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