Rosiphelee's Garden

I thought it might be rather helpful to have a masterlist giving some indication of where and when everything fits, especially as my WIPs are going up here, but individual pieces are still gathered on Elfwood. I've taken 2009 (the year of Tiger's birth) as Year 0, as more than one universe is involved, and date conversion makes my brain hurt. So, just for reference:

( Chronicles of the Light )

Phew.

sweet_sparrow mentioned goats in a post earlier today, which reminded me that I'd never spammed you all with this set of pictures. This was a very early morning walk I did back in April, around the top of Cheddar Gorge in the Mendips in Somerset. The Gorge is, I think, the biggest in England, and I'd spent the day before exploring the caves (and yes, they do make cheese there - the caves remain at a constant temperature of 11ºC which is the perfect temperature for maturing cheese).

I left the hostel at about 6.30am, when it was barely light, and made my way to the foot of the Gorge. The afternoon before, it had been heaving with traffic and tourists. Now, not so much...

( Misty Morning )

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. The sun is now returning and it's a day to enjoy traditions. It's a mild Christmas here this year - I still have fuchsias and lobelia in flower and will be an exciting one for the family as it's my nephew Sam's very first.

But here, for tradition's sake, is an old friend to mark the season.

The Oxen

Thomas Hardy

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
"Now they are all on their knees,"
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.

So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
"Come; see the oxen kneel,

"In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,"
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so’

I hope you all have the Christmas you hope for :)

It's amazing how fast it gets dark. I've been sitting out here on my patio for a while. Five minutes ago I decided to go back inside because I was getting cold. It was so warm inside that I came back out, this time with my poor, overheating laptop for company. In those five minutes, late dusk has become full night.

It's been another still, sweltering day. Tucked away up here, it's not too bad, but I ventured out in search of fresh fruit and vegetables this afternoon. Down in the town centre, the streets smelt of traffic and dirt as if the pavements were sweating. Only the discovery of nice, plump peppers and sweet plums made it worth while (and, of course, two big plastic jugs to make iced tea in).

Later, I decided to venture out into the cool of the evening with my after-dinner glass of wine. I was planning to use the last of the light to read more about the Persian Wars. It was a beautiful evening, with the sky half-filled with soft, watermark blue clouds and half golden with the sunset. It was the sort of sky you half-think you could reach out and smudge with your hand.

As I was reading, I realised that the flicker I could see in the corner of my eye wasn't the security lamp on the side of the Conservative Club. It was lightning, so far away that I couldn't hear thunder.

Even after it was too dark to read, I kept watching it. No one else seemed aware of it. I could hear laughter and the clatter of plates from one of the neighbouring flats. A woman in high heels walked across the empty car park below. The man two doors down came out onto his patio and started pruning his hanging baskets.

I was the only one watching patches of the sky silently turn gold and silver.

The lightning has faded now, and I really am going inside, because there are suddenly specks of rain on my screen.

Edit: Hurrah for dancing in torrential rain! In the dark! *goes to find a towel*

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four

Final part, so you're safe from spam for a while ;)

Title: Dandelion and Thistledown (4/4)
Words: 4471

( Do not fear for me, featherling. If I should meet my death, it should be upon the wing, carried on the glory of the wind. It is nothing more than flying free at last. )

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four

And the second part. In which Nimbus proves an excellent fishmonger, the bombardment starts again, and we hear of the fates of the Saisorhi of Isola...

Title: Dandelion and Thistledown
Words: 4973
Warnings: Again, alcohol abuse, anguish

( Across the dying fire Nimbus sat shaking. His arms were locked around his legs and his wings were quivering, every feather shivering. )

Yup, I just went for an amble through fandom again, and found another pretty meme for us all :)

Give me the names of two characters and I will tell you what character A thinks of character B. I might answer with a drabble, a quick bit of meta, or a list, just to make things that tiny bit more fun!

Happy Birthday to annarti and wispywillow! Hope you both had wonderful days and have a smashing year ahead :)

Title: Calculations
Words: 3686
Challenge: The revisionist challenge!
Notes: And more! I decided that I wouldn't go to bed until I'd finished this. Unfortunately I didn't actually get going on it again until midnight, so I'll probably have to renege on that promise (although, to be honest, how much point is there in going to bed now? It's past dawn)

Part 1 Part 2

( As she gazed out of a window high in the palace, she caught a glimpse of auburn hair and a blue shield in the courtyard below )

Happy birthday to three fine people, two of who I've known for for twenty-one years and the other of whom I've only known a month.

Happy birthday to my sister liquorice_eyes, my brother Will and to Jon (jamidget)!

I hope you all have a great day and a fabulous year to come!