This morning, after waking at a much more respectable hour, we got wrapped up well and headed out for a walk. Following a busy week and with the temperatures having dropped quite dramatically we decided not to take on anything too challenging, opting instead to enjoy a gentle stroll around the village of Grasmere.
Although overcast when we set off, the sky looked promising and it looked as if the sun would break through as the morning progressed. Our walk took us alongside the River Rothay, past the little Gingerbread shop and a short way up the Easedale Road, before crossing the fields towards Allan Bank, a large Georgian house which is owned by the National Trust. The property is currently undergoing some renovations, but we were able to walk through the wooded grounds and enjoy the beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding snow capped fells. The path through the trees, although steep, makes for a really pleasant walk and has the added appeal of being an area which is home to red squirrels. We saw two today but they move far too quickly for me to even attempt to get a photograph.
After a short rest, overlooking the lake, to enjoy a delicious caramel hot chocolate and some Gingerbread, we returned alongside the river once more, where I picked up a large handful of fir cones which I will use when making my Christmas wreath during the week.
On arriving home I surprised Lily with the snow globe and, just as I expected, she was absolutely thrilled with it and it was just lovely to see the delight on her face. She keeps turning it upside down to watch the snow fall, and the tune? Well, I've lost count of the times I've heard 'Jingle Bells' today. I'll be sure to post a picture of it tomorrow.
I spent this afternoon making some more headway on my Christmas jigsaw. It has 1000 pieces and is proving to be quite the challenge. I set this out on the dining table a few days ago and I'm hoping to finish it by Christmas Eve. I don't have any choice really, as we're going to need somewhere to eat Christmas Dinner : )
J. X
The DP hails from Workington so we know the Lakes from travelling through and back to visit his parents. Now long gone. Lovely to see your photos.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very special place. The scenery is so beautiful. X
DeleteI can just imagine you eating Christmas dinner, scrunched at one end of the table while the jigsaw puzzle glowers at you from the other!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Now you're making me more determined to get it finished. It's also rather addictive. X
DeleteOh what a lovely walk - fantastic seeing the squirrels, (I have squirrel envy!) And I am with Lily - snow globes are magic :D
ReplyDeleteIt's always lovely to see red squirrels, the are just so pretty. X
DeleteYou need to invest in a jigsaw puzzle case like we have, then you can free up your dining table. What a lovely walk and seeing snow on the hills and red squirrels, you are so fortunate. I'm looking forward to seeing Lily's snow globe and your Christmas wreath.
ReplyDeleteI did used to have a large piece of board which I could slide under the sofa but I'm not sure what happened to it. I'm hoping I'll get it finished in time. X
DeleteI'm so pleased you saw a couple of squirrels, such wonderful creatures (and yes, we still miss "ours").
ReplyDeleteLovely that Lily has all month to enjoy her snow globe. x
I did wonder if you would come home with gingerbread :-)
Squirrels are just lovely little creatures aren't they. We hadn't even set off walking when we spotted them :)
DeleteI remember walking round Grasmere lake when my boys were small. We visited Wordsworth’s house and even bought a small print of the lake. It still hangs in the cloakroom to this day. Your photos were a wonderful reminder. B x
ReplyDeleteThere's a lovely view of the lake from Allan Bank. Sadly, I couldn't get a good picture because of the glare of the sun. It's a beautiful place to visit. X
DeleteIt looks so beautiful and peaceful! Snow globes are magical, I think. And, good luck with your jigsaw puzzle! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was so very quiet there, which made our visit feel even more special. Thank you, I think I'm making quite good progress with the jigsaw :)
DeleteLovely photos and you can feel the chill in them, can't you?
ReplyDeletexx
It was very cold yesterday, Joy. Definitely the weather for wearing winter woollies. X
DeleteStunning photos, Jules! Good luck with getting on with your jigsaw. I love doing them, but with an extra person working from home, hubby has been relegated to working from the dining room table, so bang went my jigsaw space! I’m so glad Lily loved her snow globe xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann. I've always loved jigsaws but the ones I've completed before have generally been for children. This one has 1000 pieces and a little more challenging than I've been used to. I do seem to be making progress, however and it's very addictive. X
DeleteLovely photographs Jules. Nice story about the snow globe. My friend is a volunteer at Allan Bank and often plays rhe piano there.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pat. Oh, it's lovely when someone plays the piano there, especially at Christmas when everyone joins in singing Carols. Sadly, that can't happen this year, but I really hope that by next Christmas things will have returned to normal. X
DeleteI was thinking about your jigsaw puzzle "problem".
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid there was ALWAYS a massive, impossible-to-complete jigsaw on the table at Christmas. For every meal it was carefully covered with newspaper, and then two people had to (even more) carefully put a tablecloth over it, and then everything went on as normal.
In the loft I have one of those big 'jigsaw boards' that you can fold up and slide under the sofa. It's yours if you would like it and are ever near enough that we can have a socially distanced "hand it over in a car park" !
What a very inventive and simple solution, but I'm not sure cats and table cloths make for a good combination. That's a really kind offer, thank you, Jayne but I'm making quite good progress with the jigsaw. I'm really enjoying it and it's becoming addictive. I have to be careful though, as it's straining my back bending over it too often :)
DeleteHaving never been to the Lake District, we were hoping to rectify that this year. Obviously, that didn't happen but your photos are all the encouragement needed to ensure this happens soon. Glad that the snow globe was a hit with Lily.
ReplyDeleteI'm hopeful it will happen for you next year, Jo. X
DeleteIt looks like a lovely walk with great views, especially the last one - and you saw red squirrels too :) I'm glad Lily loved her snow globe, I'm looking forward to seeing a pic of it :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Eunice. The A591 runs right through the centre of that photograph. The fell on the left is Steel Fell which I walked back in March just before the first lockdown. X
DeleteI am rather envious of your walk. I used to ride out of Grasmere. I wonder if the stables are still there. I'm not getting much of my jigsaw done at the moment. During lockdown I was doing lots but then it was also light in the evenings. My conservatory (where I do my jigsaws) is a bit chilly in the winter unless I put the heating on.
ReplyDeleteI don't know of any riding stables in Grasmere but there would be some beautiful rides out from the village.
DeleteI must admit, I'm finding my jigsaw to be quite addictive, although I'm in the 'luxury' of my nice warm dining room. X
My Jules, you do get out on some really beautiful walks. Jingle all the way of course! x
ReplyDeleteThanks for that, Jackie :D
DeleteSuch stunning scenery, Jules. Those snow-capped fells look so beautiful in the distance. It never snows where I live and, as I write this, we are in the midst of our first heatwave of the Summer. I'm longing for snow! MegXx
ReplyDeleteI do love snow at this time of year, Meg. X
DeleteMy son was up Whinlatter over the weekend, mountain biking in the snow and trying to make 'snow angels' in the ICE!! He's an almost 40 year old great big kid :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd why not. I would have done just the same :)
DeleteLovely photographs :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thank you, Jan. The fells looked beautiful with a sprinkling of snow. X
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