Wednesday 26 January 2011

A Little Winter Sun

Just for a few hours this morning, the sun peeped through and it cheered my week up very much indeed. It seems an age since I looked up to see the brightest blue, a watery sun beaming down and clouds scudding across the sky.
In the town early on the wind was keen, cutting right through me and making me wish I'd put on another layer. Raw was the word. Later on though, on my drive home from the mid-week market I pulled in on the verge just to watch the sun lighting up the valley.
Winter sunshine is such a precious thing. It vanishes for what seems like weeks and has no real warmth at all but just the sight of it makes the heart lift.

Down at the river the Churnet sparkled through the blackened trees and the sky was high and bright.
By lunchtime though it was almost over, just the last few rays lighting up the house. I lit the fire this afternoon and made hot chocolate for my sniffly boys and shut the curtains early.
I'm rather good at the art of cosying up and could do it all year round but it was so good (if cold) this morning to feel the wind blow the air clean and the memory of this light filled morning will light the rest of my week.

P.S Thanks so much for all the lovely comments I've received over the last few posts. It is wonderful to know other people too enjoy the same things that I love to ramble on about! Thank you too for the recommendations for the Susan Hill book with more Angela Barrett drawings, I do have it actually (it was given to my free by a stall holder at the flea market when I bought another old gardening book  lucky me!) and I love her illustrations in "Through the Kitchen Window" as well.

"The Gardener's Almanac" was produced by The Sunday Times in the 1986 and written by Graham Rose if that's any help to anyone who's trying to track a copy down.  I can recommend Abe books for out of print copies and ebay is always worth a try!

36 comments:

Louise said...

Lovely photos... I was working this morning and considered going out to enjoy the sunshine this afternoon but then it turned grey and miserable and I changed my mind!

Anonymous said...

Lucky you - the sun has yet to shine here this week! Your photos made me feel a little more Spring-like though, so thank you!
Cathy XX

busybusybeejay said...

I walked into town this morning and it was lovely to feel the fresh air and to feel that glow in my cheeks when I got back.
Love your photos.

Gigi said...

Such beautiful photos! I especially like the one with the tractor (?) going over the bridge.
Happy sunny days to you,
GG

bibbitybob said...

Beautiful pictures, I think I need some countryside air again soon. I love that little art print on your mantle (?) too! x

bellaboo said...

No sun here this morning sadly..but they say it might peep through at the weekend.Lovely photos,as always. :0)

Unknown said...

Good for you, pulling over to enjoy the moment - that really is living in the present and it has enriched your week. So simple, so hard to remember to do!

Gill said...

Lovely post. We enjoyed similar weather here. I've put my order in for the Gardeners Almanac - thanks for the details. I know you,like me, were after Carol Klein's new book. Just to let you know it's half price in WH Smiths at the mo. I bought that and her Cook Your Own Veg today with the last of my Christmas money. The second book was only a fiver!!

Anonymous said...

we have been enjoying some winter sun here I even managed to go and do some clearing up in the garden .Your area looks so picturesque, what a lovely place to live even if the weather isn't so welcoming
xx fee

June said...

Lovely posting. Here it has rained on and off for most of the day and then got dark early as well - not good. Your photos are uplifting - thankyou.
June.

Sarah said...

Having felt rough for a few weeks now I was advised to get outside and get some sun on my cheeks! Your photos have definately made me think about a nice brisk walk at the weekend! Fingers crossed that the sun comes out!

Rose H (UK) said...

Great post and photos, thye've lightened my day... I've been in the loft all day trying to have a mega sort out so I'm afraid I missed the sun, it was raining by the time I'd loaded the car up for the charity shop and the local tip :0(

Rebecca said...

Beautiful photographs! It is so nice to see the sun peep through the clouds after all these cold dark days x

Elizabeth said...

Love the photo with the tractor in the background. Stunning.

Reminds me how lovely the countryside is even the in the freezig cold weather!

