A Weekend Surprise

Well Saturday we visited Stokesay Castle -below is the North Tower and my header pic was taken from the ramparts of the South Tower-zoomed in of the River Onny - I loved this view it was cold up there - the wind blowing strongly.
Stokesay is not so many miles from us - but somewhere we have driven past but never stopped - Stokesay is an English Heritage site and we have just become members so we thought why not and what an hidden gem-it does not have a history of wars and battles but was more a wealthy family home and manor house- built in the 12th century by Laurence of Ludlow a wealthy wool merchant and land owner.
I am posting a few pics taken on the day - click on the pictures for a larger view

This is the North Tower and below from a different angle

I was fascinated by the shapes and angles of it - below- this room is a haunt for the Pipistrelle bat - I hope that is the correct spelling - anyway I could not see any evidence of the bats but there was a few old swallow nests up in the eaves I like bats - apparently they return in the evening

The buildings are impressive and so is the church of St John the Baptist this shot below was taken from the South Tower over the roof of the Great Hall and towards the church

I was fascinated by the steep stone stairways all around the castle and thought sadly of those poor sevants long ago trundling up and down those stairs and up and down again

We were given audio tapes at the entrance gate to listen to as we moved around the castle and they were very good - describing what would have gone on in the hall (see pic above) - the colourful clothes - jesters - singing and dancing - best silverware on the tables laden with food as guests were entertained.

 I have added a link which gives you a little more history of Stokesay and a fantastic pic - taken from the bottom end of the churchyard - anyway itis much better than mine - so we shall have to return to get that shot without a doubt!!-it really is a must.

The above shot looks out from the Great Hall to the Gatehouse and below is a complete look at the Gatehouse

The garden was beginning to wake up ready for Spring 

Aconites

Snowdrops

and Hellebores

We talked to a warden - she said she had worked at Stokesay for a number of years and had fallen in love with it over the years - she told us the gardens had so many changing faces throughout the year - herbaceous plants - the apple trees - roses - providing colour throughout the year. I am sure we will return - thankyou for calling linking to Our World Tuesday- Jane  

January Walk

Out and about breathing in the crisp air -the  dogs enjoying their early morning run -

 the trees  are bare

- but look at those shapes -

soon each tree will be covered in summer colours - but for now  now each one is different -

standing proud,




We were watched from above by a haughty crow

- who was lazilly  drinking in the rays of sunshine and in the tree above a woodpecker tapped furiously - but I didn't spot him and then a reply from the trees beyond another bout of furious tapping

Shropshire has escaped the snowfall so far this week  in the UK - except on the higher ground - look at the distant hills in my pics.

- just frost for us and muddy fields when the sun wages war on the frost.

Not much colour to report - but I did glimpse a flash of gold

from the broom and the teasels stood out above the bushes  - click on the pics for the bigger picture

-see my header pic - the route that I have taken has not been accessible for a few weeks - to muddy - especially with a predominately white dog who loves to run like  crazy through all the wettest of places  - so until next time - I am linking to Our World  Tuesday today - Jane

Out and About

A great way to brush away those cobwebs is to get out and about in the countryside and to link up to  Our World Tuesday - so pulling the socks and boots on - hats and scarves being essential - here are a few pics to give you a birds eye view uf our weekend.

A  walk on the Clee Hills in Shropshire was the choice - we have only ever driven through this area before - it is approximately 40 miles from our home - such freedom

- Brown Clee is the highest point - height being 540 m -

yesterday it was bitter cold with a brisk wind and sharp showers  - but even so the sheep were up for a photo shoot -

posing I swear

for the camera.- click on the pictures for a closer look

We returned home yesterday and watched silently the peoples march in Paris on the television our hearts and thoughts were with each and every  one of those people on the crowded streets

 Earlier in the week we had taken a stroll along the canal towpath at Cheswardine - a bit of a murky day with a few sunny spells

It was pretty muddy so care needed to be taken not to land head first in the canal 

It was lovely to see that the swans had managed to successfully  bring 3 cygnets through the winter months - almost grown .... and that song - how does it go  -There  once was a ugly duckling ,,,,,

with feathers all stubby and brown

And the other birds said in so many words - Get out of town - well not any more for this one and his or her  siblings  - what an elegant bird this will be come Spring  

