Before the snow!

We knew the snow was coming and on this particular Saturday the sun was shining and the air was still crystal clear. What better excuse to get out and go for a walk in the countryside. Having looked at a map and various National Trust publications we decided to visit a place called Scotney Castle. Unfortunately, the house and gardens were closed for the winter and not due to open for a few weeks but the general public are still allowed to wander through the estate. This we did. It was wonderful! Walking in the fields you had to be careful where you placed your feet! Apart from that it really was lovely to be well wrapped up and able to enjoy the crisp frosty weather before the impending bad weather which heralded snow!

The sheep did not seem to mind us walking amongst them. They simply raised their heads, checked us out and resumed the serious business of eating!

I am told sheep actually prefer the dry, crisp frosty days rather than wet wintry ones because although their wool is waterproof I guess I wouldn't want to sit around in my wool coat on a wet day feeling soggy!

I must admit it was great to walk around without seeing any snow, just for a change!

Can you imagine choosing to take a walk around your estate if it looked like this? How the other half live!

Some wonderful quilt items

It's snowing outside, cold and wet so what better time to go internet browsing!  I decided to see what I could find in a team I belong to called Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team or BBEST for short!

Since we are experiencing above average snow fall for UK I thought I would turn my thoughts to finding quilted items whether they are useful or just really attractive and pretty.

 

Circles 'n Squares Small Textile Art

Liz Plummer, who hails from the UK,  describes this quilt as a small quilted wallhanging which  is a colourful, playful one which would look great in a child's room or to brighten up a gloomy room. Particularly if you like sweets/candy!

 

Another form using quilting is from Libertybelle's shop

 

Flower Fairy Fabric Postcard

This pretty fabric postcard is made with flower fairy fabric and has been embellished with cute little pink heart buttons. It is finished with lace and hand embroidery.

I don't know about the title of this one except winter flurries might be more appropriate!

 

 

Art Quilt Autumn Flurries

by Artmixter who explains that this hand dyed cloth is raw edge applique'd onto a rich blue velvet base, sprinkled with sequin leaves that spiral in the painted and stitched spiral of the wind, with a golden flower in the centre.

No amount of chat etc would allow this team to focus away from one important influence.......

.... that of chocolate!!

Karen Quilted and Beaded Bag in Chocolate and Blue

Chocolate brown and blue 100 percent cotton fabrics, long brown and pink beading, and silver metal accents make the Karen bag one you will grab often thanks to Kimbuktu

 

Since you now have the chocolate, how about a nice warm cup of tea?  The tea would have been kept warm by placing the teapot in this cute tea cozy by Nonnie60.

 

Quilted Mini Tea Cozy - Country/Folk Art Design

This mini-tea cozy was designed and sewn by Nonnie using a quilted cotton fabric in a country or folk art design. It was designed specifically for the nesting 2C pot and cup, which when assembled stand approximately 6" high. It also accommodates any 1C mini-pot. as shown in the main photo. It can also rest on top of a large mug to keep coffee or tea from cooling off too quickly.

Tempted yet?  Why not browse some more?  You will be amazed at the talent in this group!!!

Jack Frost and his grip!

As many of you know from my precious posts, my husband and I love to go for walks in National Trust properties.  Our favourite is Sheffield Park where we have spent many a delightful hour strolling around at different times of the year to view the plant life, birds and lakes in all their glory.  Each season is different and each visit within that season shows up another treasure.

This weekend Jack Frost was paying many of us a visit but as the freezing fog lifted we were able to see the branches of the trees outlined with white crystal ice.  The picture was beautiful!  Unlike when snow nestles in the crooks and crannies of branches the ice gave a very surreal and delicate look.  This was first seen as we drove through Ashdown Forest which was originally a deer hunting forest in Norman times!  It is a great place for walking and enjoying spectacular views over the Sussex countryside and is known the world over as the 'home' of Winnie the Pooh.

So, we stopped the car to park up so that yours truly could take a couple of photos such as these:  Although they were taken in colour they give the impression of black and white.... well nearly!   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This has to be one of my favourites to illustrate how the branches of the trees were caught up in the ice age.  Banks of trees laden with ice whilst the close up picture shows how delicately the branches appeared.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now it was time to move on to Sheffield Park.  Normally awash with colour throughout the year there was still plenty of contrast.  Here we look down the series of ponds to the main lake.  The main difference between here and Ashdown was that the ice on the trees had mostly melted.  However, the water in all the lakes in the park remained iced over with different amounts of ice.

The swans and ducks were restricted in their feeding areas to a small patch where visitors to the park could come to feed crusts of bread.

 

 

 

 

I mentioned the contrasts you could see.  Well, have a look at these palm trees standing frozen by the lake.  Normally seen in desert this certainly proved a different type of desert; one of ice!  

 

Meanwhile I couldn't resist taking this photograph of icicles formed at the edge of a weir that fed the lakes.

 

Here is another view of a waterfall that has been stopped in its tracks!

 

 

 

And so, having taken loads of photographs and walked around taking in all the beautiful sights we decided we would welcome the car ride home and that all important hot cup of tea!

It was really cold!

In order to blow the cobwebs my husband and I decided to visit Wakehurst Place which is not too far a drive from our house.  It was just a couple of days into the new year and the weather, though dry, was really cold!

One of the views we had promised ourselves was that of a huge tree near the main house which had been decorated with loads of light bulbs which were to be lit every afternoon just prior to the closing of the park.  We got there around 3.30pm to walk around a little whilst waiting for the lights to be switched on.  Boy, was it cold! It was OK at first as we were well wrapped up and the sun was still throwing its last rays on the house and surrounding areas.  Amazingly, there were still a number of visitors walking about looking like us, waiting for the lights to be switched on!  Here you can see a view of the front of the house from across a lake with about three quarters of an inch of ice.

Even the birds were finding it hard work.  At one stage we saw some seagulls fighting over some bread that had been cast on the ice only to be slithering all over the place!

Ducks and moorhens were trying to manoeuvre across the ice to reach the bread that visitors had thrown for them.  If you look closely here this moorhen has found a large crust!

All this was all very well but when were the lights going to be lit?

 

Here the sun was shining on this tree and creating a lovely pink colour accentuating the branches towards the top of the tree.

Finally!! The lights were switched on!  It was hard to photograph since the sky still held the last of the daylight.  Still, you could see vestiges of the moon to the upper right and judging by the clear blue sky with not a cloud in sight we were due for a very cold night.

Best to return to the car to put the heater on and whilst driving home we looked forward to a hot cup of tea and the remainders of the Christmas cake to warm us up!