Photography // Portrait and Product Shoot

Today I had the very enjoyable task of taking some photographs of a dear friend.

Anna Mackenzie is a local craft artist who is taking the very brave step of moving towards making a living from doing what she loves. You can find her over at Annie's Delight and at craft fairs around the South West. 

And if you like what you see here, please pop over to my photo blog, Though Amy's Eyes for more photographic adventures.

Allotment Tales // Chitting Potatoes

We planted our potatoes today.

Image courtesy of www.wegrowourown.co.uk

I think we're probably a bit quick off the mark, actually, so these will give us an early crop. However, we needed to get them in the soil as they were chitting so rapidly they had shoots of about two inches long!

You may well be asking - what on earth is 'chitting'?

Chitting is the term used for encouraging the seed potatoes to sprout before you plant them. When we got our seed potatoes, we cut them in half, so for each potatoes we should get two plants. You can begin chitting in late January or February and should do so around 6 weeks before you intend to plant out. 

The easiest way to chit is by putting your seed potatoes into empty egg boxes or a crate, somewhere warm and light. Once the shoots are around an inch long, and the soil has warmed up, they'll be ready to plant. We've had much warmer weather this week and I'm hoping it is going to stay that way for our newly planted potatoes. Normally it is advised that you wait until mid-March to plant your early crops.  

Three Word Thursday

Opening new doors.

Hedgerow Ramblings // Crows

I have always had a soft spot for crows.

For the past few years I have felt like they turn up whenever something significant is going on in my life - particularly big changes. 

Furthermore, I often see a crow in my 'mind's eye' - it is a symbol which I believe guides me. 

Whenever crows appear, I am reminded to focus upon the spiritual as well as the practical goings-on around me - something which I too often allow myself to be swept away with, forgetting to nourish my soul. It also reminds me that change is inevitable, natural - good even - and there is a bigger picture to look towards.

Many people fear crows and other dark birds - they have a reputation for being harbingers of death, omens of bad times. In legend and myth they are one of the prophetic symbols of war and the shape-shifting tricksters associated with the Morrigan - a goddess of war and strife.

However, the crows also have a great many positive facets in legend - most of which seem to have been buried beneath all this negativity. They have long symbolised resourcefulness, the law, a watchful eye, a link to the magick around us, change, justice, integrity and divination. 

Do any of you have any animals you feel a strong affinity with? 

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

You can really tell my focus hasn't been here over the last couple of weeks, can't you?

In part this is due to snow and frost - there have been no trips down to the allotment as it's been too cold.

But mostly it has been due to...the other blog!

I completed my first Scavenger Hunt Sunday, today. 

I'd love for you to pop over and take a look at my efforts!

Through Amy's Eyes

Wheel of the Year // Imbolc

Brightest Imbolc blessings everyone!

As I have written about in the past, Imbolc - which falls at the beginning of February - is an important date in the pagan calendar. It is at this turn of the wheel that we call for the return of the sun, our warmth and light - often personified in the Goddess Brigid. You can read more information about the origins and traditions of Imbolc here and here.

In the Northern hemisphere, this is a really difficult time of year: dark and bitter cold in many places. Historically it would be the time of year when food supplies which had lasted through the winter would have been getting low. Fires would be lit to energise folk and call on the gods and goddesses who, it would be hoped, would bring warmth and life back to the Earth. 

Nowadays, as most of us have central heating and a supermarket down the road, these concerns have melted away. Some of us still feel the bite of this time of year, however, with a sense of sadness and low energy which lingers from our ancestral roots. That is why I light a fire - or even a simple candle - for Imbolc. I invite Brigid to return to us, not because I need food or literal warmth, but because I need light and the internal warmth which will come from tending new growth as Spring arrives. 

Love and light.