Tag: weather

life natural world

Intermission 25b

Not many frosts this winter although it’s been consistently cold.

We had a decent snow fall – now a rare event

We have also had some very big clear skies when the moon is visible even when it’s quite small

Nothing like the red orange grey blue contrast in this sunset

Tags cloudscapes, life, nature, the natural world, weather

natural world

Intermission 24e

Early winter has been quite dry in fact very dry with the first real rain in weeks falling as snow which again is rather early for this time of year.

The sunsets have continued to be stunning

Typically the west side of England is wetter than the east side – the lakes in the Lake District never dry out in theory as Atlantic westerlies dump their rain before climbing over the Pennines. And November can be very wet, cold and windy. But then again it can be a very dry month! So when a fine day comes along…….

The lakes on a dry sunny day – where else would you be?

Lake Windermere on a fine November day at noon

Moon pics have in contrast to sunsets been a bit in short supply – this evening shot does not quite convey how the moon made the sky almost feel like daylight

Tags clouds, nature, sunset, weather, winter

life natural world

Intermission 24d

Autumn is well on with some excellent skies

Just a passing frost – a very mild autumn so far breaking records as usual

Tags nature, sunset, the natural world, weather

life natural world

Intermission 24c

Well summer is well and truly over.

Insects have been in short supply – I have even missed the wasps

I have seen the moon in interesting settings

Cloud formations invariably with sunsets have been numerous

Summer put in the odd showing-Flamborough head, Yorkshire

The sea washed chalk rock provides an excellent contrast for natures beach detritus

A palmatum newt – not as fancy as the great crested but common – the only downside is they eat frog spawn so you get one or the other in a pond – the answer of course is to have two ponds…..one for each!

Skipwith common near Selby is the last of open common land undrained left in northern England- it was once very common. The habitat was self managed by wandering flocks of wild cattle. Today they use cattle and sheep.

Some late summer or early autumn colour to finish up.

Tags intermission, nature, sunset, the natural world, weather

life natural world

Intermission 24b

At least there has been the odd cloudscape worth a look

A waning crescent moon – last phase of the old moon before a new one arrives. The sliver of light is always attractive

Attractive caterpillar but for my one box shrub it’s terminal as these guys strip and destroy the shrub. Your only fix is hand removal of every caterpillar you see. looks like something less vulnerable will be found instead.

Stripped in a week by cheeky caterpillars

Tags intermission, moon, nature, sky, summer, sunset, the natural world, weather

life natural world

Intermission 24a

Intermissions have been thin on the ground this year. Perversely the awful weather has meant more time indoors – war gaming.

But there have been some interesting sights all the same.

The clouds and sky remain a fascination for colours and shapes

Yorkshire playing fields – cricket might be a case of no pitch rather just rain stopping play

Plenty of dark brooding skies even during the day!

There have also been very bright days – the Roman multi angular walls of York stand proudly

Cinema top view in 2024 was Oppenheimer – but what’s on the wall? A commemorative plaque to this free French hero of WW2 York – P/O Yves Mahe – 82 years on.

The odd Sahara warm front plume has given its signature vibrant sunsets

The demise of GCN plus pro cycling app means it’s Eurosport on discovery complete with amazing editing that chops the last 200m of the race (you could not make it up). Still you get the castle pictures during boring mid race bits

Very moody castle at Sandal near Wakefield.

Sky colour – blue pink contrasts are always impressive

I always like these skies when there is some fiery yellow gold of the sun still in play

I think Tony Blair was in power last time I stepped inside the walls of the national railway museum. Still it is a fantastic visit

I think I was last here when England won the World Cup (only joking). It was quite a while ago and now it’s got a roof of sorts. I seem to remember a lot of complaints about the proposal although that was probably the visitor centre that has not appeared. Clifford’s tower in York is erroneously called a castle (of which it was only part). It is vastly improved by the protection and access works that have been done. The 17th century garrison destruction of the tower interior turned the walls red.

Last of a sunset and the inspiring colour gradations of almost black through dark blues to a washed out grey then tepid orange. the black outlines of trees and buildings are important to provide contrast to the orange while without the orange the colour range of blues would be the poorer

Tags castles, intermission, life, nature, sunset, the natural world, weather, winter

life natural world

Get Lost and Discover!

April is the time of year I get out and about to see what creatives and artists in York have been up to. 100 odd sites across the city allow you to see what other people do in terms of painting, sculpting, ceramics, printing and generally craft work of some sort.

This venue showed the artists books of ideas, thoughts etc.

It is also possible to see the places where these works of art are created and chat with the artists themselves about their thinking and ideas.

They often show their methods, tools and also records.

As it happened we had an old guide book so the tour was a bit of a voyage of discovery- yet it meant we saw people and art we had not planned to. Some of it was not only a surprise but very enjoyable to discover. And as usual we got lost in the backstreets of York.

All in all it usually results in me feeling a bit expansive, what could I do in the way of arts and craft?

At least it was dry the day we took in the open studios and our route took us through the recently reopened Rowntree park – now the river Ouse has dropped its levels a bit!

At least it’s a cheering and pleasurable event in what is proving to be a fairly miserable Spring.

Tags arts and crafts, intermission, nature, open studios, the natural world, weather

miniatures painting wargaming

It’s VAP week

Last week York was inundated with cameras as its annual flood season reached its peak.

Anyway if in doubt get a coffee. You can view Irregular Miniatures figures in the gifts section at the Alma cafe on copper gate

And Irregular Miniatures will be at VAP on the racecourse site so here are some of my buys over the last few years.

I use the 20mm ranges with extra washer bases to compliment my plastics which are typically 2mm taller.

Last but not least danish artillery for 1848 although the piece is suspiciously looking a later rifled version – based up these 20mm chaps have no problem with their plastic cousins

The last photo also shows one of my entries into AHPC14!

natural world

Intermission 23f – Snow

I spoke too soon regarding the end of winter. Of course it snows into June in the British Isles if it wants to.

A light covering still gives that idyllic feel that snow offers

The snow is melting as quickly as it snows

Late snow still offers both the memory of winter while the flowers wait the return of warmer temperatures ?

It will probably be 20 degrees in a couple of weeks such is our island weather.

And all this feeds our preoccupation with the sky. What next I wonder.

Tags nature, weather

life natural world

Intermission 23d

This Winter was wet and is now dry – it has been sometimes cold but the overwhelming feeling is it is another mild winter – famous last words, as Spring is not yet with us and it can still snow and freeze well into April………

Sunrise-Sunset

2023 like 2022 seems to have been richer for its sunrise and sunsets.