May mix

Warm April

 

frog spawn

 

 

 

 

Update on fundraising

Totting up all donations raised in the last few months for Greenpeace from 'crafting for the Arctic' comes to nearly £25 - a cheque will go in the post to them this week. There will be more fund raising stalls later this year, anyone willing to help would be very welcome, just get in touch. Lots of 'craft creatures - badges, cards, etc. left for anyone who would like to donate a £1.

 
 

Ryde pop-up library & Greenpeace I love Arctic

Sunny Saturday 

Although I lost the rainbow bunting for the stall, it all looked good in the end. 'Greenpeace' came up with the display goodies in time for the event: banner, sheets of 'I love Arctic' stickers and proper, sealed collection boxes. Squeezed onto a tiny folding table were the 'crafting for the Arctic' collection of knitted, crocheted, felted creatures and lino printed cards. The wind did it's best to send everything flying off the stall, glad for the roll of sellotape!

Ryde library team's display board  toppled over when a sudden gust of wind caught it, fortunately no one was badly hurt. The pop-up library was a great success, celebrating 'World Book Night' by giving away free books. I got Jackie Kay's 'Red Dust Road' which I'm really looking forward to reading, as she's a brilliant poet too. There was lots of choice, and within a short time they were down to the last book.

There was quite a buzz in the square with market stalls. Local suppliers of meat, eggs, plants, makers of special breads, and other delicious food. The young man selling 'The Big issue' patiently stood holding his papers, smiling at the passers by. 'Superman's' mum tried to explain to her young son what the Arctic was all about, as I handed him a sticker. Quite a lot for a five year old to take in.    

 

Greenpeace news - local & international

The latest updates from Greenpeace. Peaceroutes will be raising funds for Greenpeace from 'crafting for the Arctic'. Thanks to everyone who helped make 'items for Greenpeace, and those who manned the Greenpeace table at the sustainability event last month, and those who have kindly donated. All monies raised will be added to this Saturday's fundraiser.

Other ways to give

• • Greenpeace Giving
  • Greenpeace credit card
  • Natural Collection catalogue
  • Leave a legacy

 

Project Aurora - a Journey to Save the Arctic

A group of young people has just returned from the North Pole, where they went to declare it protected on behalf of all life on Earth. Backed by millions, they planted a flag for the future on the seabed and called for a sanctuary in the uninhabited area around the pole.

Global day of action: We love the Arctic, Saturday April 20

Posted by Nic S - 16 April 2013 at 2:24pm - 1 Comment

As the ice melts, oil companies are threatening the pristine Arctic with industrial disaster. On Saturday, April 20, the world is calling for action to protect the Arctic for all of humanity.  Join the global day of action near you and be part of the urgent call for Arctic protection, because what happens in the Arctic affects us all.
Thousands of us around the world will come together to send a clear message to anyone who wants to profit from Arctic destruction – we love the Arctic. The pictures, films and messages we make will be delivered to Kiruna – a small town in Sweden – where the leaders of the Arctic Council will meet in May to discuss the destiny of the place at the top of the world which affects us all. They need to know that we're watching.

Butterfly

Today's sun has given a boost to the batteries. A welcome sight was a couple of bees inside a local garden centre dipping into the display of geraniums, but behaving very disorientated. A first glimpse of a little brown butterfly that had been basking in the sun flew up and away. Hopefully more will follow.


 

Birds-eye-view

Here's a link to a site that has the latest film from director Annemarie Jacir and the film that is being hosted at the birds-eye-film festival in London called 'When I saw you'. The festival is celebrating Arab women from the 3-10th of April. BBC radio 4 film programme had an interview conducted by Francine Stock, of particular interest was the discussion about the film 'Argo' and the portrayal of Iran in films.

http://news.birds-eye-view.co.uk/2013/03/20/interview-when-i-saw-you-annemarie-jacir/#more-5679

 

Date for your diary

 

 

AUTHOR MILAN RAI & ARTIST EMILY JOHNS

 

Talk about their trip to Iran as part of a peace delegation

 

 

FRIDAY MAY 3rd

7.30p.m.

