TO SNOWDROP WOOD......I apologise to all my friends who have visited recently only to find that I have not updated my blog for almost a month.
I don’t want to bore you with all my ailments, but in brief, the muscle spasms in my back were so bad that a number of other problems were created... There was much pressure on the nerves in my neck and head, it was causing me to be very light headed and my sight was affected too. It was really quite scary! Particularly when my blood pressure went dangerously high. I was advised to take things easy.... not to sit at the computer screen, watch much TV and it’s even been difficult to read because the text kept merging, in fact its been quite boring time, not being able to pursue a lot of things I enjoy. However, things are starting to improve, I’m having physio both at hospital and in the swimming pool now and my blood pressure, which is still not back to normal, has come down and is being observed.
It was school half term last week, and it was a blessing to have John at home. The beginning part of the week the weather was gloriously warm..... I would dearly have loved to be out gardening, but I had to make do with observing it from the summer house. Towards the weekend the weather turned and although we’ve continued to have clear blue skies and brilliant sunshine, its been bitterly cold.
Yesterday was one of those crisp, sunny days so, wrapping up warm, John and I took a walk to the ‘snowdrop wood’. I haven’t been out taking pictures since my last posting in January, so this was an ideal opportunity to have a theme for a new post. I hope you enjoy the scenes from our walk as much as we did......
If you click on the pictures you'll more detail.
This pretty stream meanders its way through the village.......
Sheep on the lower slopes of the mountain are being rounded up by a well trained sheep-dog.....
We walk along the man made dyke, built to give some protection against flooding. It was lovely to see small fish darting along in the crystal clear water.
At this point I waded across the shallow stream to the snowdrop wood on the other side. It was then I discovered I had a leaky wellington boot!
What an amazing sight... the woodland floor was a carpet of snowdrops. It was here, as I stood quietly in the warmth of the February sun, I heard the sound of a woodpecker rapping in the depths of the wood . I didn't venture far, it seemed such a pity to crush these exquisite little flowers underfoot.
Just past the wood the little stream joins the main river....
It's at this point we turn off the dyke and walk back across the fields....
At first sight you may be puzzled by the picture below.... Well its frog spawn! We were amazed to see such vast masses of it as we walked across the fields. Up until a week or so ago, these same fields were so flooded they looked more like lakes. Although the flood waters have receded now, the fields are still saturated, and I'm left wondering what will happen to all the baby tadpoles when they become totally stranded on dry land. I think I may return with a jar and take some home....... I can make a little pool in a water tight container in the garden, then put them back into the river when they are developed.
The many little rivers, streams and brooks in and around the village eventually flow into this river.....
There is a misty haze on the mountains this morning......
Walking back we see the debris left behind by the floods.
Man made water ways criss-cross the fields to help with drainage. 
Beautiful tall grasses sway silently in the breeze
These two ancient cottages, bathed in winter sunshine greet us as we finally get back into the village. 
This pretty cottage sits just behind the first one. For years it stood empty and derelict, now it has been lovingly restored
The cottage hay loft....
Sheep safely graze in a frosty field
Taking this little country lane we head back home with a very wet and cold left foot.....