Enjoy your week - Jane 

Christmas Wishes and Helleborus

Hello - well all we need is a little dusting of snow -only a touch will do to finish off the Christmas preparation - it is wet and windy here - and I must say it feels pretty cold -I am linking today with Macro Monday and am posting pictures of my Helleborus - I love them - so wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year   xx Jane

Odds and sods

Well hello you bloggers out there - hope you are all ok - it has been a funny old month here - OH  has tripped over and smashed his ribs up - so I have needed to take over all manual duties - which has been a bit of a laugh - with me with a gammy hand after my broken wrist in the summer - having difficulty even  with getting into a jar of bolognese sauce and having to flag down the first person to pass the drive gate to unscrew the jar to much hilarity - anyway we have survived and now are able to fit in the odd social event and get out and about.

A trip into Shrewsbury

- Christmas Shopping and a spot of lunch at our favourite coffee shop

on Bear Steps

- lots of atmosphere and lots of past history in times gone by - close by
St Akmunds church
-take a glance in the other direction - Grope Lane -

Click on to get the bigger picture

Christmas lights are so pretty this year - my header picture was taken on Wyle Cop.- this is Mardol

 Nantwich is a little town in Cheshire a place we sometimes like to visit - this is  the church tower of St Marys

- on the way back home that day we decided to call at Moreton Corbett castle - there was a beautiful sunset

and perfect conditions for a few pics

- and of course to  top the list - a visit to Shrewsbury Station

and a long wait rewarded with a steamer on the station

Very atmospheric

- it was a cold frosty evening

 and earlier that day we caught this steamer roaring down the line

-pic  taken from a tiny bridge over the line -imagine the excitement -  best wishes to you all  - Jane  linking today to My World Tuesday

Looking back - my entry for Macro Monday 2

I am posting to Macro Monday 2 - I feel the need to dream of summer days and the buzzing of bees in my garden -I  tried this year to encourage the bees and butterflies by setting their friendly plants.

So relaxing to spend time in the garden - working away to the buzz of bees - you know we take so much for granted in our busy lives - relaxing with nature can be so medicinal and rewarding

 The foxgloves below are semi wild I think - they are self setters - meaning they self seed here and there but always they look fantastic and add style to the garden

 

the pictures posted are my favourites from the different seasons of the year - this Red Admiral butterfly below  seemed to wait patiently for the picture to be taken - or maybe it was blissfully supping the nectar of the plant

This shot below was taken last summer while out on a dog walk so is not my garden and I am not sure what the plant is - do you know? 

This bee below was blissfully browsing in the gardens at Hidcote - a fantastic garden in the Cotswolds well worth a visit if you can - click on the pics for a better look

Do you know I feel really uplifted - thinking of those summer days -Happy Macro Monday to you all - enjoy your day 

The Forest of Dean and a few days away

The Cistercian abbey of Tintern was founded on 09/05/1131 by Walter de Clare - Lord of Chepstow - we spent quite sometime trying to get a good shot - in fact it became to be a bit of a challenge  so much that we may have to return again to have another go!! - below is my best shot to date

- I had found a picture of the Abbey in a magazine - taken by Wye Valley Studios  I have attached the link - the Abbey was taken from the other side of the river - the river was in flood this time and the afternoon was drawing in so reluctantly we gave up - the pictures on the link are amazing I think - but of course so much equipment is needed for those kind of shots and a strong shoulder is needed to take the weight.

Earlier  that day we walked the paths deep into the forest - the trees  were so colourful in their autumn shades

on the way back to Bream we stumbled across a railway restoration building -so we followed the path down into the valley for a better look - OH was well pleased with the find  and I must admit it had a strange fascination for me too - not so much the workshop

but the old trains waiting

to be rebuilt

and the forest all around

seemed to give a mysterious feel

to the place

 meanwhile back at the ranch !! well we stayed on the edge of the forest in the village of Bream - the common land stretched out in front of the cottage and the forest trials were to the left in the picture - sheep grazed the common land

and chickens definitely free range

were just over the garden fence  and occasionly in the trees

apparently wild boar roam in the forest but we did not see any -  so no pics of them sorry

Thankyou for calling

 Best wishes

 Jane