Train travel & Glastonbury carnival

I love long train journeys, flying past hedges & houses, fields & forests. 

no distractions, time to think, to sit and read or just watch the world go by. 

Glimpses of inspiration, this time around all shrouded in mist. 

Time spent travelling far away from my quiet country lanes 

down to the bustling south for precious time with my lass. 

Time for catching up, planning Christmas days & get togethers.

We even squeezed in a visit to Glastonbury annual Carnival

 After tea, cake & a wander around the lovely town (with a vow to return)
we waited with 100's of others lining the streets, not knowing what to expect!
What a treat was in store, what sights met our eyes, well worth the wait.
 The largest illuminated parade of its kind in the UK and Europe.
 Entries from local businesses & folk from all around the region,

A spectacular parade of huge illuminated floats & wagons

decked with mechanical moving parts, amazing sets & piping music as they went

 fantastic costumes, mysterious creatures & such enthusastic people on board

  It was bright & bold & noisy & not my usual cup of tea at all.

But I loved it, so much to see & take in & every entry had a different theme.

An awful lot of hours and hard work had gone into everything.

 Themes ranged from Sweeney Todd to the Polar Bear Queen!
But my most favourite of all was  the "Dickens Christmas!

Huge moving characters and wonderful choreography.
Such an amazing effort, very magical & moving too.  
I think over 100 entries in total that took over two hours to pass by.

I had to share my wee video althought the quality is rather poor
I do hope you get a feel of the size of the puppets & the atmosphere created.
Very worth the trip to Glastonbury to see!
(If you click on the images above you can have a closer peep)
ps: A big hello to all my new followers too x 

More images from the parade can be found here 

A treasury of winged wonders . . .

A treasury of winged wonders from makers on Etsy

I wish i had wings to fly
such fantastical journeys i would take,
to worlds far away
filled with wonder & magic.

click on each image below to follow the link to the creation

Family traditions, bonfire night

I do so love family traditions.

Like our Redden family bonfire night get together.

Every year we all gather together at one or another of our houses

 (as many as of us that can make it, for we are spread far & wide)

 Sharing the warmth of the crackling bonfire & sparkling fireworks

Eating the homemade goodies that everyone brings to munch.

Catching up chatter and laughter and swapping the stories of our days.

There is something very special about the coming together

at this end of the darkening year, sharing warmth & food.

This year we even had an extra visitor,

Amy noticed the fire monster, see top left!

A magical silver hare . . .

If you have been readers of my blog for a wee while

you may recall how much of a fan I am of the book "Masquerade"

and the sumptuous golden hare created by artist Kit William

(you can read all about the book & artist on the original post here) 

 Well, can you possibly imagine my delight & amazement

when I discovered this birthday present (below) awaiting me

from my lovely eldest lass Hannah and her partner Daniel.

My very own stunning silver version of that magical hare,

so beautiful, such attention to detail, even the tiny bells ring!

 Oh, they know me so well, my precious family!

 Dear Dan had spent many long hours here & there

secretly hand crafting every piece of this treasure.

I really am quite simply lost for words!

Dan is hoping to do more silver smithing Im glad to say!

A faerie birthday party . . .

Last week I had an extra special, most magical treat

for not only was it my birthday but unbeknown to me

my amazing family had secretly been planning a surprise.

The most perfect woodland faerie party, oh they know me so well!

 When I arrived home so unsuspecting I found a troop of

fabulous faeries with delicate wings & intricate makeup,

several long eared wizardy folk and a little cheeky elf.
 Marquees had appeared in our garden & garlands of twinkly lights,
  pretty paper butterflies & paper streamers hung with tiny stars
old gnarly logs lit with candles & dotted with sea shells galore, 

 Ivy was twined everywhere even around the throne they made for me

and I was given a faerie crown, a wand & my own butterfly wings!

& 2 cakes! A chocolate one with 50 star & faerie candles and

 a sponge one with fae folk & woodland things painted all around.

As evening fell on this perfect & sunshiny blue sky day,
by lantern, candle & moonlight we had a delicious feast & barbeque
I was surprised and bought to tears again and again
as my dearest friends & family kept arriving to share the evening.
And then finally, as if by magic and specially ordered so my Sister says,
a huge most incredible meteor sparkled right over head.
A magical & perfect day planned to mark my big 50th birthday!
( I number i was so pleased to celebrate as life just keeps getting lovelier )
I just had to share as I'm so amazed at all the hard work and imagination
my precious family put into making my day one I will never forget.