ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Thursday 1 May 2014

SPRING LEAVES. (01/05/14)

It’s been a very dull, misty, rainy couple of days. I went out goat hunting but neither I nor the dogs could find them. Perhaps I took pictures of ghosts.

During the last week the trees have started to change from a collection of twigs on sticks into trees.

_MG_5780   Spring Leaves or spring arrives. The goats are somewhere in these woods but the forest and the moorland and mountains above it cover several tens and hundreds of square miles. It’s like looking for a ghost in a haystack or whatever the expression is.

It was gloves weather this morning but I forgot my gloves. We passed the van on our way to look for Nessy and picked up a macro lens and strobe so that I could have a photographic record of my first don’t knows of the year. It had warmed up a bit so I didn’t bother with the hunt the glove malarkey.

_MG_5781  Dog’s Mercury, Mercurialis doggus. It’s more than possible it’s something else. It didn’t smell of anything much to me but Alf was cocking his leg all over the place; one place being my camera bag. I was prostrate at the time and before I could assume a vertical posture to kick his arse he had wisely realised the error of his ways and cleared off.

_MG_5789 Wood Anemone. Even though it looks a bit like a Snowdrop it’s leaves are like a Buttercup. Unless I hear differently a Wood Anemone it is. They should open right up but, wisely they show no inclination to do so. It’s freezing here.

We got back to the van to find the wine box of Chardonnay had been rained on. I left it to chill under the van but not far enough under. I now have a wine bag.

I’ll continue the goat walks. The forecast is for some snow again. The pub is a good hike away, I’ll go for a drink at lunchtime tomorrow and take the camera goat hunting.

Enjoy Mayday and sing along with me are you ready? All together now……………………….one, two, three…

“The people's flag is deepest red,
It shrouded oft our martyred dead,                            
Umm na um na umm na um and so on”.

I’m a bit like Dithery Dave his Christianity and my Marxism are a lack of conviction we have in common.

31 comments:

  1. A BEAUTIFUL LOOK AND PHOTOS OF NATURES OWN FLOWERS.

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  2. I'll take your word that it's a dogs mercury; I don't think I've ever seen one of those before.
    Agree with the Wood Anemone; a lovely woodland plant.

    Good luck with the goats; and snow.
    Had rain here all day.

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    1. Keith, I looked in my book, and looked on t'internet. I'm not sure. It's common as muck up here whatever it is. I'm waiting for wild garlic but suspect I'm too far north.
      The wild Goats are a beggar to find. I was lucky the first day here. We wandered out of the trees and there they were.

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  3. Bob, beautiful they are but I wish I could be sure what they are.

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  4. Adrian maybe the last one it's not garlic? the flowers seems to be... but better be sure!
    you are in nord i think you must still wait for the wild garlic, by me the season it's almost gone...

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    1. Laura, it is not Wild garlic. That will be a week or so yet.

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  5. It's good to see that the trees up there are putting in an effort at last Adrian, better late than never!!
    If the weather guessers are right it looks as though your wine is going to get well chilled in the next couple of days?
    Spot on with the Dog's Mercury ID. According to my book it becomes quite scarce as you get further North into Scotland!
    I bet those goats will spot you before you spot them?...[;o)

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    1. Trevor, I have seen it before but never identified it. There are acres of it here but further north there are fewer mixed woodlands.
      -1C as i write this but the wind has dropped.
      I will go up the gorge today. I suspect that is where they are lurking.

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  6. Your Dog's mercury matches the photos I found when I went a Googling (they can't touch you for it).

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    1. John, there is a lot of it here but it is easily overlooked. The Bluebells are showing signs of activity. I'll get to the coast for the orchids. They always baffle me.

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  7. This is a beautiful spot. The greens are different.....almost muted. And mention of a pub makes me thirsty as well. Plus it sounds like a worthy goal after a hike:)

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    1. Chris it is good to see the new leaves. It will be sunny later and the light will bring the colours out.

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  8. There's never a dull moment with those two dogs. Maybe he was protesting about being out in such rotten weather.

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    1. Red, they are little devils. I'll give them a good run today they need a three hour outing.

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  9. Lots of lovely green in your images today, it really must be your spring although the temp sounds otherwise. We are very 'in between' when it comes to the weather, it's cooler than it was but not cold yet. I took a jacket when I went out last night, then had to lug it around all night. I think wine might get chilled if left out at night. But as I'm in the city at the moment goodness knows how many passing dog and cats might not be attracted to the smell.

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    1. Pauline, last week was hot here. It looks like a beautiful day today there is not a cloud in the sky. It is cold and frosty though. It's a strange country.

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  10. HI Adrian Lovely spot and good to see the green trees and wild flowers

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    1. Margaret, it is it seems to have been a long time arriving this year.

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. Then raise the scarlet standard high.
    Within its shade we'll live and die,
    Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,
    We'll keep the red flag flying here.

    Happy May Day Comrade Adrian or may I call you Vladimir?

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    1. YP, viva la revolution. Don't know what it means but it sounds good.
      There are dozens of verses. I used to have a First Mate who I could hear singing it on night watches. It is a great tune I'll have to Google it and find out who wrote it. It's much better than the dirge we have for a national anthem.
      Call me what you like everyone else does.
      Hull is a dump but better than Grimsby or Rotherham. Kicking balls champions and city of culture. The place must be on the up. I'll give it a look if they let travellers in.

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  13. Definitely wood anemone. Lovely. We've just returned from Devon, and stopped off to admire bluebells under new green beech leaves; my absolute favourite time of year.

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  14. Frances, Ta. the other one is Dog's Mercury and deadly if ingested. It is fine rubbed on warts and things.
    I much prefer autumn but dislike summer.

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  15. La primavera viene verde verde Adrian. BĂ©jar tambiĂ©n estĂ¡ muy verde;)
    un abrazo

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    1. Estoy feliz de que usted tiene una primavera verde.

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  16. It looks lovely, thanks for sharing.

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  17. I have noticed around here a lot of our Ash tree's have no sign of leaves appearing sadly

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    1. Douglas, they seem fine up here. It does look as if it will be a major problem.

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  18. I thought you'd have been singing 'Flower of Scotland' with a huge 'YES' on the back of the van. I wonder if mobile dwellers will qualify for citizenship.

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  19. Graham, I'll be fine. If there looks like any trouble then I'll get a Saltire on my right cheek and a Union Flag without the blue bits on my left. Then I can sit on the fence and honour which ever country I'm facing.

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