Margarida said...

Wonderful photos! It's always a pleasure to visit you. I understand what you mean since we've had too many gray days this winter and it's been sunny these last days. I'm enjoying it the best I can and it's been great! Love

Joanne said...

Lovely sunshine and lovely photos.
No wonder the Beatles song:
"Here comes the Sun" was such a great hit!
Perfect song as we all love sunshine!
Thanks for the gorgeous post!
Joanne at Seasonal Hearth

Donna said...

Wow! How beautiful, I envy you as it will be at least another 2 months before I see the grass.

Sandy said...

We are having a blustery, frigid storm here on the mid-Atlantic region of the US this night....15 inches of snow predicted. I too love to cozy up and close the drapes early these winter nights!...catch the sun while you can. ADORE your blog...a bit of sun all on it's own. Love to you and yours.

Naturally Carol said...

I love reading your blog..getting to know the everyday life of a family so far from mine! I have just posted 'a serve of summer' for all my northern friends..just to get you through the last weeks of winter...and give you some dreaming fodder. Winter is always hard to bear especially nearing the end.

Pipany said...

Hello Steph. Pretty post with the most gorgeous pictures of your beautiful village. Lovely place you live in. How did you get your pictures to come out so large on the post (techie query here)? x

salty pebble said...

awwwww beautiful bitterly cold landscape of january ;0)...i had a beautiful long walk with my twin and mother on saturday...we went to Cornwall to visit my mother and she took us for a walk up on the moors, it was bitter, but beautiful!!!...down by the valleys, over the steppy stone streams and through the wilderness! really needed it.
Beautiful red jug!!!!
;0) sooo enjoy your post steph x

Hazel said...

You have put into words what I felt yesterday too. It was just so good to see some sunlight but it did turn rather bitter in the afternoon. x

Unknown said...

Lovely photos impressions of this wonderful space where you life.

Aline said...

Heart warming scenes...I needed that! thank you for sharing

LinenandRoses said...

These are lovely photos. So nice to see winter sun. We haven't seen any lately, just grey clouds and rain. Getting cosy in the winter is nice but I'm longing for the sping and to be outdoors more.

Rowan said...

Thank you for the details about The Gardeners Almanac, I shall try and get hold of a copy. I'm sure I've got Susan Hill's book somewhere too. I agree with you about winter sunlight, we were lucky here last week and got several days of blue skies and sunshine, it lifts my spirits enormously when it's like that.

Tudor Rose said...

hello , such lovely photos, its good to see the winter sunlight, although i can't wait for spring and watch the garden come to life regards Tudor Rose

Tudor Rose said...

hello , such lovely photos, its good to see the winter sunlight, although i can't wait for spring and watch the garden come to life regards Tudor Rose

silverpebble said...

Oh the red enamel in that lowest photo is lovely! We've enjoyed a sunny day here and I visited the winter garden at Anglesey Abbey. The planting is stunning.

I'm not sure if you got my email earlier in the week but excitingly you were one of the winners of the vintage seed labels. Would you be able to email me your address so that I might pop a parcel of cheery in the post for you?

Anja said...

Winter sunshine is fantastic. It lifts you up and gives you energy to carry on through february, hoping for another bright sky and the first snowdrops.

Madelief said...

Hi Steph,

Hurray for the sunshine. We finally got some as well :-)!

Happy weekend!

Lieve groet, Madelief

salty pebble said...

Beautiful hilly valleys and wonderful country photography!

your blog is always a joy to me...and that red jug has me swoooning hehe ;0)x

Tea with Prudence said...

I always find your posts inspiring, adorable and beautiful.

Cheers
Fi

Anonymous said...

Lovely atmospheric shots. I think I'll come over for some cozy hot chocolate...it's freezing down here in the south east!

katienel said...

The winter light is very special, such clarity.
thank you for the beautiful images.
Kathy

- said...

Another beautiful post!