Cranberry and Sprout looked up as the back door slammed with her mood
Sofie came over to her bunnies’ hutch and started to sniffle and sob
“Christmas just won’t be the same”, she grumbled as she gave them both some tasty food
“Mum did the big food shop and forgot my favourite Chocolate Yule Log”!
Sofie looked so fed up the bunnies looked at each other in despair
“Are you up for an adventure? We can’t have her upset” declared Sprout
“Absolutely, lets sort this out” chuckled Cranberry, “I feel mischief in the air!”
Nudging the wire front off their cage they both set off towards the house
Inside it was in chaos, wrapping paper and presents all over the floor
The television was blaring and the scent of roast chicken filled the air
“This way to the office” whispered Sprout, running along the carpet to a brown door
“There’s the magic board” Cried Sprout,” now we just have to find a way up there”
They scrambled up the back of the swinging chair and onto the table
Cranberry jumped on the clickety keypad and the screen lit up with a start
“Get on the little mouse Sprout and stop chewing that cable!”
“I’ve seen them do this before, you just have to put things into your cart”
As Sprout clicked with his feet and Cranberry bounced around the keys
Navigating Tesco online was a bit easier than they initially thought
In no time at all their shopping was ordered leaving them both feeling pleased
Sprout was smiling to himself at the extra item he had secretly bought
On Christmas morning Sofie brought them delicious fresh strawberries smiling with glee
We just had a delivery of these and a Chocolate Yule Log so I got to have it in the end
Sprout winked at Cranberry, “I thought I’d add a little extra just for you and me”
“Good thinking Sprout”, laughed Cranberry, “that’s why Yule always be my friend”

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post Yule Always Be My Friend Print (Landscape) appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.

Stars begin to twinkle as dusk sinks without a sound
A hush falls as night appears and snowflakes fall around
Frost sparkles on hedgerows and glitters forest tree tops
Thick blankets of snow laying over roof and chimney pots

A thump of pure white wings beat steadily into the night
For this is the hour the majestic barn owl takes his flight
He is a sacred spirit of times long past, with a soul full of love
With dark eyes full of knowledge, care and patience he circles above

Sweeping low he glides gracefully past your home
Gathering up your dreams and wishes as he goes
Have you ever wondered where exactly it is that they go?
The magical owl smiles softly to himself, for only he truly knows.

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post Wish Keeper Print (Landscape) appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.

The winter feast has arrived and all woodland folk will join in the fun
Everyone has a job to do now that Yule celebrations have begun,
Mice are scampering this way and that hanging ribbons from the trees
The smell of spicy gingerbread is wafting deliciously on the night breeze,
The badgers are carrying firewood to keep everyone warm and dry
A feast they will have tonight of pumpkin pies and spiced mulled wine,
The squirrels fill bowls with sweet roasted nuts next to dusted fruit pies
Fox presents a bubbling pot of wild mushroom stew of a tremendous size,
Hedgehogs hang garlands of baubles and dish up juicy blackberry tarts
Laying their festive table giggling with joy and laughter in their hearts,
As is tradition, the Wise old stag, their father, gazes up at the clear dark sky
As a burst of golden light fills the room, they all cheer and raise their eyes up high,
The feast can now truly begin with the blessing and arrival of the sacred Star
A celebration of peace and rebirth for all, Star happily watches over them all from afar.

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post The Winter Star Print (Landscape) appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.

Softly the distant church bells begin to chime as the magic begins
It is Christmas Eve and the stars appear twinkling brightly above
Tucked up in their bed little ones wish for special things
Each kissed goodnight and their stockings hung with love

It is a special first Christmas for this cosy robin’s family nest
They gaze upwards at the moonlight shining down through their tree
Tweeting goodnight they snuggle together feeling thankful and blessed
Come Christmas morning Oh what a jolly family of robins we will be!

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post The Jolly Robins Print (Landscape) appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.

