Friday 29 January 2016

In The Raw Wind Of The World ...


I walk upstairs and sit at the desk in my eyrie at the top of the house.
Early morning with a glorious sunrise.
Time to write my blog post for this week.
A blank screen.
A blank mind.
Nothing.
No inspiration.
No ideas.
No words.
Writer's block.
"Writing about writer's block is better than writing nothing at all." ~ Charles Bukowski 

I could tell you that I have been reading, a lot - including young adult fiction.
Bought very cheaply in a library sale.
And that it was very enjoyable.
But I can't find the words.
 

I could tell you that I have been photographing birds through the window.
Jenny Wren and Robin.
Hopping in and out of the plants looking for insects and eating from the cocoanut.
But I can't find the words.



I could tell you that the snowdrops are in flower; pure white in their innocence and beauty.
Bravely pushing through the cold wet  soil.
But this poem says it better than I could.




I could mention that January has flown by so fast and that spring is just around the corner and the garden will soon be filled with all manner of daffodils.
But you know that already.

Picture from 2015
 

I could tell you about the cat and the crows up in the pine tree.
And how the crows refused to budge and were making an unholy row.
Taunting the cat.
And the cat finally gave up, defeated and struggled back down the tree.
And the crows were victorious - cark, cark, cark they called.
But you probably don't want to hear about that.


Or maybe I could tell you about a beautiful book that I found that I hope will inspire me to take up baking again, after I lost confidence in my baking abilities - so I can have friends round for afternoon tea, which would be lovely.
But, maybe I won't.


So, you see I'm stuck.  Words evade me.  The strong winds of winter have blown them out of my mind.
Writer's block is a terrible thing - maybe I'll find something to write about next week!


Elaine
"When words don't come easy, I make do with silence and find something in nothing." ~ Strider Marcus Jones






65 comments:

  1. I'd hardly say you had writer's block Elaine !!!! ........ I think that the thought of writer's block inspired you !! { ....... although, I do believe irony is coming into play !! } A lovely touch of Spring in your amazing photographs, inspiring words and, above all, CAKE !!!!! Hope you're away from the strong winds .... have a lovely weekend Elaine. XXXX

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    1. Thanks Jackie. Ha ha - you've caught me out. Have a lovely weekend yourself.

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  2. Robins are much easier to photographs than wrens aren't they? We have exactly the same coconut feeder they are very useful for birds that can't cling like a blue tit can. They also seem far less messy.

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    1. The robin and one starling are the only birds that have found the coconut it is right by the French windows so a good place to photograph from inside the house. The resident wren is always flitting about the pots which we can also see from the window happily had the camera on hand to capture it.

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  3. You know what they say about pictures replacing words. Sometimes we can't find the words and lucky for us, we always have a stack of photos to rely on. We have wind, too. I don't like wind. We are supposed to have a nice warm couple of days then more snow, a lot of snow, so say the weather people. Have a good week end.

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    1. Yes, thank goodness I take so many photographs which nudge the memory of what has happened during the week. The wind has been raging here for a few days but this morning all is calm - what a relief. Have a good weekend Ann.

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  4. We should all have writer's block like you Elaine. Just loved the post. If the red breasted bird was a robin, we don't have those here. Love the birds. I'll be outside today raking leaves finally at the city house and getting ready for spring.

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    1. Thanks Donna. Yes, our robin is very different to the one you have in the States. Enjoy your stay in your city house there are always jobs to be done before spring - enjoy and have a good weekend.

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  5. Lovely post again, and that you call a writer´s block.... With these beautiful photos your words flow naturally. The wren in the Hedera, you captured this little bird wonderfully, a glorious sunrise, a cat in a tree, snowdrops and cake on the front of the book (you don't even need to bake). I think, thinking about these simple things of a normal day and choosing the right pictures, must give you happiness, no more words necessary.
    Wish you a nice weekend and happy reading, our weather is about the same: windy, rainy and dull.

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    1. Thank you Janneke - glad you enjoyed my tongue in cheek post. It is strange when you sit down to write a post and no words come then as you start writing it all seems to fall into place. Wishing you a nice weekend too hope the weather stays dry for you.

