THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

4 November 2013

SUNDAY WALK IN THE WOODS


Half term has been a bit of a whirlwind but school is back today and routine restored. Yesterday afternoon, instead of our usual grind of wood chopping, recycling, washing, bed changing and other menial tasks, we decided to take a walk at Milfordleigh, somewhere I haven't been for twelve years; ridiculous since it's so close, and takes fifteen minutes to drive to. Both dogs had a fantastic time, as did we, despite the rain and relative gloom. A National Trust owned wood, it lies very close to the rather famous Gidleigh Park Hotel, with its two Michelin starred restaurant. Never been obviously - way beyond our means but it means OB sees a lot of fabulous cars on their way through Chagford to their posh destination. I'm afraid a lot of these photos have a slight graininess about them due to the aforementioned November gloom. Lots of lovely fungi but most are past their best now.



Aren't these protective fences around new trees fabulous? Much nicer than the insipidly pale pink plastic ones you see everywhere else.


Tiny bracket fungus on a log


Another unidentified red fungus, this time with an orange-ish underside - any ideas? David Turner at http://woldranger.blogspot.co.uk/ has ID'ed them as Scarlet Waxcaps. 




The River Teign rushes along the edge of the Woodland


This lovely hut contains garden tools and other equipment. The dogs nearly got stuck underneath it....terriers. 



ENORMOUS fungi, possibly felled by passing wildlife


I had to use the flash for these two beauties, something I am loth to do, but it was getting seriously dark at this point



More white water

A few more pictures from the weekend.....




Trigger's friends relaxing


These tiny fungi are sprouting on cow poo




Autumn colours

A busy week ahead so excuse me if I'm not visiting your blogs as regularly as I would normally. The rain has stopped today and the sun is shining. A lovely day at last. I won't look at the forecast as it could be depressing. Until next time, here are Snippet and Jack in full flight. 


Posted by at
Labels:

46 comments:

  1. Anonymous4 November 2013 at 14:32

    Glorious photos as always Em- everywhere is looking so wet and decayee now November has arrived. Roll on sharp, clean, frosty weather.... :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson4 November 2013 at 16:52

      We nearly had it today but the clouds have come in again.....sigh.

      Delete
  2. The Weaver of Grass4 November 2013 at 14:45

    I love Jack's communing with the pumpkin - also that interesting protective fence round the new tree. Lovely fungi - I think all the more attractive once they are beginning to disintegrate. Take it steady this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson4 November 2013 at 16:53

      Thanks Pat - I'll try! He really didn't know what to make of the pumpkin and has avoided it all weekend.

      Delete
  3. DeniseinVA4 November 2013 at 16:19

    I am very happy to have found your blog. I lived in Devon from 1965 to 1975 and the view from my parents' kitchen window was of Dartmoor in the distance. Dad worked for a solicitor for many years and used to visit 'clients' many times at Dartmoor Prison. My mum and I would go along, he would drop us in Prince Town I think it was (?) where we would have a Devonshire Cream tea and then walk around town until it was time for him to pick us up. You have wonderful pictures of the Moors. I shall enjoy coming back. You have a great blog. I shall enjoy coming back. Greetings from Denise in Virginia, USA.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson4 November 2013 at 16:56

      Hello and welcome Denise! Your walk around Princetown must have been pretty short having done it myself a couple of times. It's a very depressing town now; lots of prison officer's accommodation and GREY buildings. I'll look forward to your next visit.

      Delete
  4. Kath4 November 2013 at 17:31

    I especially liked the dogs in full flight, I wish I had managed to get a pic like that of my 2 when they were younger.
    The river pic is wonderful, as is the glimpse down the valley.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson4 November 2013 at 19:20

      It's 50 bad ones to one good Kath, and they're still blurry!

      Delete
  5. Elizabeth4 November 2013 at 17:36

    Beautiful photos as always - love the garden tool shed. The rushing water is lovely too. I look forward to seeing more of your area.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson4 November 2013 at 19:22

      Sometimes it's nice to be cossetted by woodland after our vast open spaces and most of the fringes of Dartmoor are full of lovely bits.

      Delete
  6. Bovey Belle4 November 2013 at 18:25

    What a lovely walk. I see the Fungi are still flourishing, though some have been beaten to a pulp by the rain. Love the photo of both dogs full pelt : ) Your river there is like ours, only you have mossy boulders whereas ours are always scoured by the force of the water in spate.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson4 November 2013 at 19:22

      Your river looks fantastic too. Perhaps I'll get to see it one day if your house stays on the market for longer than you'd like!

      Delete
  7. Melody4 November 2013 at 18:27

    Love the dogs in flight! Great photos and fabulous fungi~ The one that looks like a snail with the little deely-boppers on top is awesome! :))))))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson4 November 2013 at 19:23

      I'm getting very confused with the red ones though. Not good when Google can't produce an answer either.

      Delete
  8. Wendy4 November 2013 at 18:36

    Another lovely collection of photos. I love that tumbling river, it looks fabulous. I love Jack contemplating the pumpkin, too and the two dogs in full flight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson4 November 2013 at 19:24

      Thanks Wendy. I wasn't sure whether to include Jack and the pumpkin as it's a bit grainy, but I'm glad I did.

