I live in a landscape made of flint and chalk, tumbled like the bones of the earth within dark soil. Huge knobbly flints show up in walls from the smallest cottage to the largest cathedral, builders making use of what they had to hand. They lie in garden beds too, clogged with soil, strange shapes looking as though they were formed by hand, though no hand but that of nature has touched them.
Inside, they hold treasure, their pale coating cracking into sharks teeth and soup spoon bowls, all shining curves and sharp edges. Colours range from palest cream through burnt gold to bright orange, silvery grey to midnight blue, chocolate and dark coffee brown – there is beauty hidden within.
Once I found a flint that looked as though a star had been caught inside, a little piece of sky fallen to earth. And, when working in our garden over the summer, we found this. A strange bird-like creature, dark eye staring, stone cradling the slender neck. Frozen in time, funny little bird stone. He sits on my desk now, keeping me company as I write, so I thought I’d share him with you too.
Happy weekend, everybody! x
Helen Glynn Jones 
A gift from nature. The best kind. They’re not always tangible, not always wrought in stone, but still treasure nevertheless. I love your bird-stone! He’s special. 😊
Thanks, Ali! I think he’s pretty special too 🙂 And you’re so right – I love gifts from nature, they are absolutely the best kind x
That’s so cool and quirky, and I love that you’re keeping it on your desk. I have a plaster cast of a wolf foot print on my desk, which reminds me of my favourite holiday and doubles as a paperweight.
Thanks, Suzanne 🙂 Your paperweight sounds very cool, too – I bet it’s a very tactile object.
I love how writers see things 🙂
You would know 🙂 Thanks, Kristin x
Hahaha yes!
You’ve described everything beautifully here.
Thanks, Allie 🙂
Flint fascinates me. It is such a varied material…and such a part of our history too. Predictably, I love your little bird 🙂
Thanks, Sue – it is a fascinating material, isn’t it? And I’m happy you like my little bird 😀
It is. Always fancied learning how to work with flint.
Yes – it’s quite an art, isn’t it?
It is… and the finesse of some of the ancient pieces is incredible.
I love this, as much for the view into your thoughts as the stone itself. Very cool find.
Thanks, Craig 😀
Flint Stone Magic. 🙂
Thank you 😀 I did think of Fred and Wilma (which are also the names of my mums neighbours, hilariously)
Beautiful stone, and beautifully written piece, Helen. x
If I lived there I’d have heaps of them on my desk – I see shapes/faces in everything 🙂
I’m a bit like that too – and I do have quite a few flints lying around the house because of it 😀 Hope you’ve had a nice weekend x
Yeah it’s been cool. Went to the Simon & Garfunkel Story last night! Hope you’ve had a good one?
It’s been busy – nothing super exciting like you, just lots going on xx
That is so neat!!
Thanks, Traci! 😀
Love stones, I have a penchant for heart shaped ones!
I pick up stones wherever I go – have them all over the house 😀
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