Monday, December 29, 2014

Frosty Morning Walk

We had a lovely walk around the lake at Trentham this morning.  It was very cold, slightly slippy and crisp underfoot.  The winter sun was blazing behind the trees and everything looked stunning in the frosty, morning light.

 The lake was almost all frozen over.  The birds were all together in the still watery bits around the edges.  Below are some more of the photos I took.




 The willow snowdrops are new in the garden

You can see the area that is roped off at the moment as this part of the garden is being restored to how it was when it was first designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown (1716 - 1783).  This is in preparation for the 300th Anniversary of his birth in 2016.  Capability Brown worked on the landscape at Trentham between 1759 and 1780.  We are hoping to join a tour later in the year which will explain more about what is planned so I'll write more about it then.






We stopped for a break at the far end of the lake and had a steaming hot chocolate at the Lakeside cafe.  It came in handy for warming my fingers which had got very cold on the way round as I kept taking off my gloves to take photos.  



This young heron was just sitting at the side of the lake and didn't seem to mind all the people taking photos of him or her.  I love the way he was using one leg.  I always think herons look quite prehistoric in their strangeness.




Robins always seem happy to pose for a photo too

A new tree sculpture called Diving Otters


Lastly, not a willow snowdrop but a real one - I don't think I've ever seen them in December before.  I actually took this photo at Trentham on Christmas Eve a couple of days before the snow came down and the frosts set in.   I didn't see it today!  Maybe it was still there under the snow.  We can hope it is.

All my very best wishes for a Happy New Year.

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39 comments:

  1. Louise29 December 2014 at 14:51

    It looks beautiful with the frost and I like the new sculptures and willow pieces. I saw photos of daffodils flowering yesterday, in Gloucestershire and somewhere else in the south too!

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:11

      I think the fairly mild weather we've had until the last few days has confused some of the plants and wildlife. The new sculptures are great:)

      Delete
  2. Mac n' Janet29 December 2014 at 14:53

    Beautiful place, even in winter, loved the fairies.

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:12

      It is gorgeaous in winter and the fairies looked lovely with a sprinkling of frost on their wings:)

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  3. rusty duck29 December 2014 at 15:29

    And a very Happy New Year to you too Rosie, with plenty more walks!

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:13

      Oh gosh I do need lots more walks to get rid of the effects of the excesses of Christmas. Happy New Year, Jessica:)

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  4. Jan29 December 2014 at 17:53

    Beautiful photos... the weather has been perfect for 'camera walks'! Jx

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:14

      Thanks - everything is so photogenic in this bright and crisp weather:)

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  5. Patricia29 December 2014 at 17:58

    Love the photos of your walk Rosie and the addition of the fairies makes it very magical. Happy New Year to you and yours. P x

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:16

      Thanks, Patricia and to you and yours too. The fairies are very special and they looked lovely dusted with a little frost:)

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  6. Amanda29 December 2014 at 19:07

    We were only saying the other day what a great place Trentham is, nice to see Stoke having this on its doorstep.

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:17

      It is a lovely place to take visitors to as it has something to interest everyone. It is great to have it so close:)

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  7. Twiggy29 December 2014 at 21:02

    Stunning photos,I love the fairy hovering over the water. Happy New Year to you too.
    Twiggy

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:18

      Thank you and Happy New year to you too:)

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  8. Linda P29 December 2014 at 23:00

    Beautiful photos of your walk around the lake on a frosty morning. I like the new sculpture of the diving otters. Wishing you a happy new year, Rosie. I hope there will be plenty of walking for you and your husband in the coming months.

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:19

      Oh, I hope so Linda we need to walk away the excesses of the season. Happy New Year to you too:)

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  9. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"30 December 2014 at 06:55

    My snowdrops are just tentatively breaking the surface at the moment. That looks a lovely walk, the otter sculpture is particularly appealing. I always love frosty mornings but just recently all the bright frosty days have coincided with my work days, while days off have been dull and cloudy.

