More of the same today: a little colder and greyer, the clouds slightly lower with the odd spit and spot of rain but still mild enough to be more like a Cotswold winter`s day than the sort of thing we expect in these northern climes.
Just taken a last stroll outside, the moon veiled by cloud, next door`s shimmering Christmas lights casting pale shadows and moths everywhere. All a little bit mystical.
Sunday 23 December 2018
Saturday 22 December 2018
Saturday 22.12.2018
A soft winter`s afternoon, crisp enough underfoot but still and quiet, the fast disappearing sun casting long shadows beneath a sky of pastel blues and pinks turning to gold as we returned.
And on the way down the road, a murmuration of starlings swirling over the fields. It really is an amazing sight....and halfway through the display a smaller band - a mumurette? - joined them in a manoeuvre that made the Red Arrows look like clumsy amateurs.
The RSPB explain it thus:
"We think that starlings do it for many reasons. Grouping together offers safety in numbers – predators such as peregrine falcons find it hard to target one bird in the middle of a hypnotising flock of thousands. They also gather to keep warm at night and to exchange information, such as good feeding areas."
Of course they could have been simply having fun. :)
And on the way down the road, a murmuration of starlings swirling over the fields. It really is an amazing sight....and halfway through the display a smaller band - a mumurette? - joined them in a manoeuvre that made the Red Arrows look like clumsy amateurs.
The RSPB explain it thus:
"We think that starlings do it for many reasons. Grouping together offers safety in numbers – predators such as peregrine falcons find it hard to target one bird in the middle of a hypnotising flock of thousands. They also gather to keep warm at night and to exchange information, such as good feeding areas."
Of course they could have been simply having fun. :)
Sunday 16 December 2018
Sunday 16.12.18
So, as the song goes, what a difference a day makes. Set off twenty or so minutes later than yesterday, crisp and still, plenty of light left even though the sun had already sunk below the trees on the horizon.
A soft rosy sky saw us home
and yesterday was just a distant memory.
A soft rosy sky saw us home
Saturday 15 December 2018
Saturday 15.12.18
Storm Deirdre did her best to knock us over on the open road but once in the woods it was all sound and not much fury. No point taking either camera or binoculars - too gloomy even at half 2 for taking pictures and what birds that were out flashed past in an instant.
In amongst the trees it was simply, deliciously,exhilarating. Branches whipped backwards and forwards in a noisy, demonic sort of dance,while at the same time, for all their writhing and flailing, protecting us from the blast.
That caught us again full on as we stepped out once more onto the road, past singing gates and wailing wires, stumbling into the house breathless but invigorated. And as I write Deirdre is still making a lot of fuss but is due to depart overnight. Bit of a shame really.
In amongst the trees it was simply, deliciously,exhilarating. Branches whipped backwards and forwards in a noisy, demonic sort of dance,while at the same time, for all their writhing and flailing, protecting us from the blast.
That caught us again full on as we stepped out once more onto the road, past singing gates and wailing wires, stumbling into the house breathless but invigorated. And as I write Deirdre is still making a lot of fuss but is due to depart overnight. Bit of a shame really.
Wednesday 5 December 2018
Wednesday 5.12.2018
"Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone" always buzzes round in the head on days like this. Twenty past 2 on a completely still winter afternoon, the sun already below the clouds on the horizon,
grasses frozen into icy white immobility
and the cry of a suddenly disturbed pheasant the only sound echoing across the silence.
A long weekend`s house-sitting and dog-walking afforded the chance to enjoy different landscapes, along old railway-line paths bounded by trees and water
and up onto the local fell (The Campsies) in surprisingly warm December sunshine.
Good company
and all this only a dozen miles or so from the centre of Glasgow.
grasses frozen into icy white immobility
and the cry of a suddenly disturbed pheasant the only sound echoing across the silence.
A long weekend`s house-sitting and dog-walking afforded the chance to enjoy different landscapes, along old railway-line paths bounded by trees and water
and up onto the local fell (The Campsies) in surprisingly warm December sunshine.
Good company
Sunday 25 November 2018
Sunday 25/11/2018
Set off just before nine, the ground sodden after yesterday`s rain but the air crisp, encouraging us to keep up a healthy pace, breathing deep and swinging the arms.....so we didn`t freeze......
