Today’s guest picture involves an elaborate play on words. Whereas a recent guest picture showed a links in Spain where Dropscone played golf and photographed, today’s guest picture shows a lynx in Spain which Venetia saw and photographed.
We had another dry and sunny day today, the third without rain in a row. We are beginning to worry that something has gone wrong with the weather.
For once, a sunny and clear morning was accompanied by proper low autumn temperatures and there was a touch of frost about when we got up. There are still a few leaves left on the plum tree where this pigeon was perching.
It was too cold for cycling but ideal for walking so while Mrs Tootlepedal went off for her monthly coffee morning with ex work colleagues, Sandy and I had a coffee at home and then set off for the White Yett and a walk up to the monument.
It was the sort of day when you might expect a little early morning mist in the river valleys and as we got up the hill, there was a hint of some here and there.
But it didn’t amount to much and the sky was crystal clear as we took the track up to the monument.
The sun obligingly provided the monument with a halo as we drew near.
We enjoyed the sunny view over Langholm.
A sheep was enjoying the view too.
However, there was a bit of mist to the west and as we got near the top of Whita Hill, we could see the remains of the nuclear power station at Chapel Cross looming up through it.
Further to the west, Criffel could just be seen above a strip of cloud running up the Nith estuary.
And when we got to the top of the hill, we could see the Lake District hills in the distance across a whole sea of mist covering the Solway plain.
The camera can’t do justice to the scene at all.
To the south, banks of mist shrouded the hills beyond the Tarras valley.
I took a couple of pictures to try to convey the sense of a brilliant white sea lapping at the rising ground towards us.
We walked past the police mast and looked down from the edge of the hill.
It was a splendid sight and we were very pleased to have been in the right place at the right time to see it.
Even as we stood there, the mist was beginning to lift.
And turning back, it was a different day…
…with Langholm below us bathed in sunshine.
As you can imagine, we took a lot of pictures and I had a very hard time picking out a few for this post and I am fairly sure that there are quite a few others which might have been better than ones that I have used. The trouble is that when I have too much choice, my brain goes to mush and I make bad decisions.
Still, I liked this picture of the McDiarmid Memorial as we came back down towards the car.
And you can’t go wrong in my view with a couple of lichen pictures to round a walk off.
I had a look at the garden when I got home to see if any flowers had survived the cold morning.
It was lunchtime by this time and once again, I put the camera up at the kitchen window to see what was happening at the feeder both while I was preparing the meal and relaxing after it.
A goldfinch and a great tit sized up the possibilities…
…and then came down for a snack….
…while once again any amount of flying chaffinches whizzed to and fro.
After lunch, Mrs Tootlepedal went out to continue working on her new path and I put on a good many layers of clothes and cycled off into a eager and nipping wind.
For the first time for several months, I thought that it was worth putting my overshoes on because cold feet can be a big problem when cycling.
Still, it was delightfully sunny even if it wasn’t very warm….
…and I enjoyed a thirty mile ride, particularly as the wind behaved itself and after punishing me for the first twelve miles, stayed in position and blew me home for the next eighteen. You can see that I had made a sound route choice.
I had time to go over a few songs for our Carlisle choir before tea so I felt that I had made good use of the day. I am only sorry that because we were shooting into the sun, I couldn’t properly convey the spirit raising joy of the brilliant white sea of mist that greeted us on our morning walk. The scene will remain in my memory for some time.
Alison, my Friday evening orchestra, was not well so there were no sonatas today but I wasn’t entirely unhappy to have a quiet night in as the last few days seem to have been quite busy.
The flying bird of the day is one of the flotilla of chaffinches at full stretch.
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loved those mist photos. it can be eerie when you see it rolling in like that
It was much better to be above it looking down than being in it. 🙂
I agree, but it is lovely to watch it roll along
What a wonderful day for a walk, I loved the sheep admiring the view and the flying bird of the day among others.
The pictures of the sea of mist are stunning, magical even. So glad you have had several days of sun.
It has been a welcome change.
I bet. Now it is our turn for rain. And strong wind. Hope we don’t lose our power.
Fingers crossed.
As someone else has already mentioned, I didn’t know how much I missed the bird photos until you started including them again. Very clever word play today – well done! I know the mist photos are absolutely lovely, but I’ll show my lack of artistic education by admitting that my favourite shot is of the sheep admiring the view!
The cement mixing tray was a good idea and we can than it for the reappearance of the birds.
I’ve been seeing mist but when I see it I’m in it, so it was a real pleasure to see it from above again. I thought the photos were fine.
The lichens look like those that make up a map lichen but I’m not sure that’s what they are. They have good color, whatever they are.
I hate to see the poppies and dahlias finally go. They’ve been beautiful this year.
It will be sad to see them go but there comes a time when it is not worth saving a few if the whole garden is looking tatty around them.
I understand your frustration in the limits of the camera with that beautiful white mist, but from where I’m sitting, those pictures are just beautiful and I get a sense of your view. Thanks for a lovely day of pictures!!
I am glad that they gave some impression of the day.
What a grand morning for a walk, the photos of the mist were stellar! I also liked the image of the sheep, you have to wonder if animals do enjoy views such as the ones you saw as much as we do.
Until you put the feeders up, I didn’t know how much I had missed the images of the birds’ antics as they come and go, fine photos again today.
The sheep certainly seemed to be staring at the mist with interest.
I have missed the birds too.
Amazing mist shots, I can imagine it must have been a magical scene.
Wonderful photos of the mist and the monument especially with a halo. Hope to find out more about that interesting memorial on Google! Just love those flying birds. There must be a special word for your play on words..don’t know it…clever …will have to do!
‘Puntastic’ might do but more sarky people may prefer ‘tedious’. It is a matter of taste but I am glad that you share my taste.
I’ll have to log that word somewhere where I might remember it to use again!
Yes, I too love the puns and the ethereal mist shots!
You are obviously a person of the most refined and unimpeachable taste.
Thank-you.
A fine pun to start the post. With that pun I think you have now confirmed your place as Langholm’s premier literary figure and we should start a campaign for you to have your own memorial. 🙂
I have some way to go before I can match the dazzling wordplay of McDiarmid at his best….but thank you for the compliment.
He was alright with poetry but my money’s on you when a pun or a one-liner are required.
Love seeing clouds or mist…makes thing ominously beautiful.
It was a stunning view.
The lifting of the mists and how it changes the view is always a beautiful thing to watch. So many interesting photos from your day out! The bird panels always catch the mood of your subjects.
I think you did a great job of capturing that ocean of white mist. Really stunning.