Birds, Blooms, Beavers and Bookshops

 Walking around Trentham Estate yesterday morning we discovered two new things.

In the retail village was a new bookshop in a horsebox.  According to their sign it is the smallest bookshop in the world.  I've been on a book barge on the canal, seen small libraries in telephone boxes but never a bookshop in a horsebox.   Unfortunately it closes on Mondays so we didn't get to peek inside.

In the gardens close to the education Tipi there is a new sculpture of a Beaver.

It was carved with a chainsaw from a dead cedar stump by Simon O'Rourke.

The real Beavers live on an island in the middle of the lake.  They have recently built a dam closer to the lakeside path.

It's that time of year when British blooms are back in the shops.

 Daffodils and Tulips both bringing colour to a dull day,  brightening up windowsills and table centres.  I can't resist buying a bunch every so often.

We took part in the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch over the weekend.  The weather wasn't great, we had a large group of Rock Doves (feral pigeons) appear and towards the end of the count a female Sparrowhawk flew like an arrow from the side fence around the hanging feeders and up into the tree at the top of the garden.  She didn't catch anything. All went silent, the count was over.  

Final total - 3 blackbirds, 2 Dunnocks, 2 Robins, 1 Magpie, 1 Great Tit, 10 Goldfinches, 19 Rock Doves and 1 Sparrowhawk.

All for now.

Small Things

I've been looking for small things to bring colour and cheer to these dull, grey and damp days.  In the garden things are happening.

Winter Aconite

Snowdrop buds

Damp misty walks by the lake can be quite atmospheric.

There's always a robin to say hello.

Baking.  We bought lemons to put with honey to sooth coughs.  I made a blueberry and lemon tray bake.  It's in a pot dish as we didn't have a big enough tin.  Half has been frozen.  I saw the recipe in a free magazine from the supermarket.  I also made a lemon cake from the Cranks recipe book.  Both very tasty.

Post box topper in the supermarket.  The little creatures look as if they are off on holiday.

We popped into the Brampton Museum to have a cup of coffee and a look at the latest exhibition.

You will notice that there are some empty frames.  This is because they are ready and waiting for their works of art to be displayed.  Local artist Rob Pointon -link- is making a painting each day of January.

We will make a return visit to see what he has produced over the last few days.  There is also an area for works done by local artists who come to join him on Saturdays to sit and paint around the Brampton no matter the weather.

It's a great idea.

A Little Bit Icy

 Yesterday we decided to walk at Westport Lake to blow away the cobwebs after  having been indoors for a couple of days.  The roads were clear but both the canal and the lakes were still icy.

It was cold, very cold but there were lots of people out and about.  Dog walkers, a large walking group and quite a few photographers too.

When I saw the Moorhen walking on the ice I was reminded of one of my favourite paintings.

It's usually known as The Skating Minister. It depicts the Reverend Robert Walker skating on Duddingston Loch and is by Scottish artist Sir Henry Raeburn (1756-1823).  I remember seeing it at the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh many years ago.  Here is a - link - to their website which tells you more about it.

Into January

Well I did say in my last post that I hoped the wintery weather would stay away for a few more days, but of course, it didn't listen.  After a light dusting of snow on Sunday we woke up to more snow on Monday morning.  Bags were packed and we were ready to travel.

The garden always looks pretty covered in snow and the sunlight was a bonus.  Photos above and below taken from our bedroom window.

The sun in the trees in the school nature reserve behind our hedge was so beautiful.

I ventured outside to take the photo above.  It was time to leave home and see how far we could get along our journey.

The roads out of the city were very slowly passable.  As you can see it says -5°C on the dashboard. By the time we reached Ashbourne and beyond the roads were almost clear, it was a good job we decided to at least try to get out of the city. 

My cousin's funeral went well and her long life was celebrated with both laughter and tears.  When we visited her in hospital back in November she was proud of being ninety four and three quarters and was insistent the three quarters were important. We gathered afterwards at her favourite restaurant - link -where it was 'fish and chips' for all and a gift of flowers for her cousins and friends.  My cousin and her husband had their wedding reception at the restaurant way back in 1951.  Apparently I was there as a babe in arms, just a few months old.

