An introduction by Neil Gaiman to C. Anthony Martignetti's book "Beloved Demons"

An excerpt from the introduction Neil Gaiman wrote for "Beloved Demons" by C. Anthony Martignetti:

"Do not give either of us gifts: give us the tale that accompanies the gift. That is what makes the gift worth having."

Neil Gaiman in this post

Memoirs

I love the idea of giving stories.
The collected items in my house each have their own story, their own tale.
Some are short; some are long - some found, inherited or given.
I treasure them all.
The stories are the reason I travel the world as much as I can.
Them, and the people you meet along the way.
They have tales to tell, too.

Patience

When it comes to bird watching, you have to have patience. You have to be able to move slowly in the shadows, to stand perfectly still, to hold your position for the longest of time. It is a test of wills. You against the silence of the woods. And sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes you get to see a glimpse of the magic which birds of prey adds to the world. Moments like that will haunt you forever. A moment like that can be the beginning of the strangest of journeys, or simply change your life.

"They were above a stand of pines, right there. And then they were gone. One minute my pair of goshawks was describing lines from physics textbooks in the sky, and then nothing at all. I don't remember looking down, or away. Perhaps I blinked. Perhaps it was as simple as that. And in that tiny black gap which the brain disguises they'd dived into the wood."

"H is for Hawk" by Helen Macdonald, p. 9

This book is the story of how Helen Macdonald became the owner of a hawk. Of her struggle to train it. In between the pages you will find beautiful descriptions of the nature surrounding her, and she will enlighten you about falcons and hawks. Her words will make you long to get out there, to see the wildness for yourself and, perhaps, to be a part of it all.

Sticky toffee pudding and my book - loving quiet days at work.

Existing in the pause

Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer are perhaps two of the most amazing writers I know. They have a way with words that borders on magical - words that burrow deep into your heart and stay there for the longest of time. I wish I could do something to help them through the difficult days they are facing just now. I wish I could do more than simply send my love.

"my god there's so much hate.
 but there's so much love."

Amanda Palmer in her journal

"It doesn't feel like real time. Normally, we breathe in and we breathe out, and we never notice the beat between the breath. Right now we are living in the place between the inhalation and the exhalation, existing in the pause."

Neil Gaiman in his journal

Life, after all, is in the detail

"A year of doing good" by Judith O'Reilly

A new day - a new place - a new book

Girl: reading. 

Boys: fishing.

A girl needs to be prepared for the wait, and what better than a book and some binoculars? I was all set for hours.

"H is for Hawk" b Helen Macdonald

Old glass and curios

A mirror is a strange thing. Somehow this picture is showing my living room, and somehow it is not. All the elements are there, true, but the mirror makes the end result so striking I got completely baffled after taking the picture! I am finding it very hard to believe my living room could ever look this good.

I do love the old glass I have inherited or found in antique shops and my curio collection, though. This might be just a small part of everything I have collected, but at last I have found a way of displaying them. Happy days. An added bonus is I have better space in my library now, too!

Old glass and curios ♥

"A year of doing good" by Judith O'Reilly

...each one a small miracle...

365 good deeds. Can you even imagine it? It sounds so easy, just doing one good deed a day for a year, but after reading of O'Reilly's attempt (and success), I am in more doubt. Perhaps the odd good deed, without the pressure involved, is more suited for me. Or perhaps I am a chicken for not giving it a proper try. The world could very much need more people doing good - however small the act of kindness is. Even picking up litter on the ground can save a life - and that makes all the difference.

"A year of doing good" by Judith O'Reilly