Gleaming Banquet

After the rain,

Sollom clouds wallow.

Suddenly,

Sunlight heaves back

The mighty black blanket:

Thus revealing nature’s

Gleaming banquet.

Seeing yet more rain on the window panes did not inspire me to take the dogs for a walk. Then I just thought that nature has a way of surprising the quiet lone walker, aware of the landscape and its glory.

The walk turned out to be long because there were so many wonderful happenings and sounds to delight my senses and far too much to capture. When we returned to the cottage, we were cold and wet so we settled by the fire with hot tea and toast. 🙂

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Furry Friday

What could be better than watching my dog weaving through the meadow! A beautiful breezy day with a few menacing clouds to complete the scene.

Here’s the other one cooling down. Oh what fun we’re having today.
I’ve also added my post to Michelle’s weekly pet challenge. You can see the other entries below.
“http://hopethehappyhugger.wordpress.com/2014/08/26/michelles-weekly-pet-challenge/”

Frolicking Friend

Frolicking friend,
Lolling,
Rollicking
In solitary meadow,
Treading tip toe,
Ready to go.
Swallows soar
Over an imaginary
Tor,
Tilting trim tails,
Sailing through
Golden rays;
Lilting limericks.
Hail! Hail!
Summer days!

Furry Friday

Over the festive period, in between periods of very heavy rain, we tried to find places to walk which weren’t flooded or too boggy to pass even in the wellies! One day I had a craving to go to the coast so we went to Southwold in Suffolk, a jolly traditional seaside town. We had great fun playing with the dogs on the beach followed by freshly brewed coffee at the harbour and a purchase of fish, fresh from the boats. Another day we walked along the canal-side at Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire where I came across a cat on a ‘hot tin roof’ of a narrow-boat, enjoying the warmth from the rare moment of sunshine. The third photo of the beautiful lone horse who enjoyed some attention, was taken near a walk along a disused railway at Ayot green, a tiny picturesque village in Hertfordshire. I hope you enjoy looking at my furry friends!

Ese’s weekly shoot quote challenge:Memories

‘ Memories are the key not to the past
but the future.’
Corrie Ten Bown

Time to wander,
Pondering whilst
Sauntering on
Sunny,
Silky,
Wet sand
Like a caramel
Fudge land.
Salty lips,
Chalky skin,
A deep,
Warm mineral
Breath in:
Letting go.
Waves fade
Negative thoughts
Wash away.
Sea lavender breeze,
Flotsam of old trees.
Memories like
Sea glass pebbles
And sea shell patterns
In the sand.

Ese’s challenge ‘memories’ gave me the idea to return to the memory of the walk with my husband and dogs on the Norfolk sands one carefree day when we were on holiday and had time to saunter and breathe in the minerals and taste the seaside. It was a precious memory, where we got lost in our own thoughts, reminisced and had fun with our dogs. The light was wonderful, so relaxing.
Ese’s weekly shoot and quote challenge: Memories

Furry Friday: Tartan dogs

Lazy Sunday: Printmaking-poppy

I had great pleasure in messing about with inks and a beautiful old printing press to produce ‘poppy’, inspired by the poppies in one of my photographs and poetry early this summer.  I remember a lovely sunny walk with the dogs through a meadow in one of Northamptonshire’s most rural, unspoilt landscapes where butterflies danced with each other and I felt lulled by the comfort of the bees buzzing around, busy at work. I hope you enjoy my monotype print.

Forest glade

Rambling through
A forest glade,
Footsteps fade
Cushioned by
Plush mossy
Carpet,
Serendipitously
Made.
Flaked crispness:
Baked, blistered
Leaves fall
On a mournful
Lawn.
Hawks soar;
Glistening haws.
Scampering claws
Spiraling trunks
For tasty nuts.

Notes of claret,
Crushing blushing
Berries,
Musty moulds
Sticking
On toes,
Dogs noses
In holes;
Time to
Be traipsing
Home.

Daily challenge:now

This photo is my response to the daily post’s daily prompt ‘now’, to express my thoughts about the state of my year. Well it’s been a great year for me. I started blogging in January during one of the harshest winters on record. Somehow the bleakness and feeling freezing cold all the time inspired me to look closer at the natural world and record my responses in poetry and photos. Through the changing weather, the seasons, my writing, I think has matured and I’ve learnt so much about taking photos whilst walking the dogs often on leads, yes, they’ve been brilliant, they will even stand still if I tell them I need to take a photo. Throughout the year I have enjoyed meeting fellow bloggers and your inspiring comments. Thank you so much!  I’ve moved home recently and in the process of discovering walks in the surrounding countryside in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Bucks. A new camera is waiting to be used and hopefully you’ll enjoy the rest of the year with me and my moonramblings!

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/07/29/daily-prompt-now

Running Free

Running free
In fields of dreams,
Through delicate meadow
Flowers:
Curious cornflowers
And dallying daisies;
Butterflies,  zig zagging,
Tagging and
Surfing summer
Breezes.

Sharing their fun,
On tiptoes I run,
Through seas
Of seeds crackling;
Caressing chamomile;
Blinking bumblebees;
Hovering Damselflies,
An appreciative audience!

Time to leave
The dusty glowing
Shifting shades
Of summer:
The meadow’s
Melodious
Meditations.