We had to leave the flowers in the car overnight as I thought the hotel room might be too warm.  They survived well until we got home.

We stopped briefly at Carsington Water on the way home for a quick leg stretch but it was so very cold.  The robin above was happy to pose for a photo.

The water in the reservoir was still very low.

The paths were too icy to walk safely.  We decided to make for home and stock up on food on the way.   Thankfully, we don't have to venture out for a few days because another storm is expected.  Will there be more snow?

All for now.  Take care.

Before the New Year

How strange the weather has been for the last few days, neither one thing or the other.  Calm, dry and dull.  No wind, no rain and no sun either.  It feels 'pending'.  I'm hoping proper winter weather stays away for a few more days as we have to travel and stay over for a family funeral next week.  We started this year with a funeral and it seems like next year is starting out the same.  

Below are a few photos from yesterday's morning walk around the lake.

How quiet it seemed, not many people along the paths.  Just a few other walkers or photographers passing by.

Even the water birds seemed quiet with the occasional call from a coot or gull or the flap of wings from a landing swan.

Time for a snooze for Mr and Mrs Mallard.

Right, time to get ready for my appointment at the opticians to see what the problem with my right eye is.  It's always the right eye, I've had laser treatment on it before I'm keeping my fingers crossed I don't have to have that again or that the cataracts haven't worsened.  I'm a bit of a scaredy cat where my eyes are concerned and can't bear anyone messing with them.

I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas.  All my best wishes for the New Year.

Take care.

On Christmas Eve

It's a lovely morning cold but bright and sunny.  I put on coat and boots and went into the garden.  I washed and filled the bird baths.  Seeds, suet balls and nibbles had been topped up earlier.  Loads of goldfinches, one chaffinch,  one greenfinch,  a couple of dunnocks and a couple of blackbirds spotted so far today.  All the shopping is done, all the presents distributed, we may pop out for a gentle stroll later on after some preparation of tomorrow's meal has been done.

At the weekend we went up to wonderful Little Moreton Hall for their Yuletide Celebrations, something we try to do the weekend before Christmas, it has become somewhat of a tradition.

Watching and listening to Piva celebrating Christmas Tudor style.  They sing of the Yule Log, food and ale, the Twelve days of Christmas and the  Lord of Misrule or Master of Revels on Twelfth Night.  Also the tradition of Boy Bishops which ran from St Nicholas Day to Holy Innocents Day.  I think in the photo above they are singing and playing Gaudete which means rejoice.

Peace and joy to you all.

Festive Trees

We've just returned home from a couple of days away.  On Wednesday we  spent some time with our nephew, took him out for lunch and a bit of Christmas shopping.  We also visited the town Museum where I used to work, it had changed so much but perhaps more about that on another day. Thursday we had a lovely lunch with friends in Beeston, Nottingham.  We meandered home on Friday and spent some time in both Matlock and Bakewell. Rivers in both places were high after all the rain.

 

The River Derwent in Matlock

The River Wye in Bakewell

All Saints Church in Bakewell have a Christmas Tree festival each year so we decided to walk up and have a look.  Thank goodness the rain of the previous two days had drifted away

View across the town and beyond from the churchyard.  It is a fascinating churchyard, full of interesting memorials and stones.

One of the two Saxon crosses found outside the church.

An old weather vane close to the entrance.

Fragments of older building work in the porch.

The early 14th century font.

The alabaster monument to Sir Godfrey Foljambe and his wife is dated c1377.  I wanted to know the name of his wife and found that it may have been his second wife Avena Ireland who is depicted on the monument.

Anyway, I mentioned Christmas trees.  Unfortunately those in the chancel had been roped off as a crack had appeared in one of the main beams in the roof and it was thought unsafe.

There were some lovely trees to stop and admire. 

 

All for now.