A hushed blanket of sparkling white covers the whispering woods
The youngest of the animals are waking up to a surprise today
What wonder awaits them when they emerge from their comfy beds
For something magical blew through the night to come their way

A twitching nose emerges from a hole to explore the crisp morning air
“My goodness what’s this?” He exclaimed at the wonderous sight
Hare scampered past Badger then stopped; all he could do was stare
“It’s beautifully white and crunchy!!” And he jumped with all his might

Robin landed onto a branch above them and some of it fell down
“It’s falling into my ears, ouch its cold!” Laughed little hare
“It tickles my nose a bit”, said Badger looking all around
Stag stuck his tongue out to catch it, “its magic” he declared

“It’s chilly on my feathers” said Robin, “I’m not sure I can fly”
“It makes my whiskers tingle” laughed Fox, who had come to join them as well
They all stood in wonder looking up as it gently fell from the sky
Their first snow had enchanted them all with its wondrous wintery spell.

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post The First Snow Print (Landscape) appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.

The cold wind whistled deep in the darkness of an ancient woodland
As a frightened young badger found himself quite lost one wintery night
The wild forest was coming alive with strange noises and fierce rustling
The little badger stumbled along trying to remain calm with all of his might

He had never wandered off on his own before and now felt very alone
As his fur caught on brambles, he clung to a small lantern which offered a warm glow
Scampering and rusting noises seemed to surround him making his heart thump
He tripped over tree limbs and undergrowth not knowing which way to go

He came upon a small clearing and looking up to the tall trees and dark skies above
Badger sat down on a clump of moss and wept “I just can’t see my way through”
“Hello there, young Badger” called a greeting from a little Robin on a branch nearby
“Don’t worry I will help you” Robin said with a cheery tweet “I know just what to do”

The friendly bird flapped his wings until the lantern blew out, “now look up” he sang
Badger panicked at the sudden blackness then blinked his little eyes looking up to the trees
Slowly the forest changed and was covered in a moonlit glow as the twinkling stars appeared
“Your night vision is strong and the forest will help you” it was true for he could now truly see

Badger thanked him as he noticed other friendly creatures smiling at him from the shadows
No longer afraid Badger marvelled at the beauty of the glimmering fireflies and moonbeams
As a little mouse waved at him his heart filled with joy realising, he was never truly alone
Robin smiled “now follow your feet and the moon and stars will light the way home”.

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post Light The Way Print (Landscape) appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.

A glistening blanket of white snow covers Crabtree Farm
A happy gaggle of geese were nestled quietly in the barn
Gordon the Farmer waves at the feathered ladies as he drives past
Suddenly the old tractor spluttered and backfired with a terrific blast
“Argghhh” cried the geese and madly flew this way and that
Geraldine took the full force and fell into a puddle with a splat
Dazed and confused she lay there looking up at the snow fluttering down
Her eyes were fuzzy and her ears were ringing with a deafening sound
She spent a week in the farmers wife’s kitchen keeping warm by the fire
The shock had terrified Geraldine and left her feeling very tired
The feathers around her neck had fallen out leaving her sore and cold
Each evening Edna took out her knitting balls of wool neatly rolled
Clickity – clack went her knitting needles which soothed Geraldine to sleep
On Christmas morning she felt so much better and leapt to her feet
Hang on! Cried Edna, I have made you a special gift, just wait and see
She pulled out a beautiful woollen red scarf with excitement and glee
As she wrapped it around Geraldine’s neck, she had tears in her eyes
Her very own handmade gift, little Geraldine was speechless in surprise
Edna smiled as she watched the little goose run off with so much pleasure
For Christmas is really about the little things and moments to treasure.

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post The Christmas Scarf Print (Portrait) appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.