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:21

      It is frustrating when you have the good weather when you can't take advantage of it. We have had some lovely frosty mornings and some damp, wet ones too:)

      Delete
  10. Simone30 December 2014 at 13:25

    This looks like such a lovely place. Great photos especially the close up of the heron. Talking of snowdrops in December, my apple tree has been in blossom for quite a few weeks now. Not a good sign! Happy New Year to you Rosie. x

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:22

      Oh, that is early for blossom - this mild weather has confused the plants and wildlife hasn't it? Happy New Year Simone:)

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  11. Rustic Vintage Country30 December 2014 at 14:49

    It look so much different since my long ago visit, must go again soon. Rosie you are making my visit list longer and longer......haha! Your photos are lovely, I'm almost shivering looking at them. Suzy x

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:24

      It is lovely at any time of the year but Spring and late Summer are especially lovely there. Hope you get around to visiting again soon:)

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  12. Share my Garden30 December 2014 at 19:18

    What interesting sculptures, I like the fairy filling a watering can, it looks especially good in the icy water! The snowdrop is very early - and brave! I've got three buds of the white rose, 'Pascali' opening in the garden. I keep expecting them to blacken and die in the heavy overnight frosts but each day they open a little more. Nature is amazing!

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:26

      Very early for roses - amazing that they are still with you. The fairy with the watering can is very photogenic especially with the sunlight behind it and the relections in the water:)

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  13. Gingi30 December 2014 at 23:55

    Wow!!! I want to go there!! Amazing photos!

    I stumbled upon your blog through a fellow blogger and thought I would stop by and say hi! It would totally make my day if you stopped by my blog sometime and dropped a line! Or kept in touch!! - www.domesticgeekgirl.com

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:27

      Hello there - I will pop over to visit you soon - thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment - so nice to see you here:)

      Delete
  14. Amy at love made my home31 December 2014 at 13:40

    I hope that your New Year will be wonderful! Best wishes for all good things in 2015 to you and yours! Such a wonderful place to visit and such amazing sculptures! xx

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:28

      Glad you enjoyed the post Amy - best wishes for the new year to you too:)

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  15. Lola Romero31 December 2014 at 18:28

    What a beautiful place!!!! I hope to see the photos when it will be completely restored.
    In this year that finish today I started to follow your magnific blog, thanks very much for sharing those gorgeous moments, the beauty of your country and for your kindness. I hope continue enjoing your blog many years. Happy 2013.

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    1. Rosie2 January 2015 at 15:30

      Lovely to see you here Dolores and thank you for following my blog, I'm so glad that you enjoy coming back to visit and read my posts. Happy 2015 to you to:)

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  16. Lola Romero31 December 2014 at 18:56

    Sorry (glups)!!! Happy 2015!!!

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  17. sweetbriardreams3 January 2015 at 20:45

    I love the sculptures Rosie, especially the little imps and the otters - amazing! It will be lovely to see the gardens restored and I am looking forward to seeing what you see from the tour. Have a wonderful 2015 xx

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    1. Rosie4 January 2015 at 11:55

      Thanks, Chel - Happy New Year to you too:)

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  18. PutuEka5 January 2015 at 14:29

    Nice photos, love the trees photo

    Black and White Photography using Android

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  19. Young at Heart8 January 2015 at 11:58

    I want to see faries.....gorgeous.. Happy new year!!

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    1. Rosie9 January 2015 at 09:36

      You would definitely see fairies at Trentham I think there are about a dozen in all around the gardens. Happy New Year to you too:)

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  20. Candytuft Corner8 January 2015 at 22:27

    Happy New Year Rosie! What a beautiful garden and how lovely to see a snowdrop before the end of December. How I miss seeing flowers in the these dark months of winter! It will be many months before anything flowers here.

    Marie x

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    1. Rosie9 January 2015 at 09:39

      It was a surprise to see the snowdrops so early although there are more there now I guess because it has been so mild - so far. I bought myself some cheerful tulips yesterday to brighten the house up after taking all the christmas decorations down:)

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