Friday, December 09, 2022

A Friday Five

It's Friday already, the second one in December, how quickly time passes. 


Anyway, here are five for Friday.

1. Yesterday was so cold, we walked in Hanley park. The Caldon canal was frozen over but everything looked so beautiful.




 
 
2.  After the walk a visit to Bridgewater pottery and factory shop, also at the side of the canal,

for a warming coffee and a mince pie.

Both shop and cafe are always so festive at this time of year.

3.   In the garden the frost was making the plants and shrubs look quite attractive.





 4. Christmas Cards - I have written them and will post them tomorrow in the hope they will eventually get to their destinations.  We've received two by post so far and one hand delivered.
 
 
5.  Garden Birds.  Lots of them seemed to disappear for a while but they are back in this cold weather.  Blackbirds, sparrows, goldfinches, magpies and collard doves being the most regular and frequent visitors to the garden.  They have been joined over the last couple of days by chaffinch and bullfinch as well as blue tits and coal tits.  
 
This morning we had a very infrequent visitor to the garden.  So lovely to see the woodpecker back on the tree just outside the conservatory window.  Paul took the photo as my camera was charging its battery.
 
All for now. I hope you all have a good weekend.


 

18 comments:

  1. What a lovely post & I'm amazed by the frozen canal & that woodpecker is so cute. I'm way behind on Xmas cards this year after having been away & my cracked ribs/sore hand episode, so will get to them this weekend hopefully. All my overseas ones will be very late. I've received quite a few from UK, including a beautiful robin on some cow parsley. (smile). Thank you. Take care & hugs.

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    1. Glad you received the card I posted very early because of strikes here. It was such a thrill to see the woodpecker. Hope you are feeling much better after your fall. Take care:)

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    1. It was a joy to see the woodpecker so close, usually just hear them tapping away in the distance:)

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  3. I love the way the frost edges the leaves, it really has been so cold. Good job you could visit Emma Bridgewater to warm up and take in all the colour and a mince pie! Have a good weekend. 😊

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    1. Some of the fallen leaves looked stunning. Pink sky this morning and snow forecasted just up in Cheshire and it may get down here. The mince pie was delicious:)

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  4. It looks a lovely frosty walk with a mince pie after and a drink to warm you up :) I posted my cards yesterday - we have had one in the post so far. I love the photos of your frosty garden. Feeders are busier here today. You are lucky to have Bullfinch visitors and good to see the Great Spotted Woodpecker back - I haven't seen one for a while and the Nutchatch seems to have vanished But the Ring Necked Parakeets have been back. Wood Pigeons, Robin, Blue, Great and Coal Tits and Godlfinches are the most regular feeder visitors. Have a good weekend and take care.

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    1. Thank you. Gosh it was cold and EB's is always so warm and festive at this time of year it was a good choice. Two more cards yesterday but what I really want is my bank card as it runs out soon:( We have Bullfinches occasionally through the year we see them most in May/June and cold winter. Must be great to see the Parakeets, it was great to see the GSWoodpecker again. Take care:)

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  5. I've enjoyed seeing where you went for your walk along by the canal. I'm not surprised that the water has frozen. I'm sure you were glad of the warmth of the pottery cafe and refreshments. Back at home watching the garden birds is interesting. How wonderful to see the woodpecker! Wishing you a good weekend. Here it's another frosty start to the day.

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    1. The walk and cafe were lovely, the birds need topping up twice a day at the moment as the squirrels are feeding from the feeders too. Have a good weekend Linda and stay warm:)

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  6. Woodpeckers and frosty pictures a perfect mix. Stay warm in your corner. B x

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    1. I hope all is well with you and yours after seeing the news. Take care:)

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  7. Lovely! If I lived near to the Bridgewater Pottery shop, I’d be broke! 😂 We’ve recently moved house and have yet to see any woodpeckers in our new garden, whereas before, they were visiting all day long! We are close to woodland though and have heard them! I love the run up to Christmas, don’t you?
    Hope that you have a very happy one! 🎄⛄️🎅🤶

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    1. We have a few Bridgewater plates and mugs but try not to be tempted as everything is lovely bu very expensive. I hope you see woodpeckers in your new garden soon andthat you settle well in your new home. I usually like the run to Christmas as long as it doesn't start too early but this year with being ill I'm not really appreciating it. Hope you have a lovely time:)

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  8. Apologies ! That posted as anonymous!

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    1. Oh, I came up as anonymous too but not this time, how strange:)

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  9. Beautiful frost! I will make some mince tarts this week, one of the few things I plan to bake for the holidays. Think of all the calories I am saving! The cafe looks so cozy.

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    1. I hope you enjoy your mince tarts, I still have to make some. The cafe is always a lovely place but especially at Christmas time:)

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