Tag Archives: winter

Snow, Ice and Guinness

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 ArmsMasons Arms Branscombe 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.pubGIn 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.crochet and laptop

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 alongjurassic coast blanket in progress

Just coming up to half way.coastal colours, linen stitch

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

view

After the snow came the freezing rain and on Friday walking anywhere was lethal – lethal but beautiful icicles

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.

snowgrips

There was a crust of ice over everything

ice and snow

which made a wonderful crunchy sound as you made your way across it

I have never seen the effects of freezing rain beforeicicles on creeper

this whole tree was encased in iceice tree

The photos don’t really do it justice as the light was so low

freezing rain

the effect was spectacular

iced fir

iced tree

I thought the pub sign had a touch of ‘Daphne du Maurier’ about it.

pub sign

and in the fieldsice on wire, freezing rain

so much beauty to be found

even the catkins were frozeniced catkins

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

Photo Challenge: Winter Review

skye

Taken on the Isle of Skye in 2006, it is the photo that starts the Youtube clip at the end of the post.

So exciting to put this fabulous collection together – Winter photos with stories (and Haikus) to go with them:

Rainbow Jane: tracery and reflections

NanaCathy: powerful, with poetry

Melissaswan lake and more than one haiku

Me: nature’s glitter, with haiku.

Rosalind: Mediterranean Winter

RozGypsy Caravan in gorgeous setting and haiku

Cathy: beauty caught before it disappeared, with haiku.

Denis: Australian saunter with haiku

Jen: elegant birch

Ali at Thimberlina: joy and munching

Christina at ALookattheLittlethings: good neighbours

Dorris: the glisten of morning sunlight

*

12 great entries, with 4 of us also linking in Ronovan’s Haiku Challenge

Thank you so much everyone for joining in and making this such a fun thing to do – if I have missed anyone please shout out!

~

Appropriately we have had a wonderful week of Winterwatch on the BBC

which you can still catch on iPlayer, just click on the link above.

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I have been having a tidy up on the computer and came across this little slideshow of a beach mandala, gently transformed by the tide, that I made on the Isle of Skye about 10 years ago, a very timely find – hope you enjoy it.