It’s dark here in England, as dark as I’ve ever known. Even at seven in the morning, it’s night. The sun doesn’t rise till just past eight, and it goes down before four. And if it’s cloudy, light is even scarcer.
But there are compensations.
One came last night, when I found myself sitting in the warm glow of an Oxford pub with other children’s writers, talking about how we write and why we write and why it’s worth the struggle. It doesn’t hurt that the pub is one where Tolkien and Lewis and the Inklings sometimes met, and where Thomas Hardy is thought to have written Jude the Obscure. But really, it was the writers who were there last night, gathered around the battered table, who made my evening bright.
And although it’s bitterly cold here, there are compensations for that, too. When I was growing up, I often woke to winter windows etched white with whorls and ferns of ice, but here in England Jack Frost works on a larger scale, gilding every twig and leaf and blade of grass. The other night he outdid himself, and we woke up in faerieland:
Wishing you all brightness and light in these dark days!
Anonymous said:
Wow, those leaves don’t look real! Yay for the writing circle AND the pub!
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Thanks, Becky. I think we left reality behind that morning. It was astonishingly beautiful!
beckylevine said:
Wow, those leaves don’t look real! Yay for the writing circle AND the pub!
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Thanks, Becky. I think we left reality behind that morning. It was astonishingly beautiful!
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Thanks, Becky. I think we left reality behind that morning. It was astonishingly beautiful!
beckylevine said:
Wow, those leaves don’t look real! Yay for the writing circle AND the pub!
Anonymous said:
I’ve been absent from LJ so am just seeing these photos, Amy. They’re absolutely gorgeous. Just beautiful.
Also, a little birdie told me it’s your special day today so I’m here to wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hoping your day and the coming year are filled with much joy and laughter and lots of love.
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Thanks so much for those sweet birthday wishes, Tracy! Holiday chaos has kept me away from LJ and all kinds of other things lately, but I’ll be back in the new year, if not sooner. And in the meantime I’m sending lots of good wishes your way!
tracyworld said:
I’ve been absent from LJ so am just seeing these photos, Amy. They’re absolutely gorgeous. Just beautiful.
Also, a little birdie told me it’s your special day today so I’m here to wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hoping your day and the coming year are filled with much joy and laughter and lots of love.
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Thanks so much for those sweet birthday wishes, Tracy! Holiday chaos has kept me away from LJ and all kinds of other things lately, but I’ll be back in the new year, if not sooner. And in the meantime I’m sending lots of good wishes your way!
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Thanks so much for those sweet birthday wishes, Tracy! Holiday chaos has kept me away from LJ and all kinds of other things lately, but I’ll be back in the new year, if not sooner. And in the meantime I’m sending lots of good wishes your way!
tracyworld said:
I’ve been absent from LJ so am just seeing these photos, Amy. They’re absolutely gorgeous. Just beautiful.
Also, a little birdie told me it’s your special day today so I’m here to wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hoping your day and the coming year are filled with much joy and laughter and lots of love.
tracyworld said:
I’ve been absent from LJ so am just seeing these photos, Amy. They’re absolutely gorgeous. Just beautiful.
Also, a little birdie told me it’s your special day today so I’m here to wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hoping your day and the coming year are filled with much joy and laughter and lots of love.
Anonymous said:
Ooooh.
Aaaaah.
This blog entry is GORGEOUS!!!
I feel like I just receieved a ginormous present–and on *your* birthday! I hadn’t seen it before just now, and were it not for the fact that I stopped by to wish you a wonderful b’day, I might have missed it altogether. Seriously, I could stay here all day, getting lost in those tree limbs, frosted leaves, flocked spider webs…Nature’s miracles, all of them.
Happy Birthday, my friend! Wishing you a magical year to come!
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos, Melodye! I’ve been absent from LJ for a while, just trying to keep up with things here at home, but I do miss your voice and the companionship we all have here. I’ll be back soon, and meanwhile I hope the season showers you with peace, inspiration, and magic!
newport2newport said:
Ooooh.
