On a crisp-cold frosty-bright morning we drove early to Saint John the Baptist Churchyard to make photographs showing it in a better light than yesterday.
Bramble stems and various leaves in the hedgerows opposite the cross-carved entrance gate were outlined in bright white pigment. The gate picture is Jackie’s.
We both made general views. The more colourful three of the last four in this gallery are by Jackie, who tended to look out to
the views beyond; and up to
a singing blackbird trilling to the crescent moon.
We also photographed each other,
and grazing ponies in frosty fields. Mine is the third image.
I focussed on the colours and textures of the lichen
and moss.
We each had a different take on the ancient yew tree.
A frosted wreath, an autumnal oak, and a fallen stone, caught my eye.
Jackie’s individual tombstones included
that of Hetty Ada Plumbly and her 3 day old son, Frederick. Hetty was the wife of Archibald George Plumbly (1895-1970). Was the death of the mother occasioned by little Frederick’s birth? Did Archibald, who had no more children, never marry again?.
Jackie also found two stones framing death medals: those of Theodore George Cooper, joined later by his father, George; and of Edward Drodge who shared his mother’s grave. Death medals were sent to the relatives of every casualty of The Great War. Given that Edward’s mother, Alice Emily, predeceased her son. we wonder who inserted the medal.
Two among the Canadians who died in the Second World War, namely Flying Officer E Stollery and Sergeant B.W. Turner lie in the war graves section.
We were unable to decipher the wording on the gravestone of an 8 1/2 year old girl also photographed by the Assistant Photographer.
Her last gravestone detail consists of a hand, despite missing two fingers, grasping a feather and a glass ball.
Jackie also produced images of the church roof and weather vane.
On our return home we enjoyed the play of light on Church Lane and the playfully decorated postbox on Pilley Hill.
I spent the rest of the day drafting this, and was certainly ready for dinner consisting of baked gammon and herby pork chipolata sausages; creamy mashed potatoes; juicy ratatouille; crunchy carrots and cauliflower, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Recital.
Lovely photographs….a delight to see.
Thanks very much, DoodleT
It was worth the visit. The light is beautiful.
Thank you very much, Sylvie. It just had to be done. 🙂
You both do such a wonderful job with your pictures. The old tombstones tell the old stories, but also raise questions and mysteries.
You are certainly right about the nature of the tombstones, GP. Thanks very much from us both.
There’s just something intriguing about frosty graveyards. Great pictures, Derrick. I particularly like the one of the light on the lane. 😊
Thanks very much, Louise. That lane light was a parting gift.
You and Jackie did an outstanding job today. I really like how you used the light (and shadows) in these photos. The header photo and the top photo really stood out for me, but there were so many other excellent photos. The graveyard and gravestones are full of sadness and mystery.
Thank you so much from us both, Merril. Since the church goes back to the 11th century, your final sentence is certainly valid.
Yes, I guess it is. That is an ancient church!
Wow! I was wondering how old it was.
Wonderful photos, thanks for sharing those.
I walked through our local churchyard this evening just before 5pm on the way to the post office, but it was pitch black and just a bit scary. Must pop out tomorrow if it’s frosty again, nice if it’s foggy also, and see if I can get some good photos.
Thanks very much to you, too, Tony. I wish you luck tomorrow
Gravestones and lichen – lovely!
Thank you very much, Sheree
The frost provided a canvas for you and Jackie to showcase fascinating old gravestones with their shadows, as well as trees, lichen, moss, and bright blue sky. Beautiful!
Thank you so much from us both, Dolly
My pleasure, Derrick.
I particularly liked the Church Lane shot but the whole post was full of visual interest from both photographers.
Thank you so much from us both, Tootlepedal.
This are the best pictures you took all year long. The old European cemeteries tell so many stories, don’t they? The grass covered with frost. Beautiful!
Wow. Thank you so much, Bridget
Intresting pictures.
Thanks a lot, Mrs W
Your welcome.
A frosty day but that rays of sunshine are so beautiful ☀️
Perfect for photography, Ribana. Thanks very much.
Gravestones: reminders of our mortality.
Indeed. Thanks very much, Rosaliene
The cold looks biting. But great photos nonetheless.
It was -2 C when we set off, Amanda. Thanks very much.
Ooh. That is a good temperature for me.
Wow
It is when the wind picks up that I feel the cold.
Ah, yes. Wind chill factor
It can be nasty. What is the coldest place you have experienced, Derrick?
Surprisingly, France. -9C in Aquitaine in the winters
Is that in the Alps?
No – Southerly but inland
Wonderful photos sir.
Thanks a lot, Gary
Gorgeous shots, Derrick. We had a frosty morning too! I’m so not ready for winter.
Thanks very much, Jill.
The crisp morning light on the withered resting place has resulted in an exquisite, brooding gallery. Shadows make the picture doubly striking. Heaven knows why that lady is holding a feather and a glass ball. What message lies buries in her lichened, brittle heart?
Thank you so much for this lovely comment, Uma. I f we could access the crystal ball we may find the answer to the question.
I enjoyed the photos from your day, Derrick and Jackie, especially those beautiful frosty morning photos of the old churchyard. I can seethe lichens and mosses are working hard at eroding the histories of the sleeping residents.
Thanks very much from us both, Lavinia. A song-writer’s poetic final sentence
You two always find such interesting things to photograph! These are hauntingly beautiful. I especially enjoy the frosty wreath and the next to the last one of the church lane with the rays of light, but they are all wonderful!
