Take Three Thursday: Silhouettes

Each Thursday Mary Lou at Patio Postcards hosts Take Three Thursday where we post three photos connected by a theme.

I have a fine view of sunsets from my kitchen window. I can also often see the horses in the field. The other evening the two were combined to give some lovely silhouettes. I have taken photos like this of them before but couldn't resist another go. I was just in time as I rushed out with my camera because the owners were just about to get them in. The horses weren't too happy to have to wait!

1.

2.

3.

Don't worry they didn't have to wait long.

Some More Early Colour

When today started I thought it was going to stay dull all day. I nevertheless optimistically hung the washing out on the line. It was worth it because the sun was soon shining. I was off to see my mum and sister for lunch so Poppy got her walk early today. I had my camera in tow so I stopped for a few more photos of the early spring bulbs as I walked through the yard.

There are a few different colour crocuses out now. This striped one is one of my favourites.

The vibrant dark purple is also lovely.

The yellow ones are still blooming.

The snowdrops are also still in full flower.

Together they make a brilliant dash of colour.

Making the Most of the Sunshine

It has been quite a change to have a moderately warm sunny day today. It is giving the farmers more of a chance to get some outside jobs done as the ground gradually dries up.

When I went for my walk I went to see how Farmer Daughter was getting on. Sky was sat in her favourite position sunning herself.

Farmer Daughter has the job of pulling the old barbed wire out of the hedge before they start putting in new fence to stop the sheep running through the hedge.

Not the greatest of jobs and you definitely need gloves!

Meanwhile Poppy was sporting her new harness which will hopefully stop her pulling so much on the lead while we work on walking at heel!

The horses are still wrapped up for the cold mornings and evenings but they too are enjoying the sunshine.

Let's hope it lasts a while.

A Sign Post

One of the items on the Winter Photography Scavenger Hunt is No.18 A Sign Post.  A sign post shows the direction of different destinations at a junction as oppose to a road sign which gives you some kind of instruction or warning. The early signs were also known as finger posts as they point in the correct direction. They were first introduced to make it easier for the drivers of carriages to save them having to dismount to scrutinise milestones. 

 We are lucky enough around here to have a lot of relatively old sign posts. In the mid 1960s the government advised councils to remove finger posts and replace them with more modern signage. Somerset fortunately didn't heed this. They have SSC (Somerset County Council) on the top dating back to when Somerset reached up to the boundary of Bristol. The area in more recent years has been the county of Avon before becoming North Somerset.

 I pass these signposts regularly but have rarely stopped to look at them.

It was on closer inspection that I noticed the writing Sheldon Wells on the base which refers to the foundry where they were made.

Then of course there are the names. This signpost actually points to the name of a road close by. I suspect it was so named because it led to the large house in the top picture which was indeed the parsonage. The name Lulsgate is familiar to many local people. Bristol International Airport was always referred to as Lulsgate Airport in its early days. Nempnett or Nempnett Thrubwell to give it's full name was put on the map for Wurzels fans by being mentioned in one of their songs.

Perhaps one of the most curious names is Ridgehill. This little hamlet has two names as confirmed by the signpost just a short distance away giving what I suspect is the more colloquial version of the name  Regil!

Do you have many of these finger sign posts near you or are they more of a rarity?

A Good Hand

It's been a weekend of card playing. Student daughter visited us briefly for Friday night. She is always keen to have a game of cards so we spent the evening playing cards.

Then there was bit of trying out what she has learnt. I was happy for the farmer to volunteer to be the recipient.

Then it was more cards on Saturday. We got together with a group of friends for a night of Crazy Whist. It's a light hearted game of whist with a twist. Each round has a change in rules to keep everyone on their toes. Somehow I managed to win and came home with a box of chocolates. 

What is it?

You may recall that at the end of January I went for a walk that took us down a stretch of the Kennet and Avon canal close to where it finishes in the River Avon in Bath.

We passed this purple star on the other side of the canal in someone's garden.

There were several suggestions as to what it is and why it is there. What do you think it is?

Out of the Rain

It was a bit of respite from the rain to get into the hothouses at Dyffryn Gardens. This extraordinary statue was in the first small room of the reinstated glasshouse. It's pair was situated at the further end of the hothouse in a similar room. An interesting welcome but at least the hyacinths gave a beautiful aroma.

It took a while in the tropical house for my camera to demist after coming in from the cold wet exterior. I was then able to photograph these.

There was also an impressive collection of cacti in a drier more desert like house.

Some small.

Some large.

Then some beautiful birds of paradise plants so named because the spectacular flower resembles such a bird.

Like the house and garden the hothouses deserve further exploration.