It was so still that the quavering hoot of a solitary owl ringing out across the woods sounded quite spooky, while the only other sound was the drip drip from the trees, now pretty well divested of their leaves and throwing shapes like good `uns.
It was so still that the quavering hoot of a solitary owl ringing out across the woods sounded quite spooky, while the only other sound was the drip drip from the trees, now pretty well divested of their leaves and throwing shapes like good `uns.
Saturday 17 November 2018
Saturday 17.11.2018
An overnight dip in temperatures meant the sun for all its residual warmth was fighting a losing battle against a strong, biting wind. Good walking though as the wires whined, the gates sang and the birds cavorted about. Low grey clouds swept across the sky and we could have walked on further........
...instead of which we headed back to the rugby on the tele - it`s what Saturday afternoons are for.
...instead of which we headed back to the rugby on the tele - it`s what Saturday afternoons are for.
Thursday 15 November 2018
Thursday 15.11.2018
Still mild, a cheerful, cobweb-clearing wind swirled and whirled us up the road and into the woods not long after midday. Beautiful light and colour show (can`t stop taking pics of it).
After a morning`s sheep-wrestling (don`t ask), and watching a little of the ongoing Brexi-shambles, it was exhilarating to get out in that wind and stomp around a bit....made having to then go off to work more than bearable.
After a morning`s sheep-wrestling (don`t ask), and watching a little of the ongoing Brexi-shambles, it was exhilarating to get out in that wind and stomp around a bit....made having to then go off to work more than bearable.
Tuesday 13 November 2018
Tuesday 13.11.2018
Tipped out about quarter past three with the sun already sinking fast behind clouds and throwing long shadows. As we crested the hill before getting into the woods, hundreds of geese lifted off a nearby stubble field, making a terrific commotion as they spiralled upwards before heading into the distance: a moment of pure awe at the sight and sound.
A cool wind blew straight at us on the way up but as we emerged an hour or so later the evening was transformed: completely still, deliciously icy air , red-tinged clouds on the horizon, a waxing moon and silhouettes presaging winter.
Which might make you want to wax lyrical....except now I`m left wondering what that`s got to do with the moon.........
Ah! From www.phrases.org.uk: What's the origin of the phrase 'Wax lyrical'? ... The verb 'to wax' is 'to grow'; the opposite of 'to wane', which is 'to decrease'. Grow and decrease have largely superseded the archaic terms wax and wane in almost all modern usages, apart from the waxing and waning of the moon.
All makes perfect sense now. Live and learn.
A cool wind blew straight at us on the way up but as we emerged an hour or so later the evening was transformed: completely still, deliciously icy air , red-tinged clouds on the horizon, a waxing moon and silhouettes presaging winter.
Which might make you want to wax lyrical....except now I`m left wondering what that`s got to do with the moon.........
Ah! From www.phrases.org.uk: What's the origin of the phrase 'Wax lyrical'? ... The verb 'to wax' is 'to grow'; the opposite of 'to wane', which is 'to decrease'. Grow and decrease have largely superseded the archaic terms wax and wane in almost all modern usages, apart from the waxing and waning of the moon.
All makes perfect sense now. Live and learn.
Sunday 11 November 2018
Sunday 11.11.2018
A walk with pals today to the top of a mist enshrouded Bennachie, windy on Mither Tap but in the woods a quiet stillness, the gloomy light somehow intensifying the muted colours and winter silhouettes.
We made it to the top
and though the cloud clung on, it cleared enough for us to get glimpses of the autumn landscape on the way down.
After which we were more than ready for the excellent coffee and cake at The Old Post Office in Chapel of Garioch - what a lovely place!
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g7208087-d2356340-Reviews-Old_Post_Office_Tea_Room-Chapel_of_Garioch_Inverurie_Aberdeenshire_Scotland.html
Yesterday, back in "our" woods, setting off at 1-ish with the sun about as high as it was going to get, it was a perfectly glorious still afternoon, colourful, warm, deliciously autumnal.
Yet within the hour, the sun had disappeared behind a cloud, a wind had sprung up and dark was descending really quite quickly. Already that time of year for getting out at every possible chance.
We made it to the top
After which we were more than ready for the excellent coffee and cake at The Old Post Office in Chapel of Garioch - what a lovely place!
