tents and stalls were assembled by dawn,

a bustle took over the village

and in their own unique way

all manner of games, raffles and prizes

appeared for this, the  Annual Village  Fete.

“Teeny tots with sparkling eyes

As all around delights they spy

Laughing faces full of joy

Gleeful girls and skipping boys

Little children with winning toys

Raffles and tombola stand

Bouncy castles and a splendid band!

Sunlight streams through covering trees

A Village Affair for you and me

Jars of jams and chutney to buy

Balls to throw and win a prize

Just to be in summer glow

And watch this Village come and go

Fifty pence will bring a chance

To win the lotto in a glance

Pretty dresses, summer hats,

Throw the balls and make a crash!

Time to sit for cup of tea

Cakes to choose, now let’s see?

Strawberries and cream on scrumptious scones

No coffee walnut will be the one!

Nothing less that I can see

A Village Affair for you and me…”

All Rights Reserved 2010

Crisp sparkling crunchy views across this linen land

trees bow beneath the  snow laden branches

hungry birds swing and pull at fat-filled gifts that hang from frozen lines, quiet is this life, quiet is this world.

Such beauty in the stranger shapes of intrinsic white on grey as silence falls and covers sadness like a soft downy wrap, comforting like the arms of angels protecting those we love.

This winter harsh and cruel will not change much for us

it is a time to be together, a time for closeness and of warmth, a time to renew strength to start with vigour our battle.

As crystals melt their prisms, the brushstrokes change

the white that enhances the beauty of this land.

All Rights Reserved @ 2010

She came rushing in, or though it seemed to me,

disbelief that this colourful Lady with her cloak of reds and golds had already arrived, when I glanced from my window.

I must have been looking the other way!

but then we don’t count the days pursuing more important matters now…

As the relentless stricken battle appears once more

on the horizon, had she come to distract my mind or bring colours to my heart?

This feckless stunning Lady who sheds her clothes

and scatters them where she will, like drops of tears in

a template of sadness perhaps?

A powerful change of authority as restless and now incipient to decay.

Old roses fade and fall like shattered fragments of glass from a precious mirror,

the hedgerows become bare, no  more luscious berries

but still holding onto their thin strips of  life.

Leaves, could they ever be more beautiful? 

turning to deep maroons and burnished, glinting,  jewelled colours.

Conkers appearing from their secret shells to fall in copper splendour from the impressive stately Horse Chestnut trees.   

We arrived, like we had  just opened our eyes.

Another Autumn! who would have believed we would

see this majestic Lady together, dumbstruck once more at her  beauty

but belligerently waging war on staying in our perfect peaceful Summer… 

not for us, the rushing of time…

@Copyright Susie Hemingway 2009

Photo at “Hemingway”

How beautiful this Summer day the colour of the flowers,

to match my mood, I’d like today,  rain and thunder all the way.

The snow and hail they could come, and even lightning too,

If I could take your pain away a hurricane would do.

How beautiful this Summer day, with not a cloud in sight

and there you are again in bed, putting up a fight.

The sun is blazing down the rays, and when you turn and smile,

I’ll keep you with me  and that gaze, and never miss the flowers

and if you think I love you less, I’ll long for summer showers.

How beautiful this Summer day the stillness of it all,

the sky is brilliant almost red!  you smile at me and rest your head.

So does it matter the flowers are out does it matter that their blue!

if I could take your pain away, then this is what I’ll do.

For then the rays, the lovely sun, the flowers each and everyone,

I’ll keep you and that lovely gaze then this will be my Summer day.

@ Copyright 2006

How glorious the gardens

each and and everyone,

how extravagant and bursting forth

with riot of perennial fun,

we wandered down the sunlit lanes

on this our lovely ‘open day’

the splendid evergreens and rose-beds  wide

to narrow scented lavender surprise,

walkways of the greenest hues

from red, to yellows and to blues,

the pinks so soft upon your eyes

geraniums  potted on one side.

Hellebores in groups of six

herbaceous borders in pretty mix,

cabbages, onions and chickens too!

fruits and herbs in stunning views

delphiniums lush in velvet blue

sturdy potatoes in their pots!

leeks , carrots and shallots.

Water features to cool and trickle

fish ponds, rock gardens and plants that tickle!

Many pots and nursery beds

perfumed scented that turn your head.

Arbour’s, enchanting ‘rose cascades’

Ah! what a wondrous pleasant day.

