This year I will be running my first retreat day, with Laura Murphy of mtc2. I will be publishing regular posts and other material about it, on my new blog ‘Reframe the View’. This blog will continue to be focussed on art making and learning. There’s an extract below from today’s post. If you enjoy it and would like to read about wellbeing and ways to nurture and support yourself, please go to ‘Reframe the View’ by clicking the button below.
The Stillness of Midwinter
Today is a grey overcast day. It’s very quiet at home, with the sound of sporadic rain pattering against the glass and the ocasional breathy resonance of the windblown chimney. Not much is moving outside. Our feline neighbours are glimpsed darting across the garden and are gone -back home to curl up somewhere warm. Bulbs rest in the earth, their green spears nosing through when there’s a warmer day, but stopped when it’s cold and grey. Water is pooled on the meadows and lammas lands, with fleets of overwintering gulls, cormorants and the resident ducks and geese sailing in the shallow water. Twigs drip, tree trunks stained black with water. Their fat buds wait -for spring.
We are surrounded at the moment by stuff about renewal, reinvention, get fitter, get healthier and make resolutions. In the deep quiet of midwinter this increasongly feels out of step to me. Over recent years I’ve been paying more attention to the seasonal cycles and wondering how to align myself with them.
To read more from ‘Reframe the View, click below.
Caroline Homfray 
Caroline, this is such a beautiful and timely post, thank you. I’d like to share it with my friends on Facebook – is that ok?
I’m conscious I haven’t yet found the time to reply to your thoughtful and very much appreciated comment on my last blog post for which I am sorry. I’ve been strung between starting work full time and doing the rounds with every virus going (it feels!), but I did so appreciate it.
I love to read your writings, so much generosity of spirit and a pervading sense of calm and nurturing – so essential, more now than ever.
Sending love for a peaceful new year.
Ysella x
Sent from my iPhone
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Hi Ysella,
Thankyou so much, please do share it, that would be great.
Your last post so resonated with me, so beautifully written and subtle, and I thought you might appreciate a thoughtful non-directive response :-), something fitting.
I enjoy following your blog and what I can make out of your adventures from my very occasional visits to FB. Hope you recover steadily and the new job can be eased into. Looking forward to reading more when you have the time- and health.
I make occasional trips to the Quantocks for music at Halsway. Is that anywhere near you? If it ever seems feasible to meet and you want to, let me know! I started learning to play the harp about 18 months ago and a harp weekend there is my next foray.
Wishing you and Glen the best for new year. Love Caroline xxx
I’m near Exeter in Devon, we’d love to see you if you’d like to come and stay sometime? The Quantocks are beautiful – Mum lives near them so I could always travel up to stay with her and catch up with you while you’re there, let me know when you’ve made a plan? It would be so nice to see you again xx
Ah, that would be great, a possible plan. I’m due at Halsway at the end of January; I’ll be in touch when I’ve checked out the arrangements and go from there. xx