Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee,
Whether summer clothe the general earth
With greeness, or the redbreast sit and sing
Betwixt the tufts of snow on the bare branch
Of mossy apple-tree, while the nigh thatch
Smokes in the sun-thaw; whether the eave-drops fall
Heard only in the trances of the blast,
Or if the secret ministry of frost
Shall hang them up in silent icicles,
Quietly shining to the quiet Moon.



Thursday, November 01, 2007

November Sky


Late this afternoon I drove out towards Grindleford and stopped to take these views in the fading light, the sun had already dropped below the horizon and this was the aftermath but looking northish.


This was from the same spot but looking east.


Looking east again but 5 minutes or so later and a little further down the road. I love the way that the sky changes so much in such a short time and as the days get shorter I'm hoping for ever more spectacular sunsets to photograph.


An interested spectator on the other side of the wall:) The difference in light levels is accounted for by my using the 'sunset' setting on my camera for the sky pictures and 'available light' for the sheep.


Finally a picture of my beech hedge and the evidence that my garden is seriously in need of some attention which it will hopefully get over the next couple of weeks. I love the hedge when it has this wonderful patchwork quilt effect.
JulieMarie asked what the green and brown 'thingy' was in my last post - it's a newly fallen sweet chestnut showing the open case with the nuts still in place. Sweet chestnuts are edible and can be made into stuffing among other things. I don't think the squirrels bother with the haute cuisine bit though - they just take them as they come:)

Last year I wrote a post about November which hopefully might make those of you who consider it a dreary month see it from a different angle.

27 comments:

Paula said...

Your sunset photos, nature photos, and musings about the month of November are just lovely. Every month has its own joys. Thank you for sharing. I also enjoyed the black and white family photos in the earlier post, especially the school photo with your hair in braids, and a bit of curl popping out here and there. Very sweet!

Sheila said...

I noticed the sunset here this evening too, very colourful, after a cool and windy day. The sheep looks quite cozy in her fleecy coat.
I enjoyed reading last years post on November. I wish now I had not been so hasty and deleted my SeptemberSong blog when I began the new one.
I was a nice thing too, to see Daisy's comment there. She is missed, it would have been her birthday this month.
hugs
xx

Amy said...

Lovely photos of sunsets! Do you see many sheep from your house?

Rowan said...

Amy, I live on a suburban road,so no sheep visible from the house - I only wish there were. These photos were taken about 10 minutes drive from where I live and the first sheep and the moors are about 5 minutes away.

rel said...

Rowan,
The Fall brings out the best in you. Your soul seems to come alive when the days shorten the sky gets slate colored and the foliage puts on their finest clothes. Your words and photos are but a reflection of your excitment this time of year. I'm especially vulnerable to your musings since it is also my favorite time of year to stroll the byways finding inspiration
rel

Rosie said...

absolutely glorious sky photos and so different in colour and mood to the one I took about the same time as you yesterday :)

I've really enjoyed reading your November post too.

Janet said...

Your photos are always so enjoyable. I love seeing your sunsets and the sheep. Around here we have the sunsets but definitely no sheep!

Last year's post was great. Somehow I missed that one. You seem to be a much more organized person than I am!! I'll be one of those crazed shoppers out on Christmas Eve!!

Julie said...

Thank you for the info on the chestnut. Obviously, we don't have them around here.

I so enjoyed your link to your post from November 2006. I used to see November as being all brown and black fields, very dreary (or all white, as the case may be). I do like Nov. better now, and this year I will remember your post and look for even more things to like.

They are saying the "S" word for Monday evening. I hope it doesn't last and we get another stretch of mild weather, which we often do in Nov.

Julie

Sophie Honeysuckle said...

The skyline photos are stunning-I love Novemeber!

Jenny said...

Your pictures of the sunset are gorgeous- I hope you take lots more sunset photos too!

I enjoyed this post and the one from last year. I love the dark peacefulness of November- there's something calming about it. I'm off to start my Christmas shopping! :o)

meggie said...

