White Silences

I sit here in solitude
With thoughts of you
Memories of conversations
Between me and you
Of kind words and flowers
And green leaves on trees
Now gone forever
Taken by the breeze
Snow falls around me
Without a sound
Leaves follow closely
Floating softly to the ground
Not a breath can be heard
Not a voice, not a sound
In the silence of the forest
Solace can be found
I lose myself in memories
Of moments spent with you
In the cold white silences
Amidst softly falling snow.

Poem by Dianne D ... ♥
Image: Green Leaf and First Snow 123rf/com

River Cottage

This is how I decided to spend my Saturday evening, painting this landscape of an English country cottage using watercolours on English cotton paper. This is my first attempt, I shall try again.
I saw this scene flash by on the television a few months back, it was a part of the opening titles for a program called 'River Cottage'. I was so impressed with this beautiful image I decided to do a quick sketch and tonight have painted it from memory.
I would love to own an old stone cottage like this, white-washed, with deep window sills and white paned windows.
How lovely to be situated on the side of a gently sloping hill which reaches down to a pristine river or stream where one can hear the water flowing by. To take in the fresh air and soft fragrance of the meadows and fruits and flowers from the orchards.
To walk over undulating hills of meadow grasses of different textures and softness and hues of green, scattered with white and yellow wildflowers.
To pick wild apples from some ancient tree and berries growing within the hedgerows. Listening to the birds singing who have nested in the hedges and trees ... this sounds like perfection to me.

Watercolour painting by Dianne D ... ♥
Please enlarge for a better view.

Haiku Monday : Treasure

Dew drops suspended
On a trapeze of cobwebs
Sparkling morning light


Golden memories
Of sun shining through the leaves
Cathedral of trees


On my window sill
Treasured blooms from my garden
Transient beauty


Forest trails of green
Golden light through canopy
Shines to light my path

My dear friend chickory is running her Monday haiku competition and the meme for this week is 'Treasure'. We all find treasure in different things, mine I find in the beauty and wonder that nature gives us...nature in her many manifestations.
A special thank you to all who voted for me.
Voting is now completed and Anya from Aspects of Life was the worthy winner. Congratulations Anya!

Sweet Echoes From The Past

Sweet words wash over me
Like soft breezes in the trees
Words spoken softly
They return to me
Like a sudden found melody
A song of happiness
That I thought I had lost along the way
Sweet echoes from the past. . .

Poem: Dianne D ... ♥
Image: Wallpaperhere

A Fragrant Bouquet

The weather today was quite a mix; it began with a hot sunny morning and a warm blustery wind which persisted throughout the day, well into the afternoon. While I was watering my plants the warm air was scented with the beautiful citrus aroma of the oils from the leaves of the lemon-scented tea tree. It was delightful, so I decided to pick a little bouquet of flowers. I always like having fresh flowers in the house, especially on my kitchen window sill.
So in this small bouquet you will find a mix of spicy yellow and French vanilla marigolds, their scent is divine. The sweet scent of miniature pansies, lemon-scented tea tree and in the small vase the blossoms and leaves of the Lemon Scented Myrtle, a delicious mix. This afternoon the sky became overcast with clouds and a darkening sky, so thankfully now it is much cooler and hopefully it will be cooler tomorrow, perhaps some rain.

Lemon-scented tea tree "Leptospermum Petersonii"

A partially opened flower spike of Grevillea 'Peaches and Cream', with a grey fluffy feather left by a nectar- feeding bird.

Please enlarge images.

When We Two Parted

When we two parted
In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted
To sever for years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
Colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.

The dew of the morning
Sunk chill on my brow---
It felt like the warning
Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are all broken,
And light is thy fame:
I hear thy name spoken,
And share in its shame.

They name thee before me,
A knell to mine ear;
A shudder comes o'er me--
Why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee,
Who knew thee too well:
Long, long shall I rue thee,
Too deeply to tell.

In secret we met---
In silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?
With silence and tears.

Poem - George Gordon Byron, Lord Byron. 1788-1824
Image - The Convalescent (detail) Gwen John. 1876-1939