Last weekend I went to Branscombe, Devon for a ‘Walk of Life’ workshop.
But
The Beast from the East was foretold and this Beast would clash with Storm Emma and cause all sorts of dire conditions
I wondered if the workshop would still take place, but Helen seemed very determined that it would go ahead so I decided to go a day early to get there before the worst of the weather was due to descend upon us.
I got there just in time, as just a couple of hours after I was cosily ensconced in Nestlecombe, the walk across the road to the Masons Arms was getting icy and the village was soon to be cut off for all except farm vehicles.
In the pub I found a log fire, a warm welcome and a handsome young French bartender. I ordered mushroom soup and Guinness… I do love a draught Guinness.In his strong French accent, the bartender asked me what I was doing in Branscombe.
“I’m here for a dance workshop on the beach,” says I
“I was not expecting that!” he said, we laughed!
After lunch, while the storm raged and the snow fell, I was snug back in my holiday let, happily watching ‘Shetland’ on iPlayer and doing some more of my Jurassic Coast blanket.
This is currently my go to project when I just want to do rows and not have to think too much about the pattern. Easy to do in front of the TV.
I laid it on the bed to see how it was coming along
Keeping to coastal colours in Stylecraft Special DK, 4.5mm hook and in Extended Moss Stitch, which I think is also called Linen Stitch.
The view from the bedroom window
After the snow came the freezing rain and on Friday walking anywhere was lethal – lethal but beautiful
so I just had to get out there with the camera – luckily I had my walking stick and Snow Grips with me. I’ve had them for years and never used them before.
There was a crust of ice over everything
which made a wonderful crunchy sound as you made your way across it
I have never seen the effects of freezing rain before
this whole tree was encased in ice
The photos don’t really do it justice as the light was so low
the effect was spectacular
I thought the pub sign had a touch of ‘Daphne du Maurier’ about it.
so much beauty to be found
more icy photos to come …….
Click on any photo to see it larger.
(PS. I was the only one who turned up for the Workshop! Wimps! Ha!)
Now I’m going to pop over to Cathy’s for a good ol’ Knit and Natter Friday
Those icicles!
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I know!!!!
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A great experience and wonderful photos. As expected, you still made the most of your weekend 😀
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Certainly was Cathy, and I certainly did! It was wonderful – I wouldn’t have had half such a good time if I had been snowed in at home!
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Your pictures are amazing! Funnily enough our friends took us on a walk in the hills around Branscombe , we had thick fog and rain so a visit to the Mason’s Arms was always welcome after our trek! Sarah c
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Thank you Sarah, I was so happy to be out with my camera.
What a shame you had foggy, rainy weather – go back somtime if you can – the views atop the cliffs are truly spectacular – I walked from Beer to Branscombe on a glorious day a few years ago. You can see the photos here: https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/wednesday-walk-along-beer-to-branscombe-1/
and here:
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So lucky to getoout and see all those wonderful things. Really enjoying looking at your photographs.
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I’m so glad to know you are enjoying the snowy photos Jane. There are more – but it does seem rather old news now that the sun is shining again! I’ll be sure to squeeze them in somewhere though. 😉
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The Guinness looks good
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Nothing quite like a good draught Guinness Deb!
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Too right
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😉
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We heard about your storm even down here – it must have been very cold and kudos to you for getting yourself there in good time – even if you were the only attendee….. Wimps indeed! I have ‘ice crackers’ for my walking boots and wear them several times every winter when we have heavy frosts that leave the ground dangerously icy. (I didn’t need them last winter though as it was so mild.) I think I’m getting too old to spend any more time upside down on the icy ground, so I am prepared to take extra precautions! I hear tell we are in for our third cyclone this summer in a couple of days, in a country that had about three cyclones last century. And then last night I read that an ‘out of control’ Chinese space station is due to crash to earth soon, possibly on us. It’s all go here in the far south 🙂
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Crumbs!!! It sounds a bit scary down there! I’m amazed you heard about our storm – the media do like to go to town on these things sometimes don’t they. I love the sound of ice-crackers! I’m with you on being very careful nowadays – there is only me to take care of me, so I’d best do it well!!
