Darjeeling Tea

Darjeeling Tea

On the rocks

On the rocks

Pelicans

Pelicans

The View from Lunch

The View from Lunch

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret

Rocks

Rocks at the end of the cove

Heavy surf today

Heavy surf in the cove today

Find the Iguana!

Can you find the iguana below?




Here he is:

Banderos Bay, Puerta Vallarta, Mexico

Puerta Vallarta, Mexico

Amarylis

At home in the snow

Birdless

Chelsea Buns on Christmas Morning

I made these with half the butter and sugar and they turned out yummy. Easy too.

Stopping By Woods

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost, 1923

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Winter Sunrise

Winter Sunrise, Stark County, Ohio

Diddle Dee Jam

A big thank you to Char, who brought this cute little jar of jam all the way back from the Falkland Islands. The jam is made from the berries of the Diddle Dee shrub (yes! that's it's name!).

All Saints Church, Breadsall, UK

Today I walked 6.5 miles, from Derby to Darley Abbey and then on to All Saints' Church in Breadsall. The south side is the oldest part of the church, some stones dating from around A.D. 1150. The porch itself dates from around 1250. A Saxon church may have stood here earlier, around the year A.D. 1002. In 1914, women suffragettes set fire to the church, destroying the roof and interior woodwork, in protest over the lack of women's rights to vote.

The rain managed to hold off while I was out today, though the grey cloud cover cast a dreary pall over everything I tried to photograph. I stopped at Darley Park for tea on the way back, then went back to the hotel for a much needed nap.

A rainy walk to Markeaton Park

I took a five-mile walk this morning. My first stop was the Orangery at Markeaton Park.

It was closed for the season, but a friendly couple told me about a tearoom just beyond the park at the Home Farm.

A cottage near the park entrance:




Around the corner was the Home Farm, where you can order your Christmas Turkey or Goose.

The rain was coming down hard at this point, and I was cold, so I was glad to find the tea room. Inside a nice fire was going in the stove.

I had a pot of tea and a scone with jam and butter.

I then headed back to town and bought some books at Waterstones, and an egg and cress sandwich and some crisps at Tescos.

Back in the room I peeled off my wet layers -- jacket, down vest, and sweater--and hung them up to dry, and polished off my lunch. Now I'm about ready to bury myself under four layers of blankets and look at the books.

Christmas Pies

Mince pies from the Derby Market Hall, and a pot of tea. I hope Dan gets here soon! I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out, just looking at them!

Early morning delivery at The Seven Stars

Early morning delivery at the Seven Stars Pub, Darley Abbey. It was a real pea-souper fog this morning, when I went out to the Welsh Learner's Circle meeting, and the thick fog continued well into the afternoon. Made me glad for any chance to be inside and warm today--learning Welsh in the Quaker Meeting House, having a coronation chicken sandwich in the tea room across from Derby Cathedral, shopping for books in Waterstones and WH Smith, and buying yarn in the Market.