Friday 24 April 2009

The swallows are home



I have been leaving the top door open at the workshop for the last couple of weeks for the return of the swallows.When I took on the workshop last year there were a pair nesting at the top end of the space above some old milking pipes.I worried at the time I might disturb them,but they didn,t seem too bothered about me or the sounds of me working,or my music.They raised a healthy brood and the sight of them at the end of the summer darting about the sky above the yard,fattening up for the long journey ahead was joyful.

Last week I noticed one on an old weather vein above one of the barns,but wasn't sure weather it was come home or passing by.This morning I noticed on arrival some fresh droppings in the corner by the nestand my hopes were confirmed when I looked up from wiring in my new stereo at some cheeping and there on the wire near the nest was a swallow,I remain hopeful it will have a mate and I will have the joy of having a new brood raised alongside me this year.I will keep you posted.I took a couple more pics inside the workshop and have put them on even though they are not that good.The table and benches you can see are off to a new home in Cornwall on sunday which will free up some space again.









4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice to know your Swallows have returned safely.
I love your workshop, mine is a fraction of that size.
How long have you been carving?

paul said...

I started about six years ago with a limited selection of chisels (1 inch and 1 half inch chisel,I did the seat of a chair with lots of circles,which as you can imagine was fun ,then a chair with some geese carved on the back.I progressed from there and have a good array of chisels now.I have always drawn and the carving is an extension of that'I love to do something that takes a long time (months ) and always have it there to thjink about and look forward to continuing .For the relief of finishing each piece I feel dissapointment in no longer having it as a sort of living friend I have got to know.suddenly it is still.

Becky said...

Still waiting for a Swallow Update. :) I do hope you have a new family sharing your nest. You write about it so beautifully.

It must be hard when you finish a piece after all the time you've spent with it. But while it then becomes "still" for you, its life will be newly appreciated by those who are drawn to it and take it home.

Anonymous said...

saw some of your pieces over on doug's blog again... beautiful carving, i particularly like the chair


applewood lampshade

OLD

Its in the memory of birds this age
The post on which to perch to proclaim mornings glory
the spots of the past where the pickings are richest
the ancestors favourites ,the old places

Its in the roots of the trees this age
As they suck in the leaves as they fall
with some knowledge returning to earth to roots
to nature,to nurture, to be reborn

its in the stones the oldness
the mothers bones exposed less
where moss and lichens creeping hand paints steadily
and the birdsong is distant like fading memories

About Me

My photo
deepest, devon, United Kingdom
I don't know what I am but i know what i like.poetry, art and chipping at or joining together chunks of old wood,whilst listening to some good roots reggae or dub, world/folk music or blues all balanced by some good old punk rock.



solid oak post 3.5 feet high

rescued from collapsed original part of house in the dombseday book

I started with the natural bursts as eyes and soon got two faces

East,West Forwards and Back the green man is everywhere

The darker colours are the oxidisation of the exposed bits of outer timber over the many years

this piece took two months to carve.An allowance i made to myself for the first 2 months of this year.

which way to mordor