Pink sky at night . . .
Aside from pink September photos, I’m in the pink today because I have one day to work, then I’m off for 16, woohoo, by tomorrow I’ll be bouncing off the walls.
Category: Devon
Hips and Haws
If you’re a certain age, you may have been given Rose Hip Syrup as a child. The bright red round and oval gems were used as a tonic to prevent winter colds because they’re rich in vitamin C. But did you also know they were baked in tarts, added to wine, marmalade and made into soup? Best of all, they were used as anti varicose vein tea!
Now, the only thing I’ve ever done with haws is mix them with crab apples to make jelly, what about you? Well apparently, since Roman times the cheerful sprays of berries have been picked not just for jellies and jams, but to make wine and as a cure for the headaches that drinking might have caused! Women also gathered them for dyeing their hair, I touched mine up yesterday, I wonder if it’s worth a try.
I’ve always fancied myself as a medicine woman, a curandera, perhaps in a previous life.
Found a new place to walk
The new Dawlish Countryside ParkTime to Relax
I wish, but I do have next week off so perhaps there’s hope.
Meanwhile I think I’m just in time to joins the Lens Artist Challenge this week, where Amy has chosen Time to Relax as this weeks theme.
In June I had a day out with my friend Sue, a belated birthday treat for me. We went to Burrow Farm Garden in east Devon. There happened to be a wedding there that day and we saw several guests who’d arrived early enjoying the garden in full bloom. On family intrigued me, A mum, dad and their two children who seemed quite untogether and un- smiley considering the event.
Every so often we’d turn a corner and even just a few feet away it was as if we were invisible. Anyway at one point we spotted the dad relaxing.
I expect he would have been even more grumpy if he knew I’d snapped him.
Wordless Wednesday
Six Word Saturday
Nice place for a poetry day
Lens-Artist Photo Challenge
A lovely group of bloggers have decided to create a new weekly photograph challenge, now that WordPress no longer run theirs. This week it’s the turn of Leya, who has picked ‘cooling’ as the theme. She brings us an unusual riverscape in Switzerland, perfect for a cool down.
My choice is one of my favourite Devon rivers, the Bovey at – surprisingly – Bovey Tracey!
This is one of the places where my children paddled when they were little, our golden retriever Jassy beside them, great for a cool down in the water and shade.
Thanks Leyla!
Ancient lines
After seeing this weeks photo challenge, I began thinking about different types of lines, in a sleepless hour the other night. The next day I found the lines of tiles that I posted on Friday, man made, twenty first century city lines.
My mind wandered to ancient lines, and lines that may or may not actually exist, ley lines.
If you believe they do, this is one place where you may be close to one. If you don’t then these stone rows are Neolithic or bronze age.
The lady in the hat with lines is Christine of Dadirri Dreaming, she was very happy to be there in that ancient land. She was a dear friend to many of us, who died in 2014, a few weeks after this photo was taken.
Beside the Grand Western
Yesterday was a gorgeous day, it was lovely to be able to take the dogs for a walk without getting wet or frozen. So the canal at Tiverton called and we answered.
We decided against walking from the basin near the town, there are far fewer people just a couple of miles towards Halberton, where there’s a free car park. From there you’re right into countryside.
Chopped down trees
Shiny happy ducks
Nice views over the fields
After just a hundred metres or so we came across these barges, despite looking a bit dilapidated, they seemed to have some function still, the second had a motor attached.
To the right of the towpath, the fields stretched away to the horizon, in various states of readiness. The remains of winter crops of sprouts, and a dark purple brassica lie in neat rows. Fresh young grass that had survived the recent snows, beside still naked land that may have tiny life budding through the red soil. I liked the zigzags and the red machine waiting to perform its magic.
Back to the path and a troop of school army cadets pounded towards us, neither walking or running and very humourless. Perhaps they’d been reprimanded.
Across the water the still bare trees created some nice reflections. George jumped in because he saw a duck, his first time in water other than the sea or a bath, Flora gave him a good telling off.
This duck and its reflection seemed to have his head on backwards, you should be able to click for a bigger view.
There a few very colourful minutes when a barge came along.
Complete with quivering reflections.
This young lass would have blended in nicely as a passenger.
The hedgerow provided lots of interest
This beginning of a laid hedge has a long way to go.
Can you see the sheep at the top of the field? they’ve designed their own camouflage gear.
In the distance stands the tower of Halberton church. This part of the walk forms an elbow shape, and I hadn’t realised how close we are to the village when we set off. 
Some battered reeds make an interesting natural sculpture.
We didn’t walk very far, just a couple of miles. Flora had been to the vet on Saturday and had had a 24 hour fast,so that was far enough. For every mile I walk the dogs probably run three.
They were both fine and very hungry when we got home and then slept very well.
Even though they’re looking away from the camera, I love this photo, the first good one I’ve taken of them. usually they don’t keep still but this time they were entranced.
Jo, I tried to do this last night but needed an early night, so I missed your Monday Walk post, this would have been my first for a long time! She’s in Jerez this week, and she’s responsible for me adding to my bucket list. Have a look, it’s fabulous.
One of many . . .
. . . of my favourite places is Dartmoor National park, right here in Devon. It’s impossible to chose just one really isn’t it? This weeks photo challenge is pretty similar to the last, where I chose my own city as the place I’d rather be. Outside of Devon and the UK, my favourite place is usually the most recent place I’ve travelled to, but I’ve decided to stick to the moor.
For a slide show and bigger view click and photo.
Lucid Gypsy 