A Shadow - a Castle - and a Bus Ride

This week it was time to dust off the old year and prepare for the new - so off we went for a breath of fresh air - Ludlow was the destination - a little town with a lot to offer - a castle - gourmet restaurants - and half timbered buildings.

We caught the local bus and left the car at home - no parking worries today! - the bus is quite a treat , winding through local villages that are speedily passed on the usual car journey.




Ludlow is always a gift with its quiet passageways - shuts and old buildings










Today we had decided to take a walk through Wycliffe Common - this takes you under the ramparts of the castle - this is where I saw the magnificent shadow - see the header pic - the tree was etched brilliantly against the castle wall - The picture above was taken from the local paper the night we came back - and shows the magnificent castle taken from the air -



If you look closely you will see an aerial view of my shadow tree ! how cool is that !




Of course the day would have not been complete without a spot of lunch in the Black Bough and a browse around the shops - plenty of old book shops and the like in this little town.




Finally another bus ride home catching the bus across the street from the Feathers Hotel with its' timber facade - dating back to 1619

I am linking this blog to Hey Harriet and Shadow Shot Sunday - why not pop over to gaze on more shadow shots

Happy New Year ! to all you bloggers - hope all your wishes come true x

W is for a Walk in the Woods

W is for a Walk in the Woods and Park at Attingham Hall in Shropshire - mainly pics this week for our Wednesday Fun.

Where Would We be without our ABC Wednesday and Where Would you Wish to Wander free from the cares of the World?





Attingham belongs to the National Trust and is free for members to roam. The park is expertly managed - and ancient trees mix with young saplings along the WalkWays

I like the early morning Walks With the sunlight dancing through the trees and the dew on the grass - and the unexpected pheasant or squirrel darting out from the bushes.



The swan glides by on his usual route - keeping a Watchful eye on the dog and me also - I think - ready for action if need be!




Soon the snowdrops will have a Wake up call in these Woods - and the ground will be awash with White nodding heads




Why not pop across to the side bar for more ABC Wednesday W's

Through the Window Today December15th

Through the window today - cold - wet - heavy winds to blow and more rain or snow depending where you are in the UK





Looking from the kitchen window and catching the conservatory - and out to the trees in the garden, The pine tree has history - joining us over 25 years ago - as a tiny tree in a Xmas pot - tied up with red ribbon - sporting little red bows - bells and a dusting of artificial snow - I think it came free - and now it proudly takes it place between the Bay Tree and the Wisteria



The Holly Tree - shot taken from the lounge window window = is an old friend arriving in a small pot - at a nominal price - as usual covered in bright red berries and the Xmas lights - the berries will be eaten no doubt by visiting thrushes before the end of January - I shall bring in just a few sprigs on Christmas Eve to pop in a vase




Can't resist tagging on this extra shot - our welcome to family and friends for the festive season

Why not pop along to the Maple Syrup Mob for more through the window shots

V is for Vintage

Vis for Vintage - I could't resist these pics in our local vintage market in Shrewsbury -




It is a treasure trove of interesting bits and is cleverly laid out with lighting and mirrors set in strategic places




I recently bought a wax jacket at a reasonable price - AdVantage to me do you not think!

Fun can be had strolling through the endless racks of stock trying on a hat or slinging a bag over the shoulder to try and create the look!



Bowler hats - leather clutch bags - real feather hats - Urghh! all taking their place, by now you have probably realised that this kind of stall is a favourite of mine ! - I am sure there are others out there who have a similar weakness - is it you?

Why not pop along to the side bar for a link to ABC Wednesday for other V contributions

Through the Window

Thursday 8th December - from the kitchen window - a zoom in on the dovecote at the bottom of the garden - cold - very windy with a promise of snow in the UK today.
We only have visiting wild doves and wood pigeons in our garden - not that I would not love a flock of white doves - or even two or three! - but it is only a small dovecote!

We also have the neighbours cats visiting so we have to be selective on how we feed and encourage our birds.

Last summer we suddenly saw something large and white sitting in the one dovecote entrance - rushing for the bins - it turned out to be Milo from next door - we now have a large brick blocking the entrance - leaving just enough room for birds to enter and leave if they so wish.

