Country walk


When the sun does appear at this time of year it's low on the horizon. Perhaps it was the angle of the light, but more likely it was our mild autumn that has given the grass such a vivid and surprising emerald hue.

I love the combination of shafts of winter sun and dark clouds. It's this midwinter contrast that means that even if I did have the money to 'escape' the Scottish winter, I wouldn't do it. Why miss this counterpoint to the long days of summer? Admittedly not particularly sunny or warm days this year, but there is a lot to savour in these opposites.

Our village castle (more accurately its remaining wall) appears spotlit. Thankfully it's not lit up artifically and expensively, not to mention wastefully and dark sky spoilingly at night.



Because of the natural spotlighting, I noticed for the first time the clear outline of a window arch. I can't believe that I played around this castle all through my childhood and have only just noticed this. Perhaps a lump of stone has fallen off recently and given the arch a sharper profile. Perhaps I was always too intent on sledging or Easter egg rolling or hide and seek.


And then, in a field above the village, a large trampoline. A casualty of the recent gales. It must have been quite a sight when airborne.


Thanks to YouTube, you just have to say 'trampoline' in Scotland just now for everyone to know what you're referring to.


Comments

  1. Hi Linda, this is my first time to visit your blog (thanks to Sian). Gorgeous photos, especially of the one of the window fragment in the castle wall. We are currently "taking" a Learning Company course on Cathedrals, mostly Gothic ones, so it was fun to see the part of your window arch.

    maryz

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  2. Beautiful photos. I love the intense light at this time of year. Maybe it's due to the sun's position in the sky? I don't know, but the colours at times are so vivid and sharp. I love the second photo of the castle wall. The deep grey sky and the sun highlighting the wall and surrounding grass - beautiful

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  3. Beautiful photographs, there's nothing like late-afternoon sun to give a perfect light for photography. Have a very Happy New Year!

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  4. You're right - the angle of light is great when the sun comes out! It is still nice to escape to warmer climes for a few days though. Happy New Year Linda!

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  5. OMG, OMG! Ha. Thanks for the lovely winter pictures. A walk across all that green with castle ruins would be just about perfect on a New Year's Eve day.

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  6. How glorious everything looks! I love this mood of the landscape, scrubbed and bathed in the golden light. And your captures couldn't be more perfect!
    Wish you a very happy 2012.

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  7. Welcome, Mary. It never ceases to amaze me what roundabout routes we all take to each others' blogs!

    Thanks Anni. I'm enjoying your blog.

    Annie, the colours were extra specially vivid. Of course I had to take photos, which did slow our walk up a bit.

    Al, since getting more serious about photography I've been discovering that good light for taking photos can be a very different thing to the standard view of 'good' light.

    RedPat - I might be able to manage a few days away, I suppose...

    Ron, you've obviously watched the trampoline epic. Yes, it was a perfect walk. We've had snow and ice over the past few New Years, so it was very strange to see green and growing grass.

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  8. i love this light too; it has such atmosphere and the colors are so intense. it's almost like everything has been sharpened. i know i may be in the minority but i love the colder months more than the warmer and i enjoy the colors and changing light with clouds moving faster at this time of year.

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  9. Just beautiful...

    Warm wishes for a happy & fun-filled New Year...
    Seasons Greetings!

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  10. Ha ha, the clip is funny. I've noticed that the fields around here are much greener than they usually are at this time of year, my hubby mentioned it the other day. Perhaps it's to do with the mild weather we've had. Happy New Year, and all the very best for 2012.

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  11. A very Happy New Year to you and yours, Linda! Yes, our family has been laughing over the "trampoline, trampoline!" video. I heard that quite a few train lines were blocked by them in the December gales. Ours is well-tethered!

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  12. Wonderful pictures on these last posts. Looking forward to seeing what views the New Year will bring.

    V.

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  13. Thank you for taking us on a visit to your village castle Linda, that must have been such a fascinating place to play as a child! That trampoline video was pretty funny too!

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  14. I too like the opposites of the seasons. You have to have one to appreciate the other.
    Great shot of the window arch.

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  15. What beautiful views, Linda. And words too. It is interesting how we can miss something for so many years and suddenly notice it, there in our familiar landscapes. I wonder who looked out that window when the castle was still intact, and what their lives were like.

    I hope 2012 brings you and yours many such days full of loveliness and I look forward to visiting here as the months unfold to enjoy what you share with us about your world.

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  16. AaaahhhhhAHAHAHHAHAHAAHHHHHHH! Trampoline! Trampoline! Oh my god oh my god TRAMPOLINE!!!!

    A song must be written about this.

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  17. These are beautiful sights to have a green pasture in the winter. I like the old wall structure. The sky certainly was a winter sky even with the sun shining.

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  18. the wall photos are extraordinary. such a lovely place.

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  19. Thanks for visiting my blog! You're right- trampolines seem destined to become flying objects.
    Beth @ Life on Devils Hollow

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