Resting. . . . .

While in Dartmouth last Wednesday,

 I couldn't resist taking this photo,

 of a slumped bike & upturned boat,

 attached to an old fashioned lamp post.

 ~   ~   ~   ~

With a late night,

 seeing the New Year in with neighbours & friends,

all I wanted to do,

particularly in the afternoon on New Year's Day,

was to be slouched on a comfy sofa.

Resting!

While relaxing,

I reviewed  my final photos,

 taken on New Year's Eve of 2011!

The photos,

above & below, 

were taken from Burrow Mump,

Somerset Levels,

 just as the sun was lowering. 

Although Burrow Mump monument

stood on the top of the hill in solitude,

the fields below were flooded from recent weather

As the sun finally settles on New Year's Eve,

there's not only thought of a new day to arrive, but also a new year!

~   ~   ~   ~

Really look forward to photographying aspects

of the various seasons once again.

Happy New Year

Wishing all family & friends

 all the best for 2012!

Let's hope it's a positive & memorable one!

Monday 3rd January 2011

Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve,

a walk where you can wander in the open,

 or loose yourself around one of the walkways,

 maybe on your way to one of the bird hides,

 passing wooded areas,

waterways lost in reeds & rushes,

even meeting up with a huge lake.

Love to see the trees strewn with a mass of glossy green ivy,

either wrapping & clinging itself onto a tree trunk,

or dangling & swaying in mid air from a great height.

But I'm not the only one out on this day,

occasionally, bumping into another walker,

 wrapped up warm from the elements of the weather.

Much of the water,

 meandering through the tree lined walkways,

 is laden with the fall of leaves from the Autumn,

 together with a layer of slushy ice,

 due to the recent coldspell,

 with a succession of  bitterly cold days.

And today,

 offering the occasional wintery shower of sleet or snow.

Bundles of Bull Rushes add to the plants surrounding the lake

A couple of swans adorn the icy lake.

The variety of trees,

 offer  changes in the landscape

Some reminders offering other colour,

 to help with these dull wintery days,

is the rich bronze brown of dead leaves,

 still clinging to some of the branches,

 or caught in branch crevices,

 or even fallen to the ground.

A last walk before returning to the routine of work!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Christmas holiday sure went quick!

In a Flap

Unfortunately,

I had to wait until today for the first walk of the New Year!

I aimed towards the Somerset Levels, stopping briefly at Burrow Mump.

I was not disappointed to see the swan above, which was certainly exercising it's wings,

& what a wing span!

It was quite a dull damp day with the weather,

with the Levels in flood, attracting much bird life.

With the mood of the weather,

 just thought it was appropriate ,

to transform some of these images into black & white.

New Year!

Wishing everyone a Very Happy New Year!