"Come said the wind to
the leaves one day,
Come over the meadows
and we will play.
Put on your dresses
scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone
and the days grow cold."
A Children's Song 1880
"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home."
Edith Sitwell
"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home."
Edith Sitwell
"What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness."
John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America
Under a blue winter sky today I found lots of green shoots making their way through the ground in our garden
"What day is it?"
"It's today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favourite day," said Pooh.
A.A. Milne
Dear Rosemary, Green shoots in your garden? That can't be. Love this post and all of your artistry with PicMonkey. Most of all I love the little poems you have chosen. A perfect way to start a new day.
ReplyDeleteThank you Gina - we both enjoy playing with PicMonkey, in fact it was you who introduced it to me.
DeleteYes, some of the shoots are well through the ground, and I was surprised to see that my exotic Dracunulus Vulgaris shoots were at least 15cms high.
Charming!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debra
DeleteHello Rosemary, You have achieved some remarkable effects with these pictures. The crisp weather has even arrived over here, and I was thinking of putting on a pot of soup later.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Hello Jim - Glad that you enjoyed these images. We have also enjoyed a big bowl of steaming soup tonight.
DeleteYou are good at not only photographing but also editing photos, Rosemary. Fabulous designs and nice quotes! Today’s highest temperature was 8 degrees C, the coldest of this season here in Nara.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Thank you Yoko - I made these images using PicMonkey - it is a free creative site that you can use and as you have probably gathered I do enjoy experimenting sometimes.
DeleteWell said, I, a former lover of of summer, love winter, even the dark days.
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of compensations to be enjoyed during the winter. Would we enjoy summer so much without winter?
DeleteLoved reading these quotes, especially the one of John Steinbeck. Travels with Charley is, was one of my favorite booiks. And what about these green shoots, is n´t it strange. I have daffodils coming above the ground, it´s really to warm for the time of year.
ReplyDeleteHello Janneke - I can remember when I was a child that the beginning of November was usually really cold and warm gloves, boots, scarves and thick coats were required. It doesn't seem to be like that anymore, and obviously the plants seem to think the same.
DeleteWhat a lovely collection of quotes, I do like quotes, I especially like the first one and I do like the illustrations too! Xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you Lynn - winter is not so bad is it?
DeleteStumbled across your blog via Peter the Outlaw Gardener. So glad I did!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting Anna - do call by again
DeleteA lovely combination of words and pictures as usual Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteI will go and have a look at PicMonkey.
Hope you enjoy visiting PicMonkey if you need any help let me know
DeleteWonderful post today Rosemary. I especially like the Pooh and Piglet exchange; I must remember it when I am puzzling over which the day of the week I am inhabiting.
ReplyDeleteMs Soup
Thank you Ms Soup
DeleteVery creative! I didn't know you could make such pretty images with PicMonkey. Is it one of the free edits? I also like the quotes especially the A.A. Milne one. Green shoots are appearing in our garden. I presume it's because of the mild weather.
ReplyDeleteYes, I only use the free things on PicMonkey - it takes a bit of time experimenting with the effects to discover them all. I am happy to help you if you are interested.
DeleteThank you Rosemary for the offer to help. I have used Picmonkey to create collages in the past. The collages have looked good, but my broadband seems very slow when using the programme. What with eyesight problems I'm slow on the computer these days anyway. I think I will stick to editing with the familiar programme on Picasa 3 when necessary. However, I enjoy seeing what others create. I enjoy your wonderful photos that you share with us too.
DeleteIt is strange how different the broadband speeds are in the country - ours seems to be quite quick as far as I am concerned although people living nearby and doing business on their computers seem to think that it is slow.
DeleteI have decided to do a post to show how to create these images as several people have queried them.
Something different Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteDid you make them?
Yes, made on PicMonkey
DeleteFantastic! Really lovely post and yes, it´s a lovely day today!
ReplyDeleteTake care Rosemary...
Titti
Thanks Titti - enjoy the lovely day♡
DeleteThat first verse is beautiful and that last one has given me inspiration to make today my favorite. Great post.
ReplyDeleteYes, I too like that quote - it makes you realise just important each and every day is to us.
DeleteLove those illustrations and quotes - not sure how they are achieved but they are very effective.
ReplyDeleteSeveral people have said the same Elaine so I will do a post showing how they are done for those who are interested
DeleteBeautiful! I like winter (for a reasonable while) - it is a season to be able to "sort" things and events, to think them through, a season to be grateful and to think of others, too.
ReplyDeleteI like your thoughts on winter Britta♡
DeleteWhat a lovely post and some great quotes . Love the last one :-) Wish you a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jane - it reminds us of how special each and every day is.
DeleteBeautiful words and images, especially from Winnie the Pooh! xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy
DeleteI love your nature-inspired creations, Rosemary, it shows a whole new artistic side of you :) Lovely of you to end with Pooh and Piglet, they bring out the softest side of life.
ReplyDeleteStay tuned Rosemary, I am going to do a post on how to create your own.
DeleteHow lovely post. I love these images, they are really wonderful. And the poems ate also nice.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy weekend.
Thank you Orvokki - they are done using PicMonkey and I will show you soon how they are done
DeleteThat is the way to think about winter - and your images are perfect. I hadn't noticed that quote in Pooh before. Isn't he nice! :D
ReplyDeleteI love that quote Jenny - so simple and yet so meangingful for us all
DeleteJust catching up on the blogs, after a busy week, Rosemary, and so pleased I dropped in. The quotes are so perfect for the season. I particularly love the Steinbeck quote - it has been years and years since I read Travels with Charley - perhaps I should revisit! Dear old Pooh, always brings a smile :)
ReplyDeletePooh's messages are so simple but meaningful.
DeleteYou take the most fabulous photographs - am envious of the quality you get on your posts...
ReplyDeleteThe only photo of mine on this post is the little bit of blue sky, but thank you for your kind comment. I will show you soon how you can make your own images like this very soon.
Delete