Sunday Picture Post: After The Storm

Posted on November 1, 2026 by crispina kemp

We had to postpone the walk we had scheduled for 23rd October due to heavy rain and high winds, as not one but two Atlantic storms hit UK. While North and West received the worst of it, here on the east coast we did get our share. But by 28th October 2026 all looked fair for a walk through the wonderful autumnal gold. Please join us… we’re going to Smockmill Common (mill no longer extant) beside River Tas  to south of Norwich

28th October 2026

🔼 This isn’t a bridge over the Tas but over Broad Slough which might be described as a sometimes stream which trickles through very soggy land! 🔽 The trees aren’t yet in full autumn attire and yet they present to us such visually delightful golds

28th October 2026

28th October 2026

🔼 The common is ‘lightly managed’ but otherwise left as Nature intended. After the storm winds the woodland floor is littered with branches and twigs, and the canopy is much reduced 🔽 Most of the older trees here are aging well

28th October 2026

28th October 2026

🔼 Sunlight filters through the canopy and trees as we meander up and down the hills 🔽 Bramble briars cast a blue carpet as if in mimic of bluebells

28th October 2026

28th October 2026

🔼 A shot of what I think of as the ‘top corner’. Beyond likes private property, so we can go no further this way. We veer off to the left and head back down… 🔽

28th October 2026

28th October 2026

🔼 Every way we turn golden leaves catch the eye casting the tree trunks into ominous darkness 🔽

28th October 2026

28th October 2026

🔼 And so to the river Tas, amazingly not flooded 🔽 and thereafter a return to the bus top for our transport back home

28th October 2026

Hope you enjoyed. We did. Non-stressful, wonderful weather, and fish & chips on Norwich market on the way home

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Child’s Play

Posted on October 31, 2026 by crispina kemp

6th October 2026 

I love to photograph the equipment on this kids’ playground. Such a wonderful assortment of colours and shapes

A for Abstract, my October choice for Maria’s Photo Challenge

Posted in Photos, Prompt | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Halloween

Posted on October 31, 2026 by crispina kemp

Image credit: That’ll be me

Halloween, that season of screams
That night of scary nightmare dreams
Of horror flix on movie screens
Of blood and bones
Vampires and witches
Of bin-liner dresses and talcumed tresses
Of murder done in the name of fun
But out on the streets
For the tiny tots in their fancy togs
It’s all about sweets
And being convivial

58 words written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt: Convivial

Posted in Poems (Some Silly), Prompt | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Friday Fungi

Posted on October 30, 2026 by crispina kemp

Hello, all you fungi fiends. The yield was disappointing this week (14th October), especially since in previous seasons this woodland has been outstanding. But we must blame the weather and hope for better, later. Meanwhile, here’s some to be going on with. Enjoy

14th October 2026

🔼 Birch Polypore 🔽 Sulphur Tuft or a Rustgill (says Google)

14th October 2026

14th October 2026

🔼 And here, according to Google, are Alder Scalycaps 🔽

14th October 2026

14th October 2026

🔼 Google Images says this is a Turkey Tail. But to me it more resembles an Earth Fan

14th October 2026

🔼 One of my favourites and I don’t need Google’s help to identify it. These are Tawny Grisettes, closely related to the spotty thing (Fly Agaric) 🔽

14th October 2026

14th October 2026

🔼 Sometimes a fungus takes a less common form. Here we have two versions of Turkey Tails, Trametes versicolour 🔽

14th October 2026

🔽 And finally a Hoof Bracket

14th October 2026

I hope you enjoyed, scant offerings though they are. We’ve now had loads more rain since this visit, so I hope next week’s fungi yield is better. If not, we’ll just blame it on the weather.

Till next time… stay dry and don’t blow away 🤪

 

 

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CCC110: Where Nothing Is Quite As It Seems

Posted on October 29, 2026 by crispina kemp

It’s cool, this pool
Hidden. Secret. Dangerous to know
A peaceful place
Where dreams are woven
Held together with ancient lace
Not a pool where children should go
Except the children found in those dreams
Here they stay, hidden
Where nothing is quite as it seems

Posted in Crimson's Creative Challenge, Photos, Poems (Some Silly), Prompt | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #110

Posted on October 28, 2026 by crispina kemp

Every Wednesday I’ll post FOUR photos (if you want to get a head start you’ll find them marked in that week’s Sunday Picture Post and Tuesday Treats). Lots of choice!

And here they are:

You respond with something CREATIVE. Perhaps an  answering photo, or micro-fiction, or a poem, or just a caption

As before, there are only two criteria:

!!!!! Your creative offering is indeed yours !!!!!

