The sheep were out grazing quite happily; there has been little rain to drive them into the shelter;
But in the late summer/autumn drought caused the water level to drop in the local reservoir and it's been a surprise to see the tree stumps of the old farmland revealed once again (this land was flooded by the new reservoir in the 1950s)
This autumn/winter I love that I'm on a commuter route - a geese commuter route. Every morning they fly over in great skeins;
And then at sunset they fly back again to their roost;
My own geese are never interested in the wild geese flying low overhead. They have their own preoccupations - such as the return of Cador. This is my 'young' gander who had to be re-homed on the farm next door because he kept picking a fight with his father. Well - he's now back, in disgrace, because of his bad behaviour there, too. So I have to make sure that I separate the two males on the smallholding, which is giving me extra work (and a large headache...) It's like taking back a difficult teenager into the home...
Meanwhile here's something I've found a lot more soothing than squabbling geese - discovering a foxglove in my garden that flowered in October and throughout November;
I love the striking sunrises and sunsets of this time of year. This sunset blazed behind a large bonfire David and I had just lit. We could feel the frost in the air, and see the lights of the house across the dark field;
Now it's definitely not my favourite season, but I have to admit that winter has its moments, too.
Winter can be difficult but I do try to see the best in each season. It is sad that Autumn is over it has been glorious possibly because it has been so dry. Oh dear, naughty Cador, shame he can't get on peacefully with the other geese. That picture of the fire against the sunset is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI try to see the best in each season, too. There's always something to appreciate in the natural world, isn't there? I did love being outside with the fire and the sky, all those wonderful fiery reds.
DeleteWhat wonderful photos, hope you get your "teenager" straightened out.
ReplyDeleteI thought re-homing him next door would be the best solution of all, but he's let me down! I only hope I can get another chance of a good home for him.
DeleteLovely seasonal photos. Yes, winter is here but there are still some lingering autumnal colours and the bright skies and frosty mornings have a beauty of their own. Lovely that the geese fly over I love the noise they make as go. Oh dear Cador sounds quite a handful, he does look quite a character:)
ReplyDeleteThe frosty mornings are beautiful with the cold, early morning sunlight. This morning was foggy, too, so air and ground were white.
DeleteI always like to stop and watch the geese fly over.
Gorgeous photos Wendy - your local wood looks a beautiful place to walk such a beautiful autumnal photo :) It must be wonderful to watch the geese flying over each morning and evening and I do hope you can find a solution to Cador. Interesting to see the Foxglove in flower at this time of year. Winter always seems such a long Season but then I remind myself there are Snowdrops and Aconites to look forward to and the nights will start drawing out after Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as Christmas and New Year is over I start looking for signs of snowdrops and the first green of the spring flowers. And it isn't too long now until the shortest day! The geese can fly very low sometimes; I know where they go to in the morning but I don't know where they roost - I must find it out. Thanks Caroline.
DeleteLovely photographs. These young males can be a problem - we had to say goodbye to a handsome Scots Dumpy cockerel who took a dislike to Elizabeth and attacked her whenever she went near. He didn't mind me, oddly.
ReplyDeleteWe had exactly the same thing here as well with a cockerel. He attacked me and other females (who would look after him when we were away), but he wasn't so aggressive with the males! I'll have to find a solution to Cador in the New Year, but it's always more difficult re-homing ganders (as opposed to geese).
DeleteLovely warming autumnal photos :-)
ReplyDeleteThis autumn was so photogenic!
DeleteSuperb photos. Your wood is beautiful. Naughty Cador. Ganders can be such a handful, you have my commiserations. X
ReplyDeleteCador just sees red with other ganders - he's lovely with people. He just feels he ought to be the top gander. He needs a new home with lots of geese around him and no other gander in sight!
DeleteWinter is not my best season either, but it can make for some surprisingly lovely photos as per your roaring fire with the backing of a pink sunset, and the geese flying overhead.
ReplyDeleteI think winter scenes can create a wonderful atmosphere, especially with frost and sunshine and fire, but all too often it's just grey and cold. Everything is starting to look very dead in my garden too, I don't have many evergreens here.
DeleteThe thick golden sunshine is lovely in your sheep photo. I enjoy the down time of winter. But we are very fortunate to have plenty of sunshine and snow to brighten the days. Gloomy gray skies make for a long slog of a season. Love your sunset-backed fire. We will be burning a huge brush pile today--a perfect day with no wind.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I live in a place where there are clear seasons - even though I'm generally not so keen on winter. I don't think I'd enjoy living somewhere with the same kind of weather all year around.
DeleteIt's very satisfying lighting a large bonfire at the end of a hard day's work outside, isn't it?
That looks like a marvelous bonfire, set off by that gorgeous sunset! I loved the geese pictures and the young forest, what a lovely place. Oh dear, Cador sounds a right handful, I have Billy-Bob and Ben scrapping at the moment on the roof, it's a right pain, they can't do much damage, unlike your geese!xxx
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of young beech among the trees so the colours were particularly striking with their copper and gold leaves.
DeleteBirds do have their own little battles don't they? It won't get any easier here either as it'll soon be the breeding season.
A lovely set of photos, especially like the photos of the lake, what a beautiful place. I'm not a fan of winter but in my new job I'm getting all afternoons of so seeing some daylight even when it's dull. I love walking the dog and looking at all the Christmas lights in the houses. Jan and Feb might be a little harder to find joy.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely Christmas and New Year..
Amanda xx
After the long, lovely autumn, I'm not too tired of winter just yet, but I agree with you that I'll find it more of a challenge in January and February.
DeleteI love to get outside, even on days when the weather isn't great. Like you, having animals means that I can stand indoors anyway!
'stay indoors' !!
DeleteYour images from Autumn to Winter are beautiful. I don't enjoy winter either it is too cold and bare for me. We are on a seagull commuter route, they don't have the same magic as geese flying over. I hope your gander is now behaving! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI think the sound of the gulls and the sea would cheer up any bleak winter day for me. But I do agree that the countryside is looking so bare and stark now in mid-December and has completely lost all the autumn gold. I don't like the cold, either!
DeleteOh, my! I loved these photos so much. Visual delights. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteBeautiful photos, Wendy. Amazing how long that foxglove stayed in flower. I try to deadhead mine so the smaller flower stalks have a chance to bloom which keeps them going for ages. Love the geese photos too and I hope that your goose behaves himself a bit better!!
ReplyDeleteI love finding unexpected wildflowers such as the foxglove. I usually don't touch foxgloves and let them die but I might do the same as you next year. I would like to see them flower a bit longer.
DeleteHappy New Year Wendy... Michelle
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Michelle!
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