ABC Wednesday and G is for ..........

It is a ABC Wednesday and G is for 'Get Your Own!!- see header pic - complete with a do it yourself water butt and an honesty box - lovely big brown free range eggs seen and bought over the weekend on an afternoon walk in the Shropshire Hills.

G is for Go out there and Gaze at the beautiful scenery close to Caer Caradoc in Shropshire

These are pics from my photo Gallery of the day

Peace on Earth and a recharge of batteries for the week ahead

The sun shone down on the rocky ridges - and we watched a raven soar high into the sky - before suddenly he came down and took a break to peer at the walkers invading his terrority - we wondered how old he was - ravens can reach a great age

Finally G is for Galanthus - our gorgeous snowdrop - a little gem seen on my walk today - in the park. Have a great week and thanks for calling by- I am linking to Abc Wednesday and Rambling Woods why not join me there

It's ABC Wednesday and F is for Fabulous Flowers and Feathered Friends

F is for Fabulous flowers - a carpet of snowdrops in my header pic and a bright yellow Hamamelis or witch hazel to some flowering for the first time in the border- see pic below.

Just look above at this fantastic little fighter - my Torbay Palm - originally stood approx 10 metres tall -raised from a tiny pot plant and taken by the severe UK weather in 2010-2011 and was cut to the ground only to now begin new growth - next to new plant on the block - the witch hazel.

F is for Feathered Friends - the following are a few pics of frequent visitors calling by for a feast A greenfinch and a goldfinch tolerate each other on the feeder -

A starling swoops down for a raisin

A blackbird joins the queue for the raisin dish

We have a small colony of house sparrows in the clematis at the bottom of the garden - I love to hear their cheerful chirping - we also have a sparrow nesting box - it is a double dwelling - which is supposed to attract them - but all we get to nest in there is a bluetit ! Finally F is for Friendship far and wide - have a fantastic week I am linking to ABC Wednesday and Nature Notes along at Rambling Woods why not come along with me and meet more friends

ABC Wednesday and E is for Elizabethan Era

It is ABC Wednesday and E is for Elizabethan Era - this last weekend a trip out to scoop a pic for an entry into the local camera club = the subject being black and white buildings. Shropshire is renown for its excellent half timbered buildings- but the search was for something a little bit special and different.

Two venues on the agenda first one being Melverley Church - St Peters is half timbered dates back to the 15th - 16th century -

and stands just above the River Vyrnwy just before it joins the River Severn

Snowdrops were in abundance amongst the old tombstones

...from here it was on to Colemere to view the Boathouse- built in the 19th century - so maybe it doesn't count for the competition- but nevertheless very picturesque.

The walk around Colemere is very therapeutic although today we only went half way round because the day was beginning to draw in

Colemere has magnificent views and legends abound of mermaids and submerged church bells. Well maybe we have our pictures maybe not , there's always next week - the competition runs the first week in March - so watch this space for more pics. Meanwhile I am popping over to ABC Wednesday to view others contributions today.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Yesterday we went on a drive out for a breath of fresh air arriving at Bridgnorth. We wandered through the town and eventually came to the castle walkway. The view down to Low Town (Bridgnorth is split into two High Town and Low Town)from the walkway was clear today -

Has we walked we were treated to the view of a steam train leaving the Severn Valley Railway Station - pure magic as it wound its way along the track.

Bridgnorth is full of history and interesting things - so we will surely come back again for a further look - I am sure there will be more pictures and that I will be sharing those with the blog. I am linking with Scenic Sunday and I am going over to view other Scenic Sunday Contributions - see you there.

D is for Damselfly

It is ABC Wednesday today and D is for Damselfly - a little jewel on the riverbank - this picture was taken last September on the banks of the River Severn I took lots of shots to get two that were anywhere near presentable - it took ages!! - everytime I thought I was in with a chance - well you know the rest!! - the following shots were of the onlookers.

Swans swimming haughtily by me - as I perched on the River Bank

.... and the ducks scuttled past into the reeds protesting loudly - I am hopefully linking with ABC Wednesday and Nature Notes why not join me ?

This week and Last Week

I love the intense bright blue of this first iris reticulata flowering in my pot - that was last week!!

Now this week there are ice patterns on the rockery pool

and the reticulata struggles to survive. I am linking up with Blue Monday and Macro Monday - why not come along with me?

Therapy and a Walk

( Written as Yesterday) Today I am not feeling so sparky - I have a bout of Shingles which are totally unpleaasant, apparently caused by a breakdown in the immune system - the doctor has prescribed a course of medication which should halt the spread of the infection - I have read the information leaflet - as you do - and the side effects could lead to confusion and dizziness - so whats' new then!! I have decided that therapy is needed - so a short walk on the hillside close by was the outcome. Again I can't guarantee the logic of Blogger and picture posting - hopefully they will go up in the right order- well we shall see!

Shafts of sunlight beamed down from the heavy clouds today - during my walk - it all looked a bit unsettled - very cold - but only frost - no snow

My favourite tree - always a welcoming sight as I pass - standing here as it has stood for many a year.

Have you ever tried tree hugging? so rewarding giving you a feeling of inner peace.

This broom tree in the pathway is building up to burst into bloom - it will be a yellow mass in a few weeks - lighting up the hillside - (can you see my favourite tree in the background?)

I glanced up at the age old rocks above - they must hold many tales of past times!

The gorse was out today - as always - a brilliant yellow - Dusk was approaching as I left the hill - lingering over Caer Caradoc in the distance I am hopefully going to link up with Skywatch and Nature Notes - why not pop over with me ?