I have long had a bit of an obsession with the weather in this country.. being true to my British side.. and I love to listen to the weather reports.. especially the shipping forecasts that speak of mythical places to my mind...Viking ,North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher and German Bight.. These wonderful names conjure up far off lands that belong to the world of C S Lewis..
This last week has seen the most beautiful of weather conditions.. sharp frosty mornings with dazzling lapis blue skies.. that softly melt in to the amber glow of a winter solstice sunset...
Perfect!
Mr Pickles having had a reprieve and being removed from the Christmas bazaar due to family protestations.. has become my faithful morning barometer..
He is always the first to press his nose against the front door.. eager to go outside and survey his kingdom... for the last two days he has revved up to leap outside and like some comic book character..screeched to a halt within millimetres of his nose hitting the cold air.. doing a sharp U turn and retreating inside to curl up in a suitable nest for the day...after a quick game of hunt the walrus..................................................... don't ask!
Sunday morning was a particularly stunning morning.. a heavily frosted landscape greeted me when I opened the curtains and instead of joining the multitudes ..pounding the pavements in town.. we headed in the opposite direction.. for the sublime peace and stillness of this corner of Bath... St Catherine's Valley..
A very short drive from the madding crowds and another planet altogether...
Wrapped up like the Michelin Man character.. we stumbled along a wooded footpath .. savouring the frosted landscape and in the back of my mind.. a half pint of Guinness and a roast beef sandwich was calling me from a nearby Inn...
I still haven't got the urge to join the annual pilgrimage to the retail mecca of town... and I know that sooner or later I will have to take the plunge and join the slightly frazzled throng to purchase my Christmas pressies.. but till then.. I am happy to sit by the fire and contemplate my next mince pie..
I would like to thank all of you who have purchased some of my Cowboys & Custard merchandise... I am so very grateful.. It will all go in the Mince Pie kitty!
I have just one last item to share with you ...
Long time ago.. in another life.. I loved to paint and doodle.. and one day this character was born on my sketch pad... His name is Horace the Hare.. Here are some note cards or Christmas cards.. whatever you wish them to be... A set of 5 for £5.00 inc postage.... I call them.. Wish Upon A Star cards....
My last posting date will be Friday 19th December...
Have a lovely cosy week .. one and all! XX
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Frozen assets..
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24 comments:
What gorgeous photos! I am joining you on, I suspect, a very short list of people who haven';t done any Christmas shopping in town yet. I'm dreading it ... So Pickles is not coming to live with me then, oh dear what will I tell the girls ...
I love Horace, he is very special isn't he.
Mx
I understand you so well, weather concerning. I see a lot od weather sites, I compare them, then I look to my barometer only to say: "well they don't understand anything about. Each one say a diferent thing."
About Christmas shopping. I'm going today, again, to do some.
Alfazema
Love Horace !!
He looks so cheeky - wish I could draw.
He looks like he would make really good childrens books - I'd love to hear about his adventures
Sara
X
I thought it was just me that found something vaguely comforting about the 'shipping forecast'?!! What is that, I wonder? Anyway, love your frosty photos - you did exactly the right thing in walking the other way from town & all the Madness!
Mr Pickles - looking as fab as ever - does he have an Agent, I wonder? He's looking very 'Hollywood' in that action shot!
Willow x
P.s. I love the little Thank You cards, they are fabby!
...thanks to the internet, etsy and various fairs we have still managed to avoid the city and have finished our christmas shopping...and will continue to do so untill we go to the german market..I hate the pushing and pulling and sheer stress of busy cities...loved the pictures...would love to visit there myself...it looks lovely...
Oh my that Horace looks quite a character!
Stunning frosty photographs, it's hard to think of venturing into town with so much lovliness to look at.
While Mr. Pickles plays hunt the Walrus each morning, Daisy does her daily aerobics by running up and down the stairs repeatedly. It sounds more like a herd of cattle however. Then she settles down for a bit of yoga.
I think Christmas pressies are a bit over-rated and I am buying very few this year. I also avoid the busy shopping centers during the holidays.
Horace is a lovely creature and looks like he is wishing for a quiet day in the woods also!
