Friday 6 November 2015

Of Mists and Transformation

"Fog in November, trees have no heads,
Streams only sound, walls suddenly stop
Half-way up hills, the ghost of a man spreads
Dung on dead fields for next year's crop.
I cannot see my hand before my face,
My body does not seem to be my own,
The world becomes a far-off, foreign place,
People are strangers, houses silent, unknown."
 -   Leonard Clark, Fog in November
 

Sunday was so lovely - sunny and warm.  I took my book and a cup of tea and sat on the bench at the top of the garden.  I held my face up to the sun, and saw the light shining through the leaves on the apple tree.  I stayed there a while soaking up the autumn warmth; not knowing that by the next day it would all change.
 


Fog; thick fog; all that day, and the next, and the next.  The sun tried desperately to break through - unsuccessfully.  As we walked, trees loomed out of the gloom; ghostly, with their branches like witches fingers clawing into the murk.  Everywhere dripping; leaves soggy under foot; just a few leaves hanging on.


 
But, then the fog dispersed, leaving a rather damp bedraggled world behind. 






Et voila. Decorating finished. Transformation almost complete. A light, bright room.   Just waiting for replacement curtains and blinds to be finished.  I hardly recognise the room; well worth all the time, work and chaos.  No packing cases, everything stowed away and back to normal.  Whew! It's been a long  job.
 



Oh, and one more thing - I don't know if you remember but this time last year we had our willow tree pruned - this is what it looked like when it had had the chop.



This is what it looks like now - amazing what a difference a year can make.



That's it for now.
See you next week
same time, same place.
Elaine
 

51 comments:

  1. Lovely atmospheric photos, Elaine. The re-vamped living room looks good too - a great place for reading a book with cup of tea at hand!

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    1. Thanks Mark. I'm just glad the decorating is all done with - it took a lot longer than expected - luckily husband is retired now - can't think how long it would have taken if it was only carried out at weekends.

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  2. Good morning Elaine,

    The fog was dreadful here to. My son and family were unable to get home from Cornwall due to flight cancellations. They were staying in a spa hotel so I don't think they were too worried :)
    Worse things happen..........

    Lovely captures as the season walks the path to winter.

    Your living room looks fresh, and bright, a good job done. I understand that feeling of dread while these things are being done but also that feeling of joy when the job is completed and we can sit in a freshly re-vamped room...........wonderful, enjoy.

    Have a good weekend Elaine...........

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    1. Hello Cheryl,
      I can't remember fog like it for a long time but it is November after all and at least it is doing what it is supposed to do this month. Although it isn't really that cold is it.

      The worst part about doing a room is that you can't find anything when everything is all boxed. You have to keep moving the boxes and furniture etc. We had a sofa and chair on loan whilst ours were taken away to be re-upholstered and they were so 'not us'. Anyway it's all done now and I think the room will look better once it has that 'lived in' look - it's all a bit too new at the moment.

      Enjoy your weekend - let's hope we get a bit of much needed sun.

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  3. I do remember the willow tree pruning and how well the tree surgeons did to avoid the greenhouse! Well done on finishing the decorating, it looks beautifully fresh.

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    1. I remember at the time thinking that the willow's haircut was rather drastic and it took ages for it to show any signs of life - now we have all those falling leaves to content with.

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  4. I love the changes in autumn days, one day sunshine, the other day thick fog..... Willow trees alway revamp after a thorough haircut. And your living room looks nice and bright, it must feel very clean and comfortable with all furniture on place again. I suppose it´s now time for a nice cup of tea and a book.
    Have a nice weekend!

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    1. Yes, as this time of year you never know what is going to come next do you? I agree, the Willow was getting a bit straggly it has thickened up nicely now. I have my winter reading pile of books - ready and waiting, although we haven't needed many fires yet as it is still relatively mild - but I am sure that will change over the next couple of weeks.

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  5. Your fog photos are beautiful and the Leonard Clark poem just gorgeous. Won't winter be a lovely cozy season in your new nest?

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    1. Thanks Aisling. I am glad we finished it all before winter sets in and I hope it will be feel cozy and warm when it has all settled down a bit.

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  6. Typical November !!! Love your photographs ..... so atmospheric.
    ...... and how lovely to have finished the decorating and to have a beautiful new room.
    Willow tree .. tick
    Decorating .. tick
    Time to sit down and put your feet up over Winter I think !! XXXX

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    1. Yes, typical November - I always remember Bonfire Night being foggy and drizzly. Definitely time to put our feet up and stop having nightmares about paint charts!

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  7. Love those pictures and words. Foggy weather was a favourite of mine (after snow, of course!) when I was a child and I was never happier than hearing the grown-ups remark, 'Ooh, you can't see a hand in front of you out there'. Enjoy your weekend and the results of all that decorating.

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    1. I remember as a child we used to have some real 'pea-soupers'. My Mum actually walked to where my Dad worked with a torch so she could lead the car home - it was that bad. Have a good weekend.

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  8. Shorts and T shirt weather here again. It's actually HOT.

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  9. A most enjoyable post and lovely pictures. Good to see that the willow has grown back as it has. You'll be enjoying armchair gardening and sofa flying again no doubt. Flighty xx

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    1. Thanks Flighty. I thought the willow would never re-sprout - just goes to show how wrong I was. Armchair gardening is definitely on the agenda.