Aaaaah.
This blog entry is GORGEOUS!!!
I feel like I just receieved a ginormous present–and on *your* birthday! I hadn’t seen it before just now, and were it not for the fact that I stopped by to wish you a wonderful b’day, I might have missed it altogether. Seriously, I could stay here all day, getting lost in those tree limbs, frosted leaves, flocked spider webs…Nature’s miracles, all of them.
Happy Birthday, my friend! Wishing you a magical year to come!
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos, Melodye! I’ve been absent from LJ for a while, just trying to keep up with things here at home, but I do miss your voice and the companionship we all have here. I’ll be back soon, and meanwhile I hope the season showers you with peace, inspiration, and magic!
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos, Melodye! I’ve been absent from LJ for a while, just trying to keep up with things here at home, but I do miss your voice and the companionship we all have here. I’ll be back soon, and meanwhile I hope the season showers you with peace, inspiration, and magic!
newport2newport said:
Ooooh.
Aaaaah.
This blog entry is GORGEOUS!!!
I feel like I just receieved a ginormous present–and on *your* birthday! I hadn’t seen it before just now, and were it not for the fact that I stopped by to wish you a wonderful b’day, I might have missed it altogether. Seriously, I could stay here all day, getting lost in those tree limbs, frosted leaves, flocked spider webs…Nature’s miracles, all of them.
Happy Birthday, my friend! Wishing you a magical year to come!
newport2newport said:
Ooooh.
Aaaaah.
This blog entry is GORGEOUS!!!
I feel like I just receieved a ginormous present–and on *your* birthday! I hadn’t seen it before just now, and were it not for the fact that I stopped by to wish you a wonderful b’day, I might have missed it altogether. Seriously, I could stay here all day, getting lost in those tree limbs, frosted leaves, flocked spider webs…Nature’s miracles, all of them.
Happy Birthday, my friend! Wishing you a magical year to come!
Anonymous said:
Ooh, how did I miss two of your beautiful posts? These photos are wonderful, and it makes me imagine you and Sweetpea wondering through paths here and there and discovering the fairy art left behind.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Amy. It’s always a joy to connect with you through LJ, and I hope someday to be able to come visit you in your new country.
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Lorraine, sorry to be so late to reply! I’ve kind of fallen off the edge of the blogosphere here. But it’s always such a pleasure to hear from you. I hope you had wonderful holidays, and that 2011 brings you inspiration, joy, and lots of satisfying writing time. And I will keep my fingers crossed about that visit! It would be SO lovely to have you here.
lorrainemt said:
Ooh, how did I miss two of your beautiful posts? These photos are wonderful, and it makes me imagine you and Sweetpea wondering through paths here and there and discovering the fairy art left behind.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Amy. It’s always a joy to connect with you through LJ, and I hope someday to be able to come visit you in your new country.
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Lorraine, sorry to be so late to reply! I’ve kind of fallen off the edge of the blogosphere here. But it’s always such a pleasure to hear from you. I hope you had wonderful holidays, and that 2011 brings you inspiration, joy, and lots of satisfying writing time. And I will keep my fingers crossed about that visit! It would be SO lovely to have you here.
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Lorraine, sorry to be so late to reply! I’ve kind of fallen off the edge of the blogosphere here. But it’s always such a pleasure to hear from you. I hope you had wonderful holidays, and that 2011 brings you inspiration, joy, and lots of satisfying writing time. And I will keep my fingers crossed about that visit! It would be SO lovely to have you here.
lorrainemt said:
Ooh, how did I miss two of your beautiful posts? These photos are wonderful, and it makes me imagine you and Sweetpea wondering through paths here and there and discovering the fairy art left behind.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Amy. It’s always a joy to connect with you through LJ, and I hope someday to be able to come visit you in your new country.
lorrainemt said:
Ooh, how did I miss two of your beautiful posts? These photos are wonderful, and it makes me imagine you and Sweetpea wondering through paths here and there and discovering the fairy art left behind.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Amy. It’s always a joy to connect with you through LJ, and I hope someday to be able to come visit you in your new country.
