squelching through fields

 

Last weekend, Littlest and I took advantage of a free couple of hours to 'squelch and squerch' across fields, along country lanes and along the canal to a nearby village, Berriew.

 

 

The rains held off long enough to reach home. It was good to be out... exploring, stretching our legs and eyes. And what a joy to spot the first of the snowdrops on a roadside verge. 

the copper beech in january

Soft winter sunlight casting long shadows.
Bare branches with the last leaves holding on.

 

 

Joining in with 'Tree Following'

a new year escape

 

... to the coastline of Cardigan Bay.

A New Year's Eve walk from Mwnt beach along the clifftops, fields and country lanes. 

The tranquil ancient church of Mwnt with it's whitewashed walls and simple, natural festive window displays.

 

And to blow the very last of the cobwebs away, a New Year's Day ramble to Penbryn beach.
Mesmerised by the big waves. 

A refreshing start to the new year.

the copper beech in november

 

  

 

As I approached the copper beech tree, I was shocked to see that it was completely bare... all the leaves had gone. Surrounding trees are still holding on to most of their leaves, but not the copper beech. There was a thick carpet of curled copper leaves covering the grass under the tree. The husks of the few nuts the tree produced this year remain on the branches.

autumn

 

 

 

  

Woodland walks and bike rides during a very misty and murky half term holiday. We got wet and our boots heavy with mud but there were many smiles... especially with a spontaneous crabapple throwing/kicking/rolling contest.

The autumn landscape where otherworldly realms seem to merge with our own.

the copper beech in october

 

 

 

October is the month when this tree really comes into it's own. Standing in the warm sun gazing up at the thousands of shades of copper. Just how lovely...

foraging

 

As summer slips into autumn, it is a time of picking and preserving... and picking some more. 

My favourite wild damson tree in a hedgerow a few fields away was laden with fruit. A carrier bag full was promptly turned into damson chutney, followed by a batch of damson jam.

 

 

  

The plum tree in the allotment has had a wonderful year, with more fruit than ever before. The boys have been climbing up it to reach the sweetest fruits up in the top of the tree. We have picked and picked - eaten lots straight from the tree, given boxfulls away, made plum jam and plum chutney and even sold some in punnets on the doorstep with an honesty jar - and the tree is still laden! 

  

 In recent years I have made a small batch of elderberry syrup which is particularly good for those winter colds (a little with mixed with some hot water is very soothing).

 I do love hedgerow foraging...