Tuesday 16 November 2010

An Ordinary Tuesday.


Tuesday morning is always the 'Tesco run' - I know, boring old supermarket and all that, but it is necessary to stock up for the week - and as I have told you before, the journey from the farm to Tesco is a lovely one as it goes on a high road overlooking the Vale of York. This morning it was especially beautiful as the sun was shining low in the sky and there was mist. I found it so beautiful that I pulled into a layby and penned a short poem. Not brilliant by any means but it was spontaneous so I will share it with you:-

The Vale of York has
strips of mist
that mark the river's run.
And in between
the etched bare trees
shine darkly in the sun.

I suppose it lets you know what the view was like.
After Tesco I usually go to my friend, G's, for coffee. This morning we had a good chat for an hour on all things creative - discussing artists and embroiderers we both admire, looking at techniques, chatting about materials etc. I came away fired with enthusiasm to do some work on my book when I had time.

After lunch Tess and I decided to walk to Forty Acre wood. We left home in brilliant, warm sunshine but before we had gone more than two or three hundred yards a mist began to creep in. I took a photograph (above) across a field of sheep - just a tiny mist at first, but by the time we returned home it was thick fog all the way and freezing too, so that the fog wrapped around us like an icy blanket. Not nice at all - called for a hot cup of coffee on our return.

If you look right centre in the photograph you will see the remains of a lovely alder tree which was brought down earlier in the year in a fierce gale - I don't know what it is about trees that makes us so sympathetic to them, but somehow looking at that fallen tree one feels for its demise.

Now, as I write, night is falling and the fog is thicker than ever and freezing too. Any minute now the log burning stove will burst into life and hopefully a warm glow will settle on the farmhouse. Have a nice evening and keep warm.
After tea I shall have a go at the next page of my book.

22 comments:

Golden West said...

I love ordinary days! There's comfort in a predictable routine, I think. Your poem is lovely - very lyrical.

Dianne said...

what a beautiful view, of course you had to stop! Thanks for showing us what your eyes captured.
and the trees shining darkly in the sun. a perfect closure.
Di

Shirley said...

I enjoyed your prose! As I look out my window I see large white flakes of snow gently falling and dusting my little world. Days like these a fire in the hearth is the most wonderful thing!

angryparsnip said...

Ordinary Days are the best, that is when your not expecting anything with preconceived ideas, and then something lovely happens.

cheers, parsnip

The Bug said...

We've got rain here in Ohio, but yesterday morning my husband took the best pictures of ribbons of fog. Your poem made me think of them. Lovely.

Heather said...

Your poem is lovely and could be describing the conditions across Berkeley Vale here beside the Severn sometimes. I find fog quite frightening, due to a nightmare car journey many years ago. What a special day your ordinary day became. Looking forward to seeing your pages.

Dartford Warbler said...

As I write in the early darkness, the mist is rising again over the fields outside.We had a night of fog and then a hazy day smelling of damp and bonfires. An ordinary day here too, but they are often some of the best.

Anonymous said...

That's a delightful six lines, Pat. A touch of the Housmans!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

What a beautiful misty view! Ordinary things are good, particularly when done in lovely surroundings.

Are you writing a book, Weaver? I must have missed hearing about it when we were absent under the Ocean!

Gerry Snape said...

Lovely post Weaver, I like a quiet day with nothing unusual happening, and the verse really captures the moment. Thankyou.

Tramp said...

Weaver
I loved reading your observations that made something special of a normal day. The trees here are also "etched bare", after some very windy days last week.
I'm glad to learn that I'm not the only one who has favourite trees that I like to visit and check up on their welfare.
We had a day of mist on Monday. It sat on us for a while hiding the familiar then flowed around playfully for the rest of the day. It wasn't cold though, in fact the temperatures have been well above average for the time of year. Good luck with the book, I look forward to reading it by our stove here of a winter evening.
...Tramp

Gwil W said...

the fog wrapped around us
like an icy blanket

is also poetry :)

brrrr. keep warm

Tess Kincaid said...

I like to get lost in fog. Somehow, your fog seems more romantic than mine.

steven said...

weaver, you know the fellow who took the low road into scotland and was so pleased because he'd be there "afore ye". I always felt like he'd missed the best views and the nicest roads. i love that your trip to tesco is taken along the high roads. snuggle in and enjoy a toasty fire weaver. steven

John Going Gently said...

in one of my previous lives I used to live in York
I remember the winters

cold cold cold frost cold

Hildred said...

I love the things you see Weaver, and your deft and poetic way of describing them.

Penny said...

to me, heading into a hot summer this sounds like bliss, even if the joints ache a bit I really like the cooler weather and cold and snow, but dont tell any one!

Amy said...

Your post with very wonderful photos reminded me of my first and only visit to York. My youngest daughter had just graduated (college) and we celebrated with a week in London and a week "on the road" and, yes, I was the driver! It was early March and it was snowing as we made our way to York. I'll never forget the beautiful landscape - at least when I could make it out!

MorningAJ said...

The Vale of York is one of the most beautiful places on earth. (I'm biased of course - I grew up on the edge of it!)

And a misty morning with the sun trying to burn through is gorgeous. I'm not surprised you came over all poetic!

Ash said...

it seems to have been a time for ordinary things. I had such a good time yesterday just mooching in my local woods and just had to try and share some images on my blog too. I do not have a wood burner much to my regret but I do have an open fire and it makes these winter evenings so worthwhile! I too have the regular run to tesco to contend with - thank goodness for the scenery!!!
Regards.

Unknown said...

'Twas an ordinary day here too yesterday with fog from the start that slowly cleared but certainly very cold. The grit lorries have been out a few nights already! Your log burning stove sounds blissful!

Arija said...

Love the view, and poems don't have to brilliant but the feeling of the moment shines.