Lovely photos of your walk. I love walking on crisp cold days but the OH prefers it to be mild and damp. Like you I listen to the shipping forecast and imagine the trawlermen and ships, particularly when the weather is stormy and I am grateful to be in a warm, snug place.
Lovely photos, Michele, taking me into another world...which is just what I feel I need right now!!
;-)
Why Michele do we feel like this about the Shipping Report, is it something that is in our blood?
I too and Mr N...have really been enjoying the frosts...do you feel all warm inside.
Carole and I are so looking forward to Jan 09...
I will be going in for my op next Thursday...keep everything crossed for me.
Take care,
Much love,
Carol xxx
St Catherine's Valley... what a dream!! Hubby and I too love to walk in the wood with our dog, to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Holiday shopping...
... Beautiful place! Thanks for sharing!
I love the shipping forecast too. I find it so calming and meditative...
Such beautiful frosty pictures. That's one of the things I love about Bath: how close it is to the countryside. Gorgeous.
I've done all my shopping online. I went into Kingston once--just to buy wrapping paper--and nearly lost the will to live! K x
I love Mr Pickles!!!! Sure you don't want to sell him???? Great photo's :)
Thank you for the gorgeous goodies that turned up safely (and so quickly) today. I love them. Thank you too for the beautiful card.
I am not far behind you with the Christmas shopping having done one big shop and a lot of little shops on nice websites. I must admit though, the ventures I have had into town have not been that fruitful, I'm just not impressed or taken with all the usual tut that is on offer!
Hi Michele
Fabulous photos as usual. Similar story re the frozen hedgerow. Quite a phenomenon (I always want to add far too many omenons to that word) ....... So glad someone else has witnessed something similar.
Don't be silly - no guilt required! As a friend of ours says, 'guilt is an over-rated pastime!' so think no more of it!!
Yes, Saturdays at DH and Sundays except when I'm at the Giant Flea at Shepton (14th Dec).
Sue xx
Hi Michele,lovely post, your photos capture the weather at the moment beautifully.I love it when the weather does what it should...I have enjoyed popping by and visiting your Christmas bizarre-love Horace. Good luck with it all Michele and may your mince pies be many,Annie x
All your photo's are stunning, but the second one...aaa to live in a flat country, I must have done something really evil in a former life ;-).
That shop in the previous post is to die for. Is it yours? Horace is great! Good luck in selling his note cards! Enjoy your day!
I think a frosty day is always more beautiful than a snowy one...and your pictures confirm it.
I'd skip the Christmas shopping - do it all on the internet like me; with a cup of something warm, whilst listening to carols...lovely!
Deb x
PS: I've passed on an award to you x
your landscape photos are wonderful! I"m glad I'm not the only one who spends country walk pondering the refreshments! t.xx
Oooh, how fabulous is Horace??
Thanks for your message, suggest you don't bother to buy Christmas presents but instead email/phone everyone you feel you should be buying presents for and suggest none of you do this year. Sorted! Bah bah bah bah BAH HUMBUG!!! Grrr.
Lovely Pickles shot.x
Horace is a handsome hare indeed!
Mince Pie Kitty? What has Pickles been up to - is that mince pies in the kitty? ;-) He'd probably prefer mouse pies....
Michele, fantastic photos of your neck of the woods, and how I envy the mince pies, your cards of Horace are so cute, best of luck with the sales. Mr. Pickles sounds like our two cats, Felca (White Fella) and Kitten Girl (Majesty) who dont seem to want to leave the house at all these days. hugs Margie.
What a lovely place for a walk, we just havnt had any good frosty mornings here yet and i am very envious of all these lovely pictures of snow and frost Im seeing. Our cats are just the same as Mr Pickles, especially Boris who doesnt like to get wet, I have to dry him when he comes in even slightly damp or he sits there and moans at me till i do and pushes stuff of the units in the kitchen. Why dont you just give everyone one of your lovely creations and save on the shopping! Love Jane xxx
Well, if you can substitute the town of "Hyannis" for "Bath", then I haven't done my shopping yet either! The landscape you have shown is stunning, to say the very least!
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