MISTS AND MELLOW FRUITFULNESS!

Judging by this morning's walk, 'the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness', is here!  Jenny and Belinda and I walked to West Shepton and ended up in Bowlish, before heading up the High Street and back home through Collett Park.

It was inspiring to chat, catch up and talk about where our lives are at the moment and what we want for the future...  

We saw plenty of flowers around Shepton and in people's front gardens, as well as blackberries and loads of red berries...

Collett Park and the allotments still have plenty of colour and interest as can be seen above.  Town Street (the pedestrian walkway joining the High Street is getting more and more interesting with new interior and vintage shops.  If you are wondering what I am looking at in the picture above - some scaffolding is being put up for a building to have a facelift.  All good news for the High Street...

A NEW YEAR OF WALKING!

Today Belinda, Jenny and I managed to get together for a walk, the first of the New Year.  We were all busy in the run up to Christmas and Jenny went to America and I went to the Isle of Wight for the festivities.  We all decided that we definitely needed to get fitter this year and do more exercise, so this was a start!

Although we have had the shortest day, it was still quite dark when we set out in the early morning.  Today, we went into the countryside above Shepton, and ended up at Bowlish before heading home.  The doorway pictured above is at the historic Old Bowlish House and the allotments we passed on our way back through the park were showing signs of activity - see above.  The top left photograph shows a creative bug hotel which we didn't investigate for activity...

AFTER THE SNOW STORM!

Today, was positively balmy, compared with the extreme cold temperatures and the chill factor of the biting winds, that we endured last week!  There were some remains of snow and ice, but it was mostly thawing fast.  As I walked through Collett Park to meet up with Belinda, the ducks and seagulls were out in force and some were a bit puzzled why they could walk on the water, which was still half ice!  My pics on the top row above, show the state of the allotments - a lot of work ahead for the vegetable growers of Shepton!

We saw plenty of footprints in the snow and dog walkers, eager to get out now that everybody can move around, instead of being cooped up. On many fields and footpaths, mud had replaced snow, but there were still patches and drifts of the white stuff lying around...

By the end of the walk, the sun had come out.  I was surprised to see a drift of snowdrops looking so perky, but then I read a notice in a shop window that they contain a natural kind of anti-freeze so that if they collapse in freezing conditions, they quickly recover once the temperature rises.

I do love trees, especially in Winter, when you can see their sculptural skeletons. This tree that I am looking at in the bottom right pic, has split into two.  Its trunk must have had an enormous girth originally, so it must be quite ancient! 

POPPIES LOOK FABULOUS IN THE SUNSHINE!

Today, was a beautiful day for a walk -  frosty, bright, sunny, and the coldest morning so far this Autumn.  Next Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, and the Church of St Peter and St Paul had poppies lined up along its railings in preparation.  The long red line look fabulous in the early morning sunshine.  The Royal British Legion have taken over an empty shop (see above), in the middle of town as their local headquarters and to advertise their wares.  You can now get poppies of all different sizes...

For the walk, I was joined by Jenny and Belinda.  It took us up onto Barren Down and then onto open fields.  We followed a footpath which took us over a stone stile and through someone's garden. As the centre left pic shows, the gardener had prepared for the frost by covering the veggies with some ghostly fleece!

Jenny and I walked from Tadley Acres into the centre of Shepton to call for Belinda. On the way there and back we went through Collett Park, which was looking as splendid as usual.  We also walked passed the allotments - full of interest, whatever time of year...

BACK IN THE GROOVE!

It has been a long time since I have had an early morning walk and talk!  This morning I had both Jenny and Belinda for company!  They both have decided that they need more exercise in their life and they missed the walking.  I have had family problems that has stopped me getting out and about, but now, hopefully, I can get back into a routine of at least once a week...

We all had fun catching up and looking at some of our favourite houses.  This includes Old Bowlish House - seen above in bottom, top middle and top right pics.

We saw a rather sinister warning notice saying that someone has been feeding antifreeze to cats in the area - see middle pic.  You can't believe what some people will do! 

It was unseasonably hot today, with a warm wind and a strange light, which I later learnt was due to red dust from the Saraha Desert covering the sun!

Everywhere was looking Autumnal, but there were still plenty of vegetables, including pumpkins, being produced by the allotments (see above); and flowers still blooming... 

MAY IS BLOOMING!

No sun this morning, but at least it wasn't raining or as cold as it has been lately! My companion was Miriam, and as time was tight, we kept our walk local. We had a look at Shepton's Friday market, which was just setting up, and I showed Miriam the window I had recently dressed at the One Craft Gallery (see middle, left pic).   

Our walk took us through Collett Park, which was looking lush and green, and past the allotments, which had many signs of planting activity (see photographs above).

May is my favourite month of the year - maybe because it is my birthday month!  It is named after the greek goddess, Maia, who is also identified with the Roman goddess of fertility, Bona Dea.

