This afternoon's walk in my hamlet

My walk this afternoon took me past my field and then across empty pastures before coming back along the lane from the mill pool.  It was 7°C, so not cold and there was no wind or rain.  The light wasn't brilliant for photographs but I can never resist using the camera.

 

My raised veggie beds have been weeded by the volunteer worker I have here at the moment and are looking very tidy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Likewise the polytunnel. 

 

 

 

The trestles on the left and the timber in the centre are the materials for the job for the next time it rains.  The timbers we've brought in are to replace the edges of the raised beds in front of the barn need painting with preservative.  Previously we had used old beams from the cottages and these had rotted away and have now been removed.   You can see them round the back of the rhubarb plants.

 

 

The mill pool looks lovely In all seasons and I like the bush on the right with its reddening leaves.

 

 

The little bridge from this area to another lane has been a little compromised by a tree falling across it but it's not impassable. 

 

 

 

 

There was quite a colony of fungi growing on this fallen tree.  It was like this across the bridge last year but I'm not sure about before that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The stream is running fast after all the rain we've had.  I can't believe how sodden the ground is considering it's just the beginning of the winter period.  I shall need webbed feet if it continues like this until the Spring.

 

 

Along the verge there were lots of fallen apples, crab apples perhaps.  I fed one to each of the horses that came to say hello as I walked past their pastures.  Saving one for the goat at the end of my little bit of lane.

 

 

 

 

The leaves are such lovely colours, particularly on the beech trees.  Although there was no sunshine this afternoon to enhance the light and colours they were still worth photographing.

 

 

 

The hazel bushes are already showing their new catkins and there was a red leaf on the verge which caught my eye.

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I arrived at the end of the far lane bordering my field the hens in that area came rushing up to meet me and then settled down to pecking around on the bank created from the dug out soil from the duck pond.  In the background you can see two Muscovy ducks by the pond and two on the top of the gates.  Obviously the ducks can fly and yet they never seem to go anywhere else - thank goodness.

 

 

There was a motley assortment of four little hens in the bushes about 200 metres along the lane from my field.  I am hoping they might find their way to join one of my flocks!

 

Three things I like:

 

1.  Eating the sweet chestnuts that took so long to peel a couple of days ago.

2.  Finding that the wood shavings I was given for animal bedding make wonderful fire starters for the woodburner.

3.  Gathering hot, peppery watercress from my fish pond - I wonder how long it will continue cropping.  Apparently some varieties grow all year round.