Buddy

On one afternoon walkabout I spotted a twig on the ground.
What caught my attention was the lichen.
It seemed a good subject for a photo so I took it home.



After a bit of focus stacking:



Once I had the twig in my hand the arrangement of buds seemed photogenic.

A bit more focus stacking later



They looked even more interesting close up, especially the colouring.
The twig was found under an old Ash tree but I don't think it came from that.
The best possibility I could find looking at scores of photos on t'internet was Oak.
As I am useless at identifying trees from buds I am probably way out.

This session the lighting was positioned at about 2 o'clock to give some shadow.

Walkies - Old Mill Lane and the Churchyard

We were a bit later than usual going for our afternoon walk. I had decided to go down Old Mill Lane for a change. As it had turned out to be a lovely bright afternoon I took the camera but at first I thought it was going to be a waste of time and energy. I hadn't realised how misty it was until we got out in the open.



There is no mill in spite of the name of the lane. Early mornings usually sees many rabbits down there but this afternoon there was just the one lurking in the mist.



Apart from a Blackbird singing and a Dunnock amongst the brambles the only other life spotted was some birds gleaning in the bare fields.





There are a few large Ash Trees along the lane one having quite a bit of lichen on its branches and showing buds plus another with last years keys still hanging on tight.







As usual Bobby was being very patient, just occasionally giving me a pained look if I dawdled too much at one spot.



On the way back home we cut through the churchyard. Looking up, moss and lichen could be seen on the carved figure above our heads.



Round the back of the church it is possible to look at the old part of the graveyard which is used locally for chickens and, at this time of year, for sheep. This year it was more like a lamb outpatients as most of the ones there were limping and some had bindings on their legs.





On the last part of our amble home I was taken by a complete hedge of green leaves absolutely full of brilliant red berries.



Finally a snap of the patterns on the bark of this tree and then home for a well deserved cuppa as it felt much colder in the damp misty atmosphere.