May is certainly fertile - it is said, that this is the month when plants really start to grow.  On our travels today we saw plenty of evidence of this - clouds of white cow parsley, loads of blossom and gardens full of colourful flowers...

LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF SPRING!

I was walking on my own today.  It was dreary and cold but there wasn't a frost. Plenty of mud, but in some places the ground and paths were still frozen and icy underneath, so I had to step carefully on the pavements.  However, by the end of the walk there was weak sunshine... 

Visually, this is not the best time of year for gardens - mine is looking a mess! However, when looking into other people's gardens for signs of Spring, it was heartening to see the fresh green shoots of spring bulbs and the occasional bright splash of colour.  I saw a couple of misplaced gloves - pictured above.  It is so annoying to lose one of a pair.  I am frequently doing that with earrings and it makes me mad!

One of our favourite front gardens seems to have acquired a new structure - see above.  It will be interesting to see how it gets incorporated into their garden design...

  
On my way home I passed the allotments and there were a few signs of activity...

GETTING FIT AGAIN!

Christmas is now well and truly over!  I hope everybody who reads this had a good time.  I unfortunately didn't!  I woke up on Christmas Eve with some sort of infection - I won't bore you with all the symptoms, but I felt awful and completely lost my appetite, so I hardly ate anything for days...

I am starting to get better, but having spent so long either lying or sitting down, I am now feeling so unfit!  I now need to build up my strength and stamina.  So as a start, today I walked into town, through Collett Park and past the allotments...

It was great to get out into the fresh air and move around in the beautiful Winter sunshine.  Although I was tired, and my legs felt a bit stiff afterwards, I certainly felt better for having made the effort.  I now need to get back into regular walking routines, so that is going to be my first New Year's Resolution...

   

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... 

'OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING'!

As the song says, today was a beautiful morning for a walk!  I was on my own and wrapped up warm, as it it was the coldest morning, so far this season.  However, there was no wind and all the mud of last week had frozen to a crunch, and then there was a fantastic sunrise...

I was soon away from the main roads and into countryside that has the Charlton Viaduct as a photogenic backdrop!  The sun made everything glow, especially the last few leaves left on the trees. I could smell the cider apples being processed even though I must have been half a mile from the actual factory! That must be why as soon as I got home it was straight to my juicer to make a juice based on apples!  It is the season for English apples so I mixed apples from my parent's garden, with celery, mint and parsley - not a combination I had tried before, but it made a delicious refreshing drink...

I was on public footpaths, but one path led, with a stile, to a field full of cattle with horns (see above), who did not look friendly, so I had to double back!  And I thought farmer's were meant to keep public rights of way clear of obstacles...

The walk home took me past the local allotments which look interesting whatever time of year...

WET TEST FOR NEW BOOTS!

Today was an ideal day to test out my new waterproof walking boots as it was very wet underfoot!  Before we set out it had been pouring down with rain, but luckily for me and Belinda, who was my companion today, it had almost stopped for our walk.

    
After my wet feet experience last week, I went to a specialised walking shop in Queen Street, Wells, to buy some boots.  I wanted to speak to someone who knew their products and could give me advice.  I probably could have spent a lot less by buying on the internet but I feel that it is so important to try on the boots and get the right fit.  I also like to support local businesses when I can...

I was served by an extremely knowledgeable young man and ended up buying a lightweight leather pair with a gore-tex lining, that were made in Spain for the shop, some merino wool socks (apparently the right socks are so important for comfort), and some sponge-on waterproof conditioner.   The proof is in the walking and today the new boots and socks were extremely comfortable, and my feet perfectly dry!      

Our circular walk around the outskirts of Shepton was interesting and varied.  We went on roads, lanes and footpaths and I ended up going home across Collett Park. Everywhere still looks very green, but there are lots of signs of Autumn, including some beautiful orange pumpkins in the allotments - see above! 

A MORNING OF MIZZLE!

The meteorological calendar gives the 1st September as the start of Autumn and according to John Keats, it is the ' Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!'  Today, it certainly was!

It was actually raining to begin with but this gave way to gentle mizzle. Belinda accompanied me and we tried to stick to well trodden paths so we didn't get too wet!  However, it was warm so we ended up with our jackets around our waists...

We were amazed how high the maize or sweetcorn had grown and marvelled at the enormous fungi we saw attached to the bark of a tree.  Would love to know its name and whether it is edible!  

Our walk took us past Kilver Court and gave us great views of the Charlton Viaduct. We noticed that the Horse Chestnut tree's leaves had already started to change colour and fall...

The allotments had all the signs of vegetables harvested and the promise of more... Seeing two orange pumpkins reminded me to look out some recipes, for the season ahead.  I recently read a butternut squash risotto with sage recipe, which seemed worth a try!

     

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...