As the first drift of snow begins to fall, the magic of Christmas draws near
The forest glistens and sparkles with everyone in festive cheer
With the ground covered in a frosty blanket of crunchy white snow
Little Hare scampers along leaving pawprints where she goes
As the smell of plum pudding and hot chocolate fills the air
Carefully carrying her gift she makes her way there
Her very dear friend she cannot wait to see
Mr Bear will be singing and trimming his tree
For no other she knows loves this season quite like he
Cracking chestnuts by the fire his face fills with glee!

But Bear is so sad when January finally comes around
Which is why she is excited by the gift she has found
Arriving at last she knocks on his tinsel covered door
“Ho Ho Ho”!! he cries running across the floor
“Merry Christmas little Hare, come in come in”!
I have fruitcake and games and carols for us to sing!
“Wonderful! Dear friend, but first, grant me my wish”
And with that she carefully hands him his very special gift
“Oh My”! says Mr Bear and has to sit down in surprise
Pulling back ribbon and glittery tissue Bear has tears in his eyes
For it’s a Christmas wonderland in a globe to enjoy all year round
Mr Bear is so emotional he just can’t make a sound
He grabs little Hare in the biggest of biggest Bear hugs
For Christmas is really, after all, all about LOVE…xxx

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post The Bear and the Hare in Winter Print (Landscape) appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.

One blustering winters night, when the trees folded over in a stormy gale
A young hare struggling to make her way, tripped on a tree root and fell forwards into a hole
Down and down she tumbled, into a dusty place of lost and ancient things
She landed with a bump on a large old book covered in moss and twine
Ever so slowly she opened the heavy cover and the pages began to flutter

Millions of tiny glowing stars burst from the book throwing back her long velvet ears
As she blinked her eyes against the brightest of golden lights spinning all around her
She could just make out the shape of a huge Snowbear walking towards her through the swirling light
He appeared like a glittering wish, a sweet dream half remembered
Sparkling frosted light and snowflakes fluttered behind him as he approached

His fur was the crispest white of snowy mountains and streaks of gold shimmed from within his skin
He looked at her with kind chestnut eyes that twinkled with honey gold flecks
“I am the guardian of the book” he softly spoke, “what do you seek little one”?
Shyly she lowered her eyes and shuffled her feet, “I wish for a friend” she whispered

His face broke into a glittering smile, “I have such wonderous sights to show you”
She took his paw which was wonderfully warm and gentle, and they flew into the book
Snowflakes and golden letters spun wildly past them as they tumbled through the pages
Out they burst under a dark velvet starry sky, floating down landing with a soft crunch on the snow
Little Hare gasped as she looked around at the beautiful world she found herself in

There were snow covered mountains and lakes, forests and ice castles in the distance
“Shall we take a ride”? asked Snowbear, scooping her up onto his glittering furry back
“Woohoo!” she cried as he took off from the ground and flew high, he actually flew!
They soared over the gleaming frozen lake and waved at penguins and sealions
As they swished through the tree tops she reached out and felt the tickle of the pine needles on her paw
She felt such warmth in her heart, she was on an adventure and she had her very own Snowbear!

To be continued……full story book coming soon

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post Snow Bear and the Magic Book Print (Portrait) appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.

The Barn Owl glides on silent white wings glittering above the snow
The woodland folk merrily follow below as he leads the way to go
Carrying bundles of hot pumpkin soup and sweet golden apple pies
Tonight they will feast and hear tales form the elders who are wise

High above their glowing lanterns the moon shines so bright
As the ancient stars draw closer and align for the longest night
A moments silence marks the arrival of this savred Winter Solstice Eve
It is a season of dreaming, hope and renewal for all who believe

They celebrate a golden goodness burning in every heart of man
The light and love from within each of us to share across the land
As a blessing, distant church bells chime for the feasting to start
Robing Redbreast begins his winter song with joy in his heart

All artwork and poems copyright protected by the Artist. Sarah Reilly, Love Country by Sarah Reilly. All rights reserved.

The post Silent Night Print appeared first on Love Country by Sarah Reilly.