April 19th – On a spin out on a bright, sunny bare-arm afternoon, I noticed that not only was my favourite tree at Home Farm, Sandhills now green with new leaf growth, but the field before it was being ploughed and laid in a lovely swirling profile.
Welcome to high spring, and it’s going to be a most excellent weekend.
This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.
from Tumblr http://bit.ly/2Dpnp8F
via IFTTT
April 18th – The end of work for a few blessed days, good weather in prospect and time on my hands. Bliss.
This of course meant the last working day was everything busy, at top speed. Finally nearing home as darkness fell, I stopped to look at the canal as I crossed Clayhanger Bridge.
Blossom is out, the trees are that bright, lucid green they only achieve at the very peak of spring, and things were calm and quiet.
It’s only been a few weeks since Christmas, hasn’t it? Yet here, in the light, the green, and warmth again.
And me, myself, at peace, at last.
This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.
from Tumblr http://bit.ly/2IGAkXb
via IFTTT
April 17th – An absolutely gorgeous day and the first jacketless commute of the year didn’t come a day too soon.
Sadly I was indoors all day, but riding home in the still warm golden hour, I caught the sun throug the canalside trees near the Black Cock Bridge and the remnants of the sunny day were precious.
It’s good to have the warm days back again. I hope they stick around.
This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.
from Tumblr http://bit.ly/2GkHIVj
via IFTTT
April 16th – Captured in the early morning soft sun, a tree in blossom just off Station Street in Darlaston near Victoria Park.
This is good twitter pal Naseerah Faulkner’s favourite tree, and I took the picture just for her.
Have a good day, yow!
This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.
from Tumblr http://bit.ly/2Ipx7f8
via IFTTT
April 10th – My second home Darlaston is looking splendid in it’s spring jacket at the Monet.
How many people hear the name and think of grimy, angry industry, smell, grim urbanisation and pollution? The reality is way, way different.
Darlaston is a beautiful little Black Country town, with astounding architecture, great parks right in the centre, and a phenomenal history.
Go look – there’s no better toime than spring.
This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.
from Tumblr http://bit.ly/2Isw79h
via IFTTT
March 28th – Always nice to get a glimpse of blue, sunny sky from the dark platforms at New Street Station in Birmingham.
Today I was waiting for a connection early, and although there were loads of trains, there weren’t seemingly too many people around. I killed time with a snack, and peered up out of the tangle of steel, concrete, wires and machinery to the surrounding architecture – always fascinating, always in transition.
And then beyond that to a blue sky – and even in this urban morass devoid of anything natural – the promise of a beautiful, sun-dappled spring.
This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/2V3M6hA
via IFTTT
March 21st – A remarkable early riser at the moment in this early and temperate spring is the purple dead-nettle. Not usually seen until mid April around here, there are lovely little mauve-pink patches of this small plant in scrubs, commons, heaths, hedgerows and towpaths everywhere I go.
It doesn’t sting, and I love how the upper leaves have a red colour that compliments the delicate blooms.
In the last couple of years I’ve really come to appreciate nettles – yellow archangel is another member of the family which will soon appear and it’s stunningly beautiful too.
A real gem.
This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/2YfRxMk
via IFTTT
March 20th – As if to cement my good feeling, on a grass verge in Stonnall, an annual first and my favourite flower: The cowslip.
These tough, beautiful little primroses are my absolute favourite flower and it’s always wonderful to welcome them back into my life.
Let’s hope this solitary soldier is the first of a record year!
This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/2WjKjp9
via IFTTT
March 20th – In the backlanes between Shenstone and Stonnall, on the way home from the station late on a sunny, warm spring afternoon.
Feeling the sun on my face, looking at the daffodils and green, and smelling the rising of the sap and the scents of earth and fresh growth, I realise I survived another long winter, and there’s nowhere I’d rather be than here, right now.
The winter hasn’t been a harsh one. But my goodness I found it tough.
This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/2TQ9RwY
via IFTTT
February 28th – Remarkably, still just February and the hawthorn hedges and scrub have new leaves, looking lovely in the rain. Last year this was a whole month later.
Hawthorn leaves when fresh like this are really tasty to chew.
I’m so pleased for an early end to the winter like this – even if this pleasant spell ends soon, it’s been refreshing, like recharging the batteries.
The light and warm days cannot be far away now.
This journal is moving home. Please find out more by clicking here.
from Tumblr https://ift.tt/2IRTwTB
via IFTTT
