Nature in, Nature out : Numbers 66 & 101

my winter display, photo taken through mirror

Number 66 on my 101 Things in 1001 Days reads: Bring indoors finds of nature for each season of a year and display it. This is my Winter display. Winter in Britain is green, but not in a lack of snow way, I mean really green. Lushly, deeply and richly. Graceful ivy dress the trees, brambles cover the ground and the moss is a glowing carpet.

The curled up beech leaves, on the ground and the few on the bare branches, balance the greenery with their deep browns. This with a few sprigs of wild honeysuckle, some early snowdrops and a twig with dark shiny buds is what I thought represented winter to me. I left the mud out, though that is probably what reminds me the most of which season we are in. :)

Number 101 is: Go for a walk through the woods every day for two months and collect one small thing every time to bring home and keep. I have a very modest collection so far - an ash twig, a beech nutshell, a berry, a beech leaf (not in photo) and a piece of moss. Tomorrow on our Sunday walk I can't wait to see what we'll find when we have time to wander further afield. This treasure hunting idea has worked a treat so far, in just five days I've braved rain, thunder and lightning, grey skies and damp drizzle to go out finding. What do you find on your walks?

Comments

[Marie]

You have a beautiful blogg! The photos are amazing!

[Marie]

You have a beautiful blogg! The photos are amazing!

[chocolate covered musings]

WOW! beautiful photos and wonderful ideas! i'm a bit of a nature collector myself (or used to be back home in NZ). for me it was usually shells or something from the beach that would end up going home with me in my pocket.

i'd love to come and visit you sometime and go for a walk in the woods on a collection outing. i think we could have a ton of fun.

i *love* all the little jars and things you have your collections in, they really appeal to me (also things i used to pick up from thrift shops back home - small pottery or crystal bowls).

you are a woman after my own heart. you have also inspired me to start my own 101 things list. i have seen a few others but none which has inspired me as much as yours.

oh, and i have to know where you got that beautiful white platter in your last photo from? i am unashamedly coveting one of those.

xo
-leonie

ps. please email me your address? i'd like to send you something

[linni]

I walked yesterday, and came across a whole little corner on the road full of snowdrops...and immediately thought of you! They are...you are...:-)

delicate....beautiful....tender...soft...
i love things simple...plain...and soft...
they are perfect! xx

[Marie]

The words from The prophet by Kahlil Gibran are so beautiful! And true!
Have a nice Sunday :)

[Marilyn]

Wow, you're going to have quite a collection after 2 months! :) Beautiful...the post...the images...and the collection.

[Chloe]

Oh I admire your tenacity to brave the elements. I’ve been a wimp this last month-staying wrapped up indoors where it’s warm. I’m longing for spring. Looking at your collection though, makes me want to step out with fresh eyes to see what treasures I might come across. Creating a display for each season is a great way to connect with the rhythms of the earth. Great idea.

[Oceangypsy]

I love the pictures!
It has become pretty warm and rainy over here, but I'm still hoping for a little bit of snow until the end of February.
I scarcely bring things home from my walks. Don't know why, anyway. But it's wonderful looking at your collection! Your compositions always look enchanting.

[PixieDust]

This is so magical... such beauty you bring into your home, and therefore into ours...

Love you!

(((HUGS))),
Love,
me

[joan]

Oh Caroline,
Such incredible beauty and light... every little thing just speaks to my heart.

I too am a collector of natures little treasures and am a firm believer of nature in, nature out.

Thank you for this post... it truly inspired me :)

love....
joan

[susanna]

Now this is my kind of display! I like the idea of representing the season through a little display or a shrine. The branch hanging over the mantle has such graceful lines and the branch sitting on top of the mantle reminds me of a wishbone or a water-finding stick. Your description of winter in the UK has me longing for Spring here in the North East United States. We have such a lack of colour in my part of the world this time of year. It's all black, brown, grey, white if it snows, and muted yellows here. Ah well...there's beauty in this landscape, too. Still, I like your mantle quite alot. :)

[Anne Marie]

I love the white "plate" you use to display your magical forest finds. I'll be searching for something similar; I love the simplicity of it.

...This has been such a tough week and spending time with you here gives energy and reminds me that life goes on and that there are other more important thing in life that I need to keep in mind, and not lose track of. Like a walk in brave rain and thunder and lightning. I need to do that at least once during 2008.