For more 'Through the Window'shots why not pop over to the Maple Syrup Mob - link in the side bar

U is for Understanding and Unity

U is for Understanding and Unity -the carol singers above stand United in song in ShrewsbUry Market SqUare - Unforgettable! - why not pop along to the side panel to click on the link to visit more ABC Wednesday contribUtions for the letter U

ABC Wednesday and T is for Train Spotting

It is the letter T across at ABC Wednesday - and T is for Train Spotting - last Saturday the Tornado and the King Edward 1 were on a visit to Shrewsbury as part of a steam event lasting all day for all concerned.

The trains on their day out I must say looked amazing - our grandson aged 10 is a railway enthusiast - he has his own engine shed ( converted garden shed!) complete with trains and a layout that has grown to all extremes and soon will burst out of the shed.



We wanted to catch the trains going down the line , us to take pics and A to gaaze in awe at the great machines.





A steam train in full flight is quite hard to capture- you either click to soon or to late!

First down the line was the King Edward and then a two hour gap between trains - so off we went to a model railway and car exhibition in the local village hall - see pis below










Timr to return to the railway line - so we climbed up and over stiles and crossed several fields in haste - the sheep looked on ...




Second train down the line was the Tornado - (featured a while back in a Top Gear programme with Jeremy Clarkson a favourite of A - our grandson) ...the Tornado was well worth the wait




A quick dash then to Shrewsbury Station to view the trains more closely - King Edward above - below the Tornado - as you can see the day was closing in - and the trains were all set for their journey back to London with their enthusiastic passengers.




Today was Time Taken out - Together To enjoy a Tumultuous Train Tour Travelling Through our local Town

Pop over to the side panel and click on the link for ABC Wednesday

S is for Saturday

ABC Wednesday and S is for Saturday-





... and time out to share - a visit to our local Heritage Museum- a Victorian Town at Blists Hill in Shropshire



S is for Signs - and these old Signs certainly caught my eye



and even more memories from the past




will not Shrink a fair Statement - because there were no Special washing aids in those days!!



Sign over the Smithy - love that anvil




even more Signs - eyecatching I think!



I can remember my grandma using this soap - along with her carbolic (Spelling?) - anyone remember that awful smell of tar ? really strong and it was an orange colour - if my memory is correct



I must include these newspaper shapes = being used as shelf liners in a Victorian miners'cottage - I remember spending hours as a child with a pair of scissors cutting out shapes in the old newspaper





Finally S is for Special - Special Place- do you have a Special place ? - somewhere within your comfort zone - my Special Place now is probably wherever my daily walk takes me - giving me time with my thoughts and time to breath in the fresh air

Why not pop across to the side panel and click on the link to read other ABC contributions for the letter S.

R is for Reunion

R is for Reunion - lets go over to ABC Wednesday for a Reunion of Bloggers with a myriad of tales to share.





R is for a Reunion of friends, family and work colleagues and of course that school reunion - see mine above - X marks the spot!

We talked and laughed on that day about many things as we turned the clock back - the school layout wasn't much changed - the corridors were now enclosed and not open to the world as they were then - the cold winds cutting into those bare legs wearing ankle socks and sensible shoes!

The stair ways were the same - I gave a shudder as I walked down the cold stone steps - I could hear in the far away distance ghostly echoes of shrill laughter - as girls rushed to beat the dinner bell.

Memories came flooding back of stripping down to white T shirts and bottle green big knickers - yes they were the dress!for the weekly gym lessons- thoughts came to mind of bunsen burners and risky experiments in the Science Room - and of rushing round the hockey field - I hated it - I always managed to get bruises on my ankles from over zealous players.

The tennis courts were still there but greatly improved as were the netball pitches.

I loved netball and was in the house team for Dame Agnes Hunt - and sported a large purple badge. I seemed to have a knackof getting the ball in the net.

You know I had no intention of going on about schooldays past - just got carried away - sorry to ramble on! anyway I am now off to sweep leaves.

Q is for Question...?

Q is for Question - why not pop across to ABC Wednesday to find more letter Q's -

Is there any such thing as a typical day ? I think not ! - they say life is what you make it and I truly believe that statement.
First surprise of the day - a quick peep through the blinds - hoping for a frosty morning - ahh! - a foggy morning !- do I shelve the planned photo shoot ? no way! it's just another change of plan on a typical day!




