Autumn Cottage Diarist

In Comes Bold Slasher and the Turkish Knight

The Overton Mummers, led by Musician towards the Greyhound

Boxing Day in England

A cold but bright day for the day after Christmas – “Boxing day” – the day on which Christmas “boxes” of cash gifts were given to visiting tradesmen, (nowadays left with a Christmas card, given to the postman & the milkman) – and for me, a visit to the little town of Overton, in North Hampshire, where I am studying the grave ornamentations in the new graveyard there.

A poignant Christmas embellishment  to Pamela Saul's grave

I had hoped to gather images of any Christmas contributions to the graves, and was not disappointed. Many graves bore beautiful, traditional wreaths and decorations, whilst some of the decorations were less conventional, but still spoke of an ongoing relationship of remembrance between the living and the dead.

Remembrance for  a child - Sophie Louise Sutton

Interior of Overton Church, looking west

 

The pulpit, with pew-end candle stands wound with holly and ivy.

 

The second reason to visit was in hope of catching the performance of the Overton Mummers play – an ancient form of performance, which has been revived in Overton (and performed there and in surrounding villages) since, I believe, the 1970’s, using a script which is recorded as having been collected in 1913. The plays are much, much older, however - the term was used in medieval times, though the earliest hard evidence in the form of surviving scripts goes back back to the 18^th century. Many performances died out in post-war times, but since the 1960’s many villages all over England have rediscovered and revived this delightful form of entertainment.

 

The mummers (also known as “guisers” – those in disguise) form part of the rich tradition of folk plays which can still be seen in Britain, in the same spirit as Pantomime, bringing light and jollity (and not a little political comment and bawdy innuendo) to the dark days of midwinter.

 

King George and the rear view of Old Father Christmas

I was not disappointed today – after a short visit to the church to see the interior decorations for Christmas, I caught the end of the performance in the Town square, then – (after a half pint of ale in The Greyhound Inn, a requisite imbibing before viewing to ensure full satisfaction!)  we were summoned outside by “Musician” to watch the play. Old Father Christmas told the tale, Bold Slasher and The Turkish Knight both battled and were killed by King George, and  then revived by The Doctor. Twing-Twang added his five pennyworth, we all commiserated “Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear” at the deaths – but in the end all was well – and much more ale was drunk!

The Doctor about to revive Bold Slasher with a drop of "Elegant paint"

 Enjoy these images from the day – the Overton Mummers costumes are intricately made with shredded papers of all descriptions – wallpaper, shopping carriers, gift wrap. If you would like a larger image of any of these shouts, as ever – mail me and I’ll send it to you.

Read more about Mummers here and here is the script (more or less) of the play

Twing-Twang and The Turkish Knight ? - all revived and better again...another happy ending!

Flocks by night...

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night".

I only went out to water the plants in the greenhouse, and....look what has turned up in the field next door to Autumn Cottage. I'm sure that they were not there a day or two ago. Rather a lovely, and very appropriate arrival, don't you think? The sight has certainly given me a lift. I wonder if they will stay until spring?

(Sorry for the poor quality of the photos, it's nearly dark here)

Of Birthdays, Solstices and Merry Christmas-tide!

Embroidered balls and painted folk ornaments in Autumn Cottage Christmas Kitchen

Happy Birthday to me! I am having a very Happy day with my son Tim, at home here in Autumn Cottage, wrapping presents while listening to Nat King Cole and Tudor lute music, eating heavenly chocolates from Hugh, and being a recipient of the sort of gifts only Tim could give with confidence to me, knowing what would be "just right". I am so lucky that both my sons know me well - Hugh pampers me with gorgeous "Girlie stuff", while Tim - well, Tim is a little more unusual.

Several years ago, he gave me a didgeridoo - (just because he thought I needed one)...today, this is what I discovered inside the imaginative wrapping created by his girlfriend, Emily - who seems to have discovered the secret of what exactly you DO do to disguise the most awkward shape...

You make a Dark Demon of it of course....

And when you open it? Isn't this guy just a cherub? :-)

Alongside the gorgeous, grimacing gargoyle, I was presented with these little beasts of whimsy ...Mrs Tittlemouse, to sit by the summerhouse pond (I am creating a fantasy fairy garden there), together with the most entertaining band of attentive insects and a lizard....all made from recycled metal, and bought by Tim at the Christmas Market in Winchester. Hasn't he been so clever to find these delightful gifts for me?

I just love a Solstice Birthday - I know that when the day arrives, it marks the start of the return of the sun to the Northern hemisphere...what could be more pleasing for a gardener...and also a student of Folklore and Fairytale, Pantomime and 12th Night revels - what a wonderful time of the year this is - even managing it without my credit crunching! My family will gather round - and that will still be the best gift of all.

Blessed Be on this Solstice, readers....and if I don't get chance to look in again for a while, I wish you all  Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas and a Very Happy and peaceful New Year.

Share a mug of mulled wine and a mince pie with me in the cosy Christmas Kitchen!

 

In the Deep Midwinter...but now the light returns again...

A fine guardian for the first gifts under the tree...

