The Path Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They say it is waiting for more, the snow

Shrunk up to the shadow-line of walls

In an arctic smouldering, an unclean salt,

And will not go until the frost returns

Sharpening the stars, and the fresh snow falls

Piling its drifts in scallops, furls. I say

Snow has left its own white geometry

To measure out for the eye the way

The land may lie where a too cursory reading

Discovers only dip and incline leading

To incline, dip, and misses the fortuitous

Full variety a hillside spreads for us:

It is written here in sign and exclamation,

Touched-in contour and chalk-followed fold,

Lines and circles finding their completion

In figures less certain, figures that yet take hold

On features that would stay hidden but for them:

Walking, we waken these at every turn,

Waken ourselves, so that our walking seems

To rouse some massive sleeper out of winter dreams

Whose stretching startles the whole land into life,

As if it were us the cold, keen signs were seeking

To pleasure and remeasure, repossess

With a sense in the gathered coldness of heat and height.

Well, if it's for more the snow is waiting

To claim back into disguisal overnight,

As though it were promising a protection

From all it has transfigured, scored and bared,

Now we shall know the force of what resurrection

Outwaits the simplification of the snow.

 

 

Snow Signs by Charles Tomlinson, via 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Outfit:

 

 

Faux Sheepskin coat: very old, from Morgan de Toi

 

 

Silver velvet dress, seen as a skirt: bought from Monsoon when I was about 16

 

 

Black faux fur cardigan coat: very old from the high street

 

 

Faux wolf fur shawl: from an ex boyfriend

 

 

Red faux leather gloves: a gift from a friend

 

 

Wellies underneath: Hunter, via ebay

 

The Soundtrack

Nick Cave: Your Funeral My Trial 

All photographs taken by me, self portraits using the self timer on my cheap digital camera.

Unfortunately I've been unwell this last week, so I'm very behind on reading all your latest posts. I promise to drop by again very soon!

I'm delighted to be a part of Visible Monday, hosted by the lovely Patti from www.notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.co.uk, click on the website link to see her outfit and those of many others.

Snow Parasol

 

 

“ In spring it is the dawn that is most beautiful. As the light creeps over the hills, their outlines are dyed a faint red and wisps of purplish cloud trail over them.
In summer the nights. Not only when the moon shines, but on dark nights too, as the fireflies flit to and fro, and even when it rains, how beautiful it is!
In autumn, the evenings, when the glittering sun sinks close to the edge of the hills and the crows fly back to their nests in threes and fours and twos; more charming still is a file of wild geese, like specks in the distant sky. When the sun has set, one's heart is moved by the sound of the wind and the hum of the insects.
In winter the early mornings. It is beautiful indeed when snow has fallen during the night, but splendid too when the ground is white with frost; or even when there is no snow or frost, but it is simply very cold and the attendants hurry from room to room stirring up the fires and bringing charcoal, how well this fits the season's mood! But as noon approaches and the cold wears off, no one bothers to keep the braziers alight, and soon nothing remains but piles of white ashes.” 

by Sei Shōnagon, from The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, via 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Outfit:

Black daisy wrap dress: Celia Birtwell for Topshop, via ebay

 

Vintage 70s blue dress: from ebay

 

Blue floral skirt worn as petticoat: New Look, very old

 

Vintage 30s fur cape: made by late granny Kiki for Kiki Couture

 

 

Pale blue jewelled gloves: a christmas gift I gave to late granny Penny years ago

 

 

Vintage Chinese paper and wood parasol: from late granny Kiki

 

 

Pink hoop earrings: gift from a friend

 

 

Black wellies: Hunter, via ebay 

The Soundtrack

 

Of Monsters & Men: My Head Is An Animal 

 

 

Photographs taken by me, self portraits using the self timer on my cheap digital camera.

 

 

I'm delighted to be a part of Visible Monday, hosted by the lovely Patti from www.notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.co.uk, click on the website link to see her outfit and those of many others.

 

 

Winter Tale: At The Snow Queen's Table

 

 

 

 

 

The snow-flakes grew larger and larger, till at last they looked just like great white fowls. Suddenly they flew on one side; the large sledge stopped, and the person who drove rose up. It was a lady; her cloak and cap were of snow. She was tall and of slender figure, and of a dazzling whiteness. It was the Snow Queen.

"We have travelled fast," said she; "but it is freezingly cold. Come under my bearskin." And she put him in the sledge beside her, wrapped the fur round him, and he felt as though he were sinking in a snow-wreath.

"Are you still cold?" asked she; and then she kissed his forehead. Ah! it was colder than ice; it penetrated to his very heart, which was already almost a frozen lump; it seemed to him as if he were about to die--but a moment more and it was quite congenial to him, and he did not remark the cold that was around him.

 

Extract from The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson

via 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Outfit:

White corset: bought in the 90s when I was about 16 from M&S

White long sleeved top: very old from La Redoute

Vintage white lace skirt: by my granny from Kiki Couture

Vintage white fur scarf: from granny Kiki

Vintage white kid leather elbow length gloves: from granny Kiki, passed down from her mother or grandmother

White flower fascinator hat: bought years ago from the high street

 

White woollen scarf tied as a belt: a gift from a friend

 

White mohair scarf wrapped around hair: from H&M years ago

Faux pearl necklace: a gift from a friend

 

Faux pearl bracelets: Accessorize

 

Ponytail hair piece, attached to my hair to make it very long: from H&M years ago

Wellies underneath: Hunter, via ebay

 

 

The Soundtrack

The Caretaker: Patience (After Sebald) 

Photographs taken by my mother and by me, using the self timer on my cheap digital camera.

I'm delighted to be a part of Visible Monday, hosted by the lovely Patti from www.notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.co.uk, click on the website link to see her outfit and those of many others.

Dreaming Of A White Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Outfit

Vintage Faux Leopard Fur Coat: bought in Afflecks Palace, Manchester about 17 years ago

Faux Fur Hat: gift from an ex boyfriend about 13 years ago

Vintage Mink Fur Muff: inherited from granny Kiki 

 

Suede Boots: gift from my darling Mr Eve, from Aldo about 10 years ago

Red dress, just seen: inherited from granny Penny

The Soundtrack

Handel: Messiah

 

 

 

 

Extract from In The Bleak Midwinter, my favourite Christmas carol,

words from the poem by Christina Rossetti

via 1

 

 

 

Photographs of our garden in the snow taken a few Christmases ago.

 Photographs of me in the rain, wishing for snow, taken today. I'd been planning on wearing a long pale blue silk skirt, but decided against it to protect the silk from trailing in the water....

 

 

Wishing all you lovely people a very merry and well dressed Christmas!

 

 

I'm delighted to be a part of Visible Monday, hosted by the lovely Patti from www.notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.co.uk, click on the website link to see her outfit and those of many others.