Thank you Michela for yet another wonderful post, I so look forward to reading and listening to them. Lockdown really seems like a dream now. Like you, we are in the countryside and always felt almost one step removed from it. There was the occasional visit to our nearest town to the small Co-op that brought it all into a brief sharp focus but even that has taken on a dream or nightmare like quality in my memory now. As a farmer I probably spend far too much time looking at the sky and discussing the weather with my neighbours but it is never less than interesting and sometimes it stops me in my tracks with its awe-inspiring splendour. Your little squares of Lockdown Sky tell such an amazing story and also remind me of how often we have similar weather to you due to our little bit of north facing coastline. Thanks again and apologies for rambling on, D
Ramble away Dave, it’s always good to hear from you. I’m glad that you are enjoying these letters. I’m guilty of always checking the forecast, weighing up the possibilities. The past week has again reminded me just to get out, irrespective, and it’s a joy to watch the light shift and the showers pass.
Another beautiful piece with wonderful artwork, Michela. I love listening to your audio as I sit at my kitchen table watching the birds skittering across the fields - and listening to species in your background that I do not hear up here! I feel, after listening, that I haven't given clouds the attention they deserve. Today I'll be looking up not just at birds but also at the ever changing clouds. Thank you. And thank you also for including a link to bird lung. I'm glad it spoke to you, even if not in the lightest of ways.
Thank you Rebecca. We’re fortunate to have a good number and variety of birds here, something that I don’t take for granted. I welcome their company when I’m out and delight in seeing them at the feeders. So vibrant, such personalities. The valley here is broad, the sky big, and looking at the clouds means that even grey days have a silver lining. I hope you find the same.
Beautiful words and images, as always Michela. I have always loved looking for shapes in the clouds, so my gaze is often drawn upwards too. I like to try to identify the types of cloud, though I'm not very good at it! Your voice is soothing and I enjoyed listening to the birdsong. A woodpecker drumming briefly near the start?
I too read Bird Lung by the wonderful Rebecca, and felt shame. And heartbreak and despair. I wish I had faith that things could change- sadly I don't- but her advice about doing small things in her article on kindness helped.
Thanks Linda. Yes, a woodpecker (great spotted). They are regular visitors to the garden and dominate the peanut feeder to the extent that we have renamed them ’greedypeckers’.
Unfortunately I share your pessimism. I wish I didn’t.
The buzzard’s there even when not seen. Thank you for offering us tranquility in the midst of turbulence—eye of the hurricane or maybe just the buzzard, again.
You’re welcome Rob. This makes me think of a line by Richard Skelton, referring to a kestrel skull ‘which once held the sky and six square miles of vole-earth’.
Beautiful as always. I love the sketches, and I love ever more blue!
Thank you Sophie! I’m really enjoying the sketching, and it feels like the sky is a nice counterpoint to photographing small details.
LOVE ever more blue! It's a diary of the sky without words!
Thank you Sarah. Sometime maybe it’s an idea to revisit, a daily record. Perhaps the next iteration may be in graphite!
Thank you Michela for yet another wonderful post, I so look forward to reading and listening to them. Lockdown really seems like a dream now. Like you, we are in the countryside and always felt almost one step removed from it. There was the occasional visit to our nearest town to the small Co-op that brought it all into a brief sharp focus but even that has taken on a dream or nightmare like quality in my memory now. As a farmer I probably spend far too much time looking at the sky and discussing the weather with my neighbours but it is never less than interesting and sometimes it stops me in my tracks with its awe-inspiring splendour. Your little squares of Lockdown Sky tell such an amazing story and also remind me of how often we have similar weather to you due to our little bit of north facing coastline. Thanks again and apologies for rambling on, D
Ramble away Dave, it’s always good to hear from you. I’m glad that you are enjoying these letters. I’m guilty of always checking the forecast, weighing up the possibilities. The past week has again reminded me just to get out, irrespective, and it’s a joy to watch the light shift and the showers pass.
Another beautiful piece with wonderful artwork, Michela. I love listening to your audio as I sit at my kitchen table watching the birds skittering across the fields - and listening to species in your background that I do not hear up here! I feel, after listening, that I haven't given clouds the attention they deserve. Today I'll be looking up not just at birds but also at the ever changing clouds. Thank you. And thank you also for including a link to bird lung. I'm glad it spoke to you, even if not in the lightest of ways.
Thank you Rebecca. We’re fortunate to have a good number and variety of birds here, something that I don’t take for granted. I welcome their company when I’m out and delight in seeing them at the feeders. So vibrant, such personalities. The valley here is broad, the sky big, and looking at the clouds means that even grey days have a silver lining. I hope you find the same.
Beautiful words and images, as always Michela. I have always loved looking for shapes in the clouds, so my gaze is often drawn upwards too. I like to try to identify the types of cloud, though I'm not very good at it! Your voice is soothing and I enjoyed listening to the birdsong. A woodpecker drumming briefly near the start?
I too read Bird Lung by the wonderful Rebecca, and felt shame. And heartbreak and despair. I wish I had faith that things could change- sadly I don't- but her advice about doing small things in her article on kindness helped.
Thanks Linda. Yes, a woodpecker (great spotted). They are regular visitors to the garden and dominate the peanut feeder to the extent that we have renamed them ’greedypeckers’.
Unfortunately I share your pessimism. I wish I didn’t.
Thanks for all your vibrant photographs.
Beautiful -- the words, the images... thank you
You’re very welcome Jan, thank you in turn.
One of the most stirring and beautiful pieces that I've read all week. Thank you. x
You’re very welcome Erica. So happy that you found this letter. Your kind words have brightened my morning.
Thanks to @Manuela Thames for spooling out the thread.
Wonderful clouds!
Thanks Amy. Monochrome does tend to pull out the drama.
Just beautiful!
Thank you Manuela, I enjoyed putting this together for you.
So beautiful Michela--in images and words.
Thank you Leslie, I am pleased that you enjoyed this.
The buzzard’s there even when not seen. Thank you for offering us tranquility in the midst of turbulence—eye of the hurricane or maybe just the buzzard, again.
You’re welcome Rob. This makes me think of a line by Richard Skelton, referring to a kestrel skull ‘which once held the sky and six square miles of vole-earth’.
I love your practice of photographing the sky. I often enjoy looking at it. Especially clouds. So why not record it every day.
Thanks Lisa. The more we look at anything, the more we realise how many subtle changes we easily miss.