Sunday 20 September 2020

Sunday 20.09.2020

 Another ferociously perfect morning, this time up in the woods as the sun came up. Curious cows watched as we headed up the road, the air chilly but with the odd sensation of "pools" of warmer air wafting past us every few yards.

Slowly the sun sent shadows across the fields and lit up the trees.


The leaves are only just turning but there were plenty of mushrooms about 












and really the only thing missing from the autumn scene were skeins of geese overhead - which no doubt will now appear any day.

The cows were a bit wider awake as we returned, the sun well up and warm already.


I wonder if there`s anywhere in the world where the days are like this for at least two thirds of the year, preferably with short crisp winters and bright fresh springs for the rest of the time?


 

Saturday 19 September 2020

No words adequate for a perfect September morning as the sun came up: cool and peaceful and delicious: i`ll just leave these here.







Tuesday 15 September 2020

Tuesday 15.09.2020

 Old Dog doesn`t often come round the woods with us now, not least because it takes nearly twice as long to go at her less-than-snail`s-pace.

Half blind and deaf with a tendency to fall over if she sneezes too hard she is nevertheless game for short walks but only the occasional long one, preferably with no hills.

The weather must be just right and there must be time so yesterday afternoon was perfect: a warm, still early autumn afternoon with time to let her sniff at every tussock of grass, every tree root, every rabbit hole.

Nothing stirred in the woods, not a stalk of grass, not even at the tops of the trees. The only thing moving was the very high white cloud, drifting almost imperceptibly overhead. 

It makes a change to stroll very slowly but it was just right yesterday, Old Dog had a lovely time and if I can still walk round like that at her age* I`ll be very happy.

*I`m told the old way of counting dog years is wrong so apparently I am her age. So that`s alright then.

Today it has poured with rain all morning but now the sun is out, it`s very warm and everything is steaming slightly.

Another gentle stroll just onto the top of our hill might be in order......

Friday 11 September 2020

11.09.2020

 A quintissential autumn afternoon after a morning`s heavy rain, down here in Lennoxtown where we`re at the end of a week`s dog-sitting.

The sun was warm, the Campsie Fells freshly laundered






and the track on the way back beside the river, along the old rail track as atmospheric as ever: old bridges and tumbledown walls speaking of bygone eras



overlooked by lichen covered trees that only add to the slight sense of mystery.

On misty evenings,  no doubt, the odd ghost train must glide silently past.

Meanwhile, the first half of September has  lived up to the Keatsian truisms of fruitfulness.

The leaves are on the turn, the slightest breeze sending the first few tumbling to the ground. We may be promised a week of warmer weather but there`s no doubt we`re heading towards the long dark nights....and who knows how that`s going to go in this strange and uncertain reality.

Onwards and upwards and back to the north tomorrow!