Spring Light at Applewood

Spring time here is gorgeous. In the hedgerow adjacent to our house is an old apple tree with blossom, that, last week was splendid in the evening light. The bushes are alive with a flock of goldfinches, several pairs of red-winged blackbirds, wood thrushes, jays and other as yet to be identified birds.
We had a thunderstorm last night; the lightning scattered amongst the hills and rain poured down.
A pair of wood chuck have been feasting on dandelions in the grasses of the next door property; that is, until the grass was mowed and so the woodchucks had to venture further afield.

The house is a delight to live in; quiet, well ventilated and cool in warm sunshine... there is much to do, particularly arranging the paintings in the gallery for display. 
Nicholas

These beautiful flowers arrived as a housewarming gift from our beloved friend from England, Scooter...they grace our new dining room, just as she graces our lives. Such gratitude in having them and her love with us this week. We have had so many people writing and celebrating with us, new friends, family, friends from years gone by...it is a gift to be in a new place, surrounded by the thoughts and energies of those we cherish.

As we unpacked, we tenderly held items from our grandparents, our parents, our siblings, our friends...at times it was almost overwhelming, for the smells of just-opened boxes brought back memories with an immediacy that was shocking. I know the olfactory nerves are the quickest pathway to the brain, but I have never had such vivid evidence to the link between smell and memory...

Here on the corner table, a totem pole given to Nicholas by his grandfather, Tommy. It was given to him after he became a blood brother of the  Kwakiutl tribe of Native Canadians, who were grateful for Tommy's help with restoring the food production in Canada following World War 2. The sculptor was from a family of totem pole artists from Alert Bay in Vancouver Island. Alongside the flowers, a gift from our new neighbours, is a beautiful vase given to us by Mom and Dad on a trip to Vienna...and on it goes, rather like our histories coming together anew in little pieces we can see and touch.

Another little gasp of recognition and grief came when a piece of Paddington fluff was found attached to a duvet cover from our bedroom in England...my Mom and Dad gave us a sculpture of a Keeshond (Paddy's breed) as a housewarming gift; I gave it to them years ago in celebration of our Keeshonds, Domino and Echo...it is nice to have it here on Applewood Lane...

This is without a doubt a time of memory and dreams convergent, a time of unpacking and settling in, a time of deep reflection and emergent creativity...

Judy