recently...

Oh my days, it has been a long time since I last posted here. The ease of posting on Instagram has probably contributed to this tardiness as well as a tendency to take more photographs on my phone which I then think aren't good enough to post on here. In an effort to rectify that will share more of my phone photographs rather than none at all!

January has been a month of change for us as we have begun to move into our House part of the church conversion we have been working on. I am putting together a post on our website about it to be published very soon. Starting to use this space which we have been painstakingly creating for the past 13 years is the most incredible thing. There is so much I could say about it all but what has struck me most is the light!

The kitchen has one of the few clear windows in the church and I just adore being by it, looking out watching the weather. Earlier this week I spent almost the whole day in the kitchen making marmalade. With the sun streaming through the window warming my back as I 'finely sliced' the peel, listening to the radio, I was so content! The window has enhanced my life enormously (the Hut which has been our temporary house while we made the real one, was in effect a building within a building and therefore had no outside windows).

 

 

I have however been getting out and about in all weathers recently as I have taken up running. This has been wonderful for exploring all the nearby country lanes and has probably contributed to the increase in landscape photographs being taken with my phone camera. The early morning runs are the best as you get to see this...

I have really taken to these mini adventures and challenges that running has given me, and that I'm up and out to get to see the sun rise on a frosty January morning is a real bonus.

Thank you for sticking with me! I shall endeavour not to leave it so long xx

the copper beech in april

 

 

 

The leaf buds silhouetted against the blue sky are poised to burst. The moss on the tree trunk and branches is radiant. Nestled in amongst the knobbly roots of the copper beech are celandines, in their prime at the moment.

Joining in with Loose and Leafy's 'Tree Following'

christmas walk

 

 

 

 

 

The Christmas Day (and birthday for one of us!) walk. This year we went up and over Moel y Golfa with amazing views of the Severn floodplains. Nestled between two other Briedden hills, Middletown Hill and Rodney's Pillar, Moel y Golfa has two gypsy king monuments to add a point of interest, as if the views weren't enough. The light of the sinking sun was a beautiful end to a special day.

the field in november

 

 

The first frosts of the season highlighting the pattern and structure of leaves, flowers and leaves. The low misty cloud making silhouettes of the bare trees. The hawthorns are getting stripped of their berries, only the red stalks remain. Any remaining leaves along with mosses and lichens are the sources of colour now (...and some of my favourite colour shades too).

breezy hills

  

  

Exploring some of Montgomeryshire's wildest (and windiest!) hills behind Trefeglwys. This is Karl's childhood stomping ground, so it was a gentle walk of rediscovery and sharing memories.

Ancient hedgerows and lanes, with glimpses of tumbledown cottages (where we were itching to climb over the fence to explore!). Fence posts covered in lichen and moss.

 

Up on the top of the hills, the light, colour and big skies make it my favourite sort of place. Bleached grasses blowing in the wind and a brooding Cadair Idris in the distance - love it!

We made our way down into the village and wandered round the churchyard (we just can't help ourselves!) which was full of beautiful slate. You can see that here
A campfire by the river to cook our supper as the light faded was probably the highlight of the day for the boys. Stones, water... sticks and fire... they could not have been anywhere better!

Friday's Flower - Day Lily

I was given these Day Lilies as a lump of soil and roots and being completely ignorant of what they were I just plonked them in the ground. They have been a fantastic addition to the garden. True to their name, each bloom lasts only a day, but they are very prolific. This particular clump are, as luck would have it,  perfectly placed to catch the light from the setting sun as we are sitting in the garden enjoying these fabulous warm summer evenings.
It's been an incredible two weeks of sunshine and heat. The doors of the church have been open and the warmth is quite wonderful. I feel as though I haven't been properly warm for years!
The skies have been wonderfully blue and today there were the most perfect fluffy white clouds.

 

Long may it continue!

Sunrise

 

Crosswort

Over the past few days the weather has been glorious and I wanted to make the most of it by getting up at 2.45am (it was hardly worth going to bed!) to go on a Sunrise Walk. Son #2 and I had such a wonderful time together on our Dawn Chorus Walk last month and (thankfully!) he was keen to do it again, with the hope of actually seeing the sun rising up over the horizon.

Of course, dawn was even earlier this time around (sunrise was at 4.47am today) and it was hard getting up and out, but there is something so magical about being out and about at twilight, being part of the beginning of the day.

Seeing the pinky orange sun emerging in the distance was completely worth the effort to see it, and F was delighted.

The soft warm light on the dewy grass and bluebells.

Sheep on the hill rather surprised at having their breakfast interupted.

Along country lanes full of Cow Parsley.

And a new (to me) wildflower spot... Crosswort. A beautiful upright plant with tiny lime coloured flowers. The leaves are grouped in crosses up the stems. I only saw this clump growing in the roadside verge, but now I know what it is I'll no doubt spot it in all sorts of places.

Back home to greet the rest of the family just getting up!

It is now the end of the day, and I desperately need my bed. A long, but precious day.

 

Dawn Chorus walk

 

 

 

 

It was an early start for Son #2, Fred and I this morning as we went on our own Dawn Chorus Walk. Today was International Dawn Chorus Day as it's the best time of year to hear song birds at their best.
Fred had never got up so early before, so it was quite an adventure setting off in the dark, with bats flying around. A few birds such as blackbirds and wrens had already begun their warblings and it wasn't long before the Dawn Chorus reached it's crescendo.
Unfortunately it was rather cloudy so sunrise wasn't quite the spectacle we'd hoped for, but it was still magical.
Our walk took us along country lanes and over fields to the summit of a local hill, Y Golfa, where we caught sight of a fox which was exciting.
We had a much needed rest at the top and enjoyed some hot chocolate and coissants, to the sound of skylarks.
From there we decended into a beautiful valley of fields, woodland and dingles.
As daylight grew and the birdsong died down, wild flowers caught our attention. Wood Anemone, Ground Ivy, Bush Vetch and new to me, Evergreen Alkanet. The verges was abundant with Primrose, Violet and Forget-me-not.
I think we walked a good 8 miles and I was very proud of Fred for physically achieving such a long trek, (though he did take his bike which helped) but also his great enthusiasm and interest in everything we experienced.
He wants to do it again next weekend!