MACRO PHENOMENON AND MISTY RIVERS

Something very strange is going on and I'd appreciate your opinions on the phenomena in question. Whilst idly perusing the 'stats' section of the blog the day after posting the 'MACRO POST' on Wednesday, I was shocked to see it had had an inordinately large number of page views in the space of a few hours. Nearly as many as the infamous and worryingly popular 'FRISKY FOAL NUMBER 2' has had in over eight months at 123. Today, page views are up to over 540 and rising. I've tried putting in a Google search for 'Macro', 'post', 'macro post' and none of them bring up this blog on the first few pages so I just don't know what's going on. I've used the word 'MACRO' again in this post title to see if that might be the trigger but who knows. 

On a less mysterious note, on Thursday there were amazingly specific mists running along every river valley and stream as far as I could see over the surrounding countryside. I had to think hard about which some of the smaller ones were as, once you're down in the lanes, it's difficult to place exactly where you are. Here are some pictures I took; I think they look like the land is on fire:

A few weeks ago, for the first time ever, I won a prize on Elizabeth Wix's fabulous blog 'About New York' 

http://elizabeth-aboutnewyork.blogspot.co.uk/ 

It was a voucher for a web site called Novica which is great other than the fact that they failed to mention the courier would be charging me an £11.00 handling fee! Anyway, I chose a lovely cushion cover made and embroidered by a woman in New Delhi which I'm now using to cover the laptop as it's a perfect fit. I have never been to New York and have always wanted to go. I have a feeling I may never do it and Elizabeth's blog is a wonderful trip around, not just the famous bits, but the less well known areas and back streets of NYC. Her photography is stunning and I can highly recommend a visit. This is the cover....I love it!

I started writing this post earlier today and have just got back from a irksome trip to Exeter again to change last weeks shoes for Origami Boy, who was so desperate to get out of the shop that he said they were fine, not mentioning the fact that they were fur lined and completely unsuitable for spring and his hot feet. Just checked the stats again and the macro post is up to 634 views.....very bizarre. 

The rain is torrential again tonight and is meant to turn to snow later. I'll leave you some nice dry trees in attractive colours. Not any more! Until next time......have a lovely Sunday. 

MACRO POST

In the absence of anything of interest out there today, it being grey and wildlife free, I decided to concentrate on one rock and photograph it very close up. The rock was very approximately 4ft long,  2ft wide and 2ft high. Here are the results:

Here are a couple more from nearby:

School's back so I'm back walking thank goodness; am feeling distinctly middle-age-spready. I used to take being able to eat whatever I wanted for granted.....no more! Anyway, I need to fit in the second episode of the marvelous 'Borgen' which I recorded on Saturday so I will leave you with the only two other pictures I took today, the first of which is of the hideous Fernworthy Forest looking rather lovely! Have a good rest of the week. Until next time.......

HAPPY MOSS AND THEN THERE WERE TWO

There are now two regular coal tit visitors. Unfortunately they are fierce rivals, are constantly seeing each other off and consequently can never be photographed together. It's lovely to have their numbers expanding; perhaps there will be three soon. 

Waiting its turn at the feeder

I've noticed the moss over the moor is looking particularly happy after all the rain; I'm glad something is. I've had to fence a section of Trigger's very small paddock off to see if it can recover for a few weeks. I'm sure any of you with horses will be having the same problems. Here are a few mossy and licheny (I'm getting a big wavy red line under that, not surprisingly!) pictures:

On the gate into our garden, this miniature garden has appeared....

Yellow Brain Fungus looking particularly bright yellow.....

And the first flower of the year....some very early flowering gorse, smelling strongly of coconut (or Hawaiian Tropic sun tan lotion....I wonder if they make it any more?). 

We have a very clever sparrow in the flock, who has learnt how to hang onto the peanut feeder. He's the only one who can do it so far. Others watch but don't follow. Perhaps they will in time. 

On our way back from a trip to Exeter to buy Origami boy yet more shoes yesterday, the cloud formation was very strange. I haven't been on an plane since 1998 but this is what I remember looking out at from the windows, which is a bit strange given we were on the ground.

And I'll leave you with a few gorsey Snippet pictures. I'm sure his coat has evolved in his three and a half years on the planet so as to allow him to access gorse without pain and cope with his first two incredibly snowy winters. Have as pleasant a Monday as possible!