!!!!! Your writing is kept to 150 words or less !!!!!

If you post a link in the comments section of this post I’ll be able to find it.

Here’s wishing you inspirational explosions. And FUN

Posted in Crimson's Creative Challenge, Photos, Prompt | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Tuesday Treats: Leaves… and Things

Posted on October 27, 2026 by crispina kemp

A medley of autumnal shots from our walk on 14th October 2026. Enjoy…

14th October 2026

🔼 It’s the season. Chestnuts are falling even as we’re walking beneath the trees. Thick on the path beneath our feet, like walking on carpets

14th October 2026

🔼 One day I’ll time it right to encounter Wood Sage when it’s in flower! Here it is plentiful and still a good foil for the Bracken 🔽

14th October 2026

🔽 Moss is the perfect partner for Silver Birch!

14th October 2026

🔽 This year the Rowan trees are heavy with berries

14th October 2026

14th October 2026

Leaves 🔼 Rowan 🔽 Beech

14th October 2026

14th October 2026

🔼 Holly is quite prolific in this woodland 🔽 So beautiful to see all the berries ⏬

14th October 2026

14th October 2026

14th October 2026

Finally, and ironically, flowers 🔼 Heather 🔽 Gorse. But then, this is heathland.

14th October 2026

Hope you enjoyed. See Friday for Fungi!!!

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Sunday Picture Post: Two-Faced Woodland

Posted on October 25, 2026 by crispina kemp

14th October 2026, the day dawns not too cold, not too wet, not too windy. We hop a bus, and another. We’re going to Broadland Country Park, the one-time grounds of an ‘English Country House’, now a nature reserve. Its former existence is obvious from the woodland which comprises two different plantations: one of chestnut, one of pine – but that’s not all that’s there. Bring your water, bring your lunch, and let’s go…

14th October 2026

🔼 The chestnut plantation along the forest bank, beyond is agricultural land 🔽 Where there is open space you can lay bets that the birch will set up their own little plantation!

14th October 2026

14th October 2026

🔼 Between chestnut and pine is a somewhat soggy space! 🔽 At ‘wood’s end’ the one-time owner planted beech ⏬

14th October 2026

14th October 2026

14th October 2026

🔼 And then begins the pine. But around the edges is not pine alone. Here is rowan and holly providing colour in the lower levels 🔽

14th October 2026

14th October 2026

🔼 The path through the pines here turns cosy. That’s welcome, cos here’s a seat where we stop for an early lunch 🔽 Thereafter the pines disappear to be replaced by an open pasture (we’re warned not to trespass for a bull grazes here!)

14th October 2026

🔽 Around about here we encounter the Brewery Tap Cycling Club. After they’ve completed their cycling they’ll meet up at their pub for a beer. We banter. Nice Lads.

14th October 2026

14th October 2026

🔼 This place isn’t done with us yet. I finally find an oak tree! 🔽 And yet another rowan. Love this play of light

14th October 2026

Hope you enjoyed. We did. Now to catch a bus, and another bus, to take us home

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Birthday Wishes

Posted on October 24, 2026 by crispina kemp

Image AI generated from pixabay

“What!”

“I know, I know. Don’t shout, Mum. It’s not my fault.” Shirley twisted her hankie and scrunched her face, knowing full well the place was an utter disgrace.

“No parties. We agreed it,” her mother ranted.

“But it wasn’t a party. They arrived.” She hadn’t invited them.

“Who were they? Some friends, those, to create this bedlam.”

“Not friends, more…birthday wishes.” Wishes now regretted.

She wished she’d never wished for those Tolkienesque dwarves.

74 words written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt: Bedlam

 

Posted in Mostly Micro, Prompt | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

Friday Fungi

Posted on October 23, 2026 by crispina kemp

And here we are again, my fungi fiends. Not many this week but we’re grateful for what we have. So, feast your eyes…

6th October 2026

🔼 Google says Artist’s Bracket. My guide book says Southern Bracket. Take your pick! 🔽 These are definitely Oyster mushrooms

6th October 2026

6th October 2026

🔼 Without a doubt a Shaggy Parasol and 🔽 Turkey Tails

6th October 2026

6th October 2026

🔼🔽⏬ And while these might look like 3 different fungi, they are the various stages of growth of the Dryad’s Saddle, aka Pheasant’s Wing

6th October 2026

6th October 2026

And that, my fungi fiends, is all for this week. Praying for rain cos at the moment the land’s too dry to encourage many fungi

Posted in Photos | Tagged , | 14 Comments