Sunday 21.11.2021

 Out in the semi-dark this morning, cold wind, threatening clouds looming on the horizon but patches of blue sky and the just-beginning-to-wane moon still suspended high up to the West.

A dramatic change in the weather then, from the last few days of  balmy zephyrs, beautiful light, autumn colours,  and the uplifting sight and sound of geese circling lazily overhead.

By contrast, this morning whispered `here comes winter`. A solitary goose flew across the sky, lost or a maverick? And as we arrived back the skies opened and threw sharp little pebbles of hail at us.  And apparently there is snow to come by the end of the week which is going to make the imminent journey south an adventure. 

Thursday 4.10.2021

Not sure whether the literary term `pathetic fallacy` actually applies in this case (having just looked it up) but there is no doubt that in the early morning last Sunday, 1st November, dawn was the most startling crimson I can remember seeing in a long time, a startling crimson which took up a broad swathe of the eastern horizon and imperceptibly turned to gold as the sun rose.

It seemed a fitting way to mark news of a death that had come overnight, albeit one which was long expected and was genuinely that thing people talk about - a release. 

Since then the mornings have been dreich and grey and cool which has underlined even more how memorable that dramatic moment on the morning of All Saints Day was.

R.I.P. Joan Mary. In the Celtic tradition the 1st of November is known as Samhain, which, among other things, is thought to be the time "when the spirits of those who have passed are closest to us." It certainly felt like that, pathetic fallacy or not! 

Wednesday 27.10.2021

 Could get slightly obsessed with these early morning/late afternoon perambulations on top of our little hill.

Yesterday morning, even earlier than usual, we were under a low grey lid of cloud, a foreshadowing of the rain that came later in the day, but the lid was slightly aslant and the eastern horizon was a fierce red gold . Like Mary Oliver observes in "Why I Wake Up Early", it does make for a positive start to the day.**

This morning meanwhile, we were half an hour later, the sky was lighter with the clouds higher and more scattered. Mild air and a half-moon poised even higher overhead, the birds a little more active than the other day and a single bright yellow flower hanging precariously on the gorse. 

**Why I Wake Up Early

Hello, sun in my face

Hello, you who make the morning

and spread it over the fields                   

and into the face of the tulips

and the nodding morning glories,

and into the windows of, even, the

miserable and the crotchety –

                                                                               

best preacher that ever was,

dear star, that just happens

to be where you are in the universe

to keep us from ever-darkness

to ease us with warm touching,

to hold us in the great hands of light –

good morning, good morning, good morning.

 

Watch, now, how I start the day

in happiness, in kindness.

                      Mary Oliver

Monday 25.10.2021 (2)

6.30 p.m. Just did the same walk. This time the sky to the west was golden, the sun already dipped below the horizon, the sky to the east the deepening blue of oncoming night. The wind had got up during the day but now had dropped again, the air was cool and while there was no moon there was a bright planet hanging overhead.  A day comes full circle. And it`s us that`s moving, not the sun, the stares, the planets or the moon - always worth remembering.

Light`s nearly all gone as I write this - and this time next week it will be 5.30 p.m. and so the year goes full circle too.

Bonfire night soon - yay - any excuse, though no fireworks of course.  😒🔥 (Our dog and next door`s horses.......)

Monday 25.10.2021

 A perfect early autumn morning up on our hill.. To the east, the sun not quite up but the sky turning gold then pink, to the west the pale blues of a receding night with the silhouette of Ben Rinnes clearly visible on the horizon. Suspended overhead, a three-quarter waning moon, the air still and cool, car headlights in the distance as the world slowly came to life.

Yesterday too was pretty perfect. A late morning slow ramble round the woods, the warmth of the sun on my back, the trees still remarkably green.

 

The sky was so blue it constantly drew the eye ....and the camera. 

 

Monday 20.09.2021

 The early morning quite irresistible. Still and chilly with the sun just up. Fully expected there to be that covering of spiders`webs so typical of the season but no sign of them - in fact only had one morning so far like that. Instead there were sparkling grasses and clear horizons with air that demanded deep breaths and shoulders back.

There have been so many grey mornings it was a delight and the pictures say it all this time.

Thursday 8.8.2021

 The most perfect day to be back in the woods after a lengthy hiatus (about which see below). Warm but with a light feathery breeze shaking the barley, 

rustling the trees (ok - it did feel as if they were welcoming me back) and keeping the flies at bay. 

We took it steady (knee damage being one of the reasons for the hiatus) which meant it was possible to really relish not only the delights of the place - flowers and grasses, rowan berries and wild raspberries, bees, butterflies and trees in full summer foliage - but also to pause and be properly appreciative of having this place on our doorstep.

There was one saunter up Bennachie in June to mark a birthday. Took the gentler, bosky ascent from Rowantree

 

with the usual views the reward on a lovely day.

And so the hiatus: a trip south, as south as possible without falling off the edge, to a gloriously sunny Cornwall and a family birthday. A week of truly exceptional weather, breathtaking vistas, sea swimming every day, not to mention the best of company, fine dining and drink! Then there were more family visits to be made during which gallivanting the knee `pinged` and slowed everything down, making, amongst other things, the title of this blog ring a little hollow. 

Change of plans then, which had been to do a long distance walk. As the prescribed exercises for the knee were diligently executed (nearly) every day, an idea formed - to drive to the end of the walk which given the extremely hot weather proved to be a much better idea. Pics taken to prove we`d made it and then down to stay with daughters who had planned a surprise trip to the Isle of Cumbrae.- and here the pics say it all. 😄

May not have been walking-quite-fast but there were moments when we sped-quite-fast along the road, sometimes with canine assistance, mostly with very hard work from the peddlers.  A memorable adventure. The knee is on the mend....the pics may take a little longer to sort through. Watch this space.