January

January this year started off very wet and now its very cold. I prefer the latter although this year the cold spell that followed the above average rainfall has led to some treacherous icy conditions on the smaller lanes around here. The main roads are okay although there is still some ice but the water running off the fields into the lanes makes them into ice rinks. We've limited our walks to the village only, these frosty photographs are from the cold snap before Christmas.

Halfway through January and the afternoons are lighter. On bright sunny days it feels like spring, snowdrops are in flower and even some early daffodils. We seem to be in a hurry to "get through" winter, a place we'd rather not linger. It certainly has its challenges with recent flooding and cold interupting day to day life but for those of us lucky enough to be able to stay warm and dry, it can be a peaceful time to be inside. Winter evenings are when I am content to knit or read, activities that sit well with lower winter energy levels. So although I welcome the lighter days, I want to enjoy this season where I feel I can slow down a little.

December already

Here we are in December. It has been so mild here in southern England that it doesn't really feel as if winter has started yet, though if the weather forecast is correct it will be turning colder this week.

These photographs were taken in the last few days and do seem to be more autumnal than wintry. The oak trees especially seem to be holding on to their leaves.

 

I'll enjoy the autumn colours while they last but I must also look towards Christmas. I've made my cake and got my Christmas food order and veg box sorted but its about time I started on the Christmas cards - maybe tomorrow!

Autumn

 Autumn has taken me by surprise this year.

In mid September we went to Italy for a wedding and a few days holiday. On returning we all tested positive for covid and have stayed at home. I'm now recovered and am out walking again and in those couple of weeks since my last walk, summer has moved into autumn.

The bracken has turned brown and gold and funghi are appearing in the woods.

 

We are off to spend a few days in Scotland, I'm looking forward to noticing the seasonal changes as we travel north.

 

 

Today

 

Today I felt like coming here, to this long neglected space and posting a few photos taken this morning. I'm not sure why, I don't know whether this will be a regular occurence but here I am.

 

All is well here. Things have been quiet over the last couple of years but I am ready to emerge from the self-imposed coccoon I've happily tucked myself away in.

 So to anyone still around to read this, Hello, I hope you are well .

 

 

one week in

Here we are, a week into the restrictions placed upon us to slow the spread of Covid-19. We are allowed out once a day for exercise, a run, walk or cycle of our usual length and as infrequently as possible for shopping for food. Since retiring, on days we spend at home, we  have been in the habit of walking for an hour or two in the morning and then a shorter walk in the afternoon. This week we have had to be content with just the one walk but I am very grateful for that.

Spring is here and walking from home is a pleasure. We see many more people than we normally do whilst walking but everyone is being very careful to maintain the required 2 metre gap as we pass.

The warm weather has brought out the spring flowers, wild cherry blossom and buds on the horse chestnut.

In a sheltered spot I found bluebells and wood anemone.

The hedges are turning white with blackthorn.

Walking this week, I have been very grateful for the countryside around our home and for having a garden, there are many less fortunate. In the coming weeks there may be more restrictions to being outdoors brought into force but for now at least we can enjoy our daily walks.

Hello.

I thought I'd post a few photographs of my garden. In this strange new world we are living in, it is comforting to notice the unfolding of spring and realise that in nature and in our gardens things are continuing much as normal. Shortly after taking these photos I saw the first butterfly of the year, a yellow Brimstone - always the first one of the year round here, the natural cycles continue.

There are masses of celandines in this shady border. Although they are considered a rather invasive weed I appreciate the show of colour carpeting the ground and in a few short weeks the leaves will have died down and the area will be full of lily of the valley. I also think they might be a good way of smothering early weeds but that might be wishful thinking!

I haven't posted for months but hope to show up a bit more frequently in the coming weeks, connection online is going to become more important to us as we are inevitably isolated from family and friends and missing our social activities.

Edinburgh in November

A few photographs from my visit to Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago. We were blessed with lovely weather, cold frosty mornings and bright blue sky days.

