Snow Day

It was my turn last night to stay  with mum overnight. I was not sleeping in my childhood bedroom but when I opened my eyes this morning I recognised instantly the bright light shining through the curtains and that tranquil lack of sound. Snow! How exciting it was to wake to such a sight as children at an age when we didn't care about feeling  wet and cold! 

The view from the kitchen brought back that excitement.

Sadly there I was with no snow boots and no camera! Student daughter kept me in touch with snow activities back at the farm. 

The view on their return in the middle of the night from the Young Farmer's Boxing Day Boogie...

Then the next morning (or actually the same morning!) Poppy enjoying herself.

Followed by the inevitable snowman. Photo courtesy of my niece.

They know how to make the most of a little snow!

A Belated Happy Christmas

I hope you all had a very Happy Christmas. We had a lovely day. Everyone helped to make it a great day. Student daughter travelled over to keep mum company on the days leading up to Christmas and then returned to help in the kitchen. Farmer daughter decided to have a go at trussing the turkey with the help of a UTube video..

She also had her first go at carving the turkey.

We were delighted that mum was able to join us for the day.

Even Poppy had a present.

Then on the Christmas tree we had one new decoration to remind us of our trip at the beginning of the year.

Christmas In the Making

I had hardly looked at the list for the Winter Photography Scavenger Hunt list let alone started searching for them. Today I have had a quick glance and realised I have already missed an opportunity or two.

The last few days have definitely seen quite a lot of No. 9 In the Making. Some of the cooking was happening yesterday and Farmer Daughter was busy with the Christmas shortbread.

You may notice one that is the odd one out with no real connection to the season. The kiwi cutter was one of our holiday purchases and is a great reminder of our holiday at the start of this year.

You may well ask why is there a chick as well!

Escape in Time for Christmas

Today was the big day and after just over 4 weeks in hospital mum had been discharged home. She was delighted to be sat back in her own environment.

She has been well looked after at Paulton Hospital despite how busy they were a lot of the time. When I visited on Monday the Christmas celebrations were getting underway with a visit from Paulton Concert Band. Their Christmas carols were a cheerful rendition to listen to.

Thank you for everyone's messages of good wishes and concern. It was much appreciated.

Take Three Thursday : Christmas Table

I'm afraid I still don't have much time for blogging at the moment. I haven't managed to post much this week and I have had even less time to catch up on all your blogs. Please accept my apologies and I will be over to see what you are up to soon.

Today was the Lunch Club Christmas meal. We catered for just over 50 people. It seems everyone emerged from their homes for what is really good value at £5 for two courses. 

So I thought a few pictures of the tables before everyone arrived would be a good way to join Mary Lou for her Take Three Thursday.

1. The festive table ready to go.

2. The beautiful table decorations made by one talented helper.

3. One of the cards made by the children from the local school whose youngest class came along to sing.

Christmas Shopping

I am way behind with my Christmas shopping this year. This afternoon the farmer and I went to an Outlet Shopping Centre at Street. The journey there was over the Mendips which was like driving through Winter Wonderland. The combination of the snow on the fields, the drips of ice in the trees and the sun shining through was a wonderful effect. I hinted several times that I would like to stop to take a photo but all he said was that I didn't have my big camera with me. My phone would have done the job. I really don't have him very well trained!

 I have therefore instead a picture of the giant stars at the shopping centre. They were quite an impressive size.

A Little Bit More

When we woke this morning it was pouring with rain. It had in fact been raining for most of the night. Not great weather when you are a farmer and have to go about your work whatever the weather. The gusts of strong wind became a bit of a worry creeping into the chicken houses. Luckily all soon became calm. And then? It started to snow.

Fortunately it didn't really settle on the roads but it was enough for farmer daughter to take the dogs out for a play.

They both enjoyed a good romp in the garden and field.

I'm not sure she was sure what to make of it.

Just a Scattering of Snow

Some parts of the UK have been forecasted to have a lot of snow. We woke this morning to just a little dusting.

Everything looked like a packet of icing sugar had been shaken.

This was particularly evident in the vegetable garden.

It transforms a pretty ordinary looking vegetable.

The cabbage just needs some eyes, nose and a mouth!

None of it lasted very long.

The Tump

Today it was a very quick dog walk before my visit to see mum but I did manage two photos. The other day I mentioned the tump which is a slag heap on the farm from the redding quarry. Farmer husband can remember when the quarry was still open and a flag was flying on the top of the heap.

Over the years trees and scrub have gradually grown over it.

