning. I am sorry to hear that you had to put money into the engine and yet it sounds like you still had a wonderful time while you waited. Here's hoping that the future brings less 'fixing the truck' expenses so that you have more to spend on terrific book finds! :)

Anonymous said...

So happy I found your blog. I spent a good chunk of today looking through it. The blog and your artwork are truly beautiful!! It's wonderful to glimpse into a life that I could only dream of living.

A.Smith said...

Hello Rima and Tui,

I guess it is time to construct another amulet, this one to help you find lovely places to park for longer than a little while and to be able to create in peace and quiet, broken only by the song of the birds, the murmurs of the wind and the sounds of your own music.

Be well and send me an address so I could post it to you as soon as it is done. Always wishing you the best.

Carolee said...

Thanks for sharing the poem, it's just exquisite, as are your burnt orange photos, and of course your work (lucky person to now own your original Visitors painting!)

It's been awhile since I visited your blog, and I was saddened to read of your troubles finding a place to settle in. You may be on the right track with the thought of making an introduction. I can't imagine anyone meeting the two of you and feeling anything but warmth and friendliness. :)

Sending wishes for easier times ahead...

~ Carolee

Renee said...

Rima I usedone of your pictures in my blog today. Thanks again for letting me. xooxo

I placed at the bottom of the blog your name and blog. I still have to figure out how to link.

Renee

Michelle said...

Come get your Moon award. :-)

http://crows-feet.blogspot.com/2009/02/planetary-awards.html

Vita said...

Keep those wheels turning and may you find friendly places to welcome and inspire you!

Renee said...

Rima thank you again for the privlege of your picture.

Can't you part by the sea. I don't know what harm that would do anybody.

Love and peace to you sweet girl.

p.s. I am worried about your eyes.

Snippety Giblets said...

Hey again Rima,

You and I have such similar tastes and interests ! I'm always amazed to find more of my own psyche on your pages :0) Ted is my very favourite poet. I grew up in the wilds of North Yorkshire, not that far from his birthplace, and in the countryside about which he wrote.

I had the great good fortune to be taken to see him on a school outing in the sixth form. He was a magical figure; tall and brooding and romantic and I fell instantly in love with him and his poetry.

You have also picked out one of my all time favourites of his. I dug this out to read again the other day having carried my little lad home in the dark of a winter's evening with him pointing up and shouting "Moon !! Moon !!" all the way home.

Blessings to you and your little home x

Ciara Brehony said...

Oh Rima, every time I peep through your window here I hold my breath in the hope you have been by with some new little tale or offering. And look! There she goes, her coat-tails whisking out of sight as I spy through the key-hole! Like a friend I just keep missing...

I will go to my bed tonight with these wondrous words by Mr. Hughes scampering around my brain, entreating me to read more. Thank you Dear One. And thank you for the sweet reminder of candlelit reading, and cooking in the dark... sigh....

Happy blessings for you two to find somewhere to park up that is just right.
C x

Marja said...

What a wondrous poem with wonderful images as are your warm cosy pictures of candlelight and woodfire We love having a woodfire as well to stare in the dancing flames and dream away

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Burnt Orange nights and Caramel Afternoons. Life in a rolling Hobbit house. I think of you often and will pray for a sylvan place for your trundling home to rest awhile. I do hope your story is coming along well and that more clocks are ticking away.

I point at you amazed!

Artsnark said...

thanks for sharing your wonderful thoughts & pics. Tale of Sister Vixen sounds right up my alley - will have to start a search for a copy! Congrats on the sale

tlchang said...

You have good, young eyes! to be reading by candlelight! (Turn of the century Russian illustrations are amongst my favorites, such as that Ivan Bilibin one you saw on my blog).

herhimnbryn said...

Faversham wharf! I do hope you had a pint of Spitfire while there. I have fond memories of Faversham.....Shakespearian plays outdoors under dusky skies.

moonandhare said...

Beautiful poem and photos!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful website! You are so creative!