Saturday 18.12.2021

 If ever there was a way to lift the spirits, out early on a morning like this up on our back hill would take some beating.

There had been a hard frost and as we crunched across the grass, the still, raw air pinched at ears and nose while the freezing fog lay low over the adjacent fields.  

The sun was not quite up but the sky in the east was a wash of deep red, presaging its emergence. On the opposite side of the sky, a golden very nearly full moon lingered just above the horizon, as if waiting for the sun before it could disappear. 

A solitary star was still visible in an otherwise clear sky and then as it faded from view a very high-up plane drew an arrow-straight white line over our head, disappearing eastwards, who knows where.

No camera could have done it justice: it was winter perfection.

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.

Sunday 30.05.2021

 

These are the mornings that Shakespeare must have been referring to when he coined the phrase "darling buds of May". Up early for no particular reason and on the road by five to six. 

More of that ethereal shape-shifting mist which promises a warm day in prospect, the sun already well up, shining on the waning moon as they swapped places in the sky.

A noisy flock of crows swirling across the tree tops and hares scampering away from us set an energetic tone as did the cacophony of bird song in the woods which were looking particularly splendid, as if they finally dare believe that the Bard`s "rough winds" have passed for long enough to make it worthwhile unfurling.

The mist eddied round us, disappearing and reappearing but all the while thinning and dissipating as the sun shooed it away.

We took the extra mile round the other woods, known to us as Tim`s woods after the gentleman who used to look after them even though he left a while ago. Have to go round because whenever we go into them we get completely lost - which doesn`t necessarily matter but we`d been out long enough by now and coffee called.

Back by half seven, the last of the mist temporarily enveloping the house but it had been a morning walk to relish. Thing is - what to do with the rest of the day?!

 

Saturday 29.05.2021

 After seemingly endless days of grey and tumultuous rain woke up to a perfect May morning, blue sky with the last of the mists quietly dissipating as the sun burnt through. On the top field we were above what cloud there was, one wind turbine apparently floating free in the distance. An errant lamb tried and failed to get out of our field and back into its own, scurrying up and down the fence. No doubt as soon as we moved on it was back munching the "grass on the other side" - always lusher and greener of course.

Yesterday morning we set off early, also in the mist, the cows at the top of the road smudged silhouettes 

and a bold yellowhammer greeting us noisily at the entrance to the woods.

You could have been forgiven for thinking that we`d slipped directly from spring to autumn with the sparkly spider`s webs that adorned everything

but the trees have at last started telling the actual story.

Sunday 16.5.2021

 For once more blue sky than grey early on, beautiful morning light as we set off just on six.

Cool but no wind, the woods full of happy birds belting out the latest hits, hares scampering about and a couple of deer sitting quietly ruminating (literally and perhaps figuratively) in the sunshine until we disturbed them.

Looking out of the window as I write, the clouds have moved in but they may be only temporary: the weather has been and is forecast to go on being, very changeable but at least this morning it felt like a pitch perfect Spring morning.

Monday 3.5.2021

 On the back field at twenty past five in the morning on a cloudy Mayday on Saturday: the sun may have been already up but it was lurking behind the cloud and the air was absolutely freezing.  A far cry from two years ago: 

http://walking-quite-fast.blogspot.com/2019/05/monday-1052019.html

However, through the wonders of technology, was able to connect with folk luminaries Martin Green, Eliza Carthy and Maddy Prior with dancing courtesy of  Adie Baako and the wonderful Boss Morris:

https://www.facebook.com/events/3800713493381276/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%2251%22%2C%22source%22%3A%2244%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22[%7B%5C%22surface%5C%22%3A%5C%22permalink%5C%22%2C%5C%22mechanism%5C%22%3A%5C%22RHC%5C%22%2C%5C%22extra_data%5C%22%3A[]%7D]%22%7D&privacy_mutation_token=eyJ0eXBlIjowLCJjcmVhdGlvbl90aW1lIjoxNjE5NTQ5ODUxLCJjYWxsc2l0ZV9pZCI6MzU5MDM2MDAxOTY4NDMyfQ%3D%3D

   "Twas a lovely if slightly strange coming together but my dancing obviously wasn`t vigorous enough as halfway through I had to get walking to warm up so we set off up the road at a smart pace, listening and watching the rest of the event as we went.

By the time we were in the woods the last Spring Carol was ringing out and we then continued this very early walk to the accompaniment of birdsong, the sun now well up 

though there were patches of frost where it hadn`t reached.

By the time we were round, the day had become a beautifully clear spring morning, the clouds mostly dispersed, so we took an extra mile round on paths less travelled,

which is always a good thing for a slightly different perspective on the landscape.

Talking of which, two days away down at Lochwinnoch last week provided different perspectives on everything - just a delight to be `on the road`, mixing with folk and taking walks through woods and by the side of lochs.  Simple activities really, never to be taken for granted again. Not to forget the family breakfast BBQ on the way down more or less at the foot of the Campsie Fells. Simple pleasures indeed.

Thursdat 22.04.2021

 A perfect blue-sky-frosty-morning with promise of sun for most of the day...... on the back field early on the birds were in full throat and flitting about looking very busy. 

Similarly yesterday, as we took an early walk round the woods, it sounded like there were birds on the tops of every other tree proclaiming that we were in for another beautiful Spring morning. There is something very special about the early walks - the light 

not to mention the (erroneous) feeling that you`re the only ones up and about.  

Thursday 15.04.2021

 At last, days in a row with actual warm sun and no wind - well, not what is called actual wind around here - just a light chippy little breeze to stop complacency. And of course there are still plenty of frosty mornings and nights.

All of which helped with the air of celebration on Tuesday, the day of the Second Jab.  Aware it doesn`t confer invincibility but it felt a bit like it and obviously called for a quick canter up Mither Tap in the glorious afternoon sunshine (after the obligatory ice cream which is always awarded after vaccinations, for the very brave.)

Started out from the Rowantree car park which affords a slightly gentler slope towards the tops (no good pushing it on this first foray this year) but affords good views of the goal almost as soon as you get above the tree line.

Reassuringly, and not really surprising, the views are still there and especially splendid on such a beautiful day, adding to that feeling of  being, at least, temporarily, bulletproof. Inhaled deeply and counted blessings.

The general euphoria - and continuing sunshine - prompted us to take a different route back  - straight off the tops towards the Bennachie Centre but then taking a longer path back through the wood, 

as always getting that particular pleasure of looking back at a hill climbed.

We are, and so far have been, very lucky to live where we do.

Monday 12.4.2021

 On the back field early this morning: larks a-larking, the bleating of new born lambs, golden gorse.... and absolutely baltic temperatures..........mid-April in northern climes. 😊

Sunday 11.4.2021

 Out early on a beautiful morning though no sign of any warmer temperatures yet: the roads with a pristine thin carpet of snow, blue sky but still plenty of clouds about, promising more showers.

Trees with delicate brush strokes of white, 

some looking poised for those warmer temperatures.

The birds were in full throat, notably a thrush and, further on, a robin, serenading the rising sun at the very tops of the trees. It was necessary to stop and listen for a minute or two and watch the robin whose breast feathers glowed vermilion as the sun caught them.

Back up on the road, the sun, though warmer by the second, hadn`t managed to melt the snow

and our footsteps were still engraved on the surface.