Anonymous said:
Those are wonderful photos!
Amy, I wanted to thank you for your recommendation of Elise Broach’s “Masterpiece” in a comment you left on Jeannine’s blog about the Durer show we saw. I bought the book and just finished it last night, and really liked it. So… thanks! — Peter
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Peter, I’m sorry to be so late in replying! It’s wonderful to hear how much you liked the book. More on that in another moment, in your blog comments…
peterlaird said:
Those are wonderful photos!
Amy, I wanted to thank you for your recommendation of Elise Broach’s “Masterpiece” in a comment you left on Jeannine’s blog about the Durer show we saw. I bought the book and just finished it last night, and really liked it. So… thanks! — Peter
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Peter, I’m sorry to be so late in replying! It’s wonderful to hear how much you liked the book. More on that in another moment, in your blog comments…
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Peter, I’m sorry to be so late in replying! It’s wonderful to hear how much you liked the book. More on that in another moment, in your blog comments…
peterlaird said:
Those are wonderful photos!
Amy, I wanted to thank you for your recommendation of Elise Broach’s “Masterpiece” in a comment you left on Jeannine’s blog about the Durer show we saw. I bought the book and just finished it last night, and really liked it. So… thanks! — Peter
peterlaird said:
Those are wonderful photos!
Amy, I wanted to thank you for your recommendation of Elise Broach’s “Masterpiece” in a comment you left on Jeannine’s blog about the Durer show we saw. I bought the book and just finished it last night, and really liked it. So… thanks! — Peter
susanwrites said:
Oh my, what amazing photographs. They are beautiful, Amy.
And how much do I love the image I now have of you hanging out in that pub? Lots!
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Wish you could’ve been there with us, Susan! I think you’d have liked it.
susanwrites said:
Now wouldn’t that have been fun to sit across from you at the pub!
susanwrites said:
Oh my, what amazing photographs. They are beautiful, Amy.
And how much do I love the image I now have of you hanging out in that pub? Lots!
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Wish you could’ve been there with us, Susan! I think you’d have liked it.
susanwrites said:
Now wouldn’t that have been fun to sit across from you at the pub!
susanwrites said:
Now wouldn’t that have been fun to sit across from you at the pub!
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
Wish you could’ve been there with us, Susan! I think you’d have liked it.
susanwrites said:
Oh my, what amazing photographs. They are beautiful, Amy.
And how much do I love the image I now have of you hanging out in that pub? Lots!
susanwrites said:
Oh my, what amazing photographs. They are beautiful, Amy.
And how much do I love the image I now have of you hanging out in that pub? Lots!
kitlovesbooks said:
Just saw this, somehow the blog thing has dropped off my radar the past few months. Extraordinary and beautiful pictures! But what I loved most was picturing you talking with other writers where Hardy and Inklings have talked before you, wonderful! Glad you’ve found some other writers.
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
To tell the truth, the blog thing sometimes drops off my radar, too! But I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos. And I really wish you could’ve been there that night in the pub. You would have liked it very much!
kitlovesbooks said:
Just saw this, somehow the blog thing has dropped off my radar the past few months. Extraordinary and beautiful pictures! But what I loved most was picturing you talking with other writers where Hardy and Inklings have talked before you, wonderful! Glad you’ve found some other writers.
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
To tell the truth, the blog thing sometimes drops off my radar, too! But I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos. And I really wish you could’ve been there that night in the pub. You would have liked it very much!
Amy Butler Greenfield said:
To tell the truth, the blog thing sometimes drops off my radar, too! But I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos. And I really wish you could’ve been there that night in the pub. You would have liked it very much!
kitlovesbooks said:
Just saw this, somehow the blog thing has dropped off my radar the past few months. Extraordinary and beautiful pictures! But what I loved most was picturing you talking with other writers where Hardy and Inklings have talked before you, wonderful! Glad you’ve found some other writers.