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  10. Oh Elaine, beautiful inside and out. What do you keep in the greenhouse?

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    1. Thanks Donna. The greenhouse is for tomatoes and cucumbers in the summer and in the winter I bring in tender plants for warmth and shelter.

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  11. Oh that room looks good, as does the willow. Time to relax now Elaine!

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  12. Thanks Freda - I am just about getting used to it - it all seems a little strange at the moment - not quite home, if you know what I mean.

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  13. Decorating always takes longer than you think it will doesn't it, it looks good tho, I hope you have the time to sit and enjoy it now! Willows grow so fast you may have to do that again soon!

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    1. It sure does I hate all the chaos that it causes - back to normal now thank goodness.

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  14. A really lovely post. Autumn has been so gorgeous and I love the winding down and retreating into a more cosy world.Gobbits spring to mind!!!

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    1. Thanks Angela. It was a lovely autumn it seems to be on the change now though - glad I made the most of it whilst the nice weather lasted.

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  15. Hello, Elaine. We love foggy days here only because we get it so rarely. I had read somewhere--another bog, perhaps--that England was covered in a layer of heavy fog. Your photos are wonderful. Isn't it amazing how trees with a good trim thrive in spite of having it nearly whacked to the end. You home looks clean, fresh, cozy. I love dash of red in the bay window. I love the bay window.

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    1. November is always a foggy month for us - it makes a change from rain :). Glad you liked the photos - and yes the willow made a wonderful recovery. Yes I think the red really lifts the room - once we have the new curtains it will be complete.

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  16. Yes, the contrast over last weekend from bright sun and clear skies on the Saturday to damp, clingy and heavy mists on the Sunday was just as if somehow the weather knew it had slipped from October to November overnight. You newly decorated room looks lovely so cool and yet warm and cosy too:)

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    1. Thanks Rosie. Yes the good weather seems to have gone but it was nice while it lasted.

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  17. The fog certainly made its appearance known this week, eerie but wrapping us up in its misty blanket and saying that autumn was here and there was no going back. As I write this it is pouring down outside and very dark. Being in Lincolnshire, I am sure that it is the same for you over in Leicestershire! Have a cosy weekend in your refreshed room xx

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    1. Same here Chelsea pretty miserable - think we're going to have to hunker down now.

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  18. Shorts and t shirt here in the house Elaine. Very mild.

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    1. Lucky you. It isn't really that cold here - just miserable.

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  19. Very atmospheric photos! Your living room looks great and so does the willow tree. I remember when you had it chopped, it has come back very well hasn't it! xx

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    1. Thanks Amy. Yes, it has come back well it's looking good thank goodness.

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  20. We have made use of a miserable week weather wise decorating at my sister's

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    1. You obviously love decorating - and obviously I don't.

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  21. Your landscape and your willow tree and your room all have undergone transformations. I bet you have, too, Elaine! Very moody fall photos!

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    1. Yes, the weather has been 'moody' all week - no crisp, bright days for us I'm afraid.

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  22. Dear Elaine in spite of your fog you managed to capture some lovely photos. Your cosmos are still blooming- wow-alas mine are completely gone.

    Wow your room looks gorgeous. This will be a perfect spot to curl up when winter comes and read a good book.
    Your willow tree has recovered nicely too. Amazing what a year can do! Have s great week.

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    1. Dear Debbie
      Thanks. The cosmos are really battered now, we have had really strong winds the last couple of days and they are flattened - it has almost managed to shake all the leaves off the trees too, although strangely the cherry tree is still in full leaf, they haven't even started to change colour yet!

      Glad you like the room - I'm still not sure whether I do yet - it all just looks so new - it needs time to wear in I guess.

      The willow was really slow to start into re-growth but got there eventually. Enjoy your week too.

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  23. The contrast between the warm sunny days and those with fog is so great that it is hard to believe they are in the same week! Congratulations on finishing the decorations. Your transformed room looks so lovely. It's also good to see the willow has recovered from the big cut! Sarah x

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    1. Thanks Sarah. Yes, it is hard to believe that one day it was gorgeously sunny and the next so totally changed - one of the pleasures of living in England eh!

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  24. What a marvelous pic, the first of the glowing leaves and the mysterious tree in the mist....how I love mist! I loved these poems and your atmospheric post.....oh WOW! Your room looks FABULOUS! It must be marvelous to have it finished, just in time for Christmas. I'm really surprised how quickly that willow grew back!xxx

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    1. Hi Dina
      Thanks. The mist is very atmospheric - the only downside is that it plays havoc with my hair - any sign of damp and it just goes all sort of kinky - not a nice look at all!

      It is nice to have the room finished at last it seemed to go on forever - that's it now - no more decorating EVER - haha!
      Have a good week my friend.

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  25. I can't complain about the weather here. It has been mild and that is such a blessing in November. The mornings are frosty, but the afternoons are pleasant. Your redecorated front room looks terrific with the right mix of taste and comfort.

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  26. Thanks Jennifer. No frost here yet - but I suspect it won't be long in coming.

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  27. It always amazes me how well Willows recover. Your room looks beautiful, peaceful and elegant. Well worth the work indeed. Thanks for linking up :)

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    1. Me too. Thank you Suzy I am getting used to the changes now it all looks so clean and tidy!

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