Across the Staffordshire Countryside

New Leaves

Hawthorn in Bloom

Pussy Willow

Oak Leaves Open

New Growth

Apple Blossom

Marston Lane

Dandelion

Crows

Signs of Summer

A Butterfly

Bluebells at Yoxall

Apple Blossom

Stable Door Detail

Seen while walking near Yoxall Lodge. This old door was at the side of the stable block.

Abstract Trees

Cherry Branch

A Little White Cloud

Rhododendron Flowers

These were part of a beautiful display of Rhododendrons which had grown huge and were spreading their way through the woodland.

Our Spring Garden

Spring has come so late this year, but finally my cheerfullness are in full bloom and perfuming the front garden. It is a real pleasure to potter outside in the sunshine.

Vapour Trails Return

After all the disruption to planes caused by the volcanic ash from Iceland I came outside today and found a sky criss crossed with vapour trails.

Walking Near Blithfield on St George's Day

We went for a really good hike round a large chunk of the reservoir at Blithfield. It was lovely and warm and we sat in a field to eat our sandwiches. The only nasty bit was a cloud of little flies which hung around us as we walked across the bridge and back to the car park - and an ice cream!

An Easter Sunday Hybrid!

To celebrate Easter I brought in a hawthorn branch to hang paper eggs on and realised that with a bit of patience I could fix some beautiful phlox flowers (from a mixed supermarket bouquet) onto the thorns. I know they won't last but I think they look amazing - especially with the sun shining through them. It has been a beautiful day but with a cold wind still. However I sat on our bench in the garden, where it is very sheltered and enjoyed my morning coffee in the sunshine - bliss and hopefully shades of things to come.

Incidently by the end of today it was amazing how much this branch had unfurled its green leaves. Outside tonight the sky is clear and jewelled with stars so I think we may have a very cold night.

The Woodpecker

As I walked today I could again hear a woodpecker - before it had been quite far away but this time it was very near and so I was able to work out which tree it was in. I stood and listened and looked and to my delight was able to make the bird out high up on a branch. I took a photo and although it is a small image in a large tree it's definitely visible!! It was a good walk as far as birds were concerned. I saw a motionless heron sitting on the far side of the field just occasionally stretching out its neck, whilst high above a pair of buzzards soared lazily on the thermals - beautiful and silent (in contrast to the succession of small planes making their way noisily overhead). A jogger ran by me plugged into his music and I thought how much he was missing as spring sung out all around us.

Back on the Track

It has been an odd couple of weeks. I had a wisdom tooth out and ended up with stitches and on antibiotics. Although I have been out walking I haven't felt very good and haven't been able to put the results on the blog, so today I am catching up!!

I took this photo at Staunton Harold. We went there to walk and wander round the shops. I saw some fabulous textile work - gorgeous birds by Louse Gardiner (all loose threads and vibrant colour) and fantastic intricate machine embroidery by Michelle Holmes.

A Wetter Than Expected Walk

Although my tooth is still really painful we went for a walk to take my mind off things. Following a walk in a book that I got from the library we headed over to near Cheadle. The walk was strange as the more we climbed the wetter it seemed to get underfoot! The views were good at the top and despite it being a Saturday there seemed to be no one about.

Visiting Portsmouth

Yesterday we drove to Portsmouth to visit the University. Just as it was going dark with mist coming in from the sea I took this picture of the Spinnaker Tower on the water front. It is an amazing structure but I am not sure I would like to go up inside it!

Spring Maybe?

I smiled when I saw that the National Trust had filled their auricula theatre at Calke Abbey with primroses, as I'd had the same idea and just bought a beautiful laced primrose (darkest wine and gold) and potted it into a long terracotta pot to create my own early harbinger of spring. I have two real auricula's but they won't be flowering for a fair while yet.

Spring may be coming but although it was sunny when I walked by the river today the wind still had a biting edge.

Swan Overhead

Walking down by the River Dove today there were lots of young swans. This one performed a fly past as we approached and there was barely time to pan the camera and get the shot.

Walking at Calke

As it was a gloriously sunny day (but seriously cold) we went for a walk at Calke Abbey (National Trust). It was busy on a Sunday but this gave us the chance to look inside the church. I loved the simplicity of the plain glass accentuating the views of the trees beyond - truly inspiring.

Life on the Beach

On Monday my sister took me to Portland where we spent a glorious day in Fortuneswell stopping at the Cove House Inn for lunch. A fabulous way to celebrate the start a new month.

Having a Domestic!

These two swans look like they are giving each other the cold shoulder! Suddenly any feeling of spring has disappeared under new falls of snow and a biting wind.

Heading for Spring?

Even with weather colder than at the winter olympics it feels as if spring isn't too far away. This morning we woke to snow but even so the blossom on my winter flowering cherry is starting to unfurl around the ice crystals.

Happy Days in Italy Picking Olives

Sunny Days Ahead

In the photo's I've been going through today I found this taken in Crete a couple of years ago. It has made me think of summer and warmer weather to come.

Wet Snow

As I post this there is a lot of very wet snow falling outside. This is one of those days when it is much better to play around on the computer than venture out so I've been setting up a Flickr account and uploading photos.

Upwardly Mobile

The ivy is making a determined ascent up this tree. There used to be another tree invaded by ivy that looked like a giant bunny with a pair of huge ears, but finally a bad winter storm brought its host tree down onto the lane.

On The Wing

It has been a good week for spotting birds. These pigeons were wheeling overhead - flying in formation, breaking, turning and re-forming - fantastic to watch - tricky to photograph! I have also seen a tree creeper working its way up a trunk thick with moss, a wren on the hawthorn, a nuthatch in our garden and a grey wagtail down by the brook.

Ansel Adams

Oak Tree, Sunset City, California (embossed)

This fantastic image of an oak tree really inspired me on a day when it is grey and miserable outside and February seems dull and damp.

- this picture is from Easy Art (see my blog SHOP) -

At Last We Had Snow

After a number of isolated flakes during the day - along came the snow. It always seems exciting and it gave me an excuse to make some chocolate cakes!

If you fancy doing the same here's my recipe:
5 oz sugar, 5 oz sr flour, 1 oz cocoa powder, 4 oz margarine, 2 eggs, 3 tbsp milk, 1/2 tsp baking powder. Mix everything together until creamy, divide between 12 muffin cases, bake in the oven at mark 5 (or 170C if you have a fan oven) for 20 minutes, cool, ice and eat!

Along Came A Little Black Cloud

It was cold again today but with glimpses of a brilliant sun. Where you could see clear blue sky it was streaked with white vapour trails as jets traced their routes high above me.

As I was heading home along came a little black cloud followed by a tiny flurry of snow.

A Secret Never To Be Told!

Out walking today seven mapies flew out from the tree next to me (maybe I should have stopped counting when I got to six!)

It was so cold I had to force myself to go out and while I was walking a few spots of snow fell. I had intended to photograph the snowdrops by the church but instead was struck by this feather caught in the hedge. The wind was blowing it everywhere though and so it was hard to capture it in focus!

Walking Down Marston Lane

As I walked down Marston Lane the sky grew ever darker with the remaining sun catching the trees. I just got home before the rain came.