Vision Boards, Treasure Maps, and Women of Inspiration

Several members of an (Inspirational!) online writing group, to which I have belonged for ten years now, are working on “Vision boards” in the run up to the New Year. (How are all yours coming along, Fran, Paula, ???). Vision Boards, Treasure Maps – they come in many guises...mine seem to be forming into a Book of Inspiration, to which I continually add.

A4 pages on various topics, at the moment topics that relate to my intentions for 2009 (I never call them resolutions – that way they don’t sit there asking to be broken!), but as wishes, wants, thoughts and ideas change throughout the year, the images will multiply.

 It is becoming a visual journal...and above you can see the page I created last night. I call this one “Women of Inspiration” and the images have been gleaned from the ‘net. Several of Dame Judi Dench dominate – no excuses, I find her HIGHLY inspiring...but see how many of the others you recognise. (UK readers will probably have an advantage, sorry!). Click on the image above to get a bigger version.

Email me to tell me how many of them you know – and if anyone can identify all of them, I’ll send a fun prize! Good luck – closing date is Christmas Eve, and I’ll list all the names (and a winner, if there is one) after that.

Even if you don't want to play, will you tell me who are your own Women of Inspiration? (Watch this space for the gentlemen, later :-))

Message to Lissie & Pippin...

more animals

Don't go getting any big ideas about me making this sort of set-up for you! (what do you mean, you do this already??)

(and don't show Pindar, Catullus and Martial either!)

(Picture courtesy of the glorious Icanhascheezeburger.com - loads more by clicking "animals" above -  and see how long it is before you are screaming with laughter. This site is a total tonic!)

Today We Need a Little Bit of Venice

.

NOT, thankfully, the floods which hit la Serenissima a couple of weeks ago - but these gorgeous dolls - Pantalone and Colombina from the Commedia del' Arte which I bought last year at Ca' Macana - one of the few studios in Venice still making their own masks and other items in papier mache.

Pantalone

These dolls are made entirely in paper sculpture. It seems that they are built on an armature - so there may be a foundation of wire beneath, but faces, hair, clothes....all paper, which looks as if it has been soaked in some sort of glue and then left to dry and stiffen. The painting afterwards - especially of the faces, is masterly - but it is the underlying structure of paper modelling which creates the initial character.

Colombina

I am longing to discover how to make these sorts of figures...I guess I could just work it out by trial and error - but if anyone knows of any web sites, books, or tutors, I'd love to hear about it.

And now I have the taste for Venice on my lips today - and am suffering severe withdrawal symptoms anyway, having not visited this year....here are just a couple more images to counteract any surfeit of Christmas-Tacky-Itis that may already be starting to overwhelm you...

I'll take these for Christmas presents, please...handmade journals, leather-bound

And this will do nicely for my Christmas dress

You Can't Judge a book by the Cover

 

I gave myself a little gift today. As I spend so much time in graveyards, I couldn't say no to spending 60 pence (a dollar?) on this little 1903 volume of Gray’s “Elegy in a Country Churchyard” and “Ode on a Distant prospect of Eton College”. 

 

I would hardly have taken any notice of the book if I had not known the poem inside...its frankly battered and dreary cover would not attract much attention. But look inside with me....you can see why I am glad that I did pick it up – filled as it is with some very  charming wood or lino cut (?) vignette illustrations by J.T.Friedenson.

"The distant spires..."

 

I’m including them all here, though I don't know why Typepad is cutting off the right hand side of all the images today - click on them to get "the full picture", and right-click on the bigger image if you want to download it. If anyone wants even higher resolution images, mail me). I think they would make lovely bookmarks and/or bookplates, don’t you? Have fun with them.

 

The other images follow....and here is a link to the whole “Graveyard” poem – and some interesting information about Stoke Poges, where the author lies buried.

The Churchyard

"Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke"

"Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife..."

"Approach and read (for thou canst read) the lay..."

Epitaph

Gray's Monument

Eton College

Windsor

"The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea..."

On a Cold and Frosty Morning

Ethereal Eryngium

Winter has arrived at Autumn Cottage – crisp and sparkling frost greeted me when I woke this morning, so I wrapped many layers around me and ventured into the garden to capture these few pictures.

Jerusalem Sage

Lissie and Pip were not far behind me. (Lissie demonstrating that she was superior to humans by walking on water...)

"Why can't I reach those leaves - they're above the net??"

 

We need these frosts to kill off the pestiferous bugs that decimate the garden after a mild winter. Enjoy these brief images of Autumn Cottage Garden in December...then remember that it is only two weeks today until the Winter Solstice, after which – the sun – and the warmth – returns. 

Winter sun, low in the sky

And so do I...my final presentation is done, I have an essay to hand in by the end of January, and my Dissertation by September, but after other people’s presentations next week, and our Christmas evening meal the week following, I am done with taught modules at Winchester, and all set to present writing and creative classes at Autumn Cottage. Another reason to get gardening soon– I already have a list of people lining up to share Autumn Cottage with me, writing, sketching and photographing down by the summerhouse and over in the herb garden.

Frosted fennel seed heads in the herb garden

Milk Thistle

A welcome shot of colour - Hebe and cyclamen on the frost-protected patio

 

Now where is my woolly hat, and where are my gloves?

A frost encrusted Jerusalem Sage seed head