Friday 25 November 2016

Of A Questing Nature ...


Saturday
A cold and frosty morning.  C and I went to visit F for afternoon tea and a chat.  Travelling home in the dark we came upon police cars and two Land Rovers down a country lane.  Two men with black scarves round their mouths - looking rather sinister.  Not knowing what was going on we surmised that perhaps they were Hunt Protesters out to cause trouble.  Arrived home  to find David had lit the stove so the room was lovely, warm and snug.  I prepared a late supper and we watched Jeff Lynn's E.L.O. concert in Hyde Park on tv.


Sunday
I heard the rain hitting the window in the night and woke up to a grey, miserable morning.  Yesterday we were watching a Grey Wagtail hopping onto the pondweed and picking up fish pellets and eating them on the patio - such unusual behaviour - it must have been hungry.


Monday
Rain, rain, rain - all day, non-stop.  Finished reading Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski a sad tale of wartime separation.  Didn't move out of the house or get any fresh air (beginnings of cabin fever).


Tuesday
Computer troubles - no connection, so frustrating.  Rang BT who said the line was OK so I rang my friendly computer genius and all I had to do was click on RESTART.  Thankfully it worked - so simple.  I feel embarrassed at my lack of computer knowledge. It has stopped raining, thank goodness, but parts of the country have suffered from flooding.


Wednesday
A brighter day today - David spent the morning sweeping up leaves.  I found a book on my shelves that I had forgotten about, called How to be an Explorer of the World by Keri Smith - it lists all sorts of projects or explorations, as she calls them.  A means of observing life in detail - she calls it a museum that will contain your unique vision of the world.  I think I will give it a go - something to do to pass the dark hours of winter.  I began by photographing the front doors of houses in the village.


Thursday
A dry day but windy and cold. David's birthday today - bought him the latest box set of Game of Thrones which we both looking forward to watching.  To offset my generosity I bought three Shirley Trevena framed watercolours from a charity shop for myself for the grand sum of £3 each.  I have always been a big fan of hers ever since my days as an artist - so I was delighted to spot these paintings and snapped them up.




Friday
Waiting for our winter supply of logs to arrive.  A bright and sunny morning.  Went for a walk after lunch - still dry, but oh so cold - I was snug in my fur lined parka, gloves, scarf and boots, but only walked the lanes as the fields were very muddy. Spent some time making up a poem from the book titles on my shelves - a fun way to spend half an hour or so.

The Country Child
watched
The Night Rainbow
shimmer on
The Silver Dark Sea
Beneath the Wide, Wide Heaven
as she escaped from
The Teeth of Angels
and lived
Life after Life
in the land of
Thirteen Moons.

p.s. The logs arrived - eleven barrowloads - now all nicely stacked - come on Winter, do your worst!

 
 
The horses in the fields were all sporting their winter jackets
 
 
and the young Oak saplings seem to be the only ones left hanging on to their leaves.
Still looking glorious.
 
 
Elaine
 

48 comments:

  1. I love that little grey wagtail who came for a visit and the first image of the bare trees against a pale sky. The oak saplings do indeed still look gorgeous!

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    1. He was a little beauty, we have tried to take pictures before but he is very skittish.

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  2. Enjoyed reading about your adventures of the week. I think the watercolour paintings were a great find, they are beautiful. Nice idea to photograph frontdoors, I like the differences.
    Have a nice weekend!
    Janneke

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    1. It has been a very dark and dreary week but I managed to make the most of what little daylight we had. Glad you like the watercolours - I spotted them and knew straight away who they were by - I couldn't hand my money over quick enough :) You have a good weekend too Janneke.

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  3. Some miserable things going on Elaine ...... police, sinister goings on, rain, cold, computer glitches but all accompanied by such beautiful and colourful images !!!!! .... it all ended up rather happily !!!! .... here's to a colourful weekend .... belated happy birthday to David ..... many happy returns of yesterday !! XXXX

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    1. It was that kind of week Jackie - luckily there were one or two bright spots to lighten the darkness. I'll pass the message on to David.

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  4. Slightly belated birthday wishes for David ...

    Another lovely post with some great photo's.
    Loved seeing those doors, they can be quite fascinating the different types and colours we all live behind!

