pansies and butterflies

Decent day today: weather was actually sunny out, and it's amazing what a lift that is to the spirits. One-on-one with team leader went well (it's difficult not to feel nervous when going in, however clear your conscience is) and I have an interesting new piece of work to deal with.

Have started a new quilt. It's in shades of pink and orange, because I had these fabrics with butterflies and pansies in my stash which I just couldn't resist. Spent a couple of hours earlier this evening cutting out squares. If it does end up being for a baby (it's going to be a small quilt, maybe three feet by four and a half) then it's going to have to be for a baby whose mother likes bright colours.

---

from Four Songs of Four Seasons: Winter in Northumberland

In fierce March weather
White waves break tether,
And whirled together
At either hand,
Like weeds uplifted,
The tree-trunks rifted
In spars are drifted,
Like foam or sand,
Past swamp and sallow
And reed-beds callow,
Through pool and shallow,
To wind and lee,
Till, no more tongue-tied,
Full flood and young tide
Roar down the rapids and storm the sea.

As men's cheeks faded
On shores invaded,
When shorewards waded
The lords of fight;
When churl and craven
Saw hard on haven
The wide-winged raven
At mainmast height;
When monks affrighted
To windward sighted
The birds full-flighted
Of swift sea-kings;
So earth turns paler
When Storm the sailor
Steers in with a roar in the race of his wings.

-- Swinburne