Thank you so much, JoAnna
Fantastic pictures! Such a photogenic place. I especially liked the top picture.
Thanks very much, Laurie. And the perfect light. That was one of my favourites, too
Light makes all the difference.
I enjoyed seeing the fruits of your combined efforts today. When I have accompanied my husband to sites of military historical significance in some of the more remote parts of this country and we compare our photographs afterwards, you would be hard-pressed to know we had been to the same place! I tend to be attracted to interesting details, while his approach is the broader ‘historical record’ mode 🙂
Thanks very much, Anne. You remind me of the time I went to our Bluebell Railway with a friend – he produced the broad images, I went for the brass details.
That would have been me – the little details catch my eye 🙂
I’m sure
I love the frosty graveyard photos with the light and shadow, the shape, texture, and posture of the stones.
Thank you so much for this description, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick. The photos are very striking.
Love the frosty images and liken the lichen.
Someone had to do the pun, Sherry 🙂 Thanks very much.
Gorgeous and heart-touching photos, Jackie and Derrick. Beautiful light and shadows and amazing textures. Wonderful photos of each other. 🙂
I love a frosty morning…the frost is so sparkly, glittery, and blankets everything…glistening in the sun. 🙂
The gravestone of the little girl is very touching. 🙁
(((HUGS))) 🙂
PS…Why would you never see Keith Richards picking lichens?
Because a rolling stone gathers no moss.
(Okay…I know moss and lichens are different…but I think the joke is funny! 😀 )
Thanks very much from us both, Carolyn. Interestingly, neither of us could really catch the glitter. We must go back and try to read the little girl’s stone again. As for the joke – there is no accounting for taste 🙂 X
You’re welcome!
Yes, so many of the tombstones bring up questions…wondering more about those people’s lives…children especially.
Ha! Okay! I should strive to a higher class of jokes! 😉 😀
🙂
Those frostymorning images are lovely and from both cameras.
I love looking around old graveyards and imagining the lives of those long passed.
Thank you very much from us both, Sue. This particular graveyard remains a rich vein
Like the detail in your pictures Derrick and especially the shafts of sunlight.
Thanks very much, Andrew
From my point of view – your best post of the year. However, I am aware that this is because of the subject matter and that some people prefer ponies and waves to graves. 🙂 Keep up the good work and both of you keep well wrapped up.
Thank you so much from us both, Quercus. Actually I might just agree with you.
🙂
I had a quick google for these two men.
E Stollery is at
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=113607
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2690838
(with photos)
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=W7768
BW Turner is
https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/228621
https://wartimes.ca/forums/viewtopic.php?t=645
Note: There are two BW Turners, with one buried in France.
They should have taken the Canadians back home, in my opinion.
Thanks very much for these links, John. I ran out of energy and time to look further.
Actually, you did the prompt just fine in this post, Derrick.
So did you get my picture on your post, Judy?
Such lovely, peaceful photos! I especially enjoyed the lichen closeups (and, as always, the ponies!). I love studying their patterns on rocks and tree trunks. We have had one or two instances of icy windshields to scrape here, but no beautiful hoar frost yet.
Thanks very much, Anna. I’m pleased you liked the lichen – that is what I made the visit for
Sad that the stone of the young girl lost two fingers, I wonder what the feather and marble symbolised. Lots of graveyards have to put the stones down flat now so its good you capture them now.
Thank you very much, Charlotte. One of the many mysteries held by historic graveyards.
Gisteren dacht ik: Zijn ze met ze tweeën al die grafstenen aan het fotograferen: Getverderry! Jezus, zo weinig te beleven in die uithoek?
Maar vandaag, 9 december … , vind ik die oeroude ,bemoste graven toch wel artistiek, met dat mistige mistrooste en ijzige weer.
Vlug naar de open haard met een beker chocomelk … Fijne dag verder! Liefs uit Amsterdam, 9 – 12 – 2020
Heel erg bedankt, Frieda 🙂
These photos are wonderful and the graves do bring such questions to mind. I love seeing how you and Jackie notice and focus on different things – or on the same things in different ways. Do you think that glass ball was a part of the original statue? It certainly looks to be. But I think the feather must have been put there recently. Is that your thinking, too?
I agree about the feather, but not so sure about the ball. Since I didn’t see it I don’t know whether it could be prised out of the hand. Jackie thinks it has been added. Thanks very much, Jodie.
Some of those tombstones look ready to fall over. Cemeteries are full of untold stories and always have an air of mystery for me. Great set of photos, Derrick and Jackie.
Thank you very much from us both, Sylvia.
We haven’t had a frost yet this year. Frost makes for beautiful photos, especially in the morning light. I like the frosty brambles.
Thank you so much, Nicki
I agree with JoAnna, “These are hauntingly beautiful.” Frost decorates leaves and grasses in marvelous ways and you captured it perfectly, Derrick. I especially liked the images of bramble stems and the cross-carved entrance gate outlined in bright white pigment. Cemeteries are wonderful sources of history, aren’t they? Your commentary was lovely – and your dinner sounded scrumptious as usual!
Thank you so much, Jan. Jackie is pleased you liked her entrance gate picture X
Early morning with a rising sun throwing shadows on a frosty landscape, how much nicer can it get. Enjoyed all your photos very much, beautiful work Derrick.
Thank you so much, Agnes
A fascinating series. I loved the lichens and the textural effects and the leaning of the stones, but my favourite was the wreath with the frost.