Coming down out of the freezing sky with its depths of light, like an angel, or a Buddha with wings, it was beautiful, and accurate, striking the snow and whatever was there with a force that left the imprint of the tips of its wings — five feet apart — and the grabbing thrust of its feet, and the indentation of what had been running through the white valleys of the snow — and then it rose, gracefully, and flew back to the frozen marshes to lurk there, like a little lighthouse, in the blue shadows — so I thought: maybe death isn’t darkness, after all, but so much light wrapping itself around us — as soft as feathers — that we are instantly weary of looking, and looking, and shut our eyes, not without amazement, and let ourselves be carried, as through the translucence of mica, to the river that is without the least dapple or shadow, that is nothing but light — scalding, aortal light — in which we are washed and washed out of our bones. Author

Thursday, 5 February 2015

The Steam Train


Todays card is one that I made for a steam train fan. The image and the backing paper are from a Joanna Sheen cdrom called Times Gone By. It features the artwork of Kevin Walsh. There are masses of different images on the cd all recalling times long since gone. Every time I look at pictures of steam trains, I remember living next door to a railway line. My Grandmother bought an old station house..which still had a platform..and had it remodelled. The platform area became the pantry with the bathroom above. When I was little, I always waved to the engine drivers..a bit like the railway children of another generation. The funniest thing about this time that I remember was that we had an outside toilet..and everyone knew never to go to the toilet at 11a.m....that was when the goods train came along...and if you happened to be sat on the loo at that time..the whole place shook. It was if your teeth were being rattled out..lol..Still to this day I never go to the loo at 11a.m. It was at the time in the early 70's when British Rail were shutting lines and selling off housing stock. I know that my Grandmother purchased a lot of the properties and had them remodelled and used them to house all the elderly family retainers.I still have pictures of all the houses and they were lovely.They were the old railway workers cottages. I shall have to try to find the photos and then I'll share them with you. By now they're all probably unrecognisable..having been done up so much over the years..it would be interesting to see.

It's still very cold here and all the snow has virtually all gone.The weatherman says that it's going to be even colder at the weekend. Thank goodness that I don't have to go out. I'm bad enough on my feet at the best of times but if there is the slightest chance of ice..it's a no go for me. The last time I had a bad fall it took nearly 6 years to heal my leg..so I'm taking no risks.

Well the coffee is calling and Sparkle has just heard the call. He has just made a brew so I think that I'll treat us to a shortbread (the remains of the christmas treats). So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

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