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  6. Very precious "I-don't-have-anything-to-write-" post....

    :-)))

    Gentle hugs...

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  7. A most enjoyable post, and lovely pictures. I wish that I had your sort of writer's block on the occasions when I do get it.
    Enjoy your weekend. Flighty xx

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  8. Well you still found an enjoyable way to fill the spaces around the photos. I often sit down with nothing planned and then something comes from nowhere. And today it was thus for you.

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    1. Sometimes the words just won't come, thankfully I managed to find a post in the end - thank goodness I don't write for a living.

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  9. Sometimes you can say more with fewer words Elaine - in this case I think that you've found the perfect balance. I'm off to investigate your book titles as I've been enjoying reading children and young adult fiction of late. Have just reserved 'The Lie Tree' by Frances Hardinge from our library. Have you read it? Hope that you have a good weekend.

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    1. I am really enjoying reading teenage fiction - I am not sure why it is reserved for teenagers the books are a bit different than normal but really well written. I will check out The Lie Tree. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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  10. You found somethings to tell us anyway and beautiful photos to share. I am sure that the words will come when the time is right. xx

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    1. Yes I have - there is nothing worse than staring at a blank screen - I doubt whether you have this problem though.

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  11. It's always harder to find things to write about in winter. The light will soon return.

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    1. Yes, I agree - luckily spring isn't too far away.

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  12. You were very proficient to capture the adorable little Jenny Wren - I find them very difficult as they run around under the growth resembling little clockwork mice.

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    1. Normally yes but this one was very obliging doing his thing right outside the window.

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  13. Dear Elaine - your pictures tell beautiful stories. Sometimes words are not needed - though you so often create with them wonderful poetic texts.
    To be silent, but full of urge, is one of the signs of (very) early spring.

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    1. Thank you Britta - luckily the pictures prompted the words.

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  14. You did find the words, and beautifully. Such a lovely post.

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    1. Thank you Sarah - I just wish I could be as prolific as you are - I don't know how you manage to find the words you do every single day.

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  15. You have me smiling....writer's block indeed!!Seems to me that you found plenty to write very sweetly about!
    I love your little robin and Jenny wren, I can never capture our wrens, they are far to hoppy, flitty and fast so well done with those pics! We have a robin outside the kitchen door building a nest, seems a little early to me....
    I loved seeing your snowdrops and daffadowndillies, I hope I don't miss ours as I'll be away most of February, sighs....
    I would have liked to hear more about the cat and the crows, sounds a great title for a story. What a scrumptious little book! How I wish I could bake, hopeless I am! xxx

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    1. No really it's true but then I checked out my photos and remembered what had happened during the week.i have seen sparrows collecting nesting material - a very strange year indeed. I hope you don't miss the start of the bulbs flowering but hope you have a lovely time whilst you are away. I will think of you enjoying all the sights whilst I am baking the days away. See you soon.

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  16. I know more about you than ever just because of your writer's block! Glad you had it. I like thinking about the cat and the crows - and about the treats you might bake.

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    1. Haha - writer's block comes in useful sometimes!, the cat looked really embarrassed that the crows had outwitted him just hopping out of reach each time the cat tried to reach them. I have already started practising with the baking nothing too complicated to start with it with encouraging results so far.

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  17. A very clever way of dealing with writer's block Elaine, I consider a lot of work went into this blog post!

    I laughed at the cat and the crows and you really MUST bake the cake pictured on the front cover of the recipe book. I will be over for afternoon tea....:-)

    Ms Soup

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    1. Thanks Ms.Soup. You are right of course, blog writing doesn't always come easily! It was so comical watching the cat being outwitted by the crows. I am still a novice baker but hopefully will be able to attempt that cake eventually.

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  18. A really good afternoon tea is the most civilised of meals; the perfect reason to start studying that book.

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    1. I agree Cro a pleasant way to spend an afternoon - I have already started practising.

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  19. If that is writers block............a beautiful post!

    I will await my invitation.............