I do love sunsets!

Mary said...

Sunsets are gorgeous, as are sunrises, especialy over water - I'll post the pics of the ones I saw across Tor Bay soon!

The sheep were everywhere on the way from Gatwick to Devon - nice to see the larger herds of dairy cattle again too - God forbid Britain never has to go through a terrible loss of livestock such as five years ago!

I just loved everything I saw in the English countryside, from the partridge familes in the hedgerows, to swathes of pink cyclamen carpeting the fields around Powderham Castle. But best of all - the huge oak tree I climbed as a girl still stands in the field near my home - so grateful that the farmer has not sold off his beautiful fields above the sea to developers....as so many others have!
I'm homesick again already!!!!!!!

Linda G. said...

E and I share an office, but not pc's. We sit back to back in the early morning, drinking coffee. each reading what we like.
But if I say, "I'm going to look at Rowan's photos," he turns around to watch as I click them up to full size.
Today, the glowing sunsets came to life, and we awwwed.. over the sheep.
Your 2006 November post was lovely too..wish I had your ability for organization:)
Is that lemon cream pie a sour cream pie?

peppylady (Dora) said...

October was out standing and so far November been lovely.
Your trees and greenery is a lot more color to them then what are is. Quite a few trees here lost there leaves.

I like roasted Chestnuts and we have Chestnuts here but usual the squirrels beats us to them

healingmagichands said...

Beautiful sunset pictures. But what evidence is there in that last picture that your garden is neglected?? I think it looks lovely.

Miss Robyn said...

Rowan, your garden looks pretty good to me! I love autumn skies.. they do something to your soul

laoi gaul~williams said...

Merry Meet Rowan!
Thank you for your post at my blog...of course i had to come and visit!
such lovely pictures and i loved your words at Samhain.
i was interested in your earlier post about the roman fort...my dad lived in Brough for some years...at one of the old coaching inn's on the main east west road.

Anonymous said...

Your garden is looking very verdant - I can't get over how mild everything has been up until now.

The sunset photos (and the sheep photos) are wonderful, there is nothing so beautiful as a sunset. When I watch one I can see why the Incas put so much faith in the sun.

Sophie Honeysuckle said...

Hi Rowan me again-just wanted to say I agreed with all your comments about ARWAV!!

PAT said...

Hello Rowan!

These are wonderful photos, as usual. I love the photo of your hedge! This time of year is my favorite!

Pat

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous sunset photos, Rowan! It's nice to see a corner of your garden (which doesn't look like it's needing attention to me!) ~ hugs, Lynda xo

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

I stop by from time to time to see what new wonders from England you have on display, and I loved this post. The sunset is stunning. And your garden is very lovely, I see what you mean about the patchwork hedge - it's amazing. Your last November's post was so enjoyable to read, I felt I was there right along with you. Making time to "stand and stare" is what my heart cries out for, and lately I've been doing a lot of it, sometimes vicariously though other's blogs.
Thank you!

kate said...

I loved the sheep near the wall ... that wall looks ancient! The clouds were absolutely gorgeous. Your hedge is making me wish for a few weeks ago when our hedges were looking like that. All of the leaves have fallen!

The election didn't go the way I had hoped, but my party had a good showing anyway.

Happy Friday to you!

Kelli said...

What lovely November photos, Rowan! I love the sheep by the wall.

Kelli

Peaceful/Paisible said...

what's the sheep looking at ? the camera ? the photos are all great...but what's great is being able to make them...your eyes are marvellous eyes dear...they SEE things...

Breezy said...

Your beech hedge is wonderful and the more "relaxed" garden in front just shows it off all the better. Great photographs you are really doing the circle of the year justice.

smilnsigh said...

Love photos of sunsets.

And the sheep is quite precious too.

And how *envious* I am, of all your settings! 'Sunset' level. 'Available light' setting, etc.

Mari-Nancifdgxonpm