For Christmas 2017

In the winter of 2012 my O/H had to go through daily treatments of radio therapy for 37 days.  One day the machine was being overhauled and we were directed to a different waiting room. On a shelf just above the arm chairs where we were sitting waiting, someone had placed a knitted nativity set complete with cardboard box stable. I loved it and you know how it is when sometimes something really strikes you .....  I really wanted to knit one of these myself (apart from the fact that I can't knit for toffee.)

 This year
I found a pattern book on the internet. Bought some wool and knitted this set.  Donated it to 'Messy Church' at Westbury for the children to play with. The snow came and the event had to be cancelled.
 I've been asked to start a knitting group  starting in February next year  ...... What?

Happy Christmas and a bright New Year
Love from Molly xx

The Valley Of Shadows

Shorter days. Longer shadows.

Clocks go back at midnight. Time to light the fire.

Ophelia Part II

8 am this morning the tree surgeons arrived.

10 am bough down, logs in a neat pile and a whole heap of tree bark for my garden. All for little more than 3 mugs of tea and a plate of biscuits.

I feel blessed.

Ophelia

I woke up this morning to find that Ophelia had left me enough fire wood to keep me warm through the winter.

It was quite strange though, because all the house roof slates seem to be intact and the poly tunnels weren't a bit torn. The wind must have channeled high speed  through a very small area.

I took a photo today of  a pheasant roosting up in a nearby tree.
He wouldn't have done that yesterday.

Blood Red

 A strange sort of a morning. All over was covered in a thick blanket of cloud and it was still dark enough to need the light on at nine am. It was quite warm though when I went out to feed the cats. No sunshine but  the sky completely tinged with an orange/yellowness. It had the feeling of everything being put on hold for the time being. Almost like it was holding it's breath for what was to come.

 I had intended to go into Welshpool today to refuel my car but decided against it after I heard the weather  forecast. I started to clean a cupboard out instead. I happened to look out of the window - and saw the most amazing sun. One of those moments when you've just got to grab your camera and shoot - except the battery was low on mine, just when I needed it most -

It hardly shows the outline of the sun but there it was - blood red and a perfect circle. And everywhere else a thick blanket of grey.

I tried to play around with the colours/ saturation etc with Windows 10 tools on screen but the blood red still didn't show like it was.
I've just read in the news that apparently it was a dust phenomenon thrown up by hurricane Ophelia and did actually appear to turn the sun a blood red. Amazing.

Did anyone else see it?

The wind was wild here late afternoon and getting wilder.

For Tom

Shadow Shot Sunday 2

 

Fadgy cat making the most of a shadow snooze in a small burst of late September sunshine.

Linking up with




Have a great weekend

Today ....... I

Dug my potatoes up.

Picked a few tomatoes

A sweetcorn

A courgette or two

A handful of runner beans

And some beetroot.

Fat caterpillars polished off a bit more of my broccali

And O/H's storks line-danced in the sun.

Then it poured down so I went inside and put the kettle on ........

Staycation

Not been on holiday this year but have had some great days out with my special friend..

Last Thursday we went on the Severn Valley Railway to Bewdley. Sixty years ago we used to go to school together on a train like this. The acrid smoke, the net luggage rack above our heads, the leather strap on the window. The emergency cord which you weren't supposed to touch .......  brought it all back ......

Felt  as though I was on holiday

Wild in the country

Knee Deep

An Owl House

Swathe along  the corn

Shadow Storks

My O/H made  these storks out of bits of wood and broom handles a few years ago. They're watching over my broad beans in my little veggie patch and I love them.

Linking up to SSS2

One Picture times Two

Have you ever watched that TV programme, 'Who Do You Think You Are?'  Celebrities are invited to helped to trace their family  ancestry with amazing results.

My mum died in 1948 when I was 4. I had hardly any pictures and knew very little about her family. My daughter signed up for that programme which traces ancestry. Imagine how I felt when I saw an identical picture of the two ladies with the dog posted on someone else's 'tree'. One intrepid email later (from me) and now 60+ years on I find I have a second cousin with a gorgeous family living out in New Zealand, I never even knew existed. Wow!