Tuesday 12 September 2017

It's a Wonderful World ~~~

Hello Friends!

I consider myself truly blessed to live where I do. Even though, at the moment, I cannot get out and about in all the coast and countryside where I live, I am deeply grateful for all the photographs I have taken over the years to bring me closer to the beauty of my Shire.  Just stepping outside my cottage door and breathing in the fresh, countryside air that permeates from the surrounding land into my garden lifts my spirits and fills my heart with abounding joy. Of my Shire, my heart will never tire.

I have always enjoyed photography, but my life behind the lens was transformed in October 2006 when my late Daddy gave me a huge surprise for my birthday ~ the gift of my first digital camera. How that transformed my life! There were two things I could not get over ~ first, that I knew instantly whether or not I'd captured the shot, and second, the cost of being able to take hundreds of photographs and print off only the ones I needed to, rather than paying to print off everything from a 35mm roll of film, and paying to get even the out of focus shots that I can now simply discard.  I'm not decrying 35mm photography, it has a charm of its own, the same way old vinyls do when compared to CDs. I think most of you know, and understand, what I am saying!  In a time when we strive for the perfection that comes with progress, you cannot beat that grainy 35mm film, any more than you can top the hiss and crackle of a vinyl record on an old player.

Today, while my prayers hold my friends across the west of America where fires rage, those in Texas recovering from Harvey, and my friends in Florida recovering from Irma, and we all watch, with baited breath, the progress of Jose, we in Wales are waiting for what might prove to be our first named storm of 2017/18.  Aileen will be her name, if she develops to storm force, and she is here about six full weeks ahead of when we should be looking at the start of our storm season, usually in November.  We are told to expect winds in excess of 75 mph! Oh! Joy, Bliss, and Rapture ~ I don't think.

I notice on the list, here, that several Celtic and Gaelic names are included, giving equal representation to the four home nations.

My garden is not prepared, many plants are still flowering and a long way from being ready to be put to bed for Winter, so scurried attempts to bring things temporarily inside, and shelter that with which Summer is not yet done, must be top of the tasks today.  I think we all felt we had Autumn to look forward to, in all her magnificent, colourful array, and wind down gently into November, but no! We must prepare and batten the hatches this very afternoon!  Looking out of my window across the garden, glittering and green, underneath a blue, nearly cloudless sky, who would think in a few hours we will be hunkered down as the storm rages?  But hark! I hear the chimney rattling already ~ the winds that reconnoitre the path ahead have already arrived!

So, as I cannot get out and about as I should like to do, I'm wandering through my old photographs, of which there are many, and popping a few from my archives on here today ~~~

The first few photographs are of tree bark in my garden ~ I love how diverse bark is, from tree to tree, and the inspiration for art, or textiles, that I glean from it ~ Nature is a wonderful source of inspiration ~~~





Bountiful fruits of the season ~ blackberries, haws, crab apples and Autumn fruiting raspberries abound ~~~





Shhhhhhh! be very quiet, for faeries live within, and if we are very still and do not break the magic, why! we may see one flitting about ~~~


Clematis


 Gossamer webs are woven all across the bushes, trees, and shrubs ~~~


 Here is a sheet of Autumn coloured colouring in I did ~~~ I love the stylised acorn and leaf patterns ~~~


So, my friends, Stay Safe, wherever you are, and these storms will pass ~~~

Until next time ~~~
~~~Deborah

23 comments:

  1. Stay safe, my friend, and may your garden and cottage also escape unscathed from your early and unexpected storm.

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  2. Looks as if your part of the world is getting the worst of this storm, so I hope you stay safe and sound. Not quite so windy in Suffolk but I bet we lose some apples off the trees and they are not quite ready to eat yet.

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    1. We're already starting to see the garden bob madly about, but I think the worse is now forecast to go further north.

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  3. I do hope Aileen doesn't cause too much damage, my heart goes out to everyone having to deal with the consequences of Irma.
    Love your colouring in.x

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    1. It isn't great as the trees are in full leaf and that can really do some damage.
      Thank you, I do enjoy colouring in.

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  4. Digital photography transformed our photography too. If only it had been around earlier, I would have far more memories recorded. Today's generation are lucky in that respect and with digital video too.

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  5. I feel today's generation are the ones who have missed out by not knowing 35mm photography. My biggest regret, though, is not having digital earlier to have available when we used to go to Grassholm, or when I lived in Iceland.

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  6. I've just been putting all my old photo albums in storage boxes and still have my old non digital slr - as you say those were the days. But I do love digital cameras - no more waiting for films to return from the developer as huge expense!

    Love all your photos especially the ones of the tree bark :) Hope the storm didn't cause you any damage.

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    1. Thank you, and no, it didn't, although my neighbour lost his poly tunnel. I think we got off lightly last night!
      Yes, the wait and expense, and anticipation to find out what you managed to photograph ~ badly or not!

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  7. Whether they are new photos or old ones...you take beautiful ones! I am glad to see them again.

    Stay well, my friend.
    Love and hugs,
    Darlene

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  8. I am late in paying you a visit here, so I'm glad to read in the comments that you weathered the storm OK. Bark CAN be very interesting. Wonderful captures!

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    1. Better late than never! Thank you, yes, bark is fascinating stuff indeed.

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  9. Autumn my favorite time of the year, and yes it seems to have arrived 4 weeks early this year. I trust you survived the storm, we got off lightly this time. Your photographs make me want to pick up my old camera, That first tree bark photo reminded me so much of a friends wonderful old black lab, he had the same lop sided smile. Thank you again for the peace I always feel when reading your blog.

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    1. Thank you. Yes, we made it through this one, although some weren't so lucky, and we are under a yellow warning for flooding, some areas flash flooded yesterday. I am always finding interesting shapes in bark {and clouds}

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  10. What beautiful photographs, Deborah! I especially love those tree bark ones. I didn't know you were having big storms too...I'm glad you were safe and it has passed. Love Fall, XOXO

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    1. Thank you Susan. Yes, we had a bit of a blow out there, but it's the torrential rains yesterday/today that are now causing flash flooding again, but thankfully I'm on a hill! Love Fall too! xoxo

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  11. Lovely photos! And I'm glad to see by your comments that you all survived your storm. What a year it's been!

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  12. I so enjoyed viewing your tree photos. I waited patiently and quietly for a fairy to exit or enter, but none in sight. Hope this finds you well and you have enjoyed a wonderful birthday.
    Love & Hugs -- Gale Across the Pond

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