Went for a long walk with Sadie the German Shepherd today in the snowy woods. We strolled rather than strode. Very enjoyable but dangerous under foot. My thumbstick saved me a few times. Found I was missing Samantha and Ned.
The birds were noisy. Heard a woodpecker drumming a few times, and saw a Jay too, a secretive bird. The Song Thrush was undeterred by mine and Sadie's presence. As were the blackbirds. They take on an extra boldness in the freezing conditions.
Spoke to an old man who was collecting thinnings from the Birch trees. He told me he was taking them home to work on them, as he was expecting more snow. Can you believe I neglected to ask what he would do with them? Most unlike me. Perhaps he would use them to make besoms (witch's brooms)?
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| The Yew hugs the Beech. A love story hundreds of years in the making. |
A couple of days ago I made a stew and set it to cook in the slow cooker. I tried it today. Nobody told me I needed to soak the broth mix. It's like eating gravel. It is still cooking. Hopefully the gravel will soften?
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| The Yew was determined not to let go of the Beech. |
It is late now. I have been watching a football match with Extremely Handsome Son George. Our team were dreadful, but managed to hold it to a draw.
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| Click on this to enlarge it. |
I shall read in bed for a while, John Grisham, The Pelican Brief. He tells a good story.
Good night. God bless.
Very cool trees.
ReplyDeleteLove the romance of the yew and beech! Nice header photo too.
ReplyDeleteIf I read a book that engages me like The Pelican Brief did, I end up staying awake til I finish it. Hope you are not as daft as me !
ReplyDeleteI love the pics today, the hugging trees are brilliant. You certainly got plenty of snow. There is nothing at all here. It made an attempt today, about 10 flakes which quickly disappeared.
Your home looks wonderful in the snow. It seems like a place I would like to go in and explore. What treasures I might find. I have missed your pictures. Your outing looks like fun.
ReplyDeleteYour wood looks a bit like my wood :o) Soak your gravel for 24 hours before you cook it. Rinse and add fresh water several times. I have given up with gravel, now buy the softened tin variety.
ReplyDeleteLove your header. I always wanted to see your "Caravan". Thanks for taking us along for the walk in the snowy woods and I didn't even feel cold.Which team do you follow? My local team are not doing well this season. Their top coach left them for a southern team and my team have had two replacements. Not good. My team was the national champs for the last two years. This year they don't even look like making the top 6.
ReplyDeleteGeorge and I follow Everton FC. They are the blue side of Liverpool. Liverpool is a long way from where we live. We only manage to get to their ground two or three times in the season. Everton are currently fifth in the premier league. Not too bad for a team with no money to spend.
DeleteEnjoyed seeing the caravan, John, which looked very nice in snow. I have always enjoyed walking after a snowfall, the pity is that we have none here hardly worth the effort. Wondering about that gravel you mentioned in the beef stew, never heard that term used with the recipe. And I also have enjoyed Grisham's works though not so much recently..the Pelican brief was also a good film with Ms Roberts.
ReplyDeleteI made the term gravel up Beatrice, to describe the broth mix I used. It is a mixture of dried peas, barley, lentils and beans. It was still hard when I ate it, hence the word gravel to describe it.
DeleteYeah photos!!
ReplyDeleteLove the new header photo of your home....looks inviting.
The "lovey dovey" trees are pretty in the snow.
The Slindon Estate information was very interesting too, enjoyed reading all about it.
Tread carefully in the snow John, and stay warm.
Darn it, you have a song thrush? Now I am jealous. I haven't seen one for a couple of years. Looks like the Yew and the Beech were made for each other.
ReplyDeleteI've never used a slow cooker...is it easy?
Okay, what's going on? For this is plumb nice! Did you sustain a hard whack to your head again?
ReplyDeleteNice snowy pics. Love the hugging trees and your wagon.
ReplyDeleteYou are really enjoying being able to post your pictures. Keep it up. I love the picture of the yew and the beech. Keep warm!
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