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A simple vase on Monday, and some spells

One of the joys of INAVOM is the planning.  The forethought that goes into producing a new vase of flowers for Monday morning.  These things don't just happen overnight!  They involve the floral material, the words, the vase, and of course the photographs.  In these surreal and extraordinary times the planning process is even more important, because it provides a joyful alternative to the latest update from Downing Street and the media's endless statistics and speculations.  A positive, creative use of our time to counter a lot of negativity energy.  All thanks and appreciation goes to Cathy from ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com who brings us all together in this weekly love of flowers.

The planning for my vase this week started last Tuesday, when I was walking round a lovely field and spied a wild cherry tree, with promising fat flowerbuds.  I picked a few stems and they have been slowly moving towards blooming in the cool of our bedroom, until today.  Here they are, in all their simple beauty.
My vase's accompaniment is the magical book The Lost Words, Spell Songs.  It is the follow-on production from the blissful book The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and illustrator Jackie Morris.  If you haven't seen it, seek it out, especially if you have grandchildren who will love and learn so much from the fabulous words and illustrations.  If you would like to know more, read this article by Robert Macfarlane - my superhero - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/sep/30/robert-macfarlane-lost-words-children-nature  
 The Spell Songs has a CD enclosed, and it is heart lifting and heartbreaking, all at the same time.  The first time I heard the songs I was completely spellbound.  I now listen to the CD every day at 5pm, instead of the Downing Street update which I can't cope with any more.

Comments

  1. L30 March 2020 at 11:50

    I think we are all having to be more mindful these days and I feel blessed having a garden. The blossom on the trees gives us cheer and is even more interesting when seen close up, as in your photos.

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    1. the running wave30 March 2020 at 14:53

      A garden is a wonderful thing! I keep reminding myself how blessed we are to be confined to barracks with a garden, when there are other less fortunate souls stuck in blocks of flats and nowhere green to go. A

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  2. Cindy30 March 2020 at 12:52

    Those are so pretty and wait until all those buds burst into bloom. How lovely they will be at their peak. Do they have a nice smell too?

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    1. the running wave30 March 2020 at 15:08

      Wild cherry blossom is just perfection! Early days yet with so many lovely fat green buds just biding their time until warmer days encourage them to blossom! No, no smell! I thought there may have been something almondy, but nothing. Just beauty! A

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  3. Anna30 March 2020 at 16:03

    Oh such beautiful blossoms Amanda. Here my pear trees are getting to the blossom stage which is most exciting. 'The Lost Words' is an exquisite book - both the words within and the illustrations. I wish though it was not such a big book. I think that little people would struggle to pick it up :) Is the follow up smaller in size?

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    1. the running wave30 March 2020 at 18:17

      Isn't it wonderful to see the fruit blossom appearing! 'Spell Song's is much smaller in format, and even bigger in content! There are words and music. The music comes in CD form. There was a Lost Words prom at the BBC Proms last year. Wish I could have been there, but the singers who perform on the CD will be touring the UK, once the pestilence has gone away. It is completely magical and every child, and adult, should get to hear the songs, and read their words in 'The Lost Words'. I am spellbound! A

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  4. Cathy30 March 2020 at 17:20

    What an interesting post and thoughtful, Amanda - you put the process of creating an IAVOM into words so graphically, in a way I don't think I have ever put into words before, so I thank you for that. And thank you for introducing us to Spell Songs and reintroducing me to Robert Macfarlane - I read Wild Places when it first cam eout but had not thought of checking what he has written since...what pleasures to come! I shall definitely be ordering Spell Songs before the day is out!

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    1. the running wave30 March 2020 at 18:20

      Robert Macfarlane is my superhero. Everything he writes and thinks is just wonderful, and you are in for SO many treats when you catch up on all the books he has written over the past years. 'The Lost Words' (certainly not forgetting the artist Jackie Morris, who is in a class of her own) and 'Spell Songs' should be in every household, especially those will children! Enjoy! I know you will!! A

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  5. AlisonC30 March 2020 at 20:30

    Blossom is very special, isn't it. Perhaps because it's so fleeting. It's a good idea to bring it in and enjoy it some more. Lovely photographs. It does take a long time doesn't it?

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    1. the running wave31 March 2020 at 08:16

      I enjoy the photograph bit! I set my blog up as a vehicle for my photographs and to try and capture the flowers individually, in all their glory, is more important to me than the vase really! IAVOM is such a good thing to have at the back of the mind during the week, and then spend time on at the weekend! Have a good week. A

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  6. Kris Peterson30 March 2020 at 23:57

    Thanks for the beautiful vase and the introduction to MacFarlane's work, Amanda. The books aren't readily available here but I managed to order one. I look forward to reading it.

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    1. the running wave31 March 2020 at 08:20

      Did you order 'Spell Songs' Kris? It has a CD with it and the songs are heartbreakingly beautiful, especially if you read the words at the same time. I hope you enjoy it all when you receive it! If you can use the link to an article Robert Macfarlane wrote some time ago, it will all fall into place!! Stay safe and well. A https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/sep/30/robert-macfarlane-lost-words-children-nature

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  7. Sally31 March 2020 at 11:28

    What a beautiful branch of blossom and so beautifully photographed with the book, which itself is a lovely shade of blue.

    Thank you The Lost Words: Spell Songs is now playing on Spotify - the magic of technology.

    Love and light

    Sally xxx

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    1. the running wave31 March 2020 at 13:54

      Nothing to do with technology magic! The songs are magical spells, out there in the universe to tap into at any time! Glad you are enjoying them! They are completely beautiful. Try and read the article too, link in the IAVOM post. A xx

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  8. Sally2 April 2020 at 02:53

    The magic of technology.... that I didn't have to wait for a CD but for just $17 per month play any music...but yes the music is magical too.

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