Tree by river

Tree or trees? One limb broken. The grey path reflects the grey sky. Water rushes down the river, brown and muddy. In speight, almost overcoming the banks. The rain is trapped on the pathways, the grass sodden and squelchy. I walked along there this afternoon as part of a long walk. I can feel the wet mud between my toes overtopping my shoes, pulling at their soles. Water is like glue. Stronger than gravity. My feet lift out of the shoes as they lift from the ground. My feet still feel cold and are aching hours afterwards. Perhaps I need a bowl of hot water to soak them in. I wish I’d got some bathsalts! Time to rest.

Walked 9.2 miles!

It was a filthy, wet day, rain, wind, cold, puddles! Of course I could have said no. But I need exercise. So off we trudged along the canal down on a flat route to a main road, then right and down hill to a large retail village. Only problem? I’d forgotten to bring a mask or some cash (I had thought I could catch the bus back), that was the five mile mark. We got a bit dry in the ladies loos, then my friend popped into a couple of shops while I stood outside. Then. Back along a dual carriageway. More wet steps. When we got to the roundabout that would take us back via the main road or along the river, yes you guessed we chose the river path. Cold, wet, rushing river, the paths were inches deep in water so I waded through the grass that was muddy mush. I’m glad I’d taken a big brolly. It made a good walking pole. Finally the path ended and we were back in the city…. I havent walked that far in twenty years!

Terracotta pot

Decorated terracotta pot from outside. Our money plant got too big so it’s in this enormous, heavy pot now.

I’m glad in a way. I love the flower decorations that are on the outside. If the pot was outside in the cold and frost they might crack and split if ice got into it.

I need to see patterns, if I don’t, if everything is plain, I get bored! I don’t know why. Some people like clean lines, simple colours, bare walls.. I don’t.

Sunset glow

I just found this photo from a year ago. When we had a series of clear cold nights and the sunsets were amazing. This was taken at Alsager mere I think, although you can’t see many reflections on the water (mere is another name for a lake for example Windermere in Cumbria). I remember driving home after this and banks of fog were drifting across the road as I got close to home.

December hanging basket.

How is this possible. The hanging baskets are still alive and flowering despite a few frosts and cold winds. It’s not just one plant though. The flowers are still on four or five plants. Maybe they are so tightly packed that they are sheltering each other. I also think the flowers were not pollenated because of a lack of insects? I will keep posting about this till they wilt and die off.

Looking up

Looking up I see a grey orange sky. That grey that foretells either snow or fog. Mist wraps round trees, swirls of cold wet air netting the world in damp chills. How many spiders webs are covered in dew? Frost builds and creaks, snapping and wilting late flowers. Will it snow? Will the World be silenced? Snuffed under white goose down…. And will it happen before Christmas?

I drew this in August

Boy! I must have been feeling cheerful when I drew this (not).

I’m not even sure what I drew it in, except black marker pen, it’s a bit ghastly. I’m not even sure why I saved it, except that it documents the pandemic a bit, you can’t always have jolly art I guess.

I should write an ode or a poem, but I’m sitting at my computer trying to get some writing done and I just decided to give myself a break and choose a random picture to post here. I’m off in search of some warmth in a minute though. I think it’s cold as the grave up here in the front bedroom ( we don’t put the heating on upstairs, saves money).

Stay safe! X

Cold night

Will there be frost? It certainly feels like it. The sky has cleared and the damp air seems to be clamping down on the world tonight.

The chill from outside has sneaked in here. I opened the back door to let the cat out and a whole cold layer of air has run like a river through the house. My top half is warm but my knees and feet are cold.

It’s snowing around the country but I think its just going to freeze here tonight….

Have you heard of ‘Thunder Snow’?

No? Neither had I.

But in Edinburgh yesterday they got it! Basically it was a thunderstorm but because it was so cold there was snow instead of rain. The descriptions were that the lightening was brighter then normal (the whiteness of the snow made the light reflect more brilliantly). The thunder sounded like an explosion (muffled by the snow and clouds). Some people even rang the emergency services. Apparently its a rare phenomena but not unknown.

Cats

Indoor and outdoor boys are getting closer to each other. They slept about a foot apart for about an hour tonight. Now outdoor boy is sitting in the arm of my chair and purring loudly. I stroked his chin and he dribbled on my hand. He’s not quite used to being stroked though. I think he doesn’t want to be disturbed, just to he allowed to sleep in the warm. My indoor cats love being fussed. He’s settled again. I think he might sleep now.