Gently into the New Year

We are ten days into January already and I can't really say that we have done anything positive, just a bit of walking, a bit of shopping, some reading but no gardening as it is still far too wet.  A few days ago, I'm not sure what day other than that it rained all day, the paths were flooded and the pond overflowing.  The paths have dried out now although the grass is still squelching underfoot.  We took a walk in the local park one day when the sky was blue.

and the shadows were long.

 I've just been into the garden and taken a layer of ice from the top of the bird baths.  The bird feeders are being emptied every day by loads of goldfinches (we counted 60 at one point up in the trees just over the top hedge) plus a few blue tits, great tits and long tailed tits.  There are several blackbirds about today and also collard doves.  Crows and Magpies have been calling in the distance and both owls and foxes can be heard in the small hours.  Wood pigeons have started calling in the early morning just as the heating jumps and stutters into life.  Today it is sunny but very cold and windy.

Last week we had a little walk around Leek where I took a few photos.  It was quiet but thankfully dry.  After a coffee and a look at an exhibition at the Foxlowe Arts Centre we walked around the park and back up the cobbled path to St Edward's church.

Later the same week we walked at Tretham Gardens.  It was quite misty as we arrived and it took some time for the sun to burn it away.  The mist made for some atmospheric photos around the lake.

 I've also been looking out old photos and found the one below.  It is of a wedding party in 1908.  The Edwards family in all their finery.  My great grandmother and grandmother and grandfather are on the photo as well as my Aunt Millicent Mabel, always known as Millie.

I've returned the books I've been reading over Christmas and New Year to the Library this morning.  It's half closed for refurbishment so I didn't choose any more books.  I have a couple of e-books from the Cloud Library to read.

More gentle pottering is in order this week as well as cooking and baking for the freezer. 

All for now.  

Into the New Year

It's 9.30a.m. in the morning on New Year's Day.  The sun is gently lighting the house roofs and upstairs windows on one side of the street and the sky is showing several shades of blue. The weather is mild and has been for a few days.  No wonder the little beauty below is slightly confused.

I took this photo a few days before Christmas but thought I'd save it for today as for me snowdrops are a sign of peace and hope.

Best wishes to everyone for the New Year.

Into January

Into the New Year 

A New Year and a New Decade.

I wonder where it will take us?

 I hope the next decade will be kinder, wiser and more caring than the last one.

Thank you all for visiting, reading and  commenting on my blog.  It's been wonderful to have you along.  I hope that 2020 is good to you all. Wishing you a peaceful and happy start to the new year.

Into the New Year

Blue skies on our walk yesterday such a contrast to the driving rain and gusting wind howling around the house this evening.

I'm just popping in to say thank you to all the people who visit this blog, thank you for your continued support, comments and blogging friendship throughout last year, in fact for the last few years.

I hope there are many blue skies to come for us all in this new year.

 Welcome to 2018,  may it be a good year for all of you.

Into 2013

I'm never very good with New Year, I always find it quite a sad and reflective time so I just switch off, curl up with a good book or DVD perhaps drink a glass of wine and let it all happen.  Last night the local fireworks became my lullaby;  this morning I was woken about 6a.m. by the urban foxes calling to each other.  Today the sun is out and the constant rain of yesterday has gone, for now.  I think a long walk to revive the spirits and blow away the cobwebs is in order.  

To mark the start of the New Year I decided to pick one photo for each month of last year.  Choosing just one photo was quite a hard thing to do but I hope the ones I've chosen given an overall impression of the things we've seen and the places we've been in 2012

January to June

July to December

With my best wishes to you all for a happy, healthy and peaceful 2013 and a big thank you, too for all your kind comments on my last post

Into 2011

All my best wishes to everyone for a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year

Welcome 2010

I've never been a great lover of New Year or New Year Celebrations. I'd rather just curl up with a good book and a glass of wine and let the witching hour pass me by. As I enter 2010 I'm very conscious that it will be a landmark year for me on a personal level but I'm trying not to think too hard about what that means and the changes it will entail.

As far as this blog is concerned I will have two things to celebrate in 2010 - my 500th post and believe it or not my 5th year of blogging - I wrote my first post and pressed the publish button with great trepidation on 14th March 2005. I wonder if I could manage to get to my 500th post on 14th March this year - I'm going to try and I'm going to do something special on that day too - so I'm going to make that one of my New Year's resolutions along with the usual lose weight and get more exercise ones; unlike the others I hope it will be one that I am able to keep.

I want to thank everyone who visits here; those of you who just stop by to read occasionally, those who kindly follow my blog and those who take the time to leave such wonderful comments - it means a great deal to me and I appreciate it so much. I hope you all have a Happy and Healthy New Year and good fortune throughout 2010.

Happy New Year and Thanks

Firstly, thanks to all those who answered my 'help' post about changing from the old style 'Template' blog to the newer 'Layout' blog - I decided to finally take the bull by the horns and give it a go - and I'm still here, all my archives back to 2005, posts and photos were saved - I just had to re-do the links in the side bar which took all of this morning and I'm now back to normal but with the extra facilities that the 'Layout' format has to offer - I can now add far more and play with all the gagets and widgits.

Secondly, thanks for all your Christmas and New Year wishes - I really love to receive your comments and e-mails.

Thirdly, I'm wishing A Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year to everyone who pops by to read this blog. All my best wishes for 2009.

Into 2008

Sometimes life is just full of little surprises - Happy New Year!

Today I began to feel a little better. We had a long walk in a very misty and murky Manifold Valley - not many people around when we set out but quite a few when we came back - too misty for photos I'm afraid. Paul cooked a lovely lasagne later on, I put up the new calendars and we had visits and phone calls from friends and neighbours - I'm still coughing but it all seems easier now.

New Year's Day Walk

There is nothing like a long walk on New Year's Day to lift the spirits and work off the lethargy that sets in over Christmas and the holidays. We left the house at 9.45a.m. and by 10.15a.m. we had parked in Ilam Village.

Walk this way


to see the Red deer grazing


The lovely church at Ilam

The River Manifold

The sun was high in the sky


and the hills looked wonderful


and the sheep were enjoying their New Year's Day lunch.