Seemed like a good idea at the time. The Christmas tree was tinder dry but I never imagined that the meadow would be so dry too. Who would expect that in the middle of an Irish winter?
It happened fast. While I was trying to figure out some fancy camera settings, the blaze took off. The drama of a raging fire not too far from the house, obliterates all other thoughts. Betwixt and between taking the photos and stamping out the increasing flames I started to shout my head off .......but didn't put the camera down! Hey that's fire for you, it demands your full attention, but on the other hand the creative process is also a kind of flame that luckily is also hard to subdue.
I am not a fire woman at all! More of a water soul. So to be this close to such a powerful and overwhelming furnace of a fire, with glowing sparks flying in all directions, took my breath away.
I needed to put out the burning meadow fire alright but that little flame of creativity, the one that has persisted in spite of damp drizzly conditions at times, that one I decided, I would nurture and protect and encourage to spread. Mmmm .......hopefully it will spread like wildfire and even more sparks will fly!
Stunning photo!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteПотрЯсаюЩе!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI translated you as I always do on google translate. You said Awesome! That's very kind thank you!
DeleteWow! Great photos. Yes, it's surprising how well some things burn.
ReplyDeleteA bit too well! Thanks for taking the time to comment:~)
DeleteOh my goodness!!! You're so lucky everything worked out. That could have spread so fast. Great pics though :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Heather, the man in the house came to the rescue!
DeleteYou have given me gifts of beautiful images - a water nymph dancing in a magical fire.
ReplyDeletepowerful healing in water and in flame. I send you my best - caroline hen - thank you
Thank you so much, and you make me very happy, happy hens! Powerful healing is just what I need:~)
DeleteI thought when I first saw the photos that it was some kind of Irish ritual that you were taking part in. Sort of a symbolic burning the old year out to let the new year in or something.
ReplyDeleteWell we Irish have always invented rituals just to get through the dark and tedious winter evenings. I think fire is always ritualistic in some way though, even the one in the hearth, thanks Elaine.
DeletePerhaps you were lighting the tree in lieu of the Yule log? Pretty spark showers! Karen
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen, and trying to continue to share the light, and bask in it a bit longer:~)
DeleteLove the thought behind the sparks...glad it didn't take off too much...
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna, maybe that's why I am more of a water person, you know what they say about playing with fire:~)
DeleteGeezo, wonderful pictures, tree burning looks pretty spectacular indeed and can imagine mixed feelings of both enthrallment and intrepidation as the blaze took off. Makes me want to do the same with mine except I cut the branches off indoors and my son and I feed them onto our stove for a much smaller effect.
ReplyDeleteWell Heather that sounds like a perfect effect and a good way to use it. Thank you so much for taking the time:~)
DeleteThat is so cool! The grass catching fire is what makes the photos so amazing, but I'm sure glad you didn't burn down the county. If we ever get any rain here I'll torch our Christmas tree and a few brush piles and maybe cook a pot of stew on the coals!
ReplyDeleteLove the sound of that! Thanks Katie.
DeleteI find fire scary...when it gets out of control. Great pics though!
ReplyDeleteThank Bridget, I find it very interesting that so many of us have those feelings about fire. It can be so overwhelming alright.
DeleteI am happy that I did find my way to your blog by your comment! BEautiful pictures and I love the idea of making pictures of everyday life! /Sophia
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Sophia.
DeleteBeautiful photos--and I do so love the impulse that's equal parts "Aargh! The meadow is on fire!" and "Wow, isn't that stunning?" I've lived in the tinder dry American southwest for long enough though that the idea of a fire anywhere besides a BBQ pit makes me panic--"There goes the mountainside..." Glad you got that one put out and kept the right one burning.
ReplyDeleteThank you , made me smile Stacy!
DeleteThe photographs are beautiful! I am so happy you were able to extinguish the fire before it completely took hold.
ReplyDeleteWe use branches from our Christmas tree as additional protection on our perennials from the ice and freezing temperatures.
It's been so interesting hearing all the ways people use their Christmas tree. That sounds like a good one!
DeleteThat must have been decidely scary - you don't expect that kind of dryness in the middle of winter. The photos are spectacular though so I'm glad that you managed to quell the fire and use the camera at the same time.
ReplyDeleteLooking back I may have over dramatised the fire, being a water soul! And yes the photos were an important outcome, thanks!
ReplyDeleteCreativity is not always something that can be controlled as a fire. I hope your sparks continue to fly in all the avenues of creative thoughtfulness.
ReplyDeleteThat's the spirit!
DeleteI think creativity still sparks no matter how we subdue it, even behind bars, even in unwelcome circumstances. But your photos are really very very lovely, i love most especially that first one with all those sparks really flying, very serendipitous shots!
ReplyDeleteI feel you would understand the impulse to keep photographing rather than to immediately panic, thanks fot that:~)
DeleteBeautiful, if scary photos! I am glad the fire didn't get out of control! And you are right about creativity. I hope that is one flame that is never put out!
ReplyDeleteI've been following you on twitter for some time and have always enjoyed dipping into your blog - these photos are great - so dramatic. Well done for keeping your nerve - that's the artist's eye for you!
ReplyDelete