Sunday, December 31, 2006

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.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Friday, December 22, 2006

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.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

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.

Sunday, December 17, 2006

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.

Friday, December 15, 2006

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?

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

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?

Sunday, December 10, 2006

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.

Friday, December 08, 2006

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?).

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

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.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

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.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

village life


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

Friday, December 01, 2006

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.