SHOWING MIRIAM SOME OF SHEPTON'S SIGHTS!

Today I had the company of a neighbour that I have just met.  Miriam is fairly new to Shepton, so was keen to explore!  I decided to take her on a circular walk on the outskirts of the town, taking in some public footpaths and bridle ways...

It was dark when we started off but by the time we were on footpaths with the Charlton Viaduct as a drop back, this gave way to a beautiful sunrise. 

On the circular tour we walked by Kilver Court, which was looking very festive with its Christmas lights and trees. We then worked our way, via some footpaths through to Barren Down, which was a surprise to Miriam.  It is such a hidden, unspoilt piece of countryside which overlooks the town - see the top photographs above.

I also showed her the Bath Road Viaduct - we are spoilt for viaducts in Shepton! There are actually three - the last one being the Ham Wood Viaduct, which is a ruin in the woods and much harder to find.  I did find it in May and the post about it can be located by pressing on the label below...



We finally made our way home up the High Street, past the allotments, through Collett Park and back to Tadley Acres.  Miriam said she felt good, getting out and walking in the fresh early morning air, and would like to go again! 

According to the excellent book I am currently reading - 'Making Art a Practice' by Cat Bennett, walking outside in nature is an excellent practice, for cultivating peace and awareness.  Surely much needed, especially this time of year... 

WET BOOTS TODAY!

It was great to get back to my early morning walks!  Today my companion was Belinda, who was telling me the trials and tribulations of trying to be an author, especially with computers! 

It was a grey, but warm day, with that really fine rain that gets everything really wet! Once we were away from the roads, onto footpaths through fields, my boots became squelchy and Belinda was wearing the welly boots, decorated with white flower designs, that she wore through the mud at Glastonbury! See a pic of them, among the clover - below bottom right.  She had washed them out, but unfortunately they weren't completely dry so we both had wet feet... 

With our summer of sunshine and showers, everywhere looks so green and overgrown.  I know from my garden the weeds need constant attention! They were working on the hedges and the pristine bowling green at The Shepton Bowls Club - see below top pics.  I love looking at the allotments (pics below), to see how they change from season to season and how productive they are... 

 

My favourite photo of the day is this beautiful rose, complete with rain droplets...

WET WEDNESDAY!

Today we went up to Barren Down and explored the Bath Road Viaduct in the wet! It rained throughout our walk, but fortunately it was warm and the rain was light and gentle - great for plants, our complexions and snails! As you can see by the top left photograph, the views weren't great - rather misty...

We did, however, see some beautiful flowers, in particular tulips.  A fascinating subject is the language of flowers, sometimes known as floriography.  It was very popular in Victorian times and allowed coded messages to be sent to express feelings which could not be said out loud!  Communication between lovers was very different from today!  Makes you think what you are saying when you send a bunch of flowers...

I looked up the meaning of tulips and have discovered the following:-
Tulips in General - Perfect Lover, Fame and Flower Emblem of Holland
Red Tulips - Believe Me; Declaration of Love
Variegated Tulips - Beautiful Eyes
Yellow Tulips - There's Sunshine in Your Smile

I have a great interest in tulips at the moment, as I have just finished a mixed media artwork depicting a field of tulips and a bee!

 'Finding a Way' (50cms x 50cms) mixed media on wooden panel

LOTS OF ANIMALS TODAY!

Paula graced us with her burst of energy again today.  Another great spring morning, brought to life with all the wildlife you could wish for!  There was the most beautiful sight of three young dear playing and bouncing around. Their white tails clear, as they chased around carefree...  Almost in seconds, they sensed us, and disappeared - a fantastic sight!

Soon after we saw a huge rabbit and I mean huge!  Not like the sweet little spring bunnies we are used to...  Further along we met two huge gorgeous long horned Highland cows - their large wet noses under their huge heavy fringes of ginger hair - made for some great pictures...

We stopped and petted some sheep, that seem to throughly enjoy a mini Bowen treatment that Paula managed to administer over the gate!

We talked and walked miles today - great fun.  Seems like the weather might change from today and rain is coming...  But that's fine as a nice restful Easter plan is in place for me...

DON'T HIBERNATE, KEEP ACTIVE!

Today was one of those mornings when the alarm went but my eyes refused to open! It was so dark - on Wednesday the day will be the same length as the night and then the evenings will really start to draw in!  It is so easy to become lethargic and hibernate with comfort food, but the way to maintain your weight and energy levels is to be active, and an early morning walk certainly wakes you up!

We went up to Barren Down and along the old railway line as far as we could.  It is a shame that there is a locked gate at both ends of the Bath Road Viaduct as it would make a great walk!  It has six arches of 50 feet span and is 62 feet to the crown of the arch over the road which made it the highest viaduct on the Somerset & Dorset line. Everywhere are signs of Autumn and we caught a glimpse of the tall tower of St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Shepton through the trees.

There are some shrubs that look really good when the blooms start fading and drying out - a sort of antique look.  Dried flowers used to be popular for interiors, especially hydrangeas.  We saw a couple of bushes which are beginning to have that 'look'. On the few occasions I have been sent red roses, I have left them to age in my studio and have used them as inspiration until they finally crumbled away!

Autumn leaves was the theme of one of the charity shop's window and the dresser showed us some that she had laminated and hung on a fishing line.  This gave me an idea so we collected some leaves on our way home!  I also took, from a 'free to take away table', some sets of nails, probably for a nail gun.  I have no idea how I can use them but I liked the texture which could be added to an assemblage! 

It started drizzling as we made our way back. Jenny looked into the travel agents window to find a good deal and some sunshine!!