Houses and Haute Couture

Spring is on its way as the birds are singing and are starting to collect things for nest building. They still needs their raincoats on as most days we are having torrential rain. The river Eden has been bursting its banks. These are photos I took on Monday.

Langwathby bridge where the river Eden has flooded into the access lane

On a moody Monday morning low cloud over the Pennines.

Large dramatic skies on the road to Melmerby

I had a visit to Bishop Monkton in North Yorkshire where the proud owners of this cottage have a smalll bird in their front garden!

Cock a doodle do, how big are you?

Beauty can be found in simplicity.

I love the gate fastening on this rustic gate

Last Saturday was sunny so I went to the Artful Garden to plant onions. I was wonderful to work in the fresh air and get back to digging. The ground was extermely wet but I got Stuttgarter and red onions planted and my last clove of Solent Wight garlic.

Onions in neat rows

The dragonflies are there as bird scarers as birds like nothing more than to pull up onion sets.

The dragonflies are suffering from the wet weather they will be refurbished in Spring 

I managed to weed the bulb and herb bed. I put manure around the rubarb and I have left the dead sunflowers in place as they add some architectural interest to the garden.

The daffodil bulbs will soon be in flower

I have been making many pottery items. These are some of my pottery houses. Each house is individually made and I tend to have a different style to each batch I make. This selection are mainily round houses. All these houses are for sale.

Leaves and flowers

Can you see the small slit windows?

Can you see the chimney pot?

Shades of blue

Lots of flower texture

All the houses are very organic

Flower dream home

These are some more designs of my pottery hearts.

Front view

Back view

Looby Loo and Bobby Barley are enjoyng the snowdrops scatterd in the orchard.

Chillaxing in the orchard

Boozy Floosy was delighted to get a new white with red spots raincoat. She found her previous blue coat too drab. This new coat also has a hood which will help to keep her hair dry but not obscure her hat.

Bozzy's cat walk special

Crazy Masie is feeling glum. She has inherited the blue raincoat as her knees were getting very cold as the wind kept blowing her skirt above her knees. Blue is too drab for her personality but then knees must.

Crazy Maisie suffering from the blues

Snow and Signposts

On Sunday I went searching for snow on Hartside at the top of the Pennine range. There was only a little snow on the drive up from Lazonby but once we started to walk behind Hartside cafe we were not disappointed. 

The view from Hartside looking towards Cross Fell.

A barren and beautiful landscape

The view looking towards the Eden Valley.

Snow and sky a stunning combination

A beautiful snow drift.

Wave patterns in the snow

Frozen overhanging snow

A pocket  in the snow

Sometimes hollows appear in the snow and you can see the vegetation underneath. 

A snow beard

The depth of the snow was deceptive as I was walking on the heath. You could suddenly find your foot sinking into a 30cm pile of snow that always managed to leave a snowball in your walking boot.

Deep feet

The snow had formed ice crystals which twinkle and shine.

Snow crystals

Glistening snow

I have been taking photos of the old metal signposts that appear on the lanes around where I live. They were put up when the county was know as Cumberland. They are always painted black and white.

The black and white stripe of Cumberland County Council

A circular top

Interesting place names

The lampposts are in different states of repair

At a local road junction

A single post

The crocus have now come into flower and the daffodils are in bud. Spring is on it's way.

Bonny purple crocus

Crocus and daffodils

Enjoying Edinburgh

The weather this week has been variable. We have had strong winds with an amber warning on Wednesday with wind speeds of 80 mph, rain and some sleet and a little snow. 

Snow on Cross Fell

This week I had a trip on the train to Edinburgh. I found a lovely traditional cheese shop in the Grassmarket part of the town.

What a lovely selection and look at all the different shapes

Cheeses made in Scotland and beyond

Edinburgh castle is very dramatic and sits on top of a rocky hill. 

Access is only by one route

Encompassing the natural environment and built to last

Looking over the city to the hills in the distance.

A view from the walk up to the castle

An imaginative skyline

Look at the beautiful coat of arms over the entrance.

Unfortunately no sentry in the box

This stag memorial was on the approach to the castle.

A royal stags head

I love the name of this cafe.

Brilliant humour guaranteed to make you smile

St Giles cathedral is located on the Royal Mile. The Thistle Chapel has some beautiful carvings. 

A beautiful lamp on a pew

The blue cross for St Andrew and the red cross for St George

Exquisite carving

We had lunch in the Witchery Secret Garden full of atmosphere where you could dine in style. 

Full of character and scrumptious food

In the Artful Garden the snowdrops in the orchard are now in full flower.

A carpet of white bells

 These are my pottery leaves that I have hung in the lilac tree.

Shades of green and red

The design is based on an actual leaf

Autumnal colours