Monday 22 March 2021

Monday 22.3.2021

 Another irresistible early morning: sun, blue sky, crisp air, sharp frost. Caught the sheep still napping as we went up the hill 

but in the woods the birds were wide awake and proclaiming loudly that the day was well underway and where had we been?  

By the time we were coming back down the road, that persistent cold wind we have had for the last few days had sprung up again, the sky had clouded over and it felt perfectly justifiable to light a fire. The edges of the days - early or late - so often seem to be the best parts, especially at this time of year.

 

Saturday 20 March 2021

Saturday 20.03.2021

 A quite different morning - a perfect spring equinox morning in fact. Where the rising sun found the damp, slightly frosted grass there were wraithlike swirls of mist - steam? vapour? or haze even, as in 

          "a slight obscuration of the lower atmosphere, typically caused by fine suspended particles".

Settle for wraithlike swirls probably, all very atmospheric and quite beautiful with the birds singing from the tops of the trees and that early morning light full of the promise and optimism of a new day. Not forgetting the catkins of course. 😊

             

Friday 19 March 2021

Friday 19.03.2021

 Genuine scotch mist at seven o`clock this morning, chilly with a mithering wind from the north but in the woods it was still, the trees were bearded with luminscent lichens, 

and mosses sat plump and happy in the damp air.


Dripping trees and bird song the musical background to the trek....

...and we were warm by the time we got back but with no sign of the cloud lifting the fire has now been lit.........catkins notwithstanding it`s still very early spring!

Thursday 18 March 2021

Thursday 18.3.2021

 Sunday morning early as the sun came up,we walked to the woods: that evening we watched from the top field as it sank below the horizon 

 though of course it`s us that`s moving, the reality of which demands a shift in the brain and always comes as a surpise somehow.

But yesterday was the Equilux, which apparently is an isophot, (who knew) and different from the Equinox which is tomorrow:
"equilux (plural equiluxes) An isophot. A day in which the durations of light and darkness are equal, contrasted with an equinox, where they may differ slightly due to the angular diameter of the sun and atmospheric refraction."

Most importantly, it was a truly lovely afternoon, the wind slowly dying down, the sun warm, birds a-warbling and catkins everywhere.  Spring sprung whatever the "equi".



Tuesday 9 March 2021

Tuesday 9.3.2021

 Not at all the grey, damp morning that was forecast. Sun just coming up, it was fresh and bright so younger dog and I hightailed it for the woods - the bird-loud woods this morning - and cantered round at a brisk pace. Something very special about that feeling that you`re up before anyone else....though we weren`t of course, just felt like it. Showered, coffee`d and at my desk by nine o`clock - who can resist a little smug-hug?

Even smugger on Sunday because we did the same thing but in the rain!  As it happened that was a good move because the day deteriorated and we could justifiably stay in and by the fire. Today looks as if it may hang on to the fairer weather so may venture out again later......meanwhile, more coffee please.......


Tuesday 2 March 2021

Tuesday 2.03.2021

 Absolutely baltic this morning as we did our very very slow plod round the bottom field with poor old dog who has recently completely lost all sight and won`t move without somebody with her. Not nearly enough clothes for such sedate progress - had even forgotten my hat. Hardly any discernible frost on the grass and the snow has pretty much gone, but the air was so icy had there been a breeze as well, my lungs would have been sliced apart. The overnight mist lingered in patches and the sky was very grey on the eastern horizon - perhaps there was still fog over the sea.

Anyway, slightly later on, younger dog and I set off practically at a trot just to try and warm up, which by the time we got to the woods we nearly had.  Tale of two climates: the sun with some real warmth in it against the immediate drop in temperature when it dropped behind a cloud. Good walking though if we kept up the pace: clear, bright 

and with just one last splodge of the white stuff reluctant to leave.
In other news......while we`re out walking and enjoying the surroundings...have just finished this. 

Quite splendid: warm, funny and revelatory. 
Short review @  http://splendiferousstoriesheadyideas.blogspot.com