    Enjoy the weekend

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks Jan - when I started taking the pictures of the doors, I was surprised at just how many variations there were. Enjoy your weekend too.

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  5. I love watching the seasons unfold on your blog Elaine. The weather here can't make up its mind,it's all over the place. I don't mind because I hate the heat and it ruins the garden.

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    1. Thanks Judy. It is very Novemberish here - I don't mind the cold weather, it is the dreary weather I despise - but I do try to remain positive :)

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  6. What a lovely week. We've not had much rain here.

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    1. Some parts of the country seem to have fared worst than others. I'm just glad it has stopped - grey skies be gone a little sun is always a welcome sight though this month's has seen little.

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  7. November here looks charming, all beautifully gathered together with some lovely thoughts and words.
    Love your Shirley Trevena watercolours - what a wonderful bargain - her portrayal of Provence and Tuscany will bring their sunshine to you during the coming winter months.

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    1. Thank you Rosemary there are always good things to be found even in this dreariest of months. I was so chuffed to find the paintings. Luckily I knew her name and recognised her work immediately :)

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  8. Oh Elaine, it all sounds wonderful.

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    1. Thanks Donna, not my favourite month but luckily I found things to be thankful for.

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  9. The diary-style blog format is excellent Elaine and the accompanying photos. What can I say? The Grey Wagtail and the front doors are my pick and of course the horse wearing its winter blanket which I am sure has featured in your posts before.

    Ms Soup

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    1. Thank you Ms soup, for me it is an easier way of blogging than trying to find a theme each week. Yes, I often feature the horses that are in the fields, this time a different horse in a different coat.

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  10. Did you ever find out what the police were up to? Those watercolours for £3 each; I though those days had long gone!

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    1. No I didn't Cro - I even bought the local newspaper but couldn't find anything - it remains a mystery. Yes, if you know where to look you can still find bargains :)

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  11. Gorgeous, seasonal photos to acompany your words. I love the grey wagtail photos and the front doors are wonderful, I wish my front door was as appealing as those. Good to have the logs all stacked up for winter:)

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    1. Thanks Rosie. We have tried many times to capture the wagtail on camera, this time it hung around for ages and obligingly posed for us :)

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  12. The wagtail photos are great. You did really well,out of David's birthday. We started watching GOT from the repeats and are now at series 5.

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    1. Thanks Sue - I am glad we persevered and finally got some snaps of him - we haven't seen him since. I love Game of Thrones, definitely addictive.

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  13. A most enjoyable post and wonderful pictures. Lucky you seeing, and photographing a grey wagtail. I really like the red flower, so vibrant. Flighty xx

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    1. Thanks Flighty - that red/claret coloured flower is a chrysanthemum that was a supermarket pot plant that I managed to keep alive and plant out in the garden - it is a lovely colour - wonder if I can keep it going for another year.

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  14. A lovely selection of photos, especially of the wagtail. What a terrific sighting. I'm glad you found such a bargain with the watercolours. I need to go out walking, too, and can't stay in for long - even if we have a few days of terrible weather.

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    1. Thanks Wendy, the wagtail was very obliging, I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing when he kept going back to the pond for fish pellets. Oh I agree it doesn't take long before I get restless being indoors for too long.

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  15. I have always known you were an artist by your eye but you have never mentioned it in my time as a reader. Those watercolours I like very much. D'S birthday same day as my Mum. Sagittarians. Wonderfully straight foward person no doubt. I was "taught" observation skills by my English teacher. The greatest teacher I ever had. I an sure the book will be good but I bet you are 'there' already Elaine.x

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    1. I painted for about ten years Rachel. Sold quite a few paintings. Mainly landscapes, portraits and animals. But I ran out of inspiration and packed in it in - I have never lifted a paintbrush since :(. I have always been o servant and this book just gives me a new direction to follow.

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  16. What a glorious post. I am not sure what is my favorite--the first photo for sure because of it so etherial. I am curious about the masked men on the road, and I love the poem. Gas logs here. No hauling of wood or ashes anymore. Remote control. Clean. Warm. Pretty. But there is something wonderful about real logs and a real fire. I love your challenge to winter.

