Icicle Claws

hooked claws tear at icy constraints, captive souls, eager for freedom, awaiting warmer days sure to come Day 237 of 365 Days Wild was cold and frosty, but sadly lacking in the snow that seemed to fall everywhere except our little corner of Nottinghamshire. There were a few wonderful little baby icicles trying to grow … More Icicle Claws

Gargoyle

as society celebrates surface artifice

 masking ugliness beneath painted smiles

pure hearts sculpted in gargoylesque form wither

whilst awaiting their chance to fly … More Gargoyle

Step by Step

gain insight in ascent

awakening emotions stultified

by society’s strictures

*

gain closure in descent

revisiting issues locked within

subconscious crypts

*

gain wisdom with each step

overcoming life’s adversities

so true joy can be found … More Step by Step

Messengers

horseshoes clatter metal pealing against cobblestones in a chiming of bells as dreamlike figures ghost by a cavalcade of spirits messengers from the past bearing warning from a time of division and strife for those who care to listen This week’s photo was taken at an English Civil War reenactment in my home town of … More Messengers

Small Comforts

Small Comforts Cara dropped onto her bed, tugging the blanket over her shoulders as weariness pinned her to the mattress. Sleep soon began to smother her thoughts. She welcomed its oblivion after the backbreaking work of the day. The voice of the new girl jolted her back to awareness. She was tempted to respond – … More Small Comforts

The Darkness Within

The light that poured in through her window was the only source of illumination in an otherwise dismal existence. They said her harsh treatment was deserved, that her idle ways had led to an inevitable conclusion. Only she knew just how hard she’d strived to avoid such a fate. She tried not to let bitterness … More The Darkness Within

Out of the Darkness

darkness creeps sticky tendrils dragging ever deeper into the depths of fear and hate and hopelessness desolation clinging with tar-like viscosity * but don’t give up * glimpse the light that lies ahead  encompassing hope of better times to come leave the darkness behind and embrace the future’s bright promise * don’t give up * never give … More Out of the Darkness

A Family Gathering

laughter and camaraderie found throughout the ages amidst the love of family Those of you who’ve followed my blog for a while may remember that I used to regularly join in with the One-Four challenge, editing a picture in four different ways over a month. Unfortunately, the challenge changed from being monthly to being quarterly, … More A Family Gathering

Boundaries

boundary lines marked containing Earth’s wild spaces guardianship claimed This post is for Cee’s Black and White Challenge. This week’s theme is Letters A or B, and I decided to show pictures of some of the boundaries of the meadow and wooded area. Both the first and last pictures show newly erected boundaries, as management of the wooded … More Boundaries

Cee’s B&W Challenge: Crooked and Squiggly Lines

This is my entry into Cee’s Black and White Challenge. This week’s theme is Crooked and Squiggly Lines which immediately brought to mind the many pictures of curious tree roots I have in my archives . I hope you like them. Writhing,  coiling, serpentine formations slithering  out of the darkness of concealing earth, tendrils stretching into sunlight in search of nourishment,  longing for … More Cee’s B&W Challenge: Crooked and Squiggly Lines

Cee’s Black and White Challenge: Food and Beverage

This is my entry into Cee’s Black and White Challenge. This week’s theme is Food and Beverage. This is another of those themes that I didn’t think I’d be able to find much for at first. I don’t usually take pictures of food, other than the fruit growing in the garden. Once I started flicking through my archives, though, … More Cee’s Black and White Challenge: Food and Beverage

One-Four Challenge: September Week Three

It’s time for the third September edit of Robyn’s One Four Challenge.  This week’s edit is in response to Joanne’s suggestion that she’d like to see a black and white version of the image. I again began by opening the original image in Camera Raw where I made these changes: Temperature: +20 Contrast: -100 Highlights: -19 Shadows: -78 … More One-Four Challenge: September Week Three

Cobblestones

I have been nominated by Nowathome to participate in the 5 Day Black and White Challenge and by Lrod to participate in the 5 Photos – 5 Stories Challenge. This post is my day 4 response to both. I again managed to stay below 500 words. Yay! Today’s story is 450.  Cobblestones The feel of the cobblestones beneath … More Cobblestones