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Friday, November 19, 2010

A Country Still Life

 


"It was a cold still afternoon with a hard steely sky overhead, when he slipped out of the warm parlour into the open air.



The country lay bare and entirely leafless around him, and he thought that he had never seen so far and so intimately into the insides of things as on that winter day when Nature was deep in her annual slumber and seemed to have kicked the clothes off.


Copses, dells, quarries and all hidden places, which had been mysterious mines for exploration in leafy summer, now exposed themselves and their secrets pathetically, and seemed to ask him to overlook their shabby poverty for a while, til they could riot in rich masquerade as before, and trick and entice him with the old deceptions.


It was pitiful in a way, and yet cheering--even exhilarating. He was glad that he liked the country undecorated, hard, and stripped of its finery.



He had got down to the bare bones of it, and they were fine and strong and simple.



He did not want the warm clover and the play of seeding grasses; the screens of quickset, the billowy drapery of beech and elm seemed best away;


and with great cheerfulness of spirit he pushed on towards the Wild Wood, which lay before him low and threatening, like a black reef in some still southern sea."

The Wind in the Willows, The Wild Wood chapter, by Kenneth Grahame


I hope you enjoy going over the river and through the woods
this week.



Thanks so much for stopping by!
Ciao! for now!

Jacqueline

I'm linking to Color Outside the Lines for Vignette Fridays!
Click on the link to view more lovely vignettes.

20 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post this evening! And I also luv the antique book that is a great find....Julian

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  2. Everything looks so pretty placed in the basket! The dog picture is wonderful.

    Kathy

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  3. A lovely vignette of your treasures, excellent photography as always, and what a perfect excerpt. Another beautiful post.

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  4. Love the blog. You like what I like--vintage books, brown transferware, and clocks.

    So glad I found you through Artie's blog.

    Kathy, All About Vignettes

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  5. Oh Jacqueline that was so beautiful and the perfect way to end the week and look forward to this weekend....
    I am definitely going to take the time to walk outside and enjoy all the beauty this time of year brings in Mother Nature's simplicity as she readies for the long slumber....
    Have a fine weekend!
    Tina xo

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  6. This has to be your best to date, and that is saying a lot!

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  7. Jacqueline, that was absolutely beautiful. I don't think I have ever read the WInd in the WIllows. Shame on me!
    I am going to pull it off our shelf today. Your photos are spot on with the text and the dog laying by feet at this moment looks just like the one the photo except with a shaggy tail :)

    Best wishes

    Jeanne xx

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  8. Gorgeous vignette. I love it. Wonderful post. Hugs, Marty

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  9. I love all your beautiful vignettes!!!

    Take care,
    Carolyn

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  10. What a stunning little vignette....just beautiful!
    Kristen

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  11. Hi Jaqueline, What a great vignette! Beautiful!
    Bella

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  12. what a pretty display! I can't spell vingnet! and spell checker can't figure out what I want!

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  13. Jacqueline, you are a master at this. Gorgeous vignette and the perfect images for the words of the Wild Wood chapter. Elegant and moving!

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  14. Lovely post with beautiful pictures!! We are celebrating tomorrow evening with my parents and family.
    Blessings~

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  15. The Wind in the Willows is one of my all time favorite books! So pastoral and lovely. I adore all the country/outdoorsy elements to this post!

    Kelly

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  16. Beautiful basket vignette...the brown transferware looks lovely with the embroidered linens.

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  17. Beautiful story and post and photos and basket and all the goodies in it. I am so delighted for the visit.

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  18. Jacqueline, this is so very beautifully elegant. I love your photographic 'eye'.

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