Muted morning, moon, magpies and other matters

As usual I was out for an early morning walk as Fiona went to her women's workout. The mornings are finally getting lighter - spring must be heading our way. Still the morning was soft and muted this morning - with a fragment of moon clinging to the last of the nightlight.

©2014 Barry Smith - A fragment of moon at dawn

The valley of course was filled with soft pastel colours.

©2014 Barry Smith - The muted colours of dawn

©2014 Barry Smith - Soft morning light on the mountains

The early morning light seems to bring out the Magpies to feed; and sit on the power lines to run a song line.

©2014 Barry Smith - Magpie and moon

As the light grew in strength the blossoms showed off their colours.

©2014 Barry Smith - Blossom and brambles

©2014 Barry Smith - Pine blossoms catch early sunlight

©2014 Barry Smith - Sweetpea in our garden

And the last of Fiona's Peace weather grams contrasted with the valley light.

©2014 Barry Smith - Fragment of Peace weather gram

The day gave way to hard work as I'm working with a builder to strengthen and straighten the log retaining wall at the back of the house. It has  required me to move lots of gravel, dig lots of trenches - but now we are up to bolting heavy plates to the cement foundations of the house and tying the wall to the house with thick steel rods, posts and plates.

©2014 Barry Smith - Bolting the wall to the house

©2014 Barry Smith - Serious steel plates etc etc

One thing about living on a slope is that you get to enjoy the bliss of the valley and early morning light; but it also requires quite a bit of work to upkeep a house on an acre of sloping land.