The Weekend Begins

The Easter weekend has started. Student Daughter came home last evening and the first guests of the weekend have arrived. 

The Easter 'tree' is done. 

It includes a few new decorations this year that I bought during my visit to Westonbirt.

Take Three Thursday: Three Together

The ewes were brought in on Tuesday ready for lambing. They happily followed the vehicle in from the field.

They are a bit slow getting going this year however yesterday we had just the right birth to join Mary Lou in her Take Three Thursday. 

Triplets.

When I went up to see them one was standing.

The other two were still snuggled under the heat lamp.

To make the three photos here is a photo taken by Farmer Daughter of all three and mum just after she got them into a pen.

A Splash of Yellow

The pots on mum's balcony are looking very good at the moment. The miniature daffodils are in full bloom.

These double daffodils are I believe called Rip Van Winkle. They have quite heavy heads but have survived the snowy weather pretty well.

Monkton Farleigh Walk Part 2

I am continuing from yesterday the second half of our walk around Monkton Farleigh with my walking group.

Our walk continued past the folly and we climbed down into the disused quarry. 

This area as I mentioned yesterday is managed by the Avon Wildlife Trust. There was little to see at this time of year but there are a large number of flora which grow here including 9 species of orchid and a variety of ferns and fungi.

Many of the old mines are also the habitat for the greater horseshoe bat. It is for these reasons that it has been designated as a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). 

When we left the quarry we walked back through woodland before emerging onto a path that crossed over to another area of historical interest which unfortunately I didn't take a picture of. A lot of the mines were used during WW2 by the ministry of defence as a massive ammunition store. It was one of three CADs (Central Ammunition Stores) in Britain. It even had a railway running into it to transport the ammunition. All that was really visible to us as we walked were mounds and vents in the fields.

We finally returned to the village passing the village pub. The Kings Arms is a 17th Century pub which according to the villagers has recently reopened. 

Unaware that it was open we had already booked into another local pub for lunch. 

A Walk Around Monkton Farleigh

Last Friday we had our monthly walk with my walking group. We met in the village of Monkton Farleigh which is situated just outside Bath between Bathford and Bradford on Avon. The route that my Sat Nav sent me was up a very steep road out of Bathford called Prospect Place. The trays of eggs that I had in the back of the car for everyone took a bit of a precarious slide as I ascended the hill!

It did not take us long on arrival in the village to spot that there was a village coffee morning happening in the village hall so we all rolled in for coffee and cake. I think we almost doubled their numbers but they were pleased to see us and made us very welcome. An extra table was soon put out for us and chairs found. One lady in particular was very attentive organising space for our walking gear and providing a lot of information about the surrounding area.

 Then it was off for the walk itself. We started down the main street passing some interesting houses some grander than others.

This gatehouse to the local Manor House has a particularly interesting chimney.

Our route took us past the village church.

We than walked out on a loop around the village where we passed an avenue of trees leading down from the Manor House towards South Wraxall. The avenue can be seen on the right of this picture.

We then looped back round to enter a woodland that is maintained as a nature reserve by the Avon Wildlife Trust. It was not long before we had a sight of a tower up ahead.

This is Browne's Folly and is built of bath stone. It dates from 1849 and was designated at a grade 2 listed building in 1988. It stands on the site of an old bath stone quarry. Thie oolitic limestone was used in the building of all the buildings in Bath. It is still a planning law today that all buildings should be faced with this pale cream stone. It is thought that the quarry owner Wade-Browne built the folly as an advert for his own stone plus to keep his workers busy during a quiet period.

It commands fantastic views over the River Avon and back towards Bath.

I will continue the rest of the walk tomorrow.

A Photo a Week Challenge: Nature's White

Nancy's challenge this week is to show a photo or so of the white in nature. The predominant natural white that we have seen recently has been snow which in photos can easily look very blue or grey or alternatively daz white!

Here are three white photos. The first also shows a 'white' shrub!

The natural shapes and patterns made by the drifting snow is always fascinating.

Then yet more as it begins to melt.

Robin Redbreast

All the birds are hungry in the cold weather and snow. I made sure I put extra food out for them. I also popped some fat balls on the bird table. These were particularly popular with the blackbirds and robins. I caught this little robin having a good feast.

More Fun

On Wednesday I posted my final choices for the photo hunt including a picture of Poppy "having fun". Poppy really enjoyed playing in the snow drifts and like a little child (or even a big child like me) seeks out every bit of snow that is left to walk in.

All of these were taken last Monday when there was still quite a lot of snow left.

She certainly knows how to enjoy herself.

Take Three Thursday: Emerging from the Snow.

Today I am joining Mary Lou with something I have noticed this week. The second blanket of snow that we have had this month started to melt on Monday. Several determined flowers began to reappear.

1.

2. 

3. 

Sure signs that Spring is here.

The Winter Photography Scavenger Hunt Final Choice

The time has come to show the final choices for this Winter's photo hunt. So here goes:-

1. Men at Work. 

I have enlarged the scope of this slightly to People at Work to acknowledge equality in the workplace. Farmer husband and farmer daughter are busy on a fencing job.

2. Luggage 

The cross section of a plane at the Bristol aerospace museum.

3. Domestic Trivia.

A lot of pancakes to make for Shrove Tuesday. A few dented eggs will be ideal for the job!

4. A Winter's Tale (or tail).

I have a number of scenic winter pictures but this one actually tells the story of what a very snowy day can mean on the farm. Delivering water, feed and bedding to the animals.

Then of course the winter tail!

5. Passengers.

The open top sightseeing bus in Bath is not over full on a chilly day in March especially on the top.

6. Wrapping Paper.

I completely forgot this prompt at Christmas when we were surrounded by wrapping paper. This is a close up of one of the offerings in Tescos.

7. On the Water.

The Pultney weir in Bath looking very angry after a lot of rain.

8. Silver.

An interesting sign outside an antique silver shop in Bath.

9. In the Making.

Christmas shortbread being prepared by student daughter.

10. Having fun.

Poppy loved playing in the snowdrifts. 

11. Library/ Bookshop.

These telephone box libraries seem to be popping up everywhere.

 

Or a bit of relaxing reading in a Bath cafe.

12. Stationery. 

I was a little stumped on this one until I remembered a box of old postcards. How times have changed from when a postcard was required to ask to be met from a train. A lot more planning was needed. This card was written by Grandmother to her sister. The A referred to is my grandfather. I cannot read the date but suspect he "went off" back to the army during WW1.

13. A line of.....

So many choices for this one.

I have got it down to two.

14. Stones.

A multicolour sample of rock with seams of red and yellow ochre.

15. Bow.

A model outside the Jane Austin Centre wearing a stylish hat.

16. A Sense of History.

Visiting Concorde in it's specially built hangar and seeing all the memorabilia definitely gave me a sense of history that I have lived through!

17.Many.

Many pennies cover this mini at The Royal Mint.

18. Signpost.

It speaks for itself.

19. A Pair of...

Very posh litter bins in The Circus, Bath.

20. Detail.

We came across this massive crocheted blanket on Bristol harbourside. This shows a small detail.

21. Handle.

In the garden shed.

22. Symmetry.

A calm day on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

23. A Heart.

A novel gift for Valentine's Day.

24. Steam/ smoke/mist.

The early sun reflected in the smoke from the wood burner.

25. A Peek inside.

Not my initial choice but this amused me. I wonder what is inside!

Finally a proper peek inside. Looking into a snowdrift.

A big thanks to Eileen and Joy for arranging this year's hunt.