Just back from that last walk: the sky star-studded, the music of the spheres audible in the still, chill air.
And Orion overlooking it all. Had to resist the urge to say goodnight to him - out loud anyway.
Monday, 9 February 2015
Monday 09.02.2015
Horse/sheep/chicken and dog-sitting at the foot of Bennachie and we have been blessed with almost perfect days - and nights!
Yesterday it was still and clear and warm and we wandered through the woods (just the dogs you understand, the chickens can`t keep up, the sheep wander off the tracks and the horses frighten everyone else`s dogs) pleased but not surprised to see Mither Tap still there (it`s been a long time)keeping a dignified watch on things
New young dog here also necessitates night strolls - starlit and still with strange night noises echoing out of the woods.
And today more perfection: Mither Tap awaiting
the woods were magical
and despite some storm wreckage,
familiar landmarks endure.
Once at the top it was all greens and browns in one direction,
in the other, mountains, snow and ice.
Spirit raising, putting-it-all-in-persepective (but not too much), soul enhancing......and to cap it all a woodpecker in the woods on the way back. :)
Yesterday it was still and clear and warm and we wandered through the woods (just the dogs you understand, the chickens can`t keep up, the sheep wander off the tracks and the horses frighten everyone else`s dogs) pleased but not surprised to see Mither Tap still there (it`s been a long time)keeping a dignified watch on things
New young dog here also necessitates night strolls - starlit and still with strange night noises echoing out of the woods.
And today more perfection: Mither Tap awaiting
the woods were magical
and despite some storm wreckage,
familiar landmarks endure.
Once at the top it was all greens and browns in one direction,
in the other, mountains, snow and ice.
Spirit raising, putting-it-all-in-persepective (but not too much), soul enhancing......and to cap it all a woodpecker in the woods on the way back. :)
Sunday, 1 February 2015
Sunday 01.02.2015
Couldn`t stop taking pictures of trees this morning, whitewashed by the snow showers that had been blowing across all night:
Just the right amount of crunchy snow to walk on again - deer and rabbits rushing about to tease the dogs and the birds giving it laldy in the woods. We even got a little winter music from the metal gates as the icy wind blew across them.
This after another gallivant to Glasgow on Friday to see the gleeful Harald Haugaard* with Helene Blum,
at the splendid Oran Mor** venue. Celtic Connections really is an inspired event to help keep the dark of a Scottish winter at bay.
*http://www.haraldh.dk/
**http://www.oran-mor.co.uk/
Just the right amount of crunchy snow to walk on again - deer and rabbits rushing about to tease the dogs and the birds giving it laldy in the woods. We even got a little winter music from the metal gates as the icy wind blew across them.
This after another gallivant to Glasgow on Friday to see the gleeful Harald Haugaard* with Helene Blum,
at the splendid Oran Mor** venue. Celtic Connections really is an inspired event to help keep the dark of a Scottish winter at bay.
*http://www.haraldh.dk/
**http://www.oran-mor.co.uk/
Sunday, 25 January 2015
Sunday 25.01.2015
There can be fewer more uplifting experiences than an hours walk in the woods on a January morning that nevertheless whispers the possibility of Spring round the corner, returning to good strong coffee and an almond croissant.
True, the milder air is but a blip as we`re promised more Baltic temperatures by the end of the week but for now the hues were brown and green,
with plenty of those winter sculptures around.
And the croissant was good but it has to be said not quite up to the sublime ones available at Shambala: the name of the bakery eludes me for now and I will concede that eating it in the wee small hours with a steaming mug of hot chocolate, sitting in the warmth and comfort of The Lost Picture Show * did enhance the experience. :)
* http://www.shambalafestival.org/act/the-lost-picture-show/
True, the milder air is but a blip as we`re promised more Baltic temperatures by the end of the week but for now the hues were brown and green,
with plenty of those winter sculptures around.
