the quick and the not so quick

steam gets to Cotehele

steam arrives at Cotehele this morning ... parking outside the pub of course (well, tea room now).

the commute to work

starlings off to find food for the day.

raven's moor

Ravens are the largest of the crow family. They have a bluish tinge to their intensely black feathers, large heads and throat feathers. They often are seen in pairs (as here)

They like open moorland where sheep and other livestock are to be found because it is easy for them to find carrion to feed off.



They have a distinctive low pitched cry (described as prruk prruk) and a silhouette in flight, which is very similar to the buzzard.

quarry dogs

colours and reflections in the quarry near the Minions.

piteousness

a dole of doves descendeth upon us. As they are collared doves perhaps it should be a neck, or a wring of doves. I wonder why doves have this association with pity and sadness?

going browner still

the colour of the leaves on the rowan tree at the bottom of our estate (!) are very vivid this year and make a pretty sight mixed with the bright red of the berries. Many fields locally have a large tree (usually an oak or beech) standing in the middle to provide some shade for the livestock, and in the autumn they provide these picturesque images set against the natural mixed deciduous woods that cover the valley sides.

autumn colours

Our favourite lane has slipped into its autumnal livery.

the drive into Duchy College is lined with sweet chestnuts and looks very grand at this time of year.