I am so enjoying seeing your blog posts about your lovely bloggers reunion – thanks for sharing – such a happy band of bloggers, and you are doing such amazing things, it is wonderful to be a fly-on-the-wall.
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Thanks for coming along for the ride – I think it shows that anything can happen when you blog – I certainly never dreamed of getting to know so many wonderful and talented people and then when I did that it never occurred to me that we could possibly meet up……… Life is a rather wonderful little container of possibilities! Who knows what could happen next?
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It certainly is! Exciting to see what next! 🙂
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Nature gives so much beauty…even when we humans can find it difficult, we can open our eyes, or camera to see. Lovely photographs of icycles. Will there be crocheted fossils on that blanket?
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You read my mind Noelle! There might be some ammonites as shown in this post:https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/2018/01/03/yarn-along-is-back/
I am making the blanket for my 22 year old nephew, When it is nearly finished I will show him the ammonites and see what he thinks.
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What a lovely time you had being safe in the midst of snow & ice! So rewarding to make it safely, venture cross the road to a warm pub, and top it off with cosy needlework in front of a Shetland episode. Ah! The pleasures of life don’t get much better, unless there’s magical photogenic ice everywhere. Thanks for sharing! xx
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Yes indeed! It was a perfect combination for me. So lovely to have you enjoy it with me Del.
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Those pics are amazing! I have never seen anything like it!
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Thank you Ali, glad you enjoyed sharing in the brrrrrrrr with me.
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Ice storms are beautiful, especially if the timing is right and the ice isn’t too heavy. This seems to be a perfect example, all the beauty without the destruction! What a great adventure!
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Exactly so Kathy and it was here and gone very quickly – we got off lightly compared with other places in the world.
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P.S. to those not used to dealing with snowstorms that might cripple transportation: If a storm like this is forecasted again, stock up ahead of time, not only with food but with meds too, if you take them. In Maine, it’s something we do on a routine basis. In fact, we always have a good supply of canned food—baked beans, soup—as well as crackers and peanut butter.
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Great tips Laurie! Thank you! ❤
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I am very familiar with ice storms, and unlike many other storms, they leave beauty as well as destruction in their wake. Sounds like you had a cozy time, even if the workshop didn’t work out. Glad you had those grippers!
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I felt very smug about having remembered to take those grippers! 😉
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Yes!
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I hate freezing rain but it does produce magical results, for picture-taking purposes! You got some wonderful shots!
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Thank you Kerry. As a one-off it was fascinating, but I wouldn’t want it every year!
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I sincerely hope the workshop went ahead with just you there. Your pictures are lovely. I have never seen frozen rain it looks incredible.
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Well, Helen did offer me a personal session in the Village Hall, but I couldn’t quite persuade myself to go for that – prancing around on my own did not appeal.
The freezing rain was something to behold, I’ve never seen it before either. I’ve seen icicles of course but not in my bit of Dorset since 1978!
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Ice is beautiful but oh so dangerous. It is good that you have ice grips. We use ours several times per winter. They make walking the dog in the snow and ice much easier. Your new blanket looks gorgeous. I hope you enjoyed your holiday despite the ice.
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I’m always very careful in the ice – a friend of mine broke both wrists one year, falling just outside her house – horrible.
I did have a wonderful time – there is such a warm sense of camaraderie in a village cut off by the snow.
Stay safe with your pooch Lisa.
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Those icicles are amazing!
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I’ve never seen icicles like that before in this part of the world and I remember the snows of 1963! It really was somehting to see – I’m so glad I was in such a beautiful place to experience it all.
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Did you get to dance on the beach?
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Only in my head!
I did meet up with Helen and we had a good chat. She has re-scheduled the workshop for September.
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Let’s hope that the weather is kinder in September!
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Late September is often balmy isn’t it – that’s what I’m ordering. 😉
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Fingers crossed
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What a great experience – all the good things about weather like that! We didn’t get any snow where I am in Wales!
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Gosh – didn’t you – I thought you would have done. It really was an amazing experience, especially being just half a mile from the sea.
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Yes, unbelievable. We still had to suffer no shop deliveries as nothing could get to us from the outside – we’re still not back to normal in that respect.
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It is taking a long time here (back in Dorset) too – the shelves were pretty empty in the Co-op yesterday with no fresh milk at all……. still!
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