We are lucky to be able to visit the city several times a year and like to revisit favourite places as well as find something new. This time we went to Holyrood Palace - no pictures as photography was not allowed. The photograph above is Holyrood Park with Arthur's Seat on the skyline.

The skyline of Edinburgh is very distinctive and you often get glimpses of parts of it as you walk around the city. Above is a view of Carlton Hill from the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The Botanic Gardens are one of my favourite places to wander and look stunning at any time of the year. I am always drawn to the rock garden with its little paths and amazing array of plants,

still beautiful in November.

There were a few roses flowering in the Queen Mother's garden.

Although Edinburgh is a busy bustling capital city, quiet and calm spaces exist within it. The Water of Leith runs through the city providing another habitat for wildlife.

And of course right in the middle of the city, in the shadow of the castle, Princes Street Gardens are the perfect place to relax in the late autumn sunshine.

Early November

The woods near us are beautiful at any time of the year but especially so in the autumn and I wanted to share a few photographs. Now that we are both no longer working we are able to walk several times a week when we are at home and watch the seasons change.

Autumn is my favourite season, I love the colours of the trees but also the feeling that everything is quietening down for winter. No longer having to set an alarm for 6:00am, I am trying to slow down a little too.

A year into retirement, I'm still in the process of finding a routine to suit. To find a balance between going out, going away and filling the days because I have the opportunity to do so or staying at home and enjoying the house and garden. Between my preference for quiet time alone and the need to find new friendships and activities now that socialisation doesn't occur as a by-product of work. To decide whether to take part in regular activities such as classes or enjoy the freedom of not being tied to a time-table and being able to make plans at short notice.

I'm not sure I have it right yet but I am learning. When we are away visiting my mother and looking after her house, we add a couple of free days onto our stay and have a mini-holiday. The same when we visit our son in Edinburgh, a weekend with him, then a day or two to explore on our own. Also the importance of "white space" between activities at home, time to catch up and restore enough order to the house and garden to enable me to enjoy our next trip away.

These last two photographs were taken at the National Trust garden at Stourhead a couple of weeks ago. We made a stop there on our way down to Devon to visit mum - grateful for the opportunity to turn a routine journey into a day out.

Next up, a trip to Edinburgh where I am expecting the temperature to be a few degrees colder and the leaves to have already fallen from the trees.

The fairy tree

Back in the spring, some fairies arrived in an old beech tree in the woods.

They seemed very happy sitting there surrounded by their flower garland.

This week I was pleased to see that they were still there. Some butterflies arrived over the summer. The newest addition though was not placed by humans, these toadstools popped up by themselves providing a magical backdrop to the little scene. With all the gloomy news at the moment, its good to know there are still fairies in the woods.

Early Autumn

There is a definite autumnal feeling in the air. The mornings are cooler, cyclamen have appeared, and the garden has a softer faded feel as we move through early October.

In the countryside the berries are bright until the cold weather arrives and the birds devour them.

This time of year encourages slowing down and reflection, two things that I seem to have had little time for lately.

Only my second post this year. I don't write but somehow am loathed to admit the fact and give up on the blog. I miss the early days of blogging when even the smallest blog like this one could form its own little community,  people in many different places around the world, quietly documenting their lives and photographing their surroundings. All on Instagram now I suppose and blogs are old-fashioned unless there is something to be promoted or sold.

Blogging is more time consuming and time seems to be in short supply these days, ridiculous since I no longer work.

The rhythm of my days has changed now that neither my husband or I are working. I no longer have those quiet solitary days at home. We are busy, the television is switched on, there are no quiet pauses in my day to take gentle walks with my camera, to sit, and to think.

Life is good but I miss that quiet. Today I have a rare day to myself and it feels good. I hope to make more time for days like these.

I'd like to find time to blog again, not regularly as I used to, but from time to time, simply documenting my days. We'll see. If there is anyone reading - do say "hello".