I have delved into my archives to find today’s guest picture sent by my Somerset correspondent, Venetia last October. It shows a footpath that is not totally welcoming.
We woke to an altered view from our upstairs window.
The snow hadn’t got down as far as the town though and I was able to walk to our corner shop on surprisingly ice free roads.
Sandy, who had missed the camera club last night, came down for a cup of coffee and Mrs Tootlepedal combined having coffee with us with putting more coats of gesso on the rocking horse. The horse has been brought in from the cold and is enjoying life in our spare room. More importantly the gesso is going on a lot better and by the end of the day, the horse was looking a lot smarter…
…although there are several more coats to go on before it will be ready for painting.
When Sandy left, I did the crossword and kept an eye for action outside the kitchen window.
I got an unexpected chance to catch a regular visitor…
…which doesn’t usually sit quietly for long enough for me to take a picture.
In spite of the snow, it was a reasonably pleasant day with occasional bursts of sunshine and although the temperature was only 3°C and it had rained overnight in the town, we were mysteriously free from ice so I went for a walk half way up a hill.
I went up the Kirk Wynd and onto Whita, stopping before I came to any serious snow. The sun had been out when I started but sadly clouds had intervened and it was a pretty grey day.
Even on a grey day though, there is usually something to cheer a walker up and there was a good show of lichen on a wall….
…and the view up the Ewes valley always lifts the heart whatever the weather.
I was on the very edge of the snow line as I walked along the contour of the hill towards the Newcastleton road but the going was very good and I had sensibly taken my walking poles with me so I enjoyed myself.
And when I got to the road, I was rewarded with a sparkling display of moss among the snow on a wall…
…and a wintry view through the pines.
Looking back up the hill, I was glad that I hadn’t been tempted to climb up to the monument as it looked decidedly chilly up there.
I followed the road down to the A7 and walked along to the Kilngreen past this fine display of holly berries.
On the Kilngreen, the light seemed perfect for capturing the sinuous patterns of this picnic bench…
…and I was very happy to see Mr Grumpy on the bank of the Ewes Water. I haven’t seen him for some time and was getting worried about his health.
There was more agreement about the way to go among the mallards today.
Looking back towards the Sawmill Brig and Castle Hill, it was hard to imagine that I had been walking in snow not long before.
I got home and sat down to a nourishing plate of soup. Mrs Tootlepedal returned from helping out at the Buccleuch Centre cafe and I watched the birds for a while…
…being pleased to see a greenfinch and by accident I took a picture which shows how small our garden bird visitors are in the great scheme of things.
Whatever it is that is causing me to have discomfort when walking at the moment hadn’t been made worse by my walk so I decided that the roads were probably ice free enough to risk a few miles on the slow bike to see if that sort of exercise would help.
The sun came out…
…which was a bonus and I pedalled very gently for seven miles without meeting any icy patches or making my leg worse so I was very happy. I will try a longer ride next time when the weather permits.
In the evening, the ever busy Mrs Tootlepedal laid down her crochet hook and went off to act as front of house for a screening of the Queen of Spades at the Buccleuch Centre and stayed to see the opera. As Tchaikovsky is not my favourite composer, I stayed at home and did a little more work on learning the Carlisle Choir songs. Like putting gesso on a rocking horse, this is a slow business.
A chaffinch is the flying bird of the day as the visit of the sparrow hawk didn’t keep the birds away from the feeder for long.
Nice to see Mr. Grumpy again.
I agree.
The two trees set against the snowy hill – wow!
It did convey the day quite truthfully, I thought.
That view up the Ewes valley was a stunning photograph.
Well, there! A touch of snow. How it makes everything sparkle.
Those are beautiful wintry views from your area. The mosses, lichens and holly add a festive touch to the snow. The two lone bare trees against the snow covered hills and heavy grey skies makes an outstanding photo. I can feel the cold and damp all the over here to Oregon. 🙂
A very nice portrait of your visiting sparrow hawk. A fine specimen.
It has got fat eating garden birds. Lots of neighbours report frequent visits.
We have one here I think is a kestrel. I have looked out my window just in time to to see small birds diving into the lemon balm stalks next to the garage, the kestrel foiled in their attempt at grabbing one. I haven’t finished cutting back last year’s old dead growth back yet. Bushes and old weedy growth are definitely a plus for the little ones evading capture.
They are indeed. We have a little less cover in the garden this year as things have developed but we should be back to more cover soon.
Pleased to see you’ve tagged your ‘goldfinch’ as a greenfinch!
Thank you for your observation. I have amended the text so now no-one will know what your comment refers to!
🤣
You had a beautiful day. I love the shots of the snowy hills. We don’t see just the hilltops covered like that here. It’s all or nothing.
Nice shots of the lichen and moss. I should try to find moss spore capsules in snow.
Mrs. T. worked wonders with the gesso, and I’m not surprised.
When she has finished she will have acquired skills which she will never need again.
Maybe she could restore antique picture frames. She would have to learn gold leafing too though.
That is very fiddly work.
Yes.
An excellent gallery of photos! 🙂
A lovely photograph of the sparrowhawk!
And I was pleased that it didn’t pick off any of my avian visitors.
I am always happy to see one posing.
I was happy to see Mr Grumpy. He was what drew me into following your blog!
I am grateful to him then.
Can’t wait to see the rocking horse painted…
Agreed.
Great photos. A walk and a cycle ride and soup – careful about the excitement!
I had a lie down too so I was OK.
Good, you need to ration these things or they could get out of hand.
Whilst I know snow has its downfalls, it sure is pretty! The holly picture is lovely
I welcome a little snow as long as it knows when to stop.
Such lovely snowy views especially up the Ewes valley and along the snowline. Good to see Mr Grumpy too. Is there a Mrs Grumpy hiding away anywhere? The rocking horse looks somewhat shocked to discover he’d been beautifully gessoed look forward to seeing his new colours. Love the sparrow hawk photo- he’s a fine specimen.
I don’t know about the private life of Mr Grumpy. There is a heronry nearby so maybe he does have a friend.
I am looking forward to seeing the painted horse too.
The Ewes Valley shot was spectacular. That should go on the wall–sky and land, both beautiful!
Thank you for your kind words.
Mr Grumpy is looking…..well…..still grumpy. He must be healthy! 😉
I hope so.
The image of the hawk was excellent, but several of the landscapes from your walk were spectacular!
A good all round day.
That picnic table is the best ever. I saved the photo so I can remember it and maybe inspire someone to figure out how to make it.
I like it a lot.