Wednesday Walking

Hello Lovelies,

this week I couldn't go out with the walking group...again. Life is a little too busy for that right now.

But on Wednesday I was still determined to get some exercise and spend a couple of hours outdoors.

There was a little frost, adding just a hint  of winter magic..... if you looked closely..........

The footpaths are feeling much more open again, now the trees are almost bare and the undergrowth has receded...........

Along the lane I wished I had thought to wear a peaked cap, to keep the low morning sun out of my eyes..............

Any remaining Oak leaves are brown and crispy............

No children playing this school morning....just sheep quietly grazing..........

As I pass by I notice their water trough has a little ice..............

I headed through the footpath gate ............

past the sweet Wendy house.........

and into the fields..........

the Robins were all fluffed up, like little balls, on this chilly morning..........

I headed downhill, still squinting into the sunlight...........

Bare tree shadows spread across the grass.............

and the bright pink of these Bramble leaves catches my eye............

it's so quiet here and I enjoy the solitude....just me and my shadow..........

Here the sun is on my left for a while.............

then I turn uphill and walk through deep shade, towards the sunshine again...........

At the top there is a huge upturned tree stump.  I presume this tree fell down and the rest of it has been removed........it does look odd............

My favourite thing about this spot is the view.....it's all hazy this morning........lovely.........

A little further on I pass this pretty cottage...........

and notice the dappled light under the trees............

the low sun is shining right into the church porch.....it's rays lighting up the whole of the heavy wooden door.......I don't expect this happens on many days of the year.............

Then I'm on the homeward leg....with the sun behind me I can notice the colours of the landscape and the bright blue sky.....

I climb more stiles as I walk through the rolling green fields.......

and look at horses grazing...........

Over another stile and along the track..........

As I climbed the hill I glanced back, bye horses.........

I think this is my favourite photo from this walk. I love the Autumn colours in the foreground and the way the zoomed shot has emphasised the contours of the landscape....rather than flattening them out, as  photographs usually do..............

I've been walking for 2 hours and I'm glad to be nearing home now, I walk down this shady track.............

past peaceful cattle...........

In the hedgerow I spot another Robin............

and higher in the Hawthorn tree there is a Blackbird...........

Then I  notice the silhouette of what I think is a starling.........

It's hungrily eating berries.............

I also took this photo of it and when I got home I realised it's not a Starling at all...........

I think it may be a Redwing....but I'm not sure.

A sunny day in December stands out among the grey and dark ones.....I'm so glad I had the opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy it.

There may be many cold months ahead.....but spring will come and mother nature is already preparing for it............

Today ( Saturday) it's much frostier and it really feels wintry outside.
Keep warm Lovelies.....or keep cool, depending on where you are :0)
Jacquie x