Hello!
We have certainly been enjoying a hot end to the summer, here in the South East of England, we seem to be getting the best of both worlds; the lower angle of the sun to the earth creates a more gentle light in the Autumn months and yet it is still warm enough to spend more time out, without the cold bitter wind forcing us back inside. Every time I swim in the sea I expect it to be the last, except it isn't- another warm and sunny day comes and I think I will just have my last swim and on and on it goes. The first photo is of one of my last swimming experiences- a cup of hot chocolate at the beach hut, trying to warm up enough before we head home. Tides vary, so do our swims, this one was high tide at 8pm so we were able to swim in the reflected colours of the sunset as it got darker. This is one thing I know helps my transition into the season of darker months- being aware of the sunset time and if it's a clear day, witnessing it- it won't take much time out of your day- perhaps 10 minutes at most, but it gives you time to reflect on the bigger world and universe that we are in, it helps gain a perspective on the wonder of it all. Beautiful, natural and free to watch- a sunset watching moment is never wasted.
Soon enough my sea swimming will stop and I feel I will have had enough by then and will be enjoying the other pleasures of Autumn, such as looking for fungi, revelling in the changing colour of the woods and noticing the views that were once hidden by foliage now coming into view.
We had a lovely sunset evening down on the beach last month, we gathered on the beach, had a little fire and watched the last of the sun as it set to celebrate the Autumn Equinox- a moment of perfect balance in the year before we shifted to darker evenings and shorter daylight hours. Thank you everyone who came and joined me, it was a free event and lovely to meet new Dwellbeings. I have a photo of the fire that we decorated with red rosehips and flowers below.
The next photo (above) is of a scene from the weekends' canoeing trip on the river Stour. The light was beautiful, angling through the trees and reflected off the water. We paddled 5 miles along the river at first being encouraged by the flow as we headed eastwards towards Grove Ferry, where we were going to be picked up and mini-bussed back to our starting point- Fordwich. As the river became wider the flow slowed down and we really had to paddle, but the slowness did allow us to spot wildlife- (5 Kingfishers!) and notice the willow trees making their characteristic noise as the breeze blew through them and watch as their leaves dropped onto the rivers' surface, enticing Roach and Brown Trout to investigate. The next photo is of the journey along the river itself, notice the changing colour of the trees and the reflections in the water- beautiful! This is another tip I think really helps at this time of year, 'go out into nature everyday and feed your soul'. booking in a seasonal adventure whatever the size of it- 10 minutes to watch a sunset or 3 hours on a canoe trip really connects you to the season, it also tops up your Vitamin D and like I wrote earlier- it helps us put things into perspective.
This weekend I open up my straw-bale studio to the public as part of East Kent Open Houses- an artist trail which takes in 8 main districts including Whitstable. Here is a link to the website.
I am house number 33 on the Whitstable trail. It would be really great to have visitors, so all are welcome, please say you are aware of the Dwellbeing newsletter or Facebook group when you come and I will give you a free Dwellbeing postcard to take away!
My studio is open from 11-5pm this weekend and next.
Here is a link to my entry with more details including my address.
East Kent Artists’ Open Houses | ‘Lucknow’, 67 Northwood Road, Tankerton, Whitstable, CT5 2HB | Kent Arts and Artists (ekoh.org.uk)
The last photo is of some of the sample glass panels for the 'Beacon of Hope' collaborative art project. I have been decorating them inlayers with black enamel paint, they are now ready for their third firing. This will be one of the main displays in my studio this year. We are working on a very exciting Winter Solstice event which will be based around this lantern. Hence the nature of the new panels- all things that illuminate- sun, stars, moon...
This is another way I love to connect with this darker season- to go out at night and look up. We have had a magnificent super moon recently that was huge and glowed like an egg yolk, ok, perhaps that is isn't the most romantic image but to me that is exactly what it looked like. I first noticed it in my cars' rear view mirror and had to drive around the block to see it again, it was so exciting to see and I could have missed it easily as it was so low in the sky.
By the time I got home I parked up and looked down the road and was surprised to see it there at the end looking higher, not so big but still luminous and wonderful.
Star gazing can be done more easily this time of year too. Look for 'Ursa Major' (the plough or the saucepan as I used to call it as a child), Cassiopeia (W-shaped one) and Orion (figure with a belt, the stars on it are very recognisable when known). An added bonus is that the planet Jupiter is really visible and bright at the moment too, to see the largest planet in our solar system with the naked eye is pretty awesome. Wow!
I follow 'Go Stargazing' on Facebook, there are many apps too that can help with location and identification of the constelations.
I invite you to visit at the EKOH event over the next 2 weekends or join me on a Dwellbeing mini-retreat. My next ones are on November the 17th and 25th at Harbledown. If you want to give yourself the gift of time to relax, feel nourished and meet other people with similar interests, this is a space to do that.
Whatever the venue, the day goes like this-
We start the day slowly with a coffee while I explain the flow of the day to you. Here you will be given your 'Dwellbeing Bundle of Delights'- a welcome gift.
Then we go on a circular walk, often making art as we go, back to the venue and after lunch we start to create our nature journals.
That's it- simple, creative joy.
I am in the process of creating a virtual Dwellbeing mini-retreat. watch this space or go to my website for news on it and other exciting art projects I am involved in, that will be exhibited soon.
Contact me directly on clare@people-to-place.co.uk if you'd like to book a place on a retreat.
And feel free to call or text me on 07432679164 to talk if you have any questions.
