A Frosty Morning : Winter Photography Link Up

At the end of each month Eileen and Joy are posting on their blogs a link up for The Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt. today I am giving you No. 6 Winter Weather. we have had some brief of coverings of snow but some of the frosts have been almost more spectacular. I caught these about a week ago in the early morning.

         

When the ground is frozen like this hay is put out for any animals outside.

         

Also the ice on the water drinkers is broken. this particular day the water was already frozen again.

You can find my other finds for January with the following links:-

No. 3 An Ornate Door Knocker can be seen here

No.4 Breakfast can be seen here.

No. 5 Something that is 100 years old here.

No. 7 Dressed for the season here

No. 8 A fish here

No. 10 A letter in nature or in an object here

No. 17 Texture here.

That leaves 5  to find!

Winter Scavenger Photo Hunt No. 3 and No. 7 while out walking.

Our Walk and Talk group met in Corsham today for a walk around some of the parkland and countryside around Corsham Court. We were lucky that it was a bight sunny day but the air was still cold and we were all wrapped up for the weather. An ideal opportunity for a photo for No. 7 on the Scavenger list. Someone dressed for the season. 

                 

 

After a brisk walk we wandered back through Corsham to the pub for lunch. Corsham is a historic town that was a centre for the Wool Trade in medieval times. It has many historic buildings. One that caught my eye is actually an 18th Century folly.

I was able to find several possibilities for No. 3 Ornate Door Knocker although some of the knockers are a little neglected.

                               

Is this an owl?

                                  

I have tried to straighten this but come to the conclusion it is wonky!

Theatre Night

We are very lucky that we are not far from Bristol and can quite easily go to the theatre and shows. We have had our tickets to see Warhorse at The Bristol Hippodrome for months and it is something I have been looking forward to. I was not disappointed. What a great show it is with remarkable puppetry. Seeing horses on a daily basis on the farm I really appreciated how clever the horses are.

     

In other ways it has been a thought provoking time with both Warhorse and a visit to The Imperial War Museum in the same week. 

Pairs No. 4 Winter and Summer in the Barley Field

SIt's time again to join in Helena's Pairs for week 4. I have put together two photos that I have used in different forms before both showing the same backdrop of the Chew Valley from one of our arable fields to depict the ever rotating cycle of farm life.

Winter taken last week showing the fresh growth of the barley crop.

           

Summer taken last August in the midst of Harvest.

Winter Photography Scavenger Hunt. No 17 Texture

I have explored a few different textures to be found in nature around the farm. I looked at some of the springy soft moss to be found under some of the trees where there is very little sun.

The contrast from leaves such as foxgloves and ferns against the moss.

And some crisp leaves.

Then I found some house leeks growing in the garden. 

Early Signs of Spring

There have been daffodils in flower on Backwell Hill for over a week. I would be likely to cause an accident if I was to stop and photograph them. In the grass around the yard there are little bright spots of yellow. Emerging crocus.

Spring is on its way!

The Imperial War Museum

I had a  day out with a trip to London by luxury executive coach to visit the Imperial War Museum. Many of the exhibitions were of a serious and thought provoking nature particularly the Holocaust exhibition.

There is also not a lot of photo opportunities. There is however a spectacular barrel roof to the terrace floor that looks out onto the dome at front of the building.

The whole of the museum has recently been revamped and has only recently reopened. The garden at the front is dominated by two 15in guns.

These are in close proximity to the Tibet Peace Garden which can just be seen in these pictures but we did not visit until dusk.

The Shard can be seen emerging between the buildings behind. Perhaps this will be be the venue for our next trip to London.

Saturday Sport

Both girls play for a local ladies hockey team. I went along to watch today.

Unfortunately I didn't bring them any luck. They lost 4:0! 

A warmer and less energetic pass time has kept us (mainly me) occupied during the evening. As you can see some help by someone wanting attention was not really appreciated.

Despite the assistance I managed to get the jigsaw finished.

Snowdrops Emerge.

The days are beginning to stretch out. It has been light till 5 the last few days. There have been some sharp frosts but when the sun does come out there is a bit of warmth to it. I was delighted to see snowdrops out in my parents garden yesterday. The garden is quite sheltered and south facing.There are two clumps visible so far.

 I had a look round at home this morning. Those in our garden are not up but we have some coming up at the top of the drive.

More pluck than I have.

Kate is obviously having a good time in New Zealand but I do wish she would keep her feet on terra firma! A series of photos have been speeding through cyber space from the other side of the world (how amazing is that) that are certainly going to make me even greyer than I am! Jumping out of planes.

Not once but twice.

And off bridges and gorges.

Three times!

 Suddenly this looks quite tame.

And I think I could almost do this.

She is certainly embracing her holiday !

Pairs : Pre and Post cooking

  Wednesday has rolled round again and it is time for Week 3 of Helena's Pairs. So I have chosen a spot of cooking this week.

  Each Thursday Emma's AS Level Psychology group take it in turns to make and bring in some kind of cakes. It seems that I have been volunteered to provide tomorrow's. My remit from my daughter. "Something good and really nice." I suppose when she starts school on a Wednesday at 7.45 and doesn't finish until  20.45 it is a bit much to expect her to concoct something.

  So here we are Lemon Cupcakes. Hope they stand up to the remit!

                       

Brian and I have a done taster session on them. It took two each before we were sure. It also gave me a chance to try out a little device that Santa very kindly gave Emma. A cup cake corer.

                         

  Only £4.29 from Lakeland Shops so he told me!

Blue Tits

The birds are busy feeding in this cold spell and don't take long to empty the sunflower seed feeder. The feeders are too far from the house for me to capture them on camera from the window. I am rather conspicuous stood near another to catch them. The blue tits are usually first to brave it.

Taking this pictures has reminded me of what I must do tomorrow. Clean the bottom of the bird feeder. It is easy to unintentionally pass on disease to birds on garden feeders.

How Many Can You See? Winter Sacavenger Hunt No. 10

Joining in again with Eileen and Joy's Winter Scavenger Photo Hunt. Today I am looking at no. 10. "A letter shape in nature or an object." This one has been giving quite a lot of thought. I did feel that this would be one that I would fail on. I have been keeping my eyes open looking when out and about and I found it! When I was walking the dog I noticed a tree with ivy growing up it.

Some curious shapes and on looking closer.....

How many letters can you see? I have picked out A  K  P and  U but I am open to more suggestions!