Would You Like Some Sun \With Your Snow?

It was lovely to have some sun with the snow today.

So we took advantage of it and walked down to the lake.

I got the dogs to pose with Mike.

Not always easy as they are often looking down, or one is behind the other.

But today they could hear voices somewhere and it kept their attention

making for a much better photo.

Until Jewel decided she'd had enough.

Anyone who knows Jewel, knows that she will lie down whenever we stand for more than a minute.

It was one of the things we noticed about her whenever we took her for a walk from the kennels where she was waiting for her 'forever home'.

Even the snow doesn't stop her.

Notice the bright blue sky?

Snowy Walk

We took a walk with the dogs today.

(We take several walks with the dogs everyday.)
Today it was quite snowy in the forest.

Our walk took us down the hill to the road where we could just catch glimpses of the lake through the trees.

The lake is completely frozen.

It is 12 miles which is about 20 kilometres long.

Once back at our torpet, the dogs had a run round.

Before disappearing off up the track to our neighbours house,

the little devils!

Mike had to go and fetch them back.

Of course after that little escapade they were tired.

And they've been in their beds ever since!

Next time they run off

we will send them to bed

without their supper!

Mike's making their dinner now, just in case you thought we would do a thing like that.

As if!

Fun in the Snow

Sarah was asking if we still had snow here.

It has been snowing for the past 3 days.

This morning we woke and saw that it had been snowing overnight

and now the trees are covered in snow again,

always a pretty sight.

So after making sure the birds,

and the squirrel

had something to eat,

we had some play time with the dogs in the snow....

So, yes Sarah, we still have snow here in Sweden.

And the dogs LOVE it!

Mixed Bag

Thank you for all your lovely comments and good wishes while I've been away and especially for your comments regarding my grandson's 4th birthday.

I left a cold Sweden -14 degrees centigrade when I left, brrrr...
and flew to a cold UK!
Can you believe it, there was snow at Stansted?

I spent a night at Stansted because my connecting flight to Newcastle upon Tyne was first thing in the morning, and there was a further light dusting of snow overnight!

After a couple of days in the north east of England, (I stayed with a friend in Newcastle), I travelled west into Cumbria. I took the scenic route over Alston Moor.

Always a lovely route.
It was still cold but at least the sun was shining a little.

Snow appeared the further west I travelled.

But not as much as I had left in Sweden.

I stayed with my sister and her family in a lovely Eden Valley village.
Approaching the village I came across this chap.

A buzzard, quite common in the valley.

And this little chap, a robin, was taken from their window. Quite common in the UK and used a lot on Christmas cards, but I can't remember seeing one in Sweden.

The weather was poor for just about all of my visit.

Cold.

It felt colder to me than it does in Sweden but it wasn't.

It rained.

This is the River Eden which flows through my sister's village, it's well over the banks

At the weekend we ventured into The Lake District to one of my favourite lakes.

Ullswater.

This time it was windy.

Very windy as well as cold.

I was hoping to get some good shots here at least.
But although there was some low cloud which I hoped would add to the atmoshere it didn't translate to the picture.

Shame.

We had a family time at my sisters and celebrated my grandson's birthday when he and his mum joined us for a couple of days.

We had a fun time.

Then it was time to return to the north east.

The weather continued to be miserable.

And I only ventured out for some photos when I went as far as Heddon on the Wall.

A village close to where my children live.

I was hoping to get out much more on my visit and take more photos than I have.

But the weather conspired against me.

But I did get to see family and catch up with some friends, unfortunately not all.

The time I spent with family more than made up for the weather being miserable.

And although I didn't take many photos out and about,

the camera was full of photos when I got back,

mostly of my grandson!

Snow or no Snow?

Tomorrow I leave the cold wintry retreat that we have here in Sweden and head off over here.







Visiting family and friends.
I'm going over for a special occasion, my grandson's 4th birthday! I'm looking forward to seeing them all again. Mike and the dogs will be staying in Sweden. It's a bit difficult making these sort of journeys with 3 large dogs. It takes a bit of organising!

So whilst I will be catching up with family and friends I won't be calling in here. Unless I can borrow my sister's computer but that won't be until the weekend.

So wishing you all a happy two weeks, (I'm back late on 20th January), and I'll catch up with you then!

I wonder if there will be snow in Northumberland and Cumbria?

Chasing the Sun

I wanted to go to the village to get some photos whilst the sun was out.

So I left the packing away of Christmas decorations until I'd caught the sun, (some things don't wait, much as I'd like them to).






It's one of two villages close to us. We usually bring our visitors for a walk along the lakeside. It's so lovely, whatever the weather.

We were stood on the lake here at midnight New Year's Eve, waiting for

midnight,

and the fireworks.

It was a first for us,

to see the dawn of the New Year here on the lake.

The approach to the lake was quite spectacular and unexpected.

Large outdoor candles lined either side of the road leading into the village.

People carried flaming torches as they walked to the lake and there was a primitive air about the proceedings as we joined them in our walk onto the lake.

The church bells ringing at midnight gave the signal for the fireworks to begin.

The bangs of the fireworks competed in sound with the repeated pops of the bottles being opened in celebration of the New Year.

The fireworks were much like other displays that I have seen.

Perhaps shorter than most.

But it was the place,

standing on the lake,

with candles all around,

foreign voices,

new friends,

that gave it a sense of occasion.

This lake is used a lot for recreational purposes once it is frozen. There were not many people out on it today despite the sunshine. Maybe because it was -20 degrees centigrade. It was nearly too cold for me to take photos! My fingers were freezing, even as I tried to take the photos with my mitts on!

The surrounding countryside was just as lovely.

But what I want to know is, how come when all the Christmas decorations have been stored away for another year, I always find one that has been overlooked?

Happy New Year

Happy New Year.

And because I said I would, some photos from our walk on Tuesday.

Mike and the dogs on the lake.

This is an island, (usually).

And some sunshine.

A bit blurry

because I wanted it that way!