Shadows

Shadows

Walking back from the hospital the other evening, I noticed the lovely shadowy leaf patterns on the pavement. I had to see if I could capture them. I made several attempts and this was the best one.

Earlier in the year when the sun was very low I took this photo of my shadow self!

                                                   What long legs I've got!

This is one of my favourite shadow photos.

And this is a small selection of my shadow family.

skies again

Skies Again

It's always a good idea to look up. The sky at this time of year can be amazing, sometimes reminding me of Mother-of -Pearl, with delicate pinks and blues.

Sometimes the sky can can be glowering down, threatening storm and rain.

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Windy skies create feathery patterns in the clouds.

I was up early to catch this spectacular dawn! Lovely!

Snow

Snow Sprinkles

A week or so ago , we had a sprinkling of snow. I love the way changes the view. Ugly things get covered up and somehow it makes lovely things more beautiful. Unfortunately

it really was only a sprinkle, but I went into the garden to see what  I could see.

All the shrubs had a white coating, like icing sugar.

The berries looked delicious, a tasty snack for Blackbirds!

The hellebores don't seem to be bothered by the snow.

Best of all the first signs of Spring!

Watery Landscape

Winter Water

Yesterday we went for our usual walk around the lake. We had forgotten the torrential rain of a few days before, and it was very muddy!Also the rivers were full to almost overflowing, rushing down gullies that were usually quite dry.

We normally walked across here with dry feet!

This lively waterfall is usually a concrete slipway for small boats.

The lake itself was so much bigger.

A very watery landscape indeed.

Winter Garden

My Winter Garden

At this time of year the garden can be a very drab place. But this year there are patches of lovely colour, and not just Winter colour of leaves and berries although these are a welcome break in the grey monotony.

In a sheltered spot my Azalea has burst into bloom and the Chrysanthemums are still valiantly blossoming.

There are no signs of my snowdrops though, but the Hellebores are in flower!

Birds in Winter

Birds in Winter

On my Winter walks I am amazed at how many seagulls flock to the little lake, and this year, congregate on the flat cushions of algae and water weed.

I love the way they like to line up along railings and across the top of lampposts.

Last Winter the lake froze over and the swans had great difficulty walking over the ice, but they managed it to reach some bread offered by a generous family.

Winter Walk

A Walk in Winter

A few days ago we went out on a really windy day. There were only a few trees that still had a couple of raggy leaves left. Most trees were completely bare of leaves, just twigs and branches; and the words "barren landscape" came to mind.

Everything looks so dead!

Even the rooks' nests are abandoned.

but later that day there were some lovely Winter skies.