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g7208087-d2356340-Reviews-Old_Post_Office_Tea_Room-Chapel_of_Garioch_Inverurie_Aberdeenshire_Scotland.html
Yesterday, back in "our" woods, setting off at 1-ish with the sun about as high as it was going to get, it was a perfectly glorious still afternoon, colourful, warm, deliciously autumnal.
Yet within the hour, the sun had disappeared behind a cloud, a wind had sprung up and dark was descending really quite quickly. Already that time of year for getting out at every possible chance.
Sunday 4 November 2018
Sunday 4.11.2018
Never the same for two days running, setting off at midday meant different angles and light and shadows...but then as professor Brian Cox once explained, well enough that I understood for about a nano-second, we are actually never in exactly the same place twice, moving and spinning as we are through the universe.
Anyway, wherever we were, it was another glorious walking day, the runes were speaking to us very clearly,
the sun,warm in the woods despite a nippy breeze on the hill,lit up the trees
and tomorrow....we`ll have moved a teensy weensy bit further on through the universe.
Anyway, wherever we were, it was another glorious walking day, the runes were speaking to us very clearly,
the sun,warm in the woods despite a nippy breeze on the hill,lit up the trees
and tomorrow....we`ll have moved a teensy weensy bit further on through the universe.
Saturday 3 November 2018
Saturday 3.11.2018
Wild but mild - very mild - this morning, low grey clouds shifting across the sky revealing glimpses of something bluer and calmer higher up, flocks of finches swirling and diving across the freshly ploughed fields, crows tumbling over and in and out of the trees, squabbling with the starlings while overhead skein after skein of geese, silhouetted against the sky, honked their way across it. There seem to have been many more than usual this year.
And almost overnight it seems, the larch trees have turned their various shades of yellow and orange and green and begun laying patterns everywhere. Carpeting the woods,
scattered like confetti across the road
or forming mysterious runes at the edges........
And almost overnight it seems, the larch trees have turned their various shades of yellow and orange and green and begun laying patterns everywhere. Carpeting the woods,
scattered like confetti across the road
or forming mysterious runes at the edges........
Sunday 21 October 2018
Sunday 21.10.2018
Yesterday was tranquil and warm and still, a day to take in the best that autumn has to offer, it felt like a finale.
And in a way so it proved. Today was much cooler and windier, lively skies with occasional bracing squalls bringing down more leaves which we scuffed through with happy abandon this afternoon.
Before we ventured out, finished The Restless Girls by Jessie Burton. Retold fairy tales can be a bit stilted sometimes: not this one - a tour de force and beautifully illustrated by Angela Barrett.
And in a way so it proved. Today was much cooler and windier, lively skies with occasional bracing squalls bringing down more leaves which we scuffed through with happy abandon this afternoon.
Before we ventured out, finished The Restless Girls by Jessie Burton. Retold fairy tales can be a bit stilted sometimes: not this one - a tour de force and beautifully illustrated by Angela Barrett.
Tuesday 16 October 2018
Tuesday 16.10.2018
Fresh rather than murderous wind this morning, moving the low grey clouds along apace, occasionally revealing a slash of blue higher up.
In the woods - full on autumn......
...........complete with giddy flocks of chittery chattery birds flitting in and out of the trees - birds that clearly knew I`d left my binoculars at home - redwings? Probably. And we were escorted down the road by an equally excitable collection of chaffinches and yellowhammers, flitting from fence top to telephone wire, then swooping low across the stubble fields.
Yesterday on the top hill was another of those preternaturally still evenings,as if we`d ground to a halt and were just hanging, waiting. Impossible to grasp we were still spinning at nearly 1000 miles an hour while simultaneously hurtling around the sun at about 67,000.
A little easier to remember today.
In the woods - full on autumn......
...........complete with giddy flocks of chittery chattery birds flitting in and out of the trees - birds that clearly knew I`d left my binoculars at home - redwings? Probably. And we were escorted down the road by an equally excitable collection of chaffinches and yellowhammers, flitting from fence top to telephone wire, then swooping low across the stubble fields.
Yesterday on the top hill was another of those preternaturally still evenings,as if we`d ground to a halt and were just hanging, waiting. Impossible to grasp we were still spinning at nearly 1000 miles an hour while simultaneously hurtling around the sun at about 67,000.
A little easier to remember today.
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