… yesterday in fact, I woke up to this.

It’s the same window I showed you last Monday, but now November mist has descended. I went downstairs. This.

It wasn’t raining. It wasn’t particularly cold. What’s one of the Commandments of Lockdown? ‘Thou shalt exercise daily’. So I did. I took my camera, and explored the local lanes: familiar sights blotted out, as others loomed out from the general obscurity. At just 11 o’clock, I stopped, just for a while: it was Remembrance Day. I heard what a rarely notice as I walk – the constant undertow of birds murmuring and chittering on more distant shrubs and trees. It reminded me of John Lewis-Stempel’s book – Where Poppies Blow. This wonderful account examines the restorative role of nature to those soldiers confined to the trenches in the First World War. For just a fleeting instant, this was a moment I could share with them. Except I came home to a glowing wood-burning stove and a hot cup of coffee.
Very thoughtful post with all those misty views.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a surprisingly enjoyable walk.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You had a good Misty wander amongst nature!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure did! Though I stuck to lanes and roads ‘cos it was soggy out there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And muddy, too, I guess!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful images of unexpected beauty. I tend to leave my camera at home on misty days and sometimes regret it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I often do as well. I decided this was the day to change all that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll try to follow your example!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful! I can feel the warmth of your post despite the mist 🤗💕
LikeLike
Thanks Jo. I’m off for more of the same at Fountains Abbey now – on duty. If anything, it’s mistier today.
LikeLike
Sunny and warm here. Off walking too. 🌞💕
LikeLike
Love that misty view from the window…would love to curl back to bed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Once I’m up, I’m up. I’m a lark, not an owl, apparently.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too but certain days 🛌
LikeLike
You’ve a wonderful view, Margaret!And it made feel really cozy and want to stay in bed longer😅
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah! Sometimes you just have to get out there and Do It!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely ✨💯
LikeLike
Same here. Not quite as misty, but weighed down by heavy cloud. 😕
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had three days of it, but it’s gone now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember those misty mornings! Beautiful photos though I’d need to be rugged up indoors. Actually we have a most unseasonable blast of winter today for some reason – storms, wild winds and it’s cold by our standards, mid teens max in November is not normal!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah. With us 7 – 11 degrees is the New Normal. In some ways, I’d prefer it colder. Proper cold instead of muggy,
LikeLike
Interesting, I had a similar thought yesterday afternoon while walking in our local forest preserve. The preserve is in the process of burning parts of the grasslands and forest floors to combat invasive species and I thought of the soldiers of World War I fighting in the forests and trenches of the Western Front and the book Where Poppies Blow.
We’ve had unseasonably warm weather the past week but we are returning to the normal weather pattern soon -cold and dreary returns. Fortunately, we can come inside and warm up a luxury not afforded the soldiers over a century ago. Stay well, safe, and move purposefully. Peace.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Clay. We don’t have a lot to complain about when we look at those lives (and deaths) in the trenches, do we? Stay well, and positive!
LikeLike
I love some of those misty views, got some myself at Fountains the other day. For some reason I can’t comment on your posts now, no idea what I’m doing wrong!
Just wanted to say that I liked your last book suggestions and I’m reading ‘Mend the Living’, at the moment. Finding it quite enthralling, and interesting so far, and liking the writing style.
Hope you’re both keeping well. X
On Mon, 9 Nov 2020 at 07:53, From Pyrenees to Pennines wrote:
> margaret21 posted: ” … yesterday in fact, I woke up to this. It’s the > same window I showed you last Monday, but now November mist has descended. > I went downstairs. This. It wasn’t raining. It wasn’t particularly cold. > What’s one of the Commandments of L” >
LikeLike
Hi Joyce. Are you trying to comment when you’re actually reading the post on the blog itself, or are you commenting direct from the email? That can cause problems! So glad you’re enjoying Mend the Living. I think it’s special. I’ve just come back from a very misty Fountains Too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Misty days do provide their own version of beauty, and you captured it well. In spite of the outdoor gloom, your words helped bring beauty and appreciation to the weather.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed my walk. All I have to do now is to learn to enjoy walking in a downpour 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
A tough task … Worth trying
LikeLiked by 1 person
… in theory 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t mind getting wet once I’m out walking but it takes determination to start out if it is already pouring down. However, I do walk every day regardless of weather!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good man. I must embrace a love of sogginess 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
You definitely made the best of it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very nice. Thank you!
LikeLike
Well, the big contrast between last week and this struck me as soon as I got up … and an idea was born!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, gorgeous, lovely photographs. I don’t know about you, but I never appreciated the autumn as much as I do now the moment I go out to take some pictures. The mists and the lowlight, who needs endless blue skies?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it’s something that I’m only beginning to appreciate at this late stage. It’s the rain that gets me every time though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with you on a misty walk and misty views from the windows. We get a lot of them. Your particular walk sounds perfect for this poignant time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was actually. I’m glad I made the effort.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous!
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Wonderful photos Margaret 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Brian!
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh you are so good going out in the mist, and what delights you found.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now I’ve done it once, I’ll do it again. In fact I already have.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Impressive 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful post Margaret, I really loved it. Your images are of course wonderful but the sentiment you expressed about sharing a moment with the soldiers in the trenches really rang true for me, and I loved that went on to say you got to come home afterwards. Really well written and wonderfully thoughtful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Tina. It was just one of this moments when I really somehow felt a connection: though I doubt if I have a clue how those men really felt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
the most incredible collection I’ve seen in some time. wonderful, thank you Margaret.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw thanks Kiki. It was fun to do something different.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful. Very tranquil ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a peaceful moment. Thanks.
LikeLike
Aha…such a beautiful misty morning. You have captured the whole essence of the day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It was an experience I’ll repeat willingly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are gorgeous, Margaret.
I do miss misty November days 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m all in favour of them – so long as it’s not every day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The mist and visible damp is so transformative – both in the wonderful images you captured and the feelings you express. The photos have a lovely meditative quality.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a meditative morning. My walking really slowed up to match the mood.
LikeLiked by 1 person