A Winter's Tale

The sun may not give off much heat, at this time of year, but it shows off the frost covered fields, trees and garden quite beautifully...

The new season seems frozen mid-growth, it's every outline highlighted by the frost...

After a very busy day in the workshop, the dog and I decide to go for a quick stroll before darkness falls.  The weak January sun is still able to light up the sky at it sets for another day.

The long path that leads homeward...

A 'light at yonder window' beckoning us in, promising warmth and shelter.  Just what a girl needs when her nose is turning an unflattering shade of blue!

Hot chocolate and spiced biscuits, perfect for thawing our chilled bones.  Well, mine anyway, the dog will have to make do with water and a chew!

To all you hot chocolate lovers out there, if you haven't already tried it, may I suggest Jamie's Epic Hot Chocolate recipe.  Can't be beaten, in my humble opinion, and once tried you will never go back!

... and didn't we have a lovely time!

As Christmas moves into the not-so-distant past and we step once more into another new year, I can't help but think back to our festivities and all the fun, food & frolics! 

We were treated to Christmas lunch, which arrived courtesy of my brother and his wife, and scrumptious it was too.  As you can see, my sister-in-law very cleverly took on the role of chief organiser and champagne taster!

 

Our table was groaning under the weight of all that fabulous festive fodder... but not for long!

 

Not forgetting the most important member of the family.  It gives a whole new meaning to 'a dogs dinner'!  Needless to say, it disappeared even faster than ours did!

 

Just what we needed, a good long walk after all that food!  We count ourselves very lucky indeed to have all this on our doorstep.  It might have been a bit wintery but the late afternoon light was really wonderful.

 

Dried reed banks bordered the ice cold lake, giving it an almost ghostly appearance - particularly when the light began to fade.

The 'feathered' grasses moved gracefully in the cold, winter breeze...

These pretty little seed-heads, ripe with their bounty, would have looked lovely piled high, in vintage glass bottles, around the house.  It's just a pity then that is was too cold to take my hands out of my pockets long enough to pick some!

Glad I managed to take these quick pictures though...

Back home for seconds, or it is thirds?  Some of us ate a little more than others!!

...and a very Merry Christmas was had by one and all. x