Look very carefully at the base of the hill and you can see the now derelict reinforced store for the explosives used in the quarry.

Take Three Thursday: Wet Feet

On a Thursday I join Mary Lou in her meme Take Three Thursday. When we were out for a walk today we came to a place where the water was right across the lane. Labradors generally like water but as yet Poppy has had little experience of large pools and puddles.There was no way round so:-

1. You expect me to walk through that?

2. Well here goes...

3. Oh! It's no so bad after all!

I am sure you can imagine that my feet got quite wet too.

Before Visiting Time

Thank you for all the messages of concern about my mum. She has now moved to a small community hospital for rehabilitation. She is beginning to walk short distances with a lot of encouragement from us all.

This week my sister and I have taken it in turns to visit but today we decided to meet up first. Julie joined us for lunch and met Poppy for the first time. We had time for a very quick walk before we both went to visit mum. An ideal photo opportunity to take Poppy jumping in the turnips.

5 in 5 : The Mossy Side

I am actually going to manage to join in with Sandie's 5 in 5 on the correct day! I took my camera out with me the other day when I was walking on the edge of the quarry. I have mentioned a few times about the old quarry where red ochre was mined for colouring for bricks, tiles etc. Wherever there is mining there is waste and the old slag heap for the quarry is directly in front of the farmhouse. We refer to it as the tump and it now well covered in trees.

 I was walking along a track on the north side of this tump when I took these pictures. The ground is heavily covered in moss on many of the stones and logs. It is more obvious at this time of year when everything has died back.

It does give a contrast of colour against the brown leaves.

It almost looks soft enough to sleep on.

There is also a bit of history about with evidence of the pulley railway that ran down over the edge of the tump to bring slag up to the top. This was powered by a stationary steam engine. Little clues to its existence are still left.

The track opens out onto a field at the end with views for many miles.

Can You Change History?

It has become a bit of an annual event for us to go to a Christmas Concert each year with The Royal Marines Band. This is held at The Colston Hall in Bristol. It's a rousing start to the Christmas season with lots of familiar tunes and plenty of flag waving.

We will have to think of something else next year because The Colston Hall is to be closed for refurbishment. The main part of the hall is Grade 2 listed and is 150 years old this year. The front which used to house the foyer has quite a Byzantium style.

                                                                        Photo taken from the Internet.

A new grand foyer was added some years ago which also has restaurants and bars.

                                                                           Photo taken from the Internet.

It certainly makes for a very comfortable meeting area.

The Colston Hall has not been without it's own controversy these last few years. The hall was named after Edward Colston who had founded a school on this site. Edward Colston was a wealthy merchant and slave trader in the early 18th Century. He had profound influence in Bristol.It is thought by some that his name should be obliterated from the city. This includes two schools, a pub and several roads named after him. The slave trade was undoubtedly a terrible thing and its association with Bristol is indisputable but is it sensible to obliterate history?

The decision has been made influenced by a massive arts grant dependant on a name change. When the concert hall reopens in 2020 it will have a brand new name.

She has Grown Even More

I thought it might be time for a Poppy update. She not unsurprisingly is growing at quite a rate.

She is actually quite an obedient puppy but like all youngsters she has her moments. Somehow she managed to get stuck!

She hasn't quite sussed the size of things yet.

She will however have a very good try.

The Winter Hunt

It is of course the 1st December and the countdown to Christmas has started even without my advent candle! It is also time to start the :-

Joy and Eileen are co-hosting another Winter Photographic Scavenger Hunt this year. The only "rule" is that all photos should be taken during the duration of the hunt, which is 1st December 2017 to 21st March 2018. There will be a monthly linky on both of their blogs, and also a Facebook page is already up and running.

Here is the list:-

1. Men at work
2. Luggage
3. Domestic trivia
4. A Winter's Tale (or tail)
5. Passengers
6. Wrapping paper
7. On the water
8. Silver
9. In the making
10. Having fun
11. Library/Book shop
12. Stationery
13. A line of ...
14. Stones
15. Bow
16. A sense of history
17. Many
18. Signpost
19. A pair of ...
20. Detail
21. Handle
22. Symmetry
23. A heart
24. Steam/smoke/mist
25. A peek inside.

Two of these made me smile. The first is No.1 Men at work. 

What has happened to sex equality? I may just decide to expand that one to 'people at work'!

The other was No. 14 Stones as Poppy has started a bit of a collection in her bed which she has dug up in the garden. This photo is taken before the required date and to give you an idea of perspective the table slats are about 4 inches wide.

Does she have her eye on this lot now?