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the post - thank you. Your invitation is in the post :)

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  20. I love those robin shots and the little brown wren. Gorgeous snowdrops to announce that spring is not far away - and then there will be daffodils! Ah....

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    1. They both very obliging posing for the camera - not always possible to get good shots but these were taken from indoors which helped.

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  21. Beautiful Elaine..
    The photos say it all.. gorgeous photos you took.. love the tea book and the robins.. all so lovely. A good writers block post.
    looking forward to seeing your spring garden, its always so beautiful.
    Happy weekend.
    Val x

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    1. Thanks Val. I am looking forward to the arrival of spring and seeing a bit of colour in the garden. Hope all is well with you. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

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  22. Well I could tell you ...




    But all I will tell you is ...




    What a lovely post and photographs you've shared with us again, thank you

    All the best Jan

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  23. Your writer's block words were wonderful and I'm sure you will soon feel inspired to write more again soon. January has been a strangely cruel yet kind month hasn't it? We are into February tomorrow I'm sort of pleased an yet I feel January has gone by without my being too aware of it. I love your photos of the Robin and Wren - Robins always seem to pose for photos but the wrens are so very shy, you have done well to capture them:)

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    1. January is always a strange month for me and the weather has been atrocious - so not altogether enjoyable - but hey we have to take what comes don't we.

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  24. A great post, made me smile. What lovely photos of your robin and wrens. Hope you enjoy getting back into baking again. That looks like a great book.

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    1. Thanks Annie :) we were especially pleased with the wren photos - they are little devils for flitting about, they never stop. It is a lovely book and I have already begun on some of the more simple stuff already - before long I can see myself on The Great British Bake Off - what do you reckon!

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    2. Yes, thats the challenge taking a photo of a bird that won't keep still!
      Hee hee, yes GBBO next!

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  25. Dear Elaine if that is writer's block then I don't think you have anything to worry about. Wonderful post friend. Love your robins - they are so different than ours here. Your poem about snowdrops reminded me that mine might be soon popping up - hope so. They bring such pleasure. Take care and let me know how that baking thing goes - if it does just might want to pop in on you for a spot of tea and a sampling of some sweets! Hugs!

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    1. Dear Debbie
      Thank you for your kind words - you have an open invitation to join me for afternoon tea - but it will have to wait till I have done a bit of practising on the cake making front :) Enjoy the rest of the week.

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  26. Wish I had writers block like you.. that was a lovely post, I really enjoyed it. Love your photos especially of the Robin and Wren.

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  27. heheh...I see what you did there ; ) Beautiful writer's block you have there. x

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    1. Haha you spotted my ploy - I did start out with writers block - honest!

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  28. Your bird pictures are wonderful and you still have well written words to explain your writers block. My words never flow I must have writers block all the time! Sarah x

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    1. Thank you Sarah - I'm afraid it happens to me all the time too.

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  29. You have found all the right words for this post, describing how you feel :) I think it really works to write about writer's block rather than not write at all :D
    I love the pictures of the sweet little birds and the sunrise looks amazing!
    I hope you have a wonderful week full of inspiration :)
    Lots of hugs to you,
    Beate

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    1. Thanks Beate - luckily it all came together in the end :)

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  30. Wending my way through your words and photos is always a delight. The robins and cheery daffodils bring feelings of spring ~ and the perfect recipe book will be fun to look through and hopefully offer you some favorites to try. I hope you'll bake something and show us so we can imagine we've come for tea!

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    1. Thank you Glo - baking isn't really my forte but I will keep on trying - just for you. :)

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  31. Your photos say it all! My goodness! Just seeing all of your spring blooms are always an inspiration to me Elaine! And your posts are always such a reminder for me to find and cherish beauty wherever I look! Wishing you a wonderful week my friend! Nicole xoxo

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    1. Thank you Nicole. I am beginning to miss being in the garden now and looking forward to taking many more photographs once spring arrives.

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  32. The robin is so cute. They remind me of little toy birds.

    The tea recipe book looks very intriguing. That slice of cake on the cover is so gorgeous.

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  33. He was very obliging posing for the photographs. I intend making that cake one day definitely.

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