The weather forecasters are issuing a warning of a huge storm system sweeping eastwards on the jet-stream over the Altantic. St Jude (it's due to hit land just after midnight on Monday, St Jude's day) may not be as bad as the Great Storm that flattened thousands of trees in 1987 or the Burns Day Storm in 1990, but we've been warned to . . . er? stay indoors and have a cup of tea, or something.
However, today dawned bright and breezy, the sky was a deep blue and clouds scudded briskly across the sky. I felt the need to get out there in the fields, to go for a walk.
I started by walking under the Lime trees in the churchyard opposite my studio, the colours are swiftly changing from green to pale primrose.
Out along the footpath that follows the Stour Brook the gently sloping valley fields are bright green with young shoots of winter wheat and the trees in the woods have barely a tinge of autumnal tints.
I love the framed views through breaks in the hedgerows, as winter creeps toward us I'll look for migrating flocks of birds; and fallow deer and hares nibbling the crops. But today I was enjoying the sunshine, the sound of the wind in the trees and just being happy to stride out in my walking boots. If you follow me on Twitter you'll be aware of my slow recovery from Achilles problems which has meant months of not being able to walk far on uneven ground or to wear my boots. Well, I'm happy to report that I'm on the mend, the damage to the surrounds to my tendons is healing well and as long as I do as I'm told by the physio and the podiatrist, I'll be able to gradually build up to 6 or 7 mile walks this winter.
This is a huge relief, outside in the fields is where I gather inspiration and walking gently distils the ideas into images I jot down when I get back to my studio. Like the beautiful silver and faded gold of the Crack Willow leaves against the blue sky; or the crouched shapes of the woods.
I walked as far as the derelict WWII Nissan huts where the Barn Owls live.
On the way home I noted the black Sloes in the hedgerows and made a mental note to check whether we have enough gin to make a bottle of Sloe Gin from the Sloes in our garden.
Of course my hand was full of leaves I couldn't resist picking up along the way . . . Oak, Hawthorn, Pear, Lime, Aspen, Dogwood, Gelder Rose and my favourite buttery yellow Field Maple.
So, if you're in the path of the St Jude's Day Storm tonight and tomorrow morning, don't get blown away and stay safe. Let's hope St Jude remains the patron of desperate causes and not synonymous with a devastating weather event.
"May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified,
loved and preserved now and forever.
Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us,
Saint Jude worker of Miracles, pray for us,
Saint Jude helper and keeper of the hopeless, pray for us,
Thank you Saint Jude."
Celia
xx
I love a good walk in the autumn sunshine. The door on the nissan hut looks interesting, a nice mix of colours and textures. Haven't made sloe gin for ages, cracked open the last bottle of 2003 the other week so I think I'll have to make some soon.
ReplyDeleteLets hope the storm is more threat than action.
Yes the Nissan hut door is a great texture. We got away lightly didn't we?!
DeleteGood luck!
ReplyDeleteSorry to learn you've had foot problems. Beastly, isn't it?
Very frustrating, but I'll get there!
DeleteYour photos are lovely. I am so pleased to hear you are able to enjoy the great outdoors again. It would be a shame to miss this glorious season. I am not bothered by rough weather but am worried that the storm will stripe away all of the beautiful autumn leaves. I am going to ask St. Jude to protect us all and the autumn leaves, too.
ReplyDeleteMost of the leaves are still green around here and amazingly they hung on!
DeleteI was planning on taking some shots of the colour of my Amelanchiers but was too late, the winds having stripped them bare! Your walk looks marvellous and it is good to hear that your foot problems are receding.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely walk at all times of year.
DeleteA lovely look at autumn where you are. I'd love to see those Barn Owls! I'm glad to hear you're on the mend and can get back to long walks. (The storm is just reaching here now.)
ReplyDeleteWe rarely see the Barn Owls, but in cold and snowy weather they often hunt in daylight.
DeleteFor us in the west, St. Jude turned out to be a storm in a teacup - hope he fizzled out where you live too.
ReplyDeleteI love your collection of leaves on the blue background - it is nice to see all of the different shapes and colours.
We were unscathed but not too far away trees came down and even a double decker bus was blown over in a tremendous gust at 7.30 this morning!
DeleteWhat a splendid walk! A virtual visit to England.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you are not badly affected by the storm and it's nothing like our NY Halloween storm last year.
Believe me it was nothing like your storms! We get in a tizzy about blips in the weather. Having said that, this one caused a lot of damage and some loss of life.
DeleteAll quiet here on the weather front. Turns out we were too far north. I hope you've fared as well, and the countryside around you is unspoilt today as it was yesterday :)
ReplyDeleteSt Jude swept over this morning between 7 and 8am, the biggest gust caused all the damage, though luckily our village was unscathed except for some small branches down here and there.
DeleteI'm glad you are able to get out walking again, horrible to have tendon problems.Take care and enjoy being out in the countryside again, lovely photos.
ReplyDeletePS. I enjoyed the CL article very much - what fun.
So am I, though I mustn't over do things and have a set back.
DeleteYes I must tell everyone about CL... will do a blogpsot now xx