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

7 February 2014

CALM BEFORE ANOTHER STORM


The last couple of days have been almost okay. Yesterday was misty and rainy, but not torrential and today was glorious for a few hours. Tomorrow is set to be terrible again but here are some images for me to hang on to as we are battered again.

This bronze age hut circle seems to be having some persistent flooding issues:


This one too:


Even when the rain has stopped, the ponies' coats dry in clumps as though still wet:


Actually, I think this one still is wet:


Tornado:


Tornado sizes up Snippet:


I love the different shades of grey in this:


Exercise while you can....


Or not:


Okay - if you say so:


The light today was extraordinary, and picked out all the contours in the landscape






Jack found a sheep's horn






We had a crow in the garden which is very unusual - they usually stick to the moor:


Trigger had the day down with the Madams and we all got out more than expected which was lovely, in preparation for hiding inside tomorrow. Who'd be a pony eh?

We had yet another bad night, with a power cut yesterday evening coinciding with an impromptu plumbing emergency. One of the in-line valves under the kitchen sink failed and was spurting water out into the flickering torchlight. M came home to find me in a state of some panic whilst OB sat calmly doing a sudoku puzzle with a candle at the table. Power back by about 8.00pm and water flow stemmed, I was delighted to get to bed. I hate to even ask the question - what next?

Keep safe all of you in the throws of bad weather and don't forget, if you want to be entered into the draw, leave a comment on the last post. Many of you have already and OB will draw the name out on Sunday or Monday, depending when I have time to write all the names on scraps of paper. So, until next time, here's naughty Jack with his sheep's horn.


55 comments:

  1. Oh Em some lovely images of Dartmoor looking bleak and beautiful. Love the ponies as ever, even they must be fed up with all this rain! So far we have had electricity and internet throughout the storms, I have to say the electricity supply is better now than when we moved here. The rain and wind is battering us as I type and all the cats are inside sleeping and safe.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Some cracking photos there Em. I particularly like the Bronze Age one- wonder if they had that trouble 5000 years ago? :-)
    Wishing you a safe and peaceful night. CT x

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Bronze Age huts are amazingly well preserved, despite wet floors! We live in an area where Bronze Age people once lived, but all they have left us are their burial mounds across the moor.

    Beautiful light in today`s landscapes. The ponies have a look of weary resignation about them. "Oh no, not more rain!".......

    Hope you have no more problems with the expected storm tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Bronze Age hut circle is actually the first instance of a hot tub in the UK. It didn't really catch on until the Romans invented central heating.
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a great image that is Jane. I'm almost tempted....

      Delete
  5. I shall go to bed with Dartmoor images on my mind. Thank you. I trust they had good roofing for their Bronze Age huts or were very good at bailing out! I loved your 50 Shades of Grey photo (!) Isn't Tornado a poppet? One for the grandchildren perhaps . . . though I'm not holding my breath!!

    Keep safe and I hope no more fallen trees. It's just starting to pick up here, so it may be a restless night.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There have been many for the grandchildren haven't there! One day.....

      Delete
  6. Who'd be a pony indeed. I love the greys in the trees and the stone wall. Here we go again, keep warm and dry Em x

    ReplyDelete
  7. I thought he was still chewing on the cone of shame . . .

    ReplyDelete
  8. I do believe that the weather is kooky everywhere....
    Raining here...and struggled to reach 14*c....
    Give me a break!
    Gorgeous photos BTW.......carry on!
    Cheers!
    Linda:o)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I just love looking at all your photos, so many photo opportunities.
    We are hoping to have a weekend without a snow storm.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great place you live in, Em. It reminds me of a particular part of Argyle, where every random rock seems to have little cup-shapes carved into it to receive water. Lots more water to receive soon, I know.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I do hope your luck changes for the better soon Em.

    ReplyDelete
  12. So sorry to hear that you have been having more troubles, I hope that the weekend brings no more new experiences in the trouble department. Your pictures are beautiful, I love the one with the shades of grey, so atmospheric and evocative. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, forgot to say, do I show up to you as a no reply blogger? You should be able to reply to me - I think that you have? - but from your comment left on mine I wasn't sure. You show up as no reply to me, perhaps that is what you were talking about? xx

      Delete
    2. I can't remember what I said! Forgettabrain as OB says. I'll go back and look.....

