A nice thing about Autumn

It feels weird to be calling the weather we have been having Autumn, but since the leaves are changing and we have passed the Equinox, I suppose it counts.  It is well-documented on here that Autumn is my least favourite season. I do not enjoy it although I have tried to see the good in it and appreciate it.

However, I have noticed that there have been some marvellous skies this Autumn and recall that there have often been beautiful watercolour-worthy skies during many an Autumn.  

The day of this sky was no exception.  It was a joy to walk home with this canvas above my eyes.  It's always quite hard to photograph where I live as we feel quite low down but look at those colours.

Small things fill our hearts with joy.  It doesn't have to be a great statement or something tangible but something like this is to be cherished.

xx

A beautiful Autumn day in Coggeshall.

Last Saturday, CBC and I decided to go for a walk somewhere. There was no particular plan,we set off in the car and ended up parking the car in Coggeshall (not so far from Kelvedon)

After a nice lunch and a parking ticket (grr), we walked from a certain point.

The beginning of the walk was accompanied by the sweet aroma of wild orchids (I believe)- they flanked the path of both sides quite densely. 

 After a while we reached a stretch of fields- the sight off those beautifully ploughed lines is one of my favourite things about the countryside.  It reminds me of that line from Wordsworth's Daffodils, "They stretched in never ending line, along the margin of a bay."

 A small patch of Michaelmas daisies greeted us at one end of the field, blinking their white lashes upon golden eyes.

 Fluffy, green gloved plants pointed the way forward.

 Much speculation ensued over what crops were newly growing here.  I suspected Sprouts.

 The light shone beautifully upon those green laced fields.

 The map showed some sort of Gardens.  Marks Hall or something of that ilk.   We walked the outskirts of it.

 A grove of olive trees welcomed you to the gardens.

 We skirted the borders of the gardens and continued into the woods.   This beautiful plant reminded me somewhat of Bindweed but with greater variety of colour which made me feel more benevolent towards it than I would have done were it that notorious scourge of gardeners.

 A final avenue led into the woods alongside a deer park.  Many scampering squirrels were available for viewing- the deer were somewhat less forthcoming.

 An elderly tree with a heart cut out was bathed in sunlight from various angles.

 The final destination was a small Airfield where we stood and watched some small planes coming in and being tucked up for the night.  It was time to turn round.

 As we watched, we discussed the route back to the car- several suggestions were mooted but the Sunset was due in 30 minutes and we reckoned after Civil Twillight, Nautical Twilight and Astronomical daylight, we would only have an extra 45 minutes.

 The sky became an evolving artist's canvas and we delighted at its appearance at different intervals.

 The light reflected onto these hay bales.

 That sky of dazzling gold!

 It was quite a sight.

 The hues subdued as time progressed and we found our way.

The final view I leave you with is of this dreamy view.


The walk from Coggeshall was one of general happiness and freedom- CBC and I really enjoyed each other's company in the solitude of the countryside.

xx

Golden Sunset

Hello there,

As is often the case, I am extremely tardy in putting together travel posts from my holidays!  I often worry about boring people and find it hard to select photos and write the accompanying text.

However, today, I have felt a trifle cold and a little perturbed by the distinctly Autumnal weather and as I had a look through my photo folder, I remembered our last morning in Greece.

We stayed at a hotel fairly near the airport- you could see the planes coming into land and take off.  Our room was on the edge of the sea with a balcony.

As I woke, most unwillingly, at 7.30am in the morning, I opened the doors onto the balcony and was filled with the most glorious sight.

 A serene sea was overseen by glorious Apollo rising in the sky clad in the most warm, golden hues.

As I stood there, zooming my camera in, the warmth seemed to envelop me and invite me closer into its golden mantle.

 Looking at these glittering waters, I was filled with a blissful calm.

 I watched the lucky couple who swam gently in the lapping waters.

 I marvelled over this golden sprinkling of glitter on the waters and was glad that such a sight had been saved for my last morning.

Looking at these now is very restorative and warming.  I hope they feel that way for you too!

xx

Glorious skies

Good Evening,

 Summer yields the most sublime skies.  My cloud-gazing joy reaches its zenith in the Summer when there is such a range of clouds- varied hues, sizes, heights and locations.

 Particularly in the early evening. If you have eyes to see, there is a veritable art gallery to be seen.  Old Masters are free for the discerning eye or a range of new paintings on that old blue canvas. The interplay between the water vapour and the light is a palette of joy.

 These clouds above have a definite Flying Saucer appearance to them or some some of Aqua Ray

 Enjoy the show!

A fleeting rainbow

Last Tuesday,  I left work fairly late, just as it started to pelt it down with rain.  It was rather grim, particularly as I didn't have an umbrella.  As I walked, gritting my teeth from the cold deluge, it began to slow down and I realised there was a reward for the discomfort.

 A double rainbow with the first being intensely bright.

 As I waked, it seemed to get brighter.

 No matter how many times I see one, I still get excited.  I know the lovely Ang does too, she's even named her blog after them.

 As is often the case when something utterly beautiful is going on, I saw the odd person who wandered along, head down, often looking at phone. Oh, what a sight they were missing.  I snapped picture after picture with giddy joy!

 As the secondary bow faded, the first rainbow lost its full arc but seemed to grow larger on the horizon- I wonder what it would have been like further into the distance?

I posted these pictures on Instagram and the sheer delight and incredulity of people showed me that we all still regard it as a great joy, privilege and beauty to behold this fleeting image.  It came and went in 5 minutes but I was glad for having had the eyes to see it and the opportunity to bring a smile and joy to those who saw it.  No wonder God made it a sign of peace!

xx

Roses at Sunset

For 30 days wild today, I watched and delighted in the beautiful sunset and the roses in my garden.

I looked to the sky to see the sunset and saw how these roses seemed to be yearning for the Sunlight and seemed to be reaching for it.

The light and the roses were beautiful.

I hope you enjoy the colours too..