There is a stark beauty about the view from my window at
this time of year. Grey clouds scud across the sky and the branches of the
trees in the field opposite are dark silhouettes. The big old oak looks
impressive now it’s bare, and I can once again see ‘Old Spikey’ the tree
spirit, picked out in twigs against the December sky.
Every autumn I look
forward to his reappearance. All through the summer he has hidden away,
whispering to the varied wildlife the oak attracts. But as the leaves fall, he
is revealed once more. I always wonder if a storm will have changed his expression, but his dear old face hasn’t altered much over the many
years I’ve known him. He's made of stern stuff!
There’s a wonderful symmetry in some of the branches, quite
‘art nouveau’ in appearance and as the emerging sun’s rays light up the
raindrops on the twigs I’m inspired to make a quick sketch. My
first project for 2018 is born.
Time to be glad for all the pleasures of 2017 and wish you love and light for the new year!