      Delete
  13. Em your weather almost looks calm compared to the snow & gales outside our doors & windows right now ... brrr. Be safe, keep warm & hopefully your 3 x is done for now. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You poor things. It just seems to be going on forever. x

      Delete
  14. Congratulations on your Blog Milestone! I do enjoy reading about life on the moor, thank you for sharing such beautiful photographs. Jack doesn't seem to have damaged himself by his early removal of the cone? He is very beautiful, isn't he!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's a charmer but very pushy. We're working on it!

      Delete
  15. Gorgeous pictures as ever! Stay safe, I'm amazed our garden fence is still up, it was blowing a Huey last night! Just got to get through today and we get a couple of days rest until the next one!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi
    Lovely photos and sketches. Hope the storms don't cause you anymore trouble. We are expecting power cuts and more road closures for a few days and are stocked up with provisions. Take care

    ReplyDelete
  17. I do believe I could make my home in Dartmoor. Well if I were much younger. The trees are wonderful and Snippet and Jack just make me smile. Good thing Jack has a place to use up all that energy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We're very aware that there will come a point when living here is too much for us. Give it ten years and we'll be yearning for some central heating and mains water!

      Delete
  18. Great photos as always :) I particularly like the Bronze age ones - so atmospheric!!

    So sorry to hear you're continuing to have problems (power cuts and plumbing). Hope things improve for you soon and stay safe in this awful weather.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd love to go back in time for a day and see them as they were then. Those particular two are on the lee side of the ridge and would have been quite cozy I think.

      Delete
  19. Hi Em A wonderful series of shots showing us both the beautiful Moors and the dogs in action.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great pictures Em - I was wondering how Dartmoor was during these storms, we are getting a battering again here on the coast! Oh, and congratulations on your 100th follower and beyond :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you're still okay Ann - a lot's happened since I wrote this post.

      Delete
  21. Lovely images of the light and colours on the moor and of course of the dogs having their usual fun. I'm fascinated by the Bronze Age Hut Circle, I wonder how different the landscape looked then?
    Sorry you're still having problems in the house with water and then power - hope that's the end of them for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The clearance of the forest started around 10,000 BC so most of it was gone by the Bronze Age. I must write something more detailed about them at some point....so disorganised!

      Delete
  22. Hi Em, sorry to read that you are plagued by this wild, stormy and rainy weather! Hope it doesn't cause any damage. Your photos of Dartmoor are simply breathtaking! What a wild untouched landscape. It is so beautiful, it is almost hard to bear. Are these wild ponies? Wild or domestic I feel for them. I am sure it is not all that fun to be wet and out in the cold. Love you dogs! The photo of Jack, flying through Dartmoor is fantastic! Wishing you a nice weekend and that better weather will come, soon!
    Christina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The ponies are wild but owned by farmers. Many are rounded up and sold (often for meat on the continent) as there are far too many out there. Lovely to hear from you Christina!

      Delete
  23. Will this weather never stop?! Some wonderful Dartmoor pics, thanks for raising a smile here as always, good to see Jack enjoying life - his 'little op' has obviously been totally forgotten about! Stay safe, let's hope the storm blows over quickly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It doesn't seem to be blowing over does it! You must be in a sea of mud with all those hooves. Keep safe.

      Delete
  24. Jack is a hoot ! always finding stuff to chew on. Last week it was the cow hoof.....
    Goodness the old saying when it rains it pours applies Hope this is the end of your "troubles".
    Love the grey trees. wonderful photo !

    cheers, parsnip

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love the different shades of grey! The wide open spaces of the Moor continue to enchant me. You blog makes my heart sing.

    Hope you have less problems with the power and water. Nothing more frustrating to have continued problems as such.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Great photos of the moors! Super lighting! I hope you aren't suffering too much with the weather and you get your internet back soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm back......for how long though I don't know.

      Delete
  27. I am most impressed with the beauty in your photos on the moors. I love the action shots of your dogs running. Shall come back to visit - first time visitor from Atlantic Canada - have a wonderful day :)

    ReplyDelete

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