 

METHODIST CHURCH

GRAFTON STREET

RYDE

 

The Rose and the Nightingale
artwork by Emily Johns

'Culturally, 'Persia' has been a potent influence on the British imagination - on poetry, on theatre, on story-telling and on ceramics.' Emily Johns


Refreshments, snacks and Fairly traded items for sale



 

Small Things

A 'U' rated exhibition! Family friendly for Spring at Ryde library. 'Small things' includes photos, collage and poetry.

Opening times:-
Monday, Tuesday, Friday  9-5.30
Wednesday 10.30-7
Thursday CLOSED
Saturday 9-5



ducklings

Can you identify the wildflowers and insects included in the photos in the exhibition? Chick, chick, chick, chick, chicken lay a little egg for me - can you spot the eggs in the collages? Check out the lounging lizards and badgers included in the poems. 

Thanks to Angie for her special help with materials.









 

Birthday celebrations

 

 

As part of the sustainability event (11a.m. -4p.m.) in East Cowes Town Hall on Sunday 24th. There will be tree planting, music and cake at the Frank James Hospital birthday celebration.

East Cowes should be buzzing with the sounds of Fat Samba drummers starting the party atmosphere at around 12p.m. at Frank James.  

Mixed March

Some dates for your diary

Wednesday 20th March Spring Equinox A silent meditation at Brading Roman Villa from 3p.m. organised and led by the Transcendental meditation group

Sunday 24th March Sustainability show at East Cowes Town Hall 11a.m.-4p.m

Thursday 28th March 12-2p.m. Peace meeting Co-operative funeral care centre, Sandown

Monday 1st April 'Small things' exhibition Ryde library

 

March moments

Diary dates
Please note:-  Peace meeting cancelled this Thursday (14th)

Forget me nots

Pied wagtail

Red squirrel

sheeps wool caught by bramble
 

February feast

February & March events

Dates for your diary

Sunday February 24th from 10.30 - 3p.m. Northwood House, Cowes antiques fayre.
for details click on this link http://www.northwoodhouse.org/whatson.htm Sue will be manning a stall and raising funds for the local badger trust, and raising awareness of the impending cull, and its ramifications on badger populations.

Thursday 28th February peace meeting at Co-op Funeral care centre, Sandown 12 - 2p.m.
 
Saturday 2nd March 11a.m. - 1p.m. Fairtrade event featuring stalls selling a range of goods at the McAuley centre in Newport.

 

Last years offering

 

January snow snap

characters from the crafting for the Arctic group

A reminder. If you've planned to come along to the peace meeting this week, and/or, the crafting session tomorrow (Monday), please make sure that it's safe to do so. Meetings will be cancelled when the weather is bad, so please check first.

Bullfinch through the window

Blackbird prints in the snow

What a thrill to see a pair of Bullfinches in the hedge yesterday. This photo doesn't do this rosy bird justice, as it was taken through a misty window. The female was busy hovering over the shrivelled blackberries dangling on the  bushes, taking the tiny seeds from it. A good reason to let blackberries be, and not tidy them up in Autumn. The female doesn't have the stunning colour of the male and is less easy to identify. 

Arctic craftin'

Polar bears sporting Greenpeace
rainbow colours
what do you call a group of polar bears?

New Year New Projects !
If you can spare some time get 'crafty for the Arctic'.
Knitting, sewing, whittling, tiling etc. etc.  http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/arcticcrafts
where you can download the crafting pack, full of ideas to get started, or come up with your own creations.

If you want to join in with a group on the Island contact me directly via this blog, or come along to the meeting on Thursday to find out more.

Dates for your diary 
Meetings held every other Thursday 12-2p.m.
January 10th and 24th

From Shiva & Tarananda 
Big Heart - years blessing Mantra yoga workshop at the Unitarian Meeting room, Newport (opp. County Hall)
This weekend 12th & 13th Jan.
10.30-6p.m. each day (bring veggie lunch to share) £40 for whole weekend telephone 07853065999 to book a place.

If you are interested in joining a water colour painting group, please let me know, Suitable for all ages and abilities.