And the croissant was good but it has to be said not quite up to the sublime ones available at Shambala: the name of the bakery eludes me for now and I will concede that eating it in the wee small hours with a steaming mug of hot chocolate, sitting in the warmth and comfort of The Lost Picture Show * did enhance the experience. :)
* http://www.shambalafestival.org/act/the-lost-picture-show/
Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Wednesday 21.01.2015
Impossible to exaggerate the sparkly-ness of today. Not a breath of wind, white and crunchy underfoot,
more winter sculptures
pale light filtering through the trees
and diamonds everywhere.
I think it was C.S. Lewis who said that once you`ve read about enchanted woods all woods are a little enchanted. As we walked on the frosty ground up a be-jewelled avenue of trees straight towards the sun it would haven`t surprised me a bit to see a Faun appear.
( Photograph: Pauline Baynes / CS Lewis PTE Ltd)
Might have startled the dogs a bit I suppose.
more winter sculptures
pale light filtering through the trees
and diamonds everywhere.
I think it was C.S. Lewis who said that once you`ve read about enchanted woods all woods are a little enchanted. As we walked on the frosty ground up a be-jewelled avenue of trees straight towards the sun it would haven`t surprised me a bit to see a Faun appear.
( Photograph: Pauline Baynes / CS Lewis PTE Ltd)
Might have startled the dogs a bit I suppose.
Sunday, 18 January 2015
Sunday 18.01.2015
So there goes January and so far been pretty standard: gales, sleet, rain, bright alternating with dull but the days on a stealthy mission to extend themselves.
Lots of walking hither and thither including around our own back field: on a cold clear afternoon two days ago, the sheep trailing after us in the hopes of another feed,
light and shade,
winter geometry
and arguing over who gets to carry the firewood down.
Yesterday, same hill, ever optimistic sheep,flurries of snow, bright yellow gorse offsetting the grey -
in short wonderfully wintry.
As were the icy pavements of Glasgow last night as we walked gingerly to the Old Fruitmarket for some splendid stuff by Vent du Nord at Celtic Connections.*
4 hours down, 5 hours there and 4 hours back up the road: sometimes you just have to do it even if it does mean you`re too cream-crackered to do much the next day. :)
*http://www.celticconnections.com/events/Pages/event.aspx?ev=ea2ec715-4c7a-44aa-94d4-a3c300fc5873
Lots of walking hither and thither including around our own back field: on a cold clear afternoon two days ago, the sheep trailing after us in the hopes of another feed,
light and shade,
winter geometry
and arguing over who gets to carry the firewood down.
Yesterday, same hill, ever optimistic sheep,flurries of snow, bright yellow gorse offsetting the grey -
in short wonderfully wintry.
As were the icy pavements of Glasgow last night as we walked gingerly to the Old Fruitmarket for some splendid stuff by Vent du Nord at Celtic Connections.*
4 hours down, 5 hours there and 4 hours back up the road: sometimes you just have to do it even if it does mean you`re too cream-crackered to do much the next day. :)
*http://www.celticconnections.com/events/Pages/event.aspx?ev=ea2ec715-4c7a-44aa-94d4-a3c300fc5873
Sunday, 4 January 2015
Sunday 04.01.2015
Last 24 hours have been quite stunning weather-wise: last night a full moon in a clear sky, quite still with only the owl calls breaking the silence, today sunny and fresh - the kind of day that makes you reluctant to come in. As we walked up the hill mid-morning a remarkably soft southerly breeze sprang up - would douce be the way to describe it? Geese overhead, birdsong in the woods and enough frost and snow to make a satisfying crunch underfoot.
Still plenty green for sheep safely grazing though...and our geese seemed pretty happy as well.
It was just that sort of day.
Oh - and Happy New Year!
Still plenty green for sheep safely grazing though...and our geese seemed pretty happy as well.
It was just that sort of day.
Oh - and Happy New Year!
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