Then & Now!

A dry day at last! We have had so much rain recently and when it is not raining it has been so miserable and grey making it difficult to see to paint even in my usually light studio. Here are a few pictures taken before and after the storms, standing in the same spot on the bridge over the river Teign the top two pictures looking one way and the other two towards the salmon pool.

From Autumn to Winter!

The Autumn colours have been spectacular here with hardly any wind and warm weather after an early frosty spell. Here are two pictures taken a few days ago. One of fabulous reflections in the Salmon Pool on the River Teign below Castle Drogo, one of the beautiful row of Beech trees lining the drive to the castle, and one of a Red Admiral butterfly taken yesterday basking in the sunshine! However it is all change today with howling gales and lashing rain and not a leaf left on the trees! I just hope that butterfly found a safe spot to hibernate in.

Bantham

A beautiful warm Sunday and we went down to the South Hams to Bantham where I took these pictures of this pretty boat house at Jenkins Quay on the clear blue River Avon, the pink reflections are just a perfect contrast to the blue/green water and if I had time would be good to paint. We had a great walk along the cliff path past Thurlestone to Hope Cove where I can reccomend a great Sunday roast at The Hope & Anchor.

Autumn Fungi

Here are three photo's taken recently of some of the beautiful fungi that is around at the moment. The bright yellow fungi is Calocera viscosa, and the red one is Fly Agaric but I am not sure of the other one.

First Snow of the Winter

I was really surprised to see the moors white with a light covering of snow this morning, it looks so beautiful but far too early I feel. Here are a couple of pictures taken from one of my favourite walks on the Hunters Path below Castle Drogo near Chagford.