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    1. Thank you Ann. We have no gas in the village unfortunately - your gas logs are much more convenient but I think I would miss the noise of a log fire, all that crackling and spitting and the noise of them settling gently into glowing embers. I was curious too about the masked men but could find nothing reported about it in the local paper - it could have just been a car accident or something - we'll never know :)

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  17. What an eventful week Elaine. I enjoyed your powers of observation and as always your photos. I see that your chrysanthemum made it. What a wonderful shade. Did you know that the author of 'The Night Rainbow' has just had a new book published? I'm hoping to read it over the festive season :)

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    1. Thanks Anna. Yes the chrysanthemum made it - it has grown to a normal height, I am hoping the pot grown ones I have bought this year will survive the winter and can be planted out for next year. No I didn't know about the new book - I will look it up - I loved The Night Rainbow.

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  18. Is it just me who thinks that horse looks a bit embarassed by that spotty coat? A lovely post full of good things - just what we need.

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    1. Thank you Freda. I think he looks startled with his main standing up.

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  19. Your weeks are always full of beauty.the colours and light in the first picture are magical. Sarah x

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    1. Thank you Sarah. That first picture was taken as soon as it got light a misty, frosty kind of morning with a hazy, pink sky - luckily I had my camera to hand.

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  20. Those oak leaves are gorgeous, such vibrant colours, ours were all very brown this year. Ahhhh, what a sweet little wagtail.
    Computer problems drive me mad too, hubs is a techie and often shakes his head in despair at me. What an interesting book, I do like the idea of projects that improve observance, who knew front doors could be so different! Lucky you finding those paintings, they're fantastic. Happy birthday to David, I Hope you enjoy GOt, I'm a huge fan. Just loved your book title poem, I may give that a go.xxx

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    1. The sunlight just caught the oak leaves perfectly. We have watched every series of GOT on DVD, like you, we love it - so complicated though - you have to keep your wits about you :)

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  21. Dear Elaine...you left me hanging about those two sinister men...the mystery reader in me is imagining all types of scenarios. Your grey Warhol is a lovely bird. We do not have this species in our area. Love that touch of yellow. Love a rainy day when one can curl up with a cup of tea and enjoy a good book. Your front doors in the village are such beautiful subjects. May I ask- is one of them yours? As for Shirley Trevena's art- wow. I have always enjoyed her paintings. Read two of her books as well. Love your poem too. What a charming visit I enjoyed. Hope you have a great week. Hugs!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the post Debbie - I always aim to please :). No my front door is boring, white and plain, so it doesn't feature in with all these colourful, interesting ones. Glad you like Shirley Trevena, I didn't realise she was known 'across the pond'. I have a couple of her books too, I was lucky to find her paintings so cheaply. Enjoyed the rest of the week my friend.

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  22. Dear Elaine, thank you for those wonderful, wonderful photos! What a luck to get those water colours! Look at my blog: I've got something too - through your recommendation...

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    1. Hello there Britta, nice to see you here after your absence from the blogging world - it seems ages since you posted. Glad you liked the photos. I hope you enjoy Laurie Lee, although the book is only short essays by him, they are still beautifully written and speak of an era long gone and full of nostalgia.

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  23. Lovely captures of the wagtail Elaine.

    I am wondering about the men you spotted.......I have a vivid imagination and have all kinds of ideas going on in my head.

    Oh I love the doors...........I have a thing about doors. I drive my husband crazy as I am always stopping to look at them. I love to see old doors with honeysuckle and roses growing around them.

    Great post Elaine, have a wonderful weekend

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    1. Hi Cheryl
      Thank you. He was very obliging and hung about long enough to get some good shots. It was an intriguing situation with the men, it was probably something very simple but they did look very sinister. It was an interesting exercise with the doors, something we see all the time and take little notice of. You have a good weekend too.

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  24. Those watercolours were a real bargain, they are beautiful I'll remember that name. Lovely to see such good photos of the grey wagtail, such vibrant yellow around its tail.

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    1. Oh they were I was dead chuffed to find them, I nearly snapped the lady' s hand off :). The wagtail is such a delicate little bird, and to see him pinching the fish food was very amusing.

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