Cottages, Wreaths and Snow

A continuation of yesterdays' blog which saw us in Chawton in Hampshire. Chawton is a delightful village with lovely cottages.

Here is a row of three cottages - I love the porch areas and the grey / blue paint colour.

I like the door bell!

I loved these semi-detached cottages. I showed you the green door of the one on the left on yesterdays post.

A lovely wreath.

St. Nicholas Church. Jane Austen's mother and sister are buried here.

I'd like to take a peek inside this cottage, wouldn't you?

Another lovely wreath and the topiary isn't bad either!

This one looks as if it would be stunning inside.

This little Shetland Pony was in a field with a horse and some sheep. It must be cold for them.

I haven't been feeling at all well today - a runny nose, nasty cough and a high temperature.

I have to confess to being in bed most of the day with my daughter bringing me regular glasses of water!

I hope that I get better before the big day!

Until next time.

June.

Hampshire in Snow ... Again

Well, here we are more snow in Hampshire!

My parents were supposed to be driving down from Anglesey today to spend Christmas with us but travelling was too dangerous and we will have to wait and see if the weather improves over the next few days .. it is not promising but better safe than sorry! After all the journey takes six hours with no hold ups!

We decided to get in the car and record the latest snowfall. This time we were nearer home and where the roads were flat. We were however prepared with a shovel and sleeping bags in the boot! We were not going to risk getting caught out again!

The small wreath compliments this door!

We were in Chawton. This is Jane Austen's former home.

I liked the pub sign - snow on the sign and on the ground.

We visited St Nicholas' Church where our daughter was baptized.

There was a Shepherds Hut nearby!

The Church was open and the heating had been left on!

The font where our daughter was Christened.

Back outside and a photo opportunity outside the Shepherds Hut.

A delightful Hampshire cottage.

A close up of the wreath on the door and doesn't that wheel barrow full of logs make you want to go inside and toast your feet by the fire!

I will show you some more tomorrow.

Until next time.

June.

Snow in Hampshire Part 3

There were so many photo opportunities along the way. Snow changes the landscape so much. The same with sunshine. Rain can make even the most magical places look rather dull - the weather plays an important part in the way we see things!

I like the way the branches meet. Can you see the frozen pond beyond the gate. We saw another frozen pond en route - it was very, very cold. The car's temperature gauge showed that it was -7.

I like the tunnel effect created by the branches.

We found another horse!

"Hey, what about me!" This horse was in the same field. He was very friendly.

How's this for a Christmas chocolate box lid!

The sun was getting lower and lower in the sky.

Shortly after we rounded this corner a tractor came down the road. Hubby moved onto the verge to let him pass and we got stuck! The farmer drove away leaving us there! The verge was on an incline and we just could not move the car.  There weren't many people around to ask for assistance (they were sensible and had stayed at home?)and we did not have a handy shovel in the boot to dig ourselves out!

We really thought we would be there all night!

 After about 20 minutes and as if out of nowhere some guardian angels appeared in the guise of foreign tourists and helped us to push the car off the verge and onto the road and we were off again.

Lesson learnt - buy a shovel for the boot and put some sleeping bags in the car - just in case!

Back home we all had hot baths and warm drinks!

On the weekend we went to a Christmas Festival - more on that tomorrow.

Until next time.

June.

Snow in Hampshire Part 2

A continuation of yesterday's post which saw us among the country lanes of Hampshire deep in snow! 

We couldn't take our dog Charlie with us as there was a lot of snow and he only has little legs!

I like the house and snow captured in this blindspot mirror - is there a proper name for these mirrors?

That horse was meant to be with our daughter in this photo - he turned his head at the last minute!

Gotcha!

 Lead sheep to others - "Look in any direction other than at that woman with the camera!"

"Oh, all right - we give in."

Not another soul in sight!

Another photo of the church which I showed you on yesterday's post.

There really was a lot of the white stuff!

Truly magnificent!

The roads were getting steeper and we should have realized we would get stuck ... More on that tomorrow!

One happy CAT!

Until next time.

June.

Snow in Hampshire

This was the view that we awoke to last Thursday - snow, snow and you guessed it, more snow.

The cat sat on the window sill and thought "What is going on?"

On Friday, we decided to get in the car to view the country lanes! Yes, we are mad! Particularly as we discovered to our cost that in these ungritted lanes you need to have a 4 x 4. That is a story for another day!

As soon as they saw us these sheep came a-running - sorry, we don't have any food for you but you couldn't lend us those fleecy coats, could you?

In the same field as the sheep was this very friendly llama - love the wonky donkey teeth!

We came across this old telephone box. Alas, there was no phone!

We drove past this thatched cottage - look at those icicles!

The sun was very low in the sky which made the place look magical!

Just us, no other passers by - the stillness was beautiful.

We happened along this really old church.

A lot of snow had fallen. It was like being in Narnia - where was the Snow Queen?

I will show you more tomorrow.

Until then.

June.