Friday, January 19, 2024

Wintry Days

 After all the wet weather the last few days have been sunny but oh so cold.  We have managed to get out and about for a couple of walks this week. Both yesterday and today the sky has been so blue.

Tuesday we woke up to a light dusting of snow and the car had to go into the garage for it annual service.  Wednesday, after a supermarket shop, we visited the Brampton Musem in Newcastle (under Lyme) for a mug of coffee and a shared slice of banana bread.  I liked the sign on the front of the counter in the tea room cafe.

After coffee we popped into the galleries to look at the latest exhibition.  Art work by the Society of Staffordshire Artists.



Yesterday we took a walk around Trentham Gardens the weather was so different from last week.

The fountain in the shopping area had frozen with some beautiful patterns in the ice.

Lots of blue sky, shadows and reflections.

Even though it was getting towards midday it was still very cold.

On the lake the Coots were marching across the ice, there were quite a few of them all together. Apparently the collective noun for Coots is a cover.

They were joined by two Little Grebes.  The Little Grebes or Dabchicks had found an un-iced over area to keep diving in.


Cormorants. 

Nuthatch

At home Snowdrops are peeping through the frost and snow, there is no sign of the Winter Aconites yet.

I'm looking forward to seeing them both again this year.

16 comments:

  1. Snowshoes already! I liked those birds marching on the ice. They must be very sure-footed. Stay warm, Rosie!

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    1. Thank you Granny Sue, there were lots of birds marching on the ice towards the watery bits. I love your name for the snowdrops:)

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  2. No sign of any snowdrops here yet. Love the frozen fountain.

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    1. Thank you B. The frozen fountain was attracting lots of attention and selfies:)

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  3. Good to see you get a bit of walking in. Love the bird photos and that icy fountain is gorgeous. Take care & hugs.

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    1. Thank you Susan. I've set myself a target of 5,000 steps a day don't always achieve it. Yesterday we did nearly 7,000. Take care:)

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  4. Lovely photos.I love the frozen fountain one.Barbarax

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    1. Thank you Barbara, the fountain was so pretty and different from each side:)

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  5. Lovely photos - exhibition looks good and the sign by the counter in the tearoom has some lovely words. Trentham Gardens looks a great place to go for a walk.
    I stopped off at a local churchyard one afternoon last week (when I had been looking unsuccessfully for Waxwings (the berries have all been eaten!)) to look for snowdrops. They are usually early there but they looked much like yours. I wish I could grow winter aconites - the ones I planted all died or were eaten!
    Have a good weekend Rosie.

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    1. Thank you Caroline. Sorry you didn't see the Waxwings and also that the Snowdrops weren't ready at least they will be there if you can return soon. I thought that we had lost the Winter Aconites last year but a few flowered very late. Most walks at the moment show a frozen landscape and birds walking on ice, all very beautiful but I'll be glad for something different to see. We'll be doing the bird count next weekend so I'm looking forward to that. Happy Sunday and week ahead:)

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  6. You have been out visiting some interesting places despite the cold weather and getting some great photos. Look at that frozen fountain! No doubt you had to take off your gloves to take the photo, brrr! Poor birds having to brave the ice too at least it has warmed up a bit now. Snowdrops seem very few and far between at the moment, lovely to see yours are on the way. 😊

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    1. Thank you CK, yes we've taken advantage of local places to walk. The frozen fountain was attracting lots of people for photos. I feel sorry for those waterbirds, the coots were quite determined as they walked along. I'm glad the snowdrops have appeared I always worry that they won't come back if the little bulbs get too damp:)

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  7. What a lovely thoughtful message at the tea room café. If only people would take it to heart. The frozen fountain is amazing at Trentham Gardens, no wonder people wanted a selfie next it.
    Have a good week.

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    1. Thank you Beverley, I did like the sign in the cafe lets hope the message was read and thought about. The frozen fountain was wonderful, Hope you too have a good week:)

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  8. The fountain looks so cool. Glad you had some blue skies to brighten things up. Winter can be so gray and dull, so seeing color is nice. Come on flowers, you can do it. I'm counting down the days til spring.

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    1. Thank you Sandy, the fountain was great to see. It was nice to have one or two brighter days to get out walking in, the Snowdrops have grown a little more this week:)

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