      Delete
  9. SeagullSuzie4 November 2013 at 18:43

    Great close ups of the fungi Em, and love the tree protector-looks like a huge nest. The two dogs in full flight is terrific, they look so happy and healthy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson4 November 2013 at 19:25

      I hope they are. I often wonder if Snippet is happier with Jack or not, but I think on balance, he is.

      Delete
  10. angryparsnip4 November 2013 at 19:21

    Snippet and Jack have such a good life.

    cheers, parsnip

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson4 November 2013 at 19:25

      They're always hungry at the end of the day!

      Delete
  11. Down by the sea4 November 2013 at 19:52

    Those are wonderful photos Em. You found a lovely selection of fungi and I love the picture of your dog and the pumpkin! There is nothing like a Dartmoor river, I can almost hear it!
    Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jenny4 November 2013 at 21:29

    Beautiful places! I noticed on my walk how green some trees are, still, and they seem to be there as well. Almost spring-like in some of the photos.
    Love the pumpkin shot!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson5 November 2013 at 10:29

      You're right Jenny - certainly particular trees. Anything bordering or on the moor is pretty bald already, but Hazel and Beech and Oak are still hanging on in the garden.

      Delete
  13. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"4 November 2013 at 21:56

    You've just about got away with using flash for the fungi. You can also get good results using one of those silly mini-tripods - generally useless but they do work for fungi and small plants. Your blog has got me thinking seriously about another trip to Dartmoor before too long.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson5 November 2013 at 10:31

      I have one of those silly tripods but always forget to take it with me. probably because it was given to me and I didn't actually have to pay for it! When I looked at the flash ones on the camera I didn't think I would get away with them but they weren't as awful as I feared. Glad to have inspired potential visits!

      Delete
  14. rusty duck4 November 2013 at 22:32

    I do love that tree protector, might take a lesson from that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson5 November 2013 at 10:32

      Me too. It doesn't look too difficult or expensive and I'm sure you have lots of twiggy stiff knocking about too!

      Delete
  15. HappyK4 November 2013 at 23:44

    What interesting shapes and colors of fungi!!
    Love that little green shed and the way the dog is looking at the pumpkin. : )

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ragged Robin5 November 2013 at 10:22

    Wonderful selection of fungi - the woods look a great place to walk :) Love the protective tree covers - a great idea and so natural looking as you say much better than revolting plastic!!

    Love the last photo of Snippet and Jack :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson5 November 2013 at 10:33

      Behind one of the walls in Trigger's current field, there is a pile of those plastic ones the size of a small car and it will be there for thousands of years I should imagine. Horrible.

      Delete
  17. Jane and Chris5 November 2013 at 12:44

    I'm still giggling at Jack and the pumpkin!
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson5 November 2013 at 13:52

      He's so sweet. I'm having trouble getting hold of my Dad's wife so I haven't got back to you about the Featherstonehaugh's yet....sorry!

      Delete
  18. Anonymous5 November 2013 at 13:26

    Great blog post, Em, backed up with some great images.
    BTW - i`m also not keen on using flash...but saying that, i use it with most of my fungi shots.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson5 November 2013 at 13:53

      I refuse to use one indoors too. Horrible things but that first one is actually alright I think.

      Delete
  19. Willow5 November 2013 at 20:45

    I need to try my hand at making some of those great protective fences .
    Great action shot with Snippet and Jack ... look at them go !!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson6 November 2013 at 13:53

      Aren't they great? I just wish we had a tree to put them round.

      Delete
  20. Morning's Minion6 November 2013 at 01:52

    I've just spent some enjoyable moments catching up with your last several posts. The fungi photos seem to me to have wonderful definition.
    The twiggy tree protector is intriguing--so much nicer than plastic or wire--I wish I had them in miniature sizes to barricade my perennials from the onslaughts of cats.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson6 November 2013 at 13:54

      I'm sure you could fashion something on a tiny scale with prickly twigs. I tried citrus peel once but the cats just tossed it away with their paws.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous6 November 2013 at 09:45

    An enjoyable and interesting post Em, I simply love that old hut in the woods :-) I think some of your fungi pics are Waxcaps (the last one and the red ones with orange gills) and these are very interesting fungi indeed as they show that the soil has never been 'improved' through agriculture or whatever. I know of only a few places where they occur up here on the Yorkshire Wolds !

    PS. I think the red ones with orange gills are called Scarlet Waxcaps but don't take my word for it !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson6 November 2013 at 13:56

      Thanks David - that's really interesting as that area has been a plantation for many years which would make sense. I've never seen them anywhere else around here either. I'll change it in the post. So helpful to have you following!

      Delete
  22. Caroline Gill8 November 2013 at 22:38

    Those protective fences are brilliant, Em! I wonder how deer proof they are, though ... would be interesting to know. Fabulous fungi, too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson9 November 2013 at 16:29

      Good point Caroline. There are lots of deer around but I'm not sure how long the enclosures have been there. Will report at a later date!

      Delete
  23. Lou Mary10 November 2013 at 22:01

    Brilliant photos Em! I love the orange ones on cow poo! I think after consulting an ID book from the library that they are common eyelash Scutellinia scutellata. I do think the photo of Jack checking the pumpkin out is charming!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Em Parkinson11 November 2013 at 14:37

      That's brilliant - thanks Lou. An age saved looking through endless books!

      Delete

Thank you so much for leaving a comment. It's great to read them and I will always try to reply.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)