butterbur is back

the first flower heads are pushing through the leaf litter, about three months earlier than last year. There is an unseasonal little gnat or midge of some sort on the right.

deepest woods

deep in the woods, a stand of cedars. I am not sure why but it feels very ancient.

more bacon

Cassie finds another Christmas present for us.

Christmas decorations

sycamore leaf acting as natural bauble.

Hingston island

when Kit Hill is surrounded by fog it creates the pleasing illusion of some ancient inland sea bathed in tropical sun. And by some strange coincidence it was very similar this time last year (see 21/12/05 by clicking on Kit Hill label)

Ginsters of Callington

A picture of Callington from Kit Hill with the world famous Ginsters puffing away in the foreground spreading the aroma of pasties far and wide. My eyes are usually focussed on Stoke to the North but the fog has mellowed Callington and my nostrils directed me towards the factory.

fog

just after sunrise this morning, on the way to Kit Hill, ice making it lethal underfoot, looking towards Heathrow.

fog

the view today from Kit Hill is somewhat different. Freezing fog is filling the valley. And one for sorrow.

Stoke Climsland

I can't resist these pictures of the village in the cold still air, with the low winter sun casting long shadows highlighting every hedgerow and tree.

mother and daughter

on the top of Kit Hill, bathed in wintry sun, looking very haughty.

Cornish reflections

this image of Bridge farm near Horsebridge reminds me for some reason of Switzerland. The 'lake' is a sign of how much rain we have had recently.

misty morning

In sharp contrast to the stygian gloom of recent weeks today broke with brilliant sunshine, low on the horizon to embue photographs with an atmospheric feel. Even the grass is glinting in the foreground.

powercuts

an eight hour power cut last night left us with little to do but sit around and play with the camera. Is this a harbinger of things to come? No oil, no lights, no fun?

wild sunsets

we haven't had many of these fiery sunsets recently. This one is from two days ago (blog problems). Last year they were much more frequent. When will it ever get cold again?

watery species

watery psathyrella, found in dense tufts on stumps of deciduous trees. The only thing of any interest on this cold damp day, it is very small and inconspicuous.

caradon

as you probably know, most of us in east Cornwall rely on Caradon radio mast for daily instructions. The buzzard always flies away as soon as the camera comes out, no doubt the radio mast is talking to it too (should that be twit twoo?).

rainbows and serendipity

sometimes one is rewarded simply for carrying a camera. Although the rain makes the background blurred, Stoke Climsland is sitting under the middle of this beautiful, double rainbow.

I stitched together two photographs, both of which are spectacular in their own right. Please do not put coffee mugs on my photographs.

streaming

more images of the streams in Greenscoombe woods, and one of the water with the light giving it an almost crystalline appearance.

oyster mushrooms

these are oyster mushrooms, they are edible and supposed to be tasty although I have never eaten wild ones.

more nuts

Spot was wondering if these were his missing items, sweet chestnuts anyway.

village life

.... at the village market this morning, local produce and craft ware plus a cooked breakfast.

it's that time of year again

lush holly in Greenscoombe woods, just in time for the bleak mid winter.

cherry gall

a cherry oak gall on an oak leaf, the work of a gall wasp. I never knew there were so many different types of gall.

lamb chips

why are all these potatoes going to waste? Well, at least he is as happy as a sheep in potatoes.