Foggy day pics on the dog walk




These spiders webs would be pretty much invisible on a sunny day




Foggy day garden pics - above my tree lupin and rain drops - this plant has just had its first summer - I hope it survives the winter- I have taken some seeds to make sure- it is a lovely pale yellow.




This hardy fuschia - adds brilliant colour on a dismal day - this is quite a well established plantand it flowers well into the autumn

What is your typical day? what ever it is enjoy!

Precious Life

Today - no pics - just words and a few tears - I was in my kitchen and suddenly there was a loud thud - I rushed out side and as I feared there lay a tiny body spreadeagled on the decking - a tiny goldfinch. I scooped him up into the palm of my hand whispering all sorts of things - and held him close - his colours were magnificent - perfectly placed - reds - yellows and brilliant whites and blacks - his tiny beak gaped open and hs tiny feet had no grip.

I sat at the patio table - listening to the flock twittering in the trees - offering encouragement to their fragile friend - I whispered sweet nothings to this vunerable little bird - stroking his head - and do you know that gradually after about 10 minutes - I could feel the risistance to death - a positive feel - and a look beginning to show in his eye - the feet began to grip - I could feel the life coming back - and suddenly away he flew into the tall Hazel tree at the bottom of the garden - thankyou for sharing this -

P is for ...............Purple - Paris and Partytime

P is for Purple ... Purple has long had royal connections and been the colour of kings.



What about the Plant world and vibrant purple - buddlea - heliotrope - sporting their heady perfumes and adorning our gardens



This Bougainville was flowering at its best at the Eden Project in Cornwall during last summer.



..and wild foxgloves ,vetch and thistles run free in our hedgerows and meadows




P is for back to Purple our local Conservation Project in the Shropshire Hills to bring the hills back to a blaze of purple as the heather blooms



P is for Paris a favourite city of mine visited a few years back - always an eye catcher the Eiffel Tower - magnificent views from the top - see side panel




Street artists at every turn - showing incredible talent and flair - I love them and I could drink in the atmosphere for hours on end.



Not to be missed a trip on the Seine at night - another world as the boat slips through the hush of the night.




I took this picture of the Moulin Rouge - and we were able to view the foyer - the shows are incredible I believe but very costly - but I did buy a fridge magnet from a local stall - Ah well some day !!




Finally I wish you all a Perfectly Peaceful week ahead

O is for.... Odyssey

O is for Odyssey - Odyssey to the Lake District in Cumbria



Outstanding scenery stretched wall to wall - we put on our Outer wear so as not to be defeated by the weather which at times was Outragious




It was really very beautiful with mist and...



rainbows at every turn cascading down from the mountains.



The pic above is of Lake Coniston - the mountain is called the Old Man of Coniston

Lake Coniston what an Obituary to Donald Campbell - who died here in his boat Bluebird in 1967 - trying to break his own speed record.




The Objective of the week was to complete a walk each day - approx 5-7 miles - click on the pic above for more detail



Not a great feat to you accomplished walkers - but to us a proud achievement! - The route above was around Grasmere -




The pic above is High Sweden Bridge on the Ambleside walk - it poured down - with intermittent hail storms - we were drenched - but the views were spectacular - this shot luckily was taken in between the storms




We visited Hill Top - now owned by the National Trust - where Beatrix Potter wrote many of her books.




We walked through the garden woods and meadows and could understand Beatrixs' love of this beautiful countryside - so much so that when she died in 1943 she left 15 farms to the National Trust -




including her flocks of pedigree Herdwick sheep - by the way - apparently this breed of sheep along with the Swaledale sheep are territorial and so are good for mountain sheep - because they stay on their own patch on the mountain




Beatrix bought the farms and sheep flocks with her proceeds from her many books - I love the rabbit in the pic above - do you know they were running around in the orchard - not knowing that their ancestors were the inspiration of such a talented lady.



One last pic for you foodies - lunch at the Giggling Goose - large bowls of mushroon soup - and chunks of crusty butter - have you had lunch?