What a wondrous pleasant day…

All Rights Reserved @ June 2009

 

It was our village ‘open gardens’ day this Sunday, the morning dawned fair and after such preparation from the eleven sensational gardens that would be open to the public, we knew we were in for an exciting and enticing day. Abundant flower drenched bowers, roses dripping in splendour,  colourful arbour’s, covering walkways, plants of  such exotic delights, lawns manicured to perfection, handmade paths so clever in design.  All manner of interest and panoramic views to mesmerize, scents to please the senses and calm and serene borders and textures. Corners of interest and wonderful hidden places to sit and view awhile.  Vegetables crammed and laden, bursting full of goodness and showing skills of years of knowledge and precious tending. For many of the gardens with chickens, ducks and geese producing a self sufficiency with daily  eggs, crops of every vegetable,  fresh and packed full of glorious vitamins.  We feasted on wonderful fare on the stroll around the lanes of this enchanting village, stopping for a ploughman’s lunch with a selection of English cheeses and pickle and a cooling drink at the hottest part of the day. Then peeping into our little church to view the theme displays of flowers, some shown below.  On we went, with ice-cream in hand to end our very English day at the last garden for afternoon tea and delicious cakes and scones laden with strawberries and cream. My photos do not do justice to these wonderful gardens but perhaps will give you my reader a little idea of this heavenly day…

As most of my readers know, I am very fortunate to live in a lovely Wolds Village in Lincolnshire. Living in such a beautiful  place often  turns up rather special days. The views shown above are  from my windows which especially at this time of the year are magnificent. Always changing  like the seasons, the sheep arriving in the spring and then within a glance the spectacular Lincoln Red Cows have taken their place!  So the ‘pictures’  I see, often change by the hour. I do spend rather a lot of time looking at this  stunning change of scene. Then sometimes a little ‘extra gift’ is thrown into the melting pot of nature. Imagine my surprise when gazing with morning coffee in hand and there standing proudly in my garden was the  most exquisite Peacock. He stood surveying the scene seeming very tame.  Not wanting to frighten him I crept closer with camera in hand. He later accepted some bird seed and small nuts and enjoyed a chat staying for the day, sitting on my wall in the dark and then returning again for the next three days. I was sad to see him go but  Mr Peacock was last seen walking down the lanes of this very special Village What a  gift!

Life Is Fragile – Love is Not.

So spins our lives in turning chasms of change,

blurred and slippery as water

cascading over slimy rocks,

my wordless gesture in troubled times

invades your worried mind,

fiercely as the brushing hand to restless horse

my smile confirms, to reassure your fretful gaze,

as hell as life sometimes appears

in daily disclosing of newer pain,

my heart swoops and suffers,

my misty eyes, my soul knows

life is fragile, but love is not.

As birds black and shiny soar

to ‘crow’ in noisy rattle begin,

another nasty turn like sin,

to stab in pain, to etch within,

to reproduce in making bold this latest evidence,

dismissing in magicians wand, I wave again

I wave again…

To struggle and plunge I flounder there

impeach myself, still always care,

frightened damp and cold

my misty eyes, my soul knows

life is fragile, but love is not

love is not…

All Rights Reserved  @  May 2009

Shown above: Two simple fruit cakes with a little touch of  brandy in each. One ‘old fashioned’ Apple-pie, and Two,  Ham, Mustard, Egg and Cheese Flans.

Published by United Press Ltd 2009.

It’s been a long Winter this year but today the sun shone as tender shoots  started to turn green. The vivid yellow of the Laburnum was in evidence from my windows and the air had that little hint.  As the sheep returned to the fields even the Cat came along to saviour this glorious sunny morning. Yes, I know we had heavy snow here last year  on Easter  Sunday! when it was even difficult to get in and out of  the village but although chilly today, it indeed feels like Spring has come. 

This very enticing bustling town

With old streets that go round and round

With brimming river running through

It was so nice to share with you

A market place that stands so proud

Where, on a good day, the crowds abound

Horncastle, its charms and you

With seagulls and a sky of blue

We stood to watch the ducks in view

A  lovely place to spend us two,

A  charming town with lovely folk

Who always stop to chat and joke,

The pretty streets in olden days

A halcyon town in every way

Time spent in Horncastle  dear with you

A smile it brings when I review…

Copyright@ 2008

Poem selected for publication in  the  forthcoming book “Heartlands”

Photos Courtesy of Matt Rutherford: All Rights Reserved.