Suddenly it is the middle of May and the sound of birdsong envelops me in the garden and fields. I try to recognise patterns of song and gaze upwards after a long cold wet Spring where my focus felt inwards.
New broods of blackbirds in the yard, robins watching me turn earth and plant seedlings, chiffchaffs in the field. The swallows have returned, flying and calling at dusk as we walk, and the swifts – heard first and with a rush of hope I look up to scan the skies…
I have made several recordings over the past year of sparrows chattering in the hedge. Some rich warm dye from onion shells inspired me to have a go at printing on cloth as well as paper – a little linocut of a sparrow.
Time to think of dye pots outdoors and this year I think I will continue to work on carving and printing…
susibancroft 