dressage test

It's as cold as a cathedral as well
this huge sacred space

where hooves whisper
on the raked sandy floor
and spectators have taken a vow of silence,

rituals of movement and control
absorb each pair of supplicants,
shining, neat,
anonymous and uniform,

the life of stable and field
has no place here

partnerships offered for
a stranger's approval

Tulip mania

It's the time when my tulip mania begins.

If I was very wealthy I would have millions of them.

Here are the first two types in my garden.

Some fantastic parrot tulips are not far behind.

springtime feline haiku

at last spring is here -
from bright unfurling petals
a cat emerges

One More Parsifal Knitted Greetings Card, and then no more!

  I had to make a couple of Flower Maidens, to meet up with the knitted Parsifal in the flowery meadow.
The caption says 'the Flower Maidens dream of their lovers, and the beautiful youth, Parsifal.'

I think that's it now for knitted Parsifal, but...

Parsifal Knitted Fingerpuppet Greetings Card

 I liked the idea of a fingerpuppet Parsifal.
It seemed logical to put him
on a greetings card, and
collage the meadow round him.

Originally I had a horse planned as well, but then
discovered that he was on foot!

Parsifal Cupcakes

My friend Peter and I went to hear the Mariinsky Opera presenting a concert performance of Parsifal. After the second act, there was an hour long interval, and we settled down for a picnic. Peter provided wine and delicious sandwiches, and I was in charge of dessert. What would Wagner have liked, I wondered - and decided lemon drizzle cake, and PARSIFAL cupcakes. Delicious.