Saturday 2 May 2009

The Magic Bench

This is my first 'Bench of the Week' picture! RuneE, a photographer from Norway, has begun posting photos of benches on Fridays - this week his bench is on his blog Visual Norway Extended. RuneE's photoblogs were first introduced to me over at Barbara Martin.

I have called my bench The Magic Bench.

Coming down the slope into the woods, I saw it gleaming in the evening sunlight. Much more than just a humble picnic-table-with-benches-attached, it has a sense of other wordliness. I get the feeling that if I sat down, a feast would appear on the table, the whole thing would rise up into the air, and I would be whisked away to a magic land ...

Maybe I read too many Rupert the Bear annuals!

Should I try it? If it happens, and they have the Internet where I am transported to, I will let you know!

22 comments:

Barbara Martin said...

Thank you, Phoenix, for mentioning me.

A magic bench is perfect. One could never read too many Rupert the Bear annuals. My great Aunt used to send them from Bournemouth, as well as the Girls Annuals. Rupert was such a dapper bear in his wrap around scarf.

Rune Eide said...

Thank you for joining me! You have shown me the kind of bench that is very welcome when you emerge from the "wilderness" and find a small haven to rest in. And maybe "lift off on" :-)

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Barbara!

You are right that one could never read too many Rupert annuals! I still revel in them now, with their exquisite illustrations.

Phoenix C. said...

RuneE - thank you! A bench like this is indeed a small haven, and a lovely place to read or spread one's sketchbooks and draw.

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

I don't know Rupert the Bear, but I'm all for magic benches! Super magic bench.... I can participate int his meme next Friday as I have photos of benches from my park explorations!

Phoenix C. said...

Oh, Monica - Rupert the Bear is wonderful! He goes back a long way, with various artists portraying him, my favourite being Bestall. Bestall's work was so sensitive and captured the magical feel of the countryside exquisitely.

I'm looking forward to seeing your bench photos!

Diane AZ said...

Your bench sure does look magical in that glorious light. There is something special about benches for me too; perhaps it's the connection between human and nature. I'll check out RuneE's and Barbara Martin's benches.

PERBS said...

I found your bench blog from Rune and barbara's blogs. Even tho your bench comes with a table, it is a wonderful photo with the light shining on it and beconing one forward for a rest. I don't participate in Friday benches because I blog daily on my own bench blog called "For the love of benches continued. . . " Malyss from France and I visit daily each others bench blogs. I hope you continue to join Rune on his Friday benches.

Rob (ourfrenchgarden) said...

I'm a dreamer too.

Rob

PS
Good idea thougH!

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

The picture of it through the tree does give it a magical feel. I hope a feast does appear if you try it!! Let us know if it works :)

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Diane! The lie of the land seems to draw the evening light to it in a magical way. I like the invitation to be contemplative that benches seem to give.

Phoenix C. said...

Hello PERBS - thank you for your kind comment. I have just visited your blog and Malyss's also and am amazed at all the wonderful and diverse benches you have! I shall visit again!

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Rob! It would be fun if the dream came true, wouldn't it?

Phoenix C. said...

I shall try it over the Bank Holiday weekend, Catherine. (The friends with us will probably think I'm crazy - unless of course the feast does appear and we suddenly find we are rising above the treetops!!)

Prospero said...

I like the bench idea. It sets up a kind of anticipation. Who sat on the bench before and who will be next. It's a little like a shot of a phone on the floor of an empty room. Will it ring?

I'm not a big film buff, but you should see Ice Age (of course) and I think, in your other wordliness mood, you'd enjoy Solaris. The film starts off with a black screen with some credits (a Bach chorale prelude - BWV 639 in the background). Then there is a shot of a leaf in a stream. The shot just destroys me. As a visual artist, I think you would really enjoy the film.

I'll tell you a funny story about this film. I first saw it in Montreal (a French translation of a Russian film) and the engineers at the station played the reels all in the wrong order. It's a difficult enough film to comprehend with all the parts sequentially correct: but I loved it just the same.

Phoenix C. said...

Hello Prospero - this is all most interesting! Thank you.

Ice Age is on my list of films to see, since your earlier comment!

I had not heard of Solaris. I've Googled it and it looks a fascinating film. The article mentioned images on the surface of the planet, which struck a chord with me ...

It must have been very confusing seeing the film in the wrong order. I saw and enjoyed the Matrix films - they were difficult to comprehend, but I think/hope I got the idea!

Rob (ourfrenchgarden) said...

The magic bench. If it works and you can get an internet connection you should be publishing the post of posts!

Rob

Anna said...

That shaft of sunlight could be magic dust so I think
it's all quite possible. I enjoyed Rupert annuals especially the vivid illustrations of Rupert's adventures. I wish that I had kept them now.

Phoenix C. said...

Rob, just in case it works but I can't get an Internet connection - keep an eye on the sky for a magic bench floating by!

Phoenix C. said...

Anna, I wish I had kept all my Rupert annuals too. However, I think the special things of childhood live on within and influence one's appreciation of wonder.

Nutty Gnome said...

Thanks for popping into my blog and leaving such lovely comments - I'll have a look at the Riverdaze link you suggested, so thanks for that!

I loved reading all your posts just now - as a huge fan of Rupert the Bear I was sorely tempted to reply in rhyme....maybe next time!

Phoenix C. said...

Thank you Nutty Gnome.

Rhyming comments would be great fun! Glad to know you're a Rupert fan! The early illustrations expressed so beautifully the atmosphere of gardens and woods.