January Roundup

The month of January seems to have flown by.  

 We watched the televised broadcast from London's River Thames Embankment on New Year's evening and enjoyed the fireworks.   The special lights in the sky were amazing.

Christmas Day was spent with our daughter at her family home. The complex consists of restored farm buildings out of town in the countryside.  The  stone houses are set around a main gravelled courtyard with mature birch trees in the centre and there are individual gardens for each house.  As there's farmland all around there'll be some good walks when the weather is better.     

 

Family group: me, daughter M holding her granddaughter

 (our new great granddaughter), Mr P holds our other great granddaughter.

our grandchildren and partners with their children

Daughter D made a fruit pavlova 

Daughter D and Mr P

Mr P and I have had quite a few medical and dental appointments this month.  It's always good to get these check ups done regularly.  There are medical issues to deal with, but we keep going.

I continue to enjoy blogging and the friendships made by making contact with folk around the world. 

That's all the news for now.  Have a good day everyone and a good weekend.

Friday Five and The Weather

Firstly I thought you might like to see some of the home made Christmas cards given by the family over the years put out on the mantelshelf each year and the recent Christmas greetings cards that have come in the post this week from overseas.

As you know we cancelled travelling to see our son and family and it's just as well as we've woken up to cold and frosty weather.  It's icy on the roads and we shall be staying home.  Our grandson has texted to say that he and his partner are coming for a visit next week on the way up to see his grandmother and other family members who live further north in York.  Let's hope they make it as the expected snow is imminent.  That also applies to our local granddaughter and daughter who were planning to visit, put up the Christmas tree and decorate it on Sunday afternoon. Travel is not easy at the moment especially those travelling by public transport because strikes have been happening or are planned for the Christmas period by public sector workers and will be continuing into the new year.

There are blue skies again today.

Frost on the ground which is unlikely to melt because of freezing temperatures.

The ice in bird baths is solid and I need to do something about that so that the garden birds get a drink. I suspect they're huddled up in the shelter of the hedge and other trees and bushes.

Plants are tucked up in the relative warmth of the covered yard.  Bulbs that were put away in a dark cupboard in the garage are beginning to show signs of life.  Each year I prepare hyacinth bulbs for the Christmas season and new year. 

In the garden despite the frost there are green shoots appearing.  New life is something to look forward to in the new year.

Meanwhile thank you for coming by and for your comments.  Take care and I'll be in touch again soon.

Have a lovely weekend whatever you're doing.

Season's Greetings

  Wishing you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

Recent days

This was the scene from our bedroom window earlier this morning.  It was still dark except for the street light in the lane reflecting onto the trunk of a lime tree and the glowing yellowy/red of the rising sun in the sky. 

 

The neighbourhood trees have now lost their leaves, but there's plenty of colour still in the garden.

 

It was time for some more baking and last week it was another chocolate cake and a small meat and potato pie for an evening meal.  As usual half of the cake gets given to our local daughter when she calls during the weekend with the shopping.  However, I've decided to do some online shopping now and again for the times when she or our granddaughter cannot come by with some shopping. 

The tomato plants have been cleared from the covered yard although there are still a few tomatoes still ripening indoors in the kitchen.  It's amazing to still have a few fresh tomatoes for cooking.  The citrus trees and pot plants have been brought indoors and Mr P continues to grow some onions and other vegetables. 

I've managed to get out for regular walks mainly in the local park and we've driven over to the next village of Bradfield, stopped and I did some walking in the lower area by Agden Brook.  I'll share some of my walking experiences next time. 

Finally, a touch of festive cheer was added to the front living room when our granddaughter came by and brought us a small Christmas tree which was then placed in the front window.  We don't put out the decorations until nearer to Christmas, but we appreciated the thoughtful gift.  I shall be thinking about making an Advent wreath and on Sunday I shall get out the Advent calendar that I recycle and use every year.

It's a while since I posted a blog, but I've been looking at yours when I can and always appreciate the comments you leave.  For those who had Thanksgiving I hope you had a good day.  Regards and all the best to everyone wherever you are as we journey into December.

Season's Greetings

Looking forward to our continued blog friendship in the new year, Linda.

A visit to Castleton, Derbyshire

Yesterday evening on the first Sunday of the Advent season I lit the Advent candle on the wreath that I made using greenery from the garden. 

Today we decided to go to Castleton to visit the Christmas Tree Festival in St Edmund's Church which has become a tradition for us since we've lived in this area.  It was a bright and dry day and it didn't take long to get there and in fact we were a little early for the opening up of the church so we went into the inn opposite to have a milky coffee and a warm mince pie.

As usual there were many Christmas trees each one decorated by local organisations such as those associated with rock climbing, caving, geology, rambling, care support, arts and crafts, education.

The models under this tree represent a ceremony that takes place in May when a garland of flowers is paraded around the streets of Castleton before being hoisted up onto St Edmund's Church tower.

The famous Blue John mineral mined in Castleton and other rocks and minerals were on display.

I asked about the Advent Wreath and a volunteer came and lit the Advent Candle Christ Light for me.

the children's corner

After our visit to the church we had a quick look in the windows of the little shops along the high street which I'll post next time.  The top of the highest peaks were covered in mist so we didn't drive through Winnat's Pass and instead turned around and went back home the way we had come.