Monday, 14 January 2013

Winter is here...and a lovely surprise

 Well, we knew it would have to happen, didn't we?  After the lovely mild weather and looking at the crocuses and snowdrops and buds last weekend, winter has arrived.  I took these photos this morning and it has been snowing most of the day - not much yet, (especially when compared to 'a couple of feet' in Canada), but enough to cause us a nuisance here in the UK.  Above is my Magnolia 'Susan', actually managing to remain looking quite glamorous.
 Jasmine nudiflorum also still flowering away, even with a cold white overcoat.
 Seed heads left from last year also rather beautiful with a coating of snow.
Now for the lovely surprise of the title.  Last weekend we received a card in the post.  Inside were two season tickets from the owners of The Garden House at Saxby (my favourite garden in this area) to say thank you for the mentions of my previous visits on this blog. There are links to my blog posts from some of my previous visits in August 2012 here and August 2011 here. To say I was thrilled and delighted by the gift was a slight understatement!  I am hoping to visit the garden when the snowdrops are in flower and also to see the wildflower meadow which I have managed to miss each year since we started visiting.  I can only pass on huge thanks to Chris and Jonathan for their generosity.  I shall, of course, write about the visits I make there this year too.  The Helenium photo above was taken at The Garden House in August 2012 and is a wonderful reminder of the summer (particularly with all the snow outside today).

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10 comments:

  1. joy14 January 2013 at 16:36

    Wow, how lovely for you. They obviously appreciated the publicity you've given them. Enjoy.
    Joy xx

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    1. Ellie Foster14 January 2013 at 19:10

      Dear Joy
      Thank you - it was a fantastic and unexpected surprise. I am hoping to make the most of the tickets in the coming season.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. Anonymous14 January 2013 at 17:42

    Such a lovely gift to receive, I am sure that you'll enjoy your future visits even more now. I do hope you'll manage to photograph the Snowdrops and the Wildflower meadow.

    We had snow today too, it looked very pretty but most of it melted away and now it is raining.

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    1. Ellie Foster14 January 2013 at 19:12

      Dear Toffeeapple
      Thank you and yes, I shall definitely photograph the garden when I visit.
      Our snow is still hanging on and won't be nice tomorrow morning if it freezes tonight. Hopefully we won't have any more tomorrow though. I like the snow, but only if I can admire it from inside and don't have to go anywhere in it!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. Gillian Roe15 January 2013 at 16:50

    What a lovely gift! How nice of them.

    We've had a couple of inches here but most of it has gone now. I like looking at snow but don't like driving in it so I do rather have mixed feelings about it!

    Gillian x

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    1. Ellie Foster15 January 2013 at 18:25

      Dear Gillian
      Thank you. I'll be pleased when it's all gone (just some slush remains here now, but that will be freezing and slippery tomorrow.) I think we are due some more snow at the weekend - cue jewellery projects, making bunting, reading, sitting in front of the fire, eating chocolate and drinking tea. Sounds like a plan!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. Annie Cholewa18 January 2013 at 20:12

    What a lovely surprise! Did you get more snow today, we have a fair bit now, but hardly enough for the fuss the media is making!
    I shall imagine you keeping warm by the fire with your making :D

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    1. Ellie Foster18 January 2013 at 23:13

      Dear Annie
      It was a wonderful surprise and I am really looking forward to making the most of the visits.
      Yes, we have indeed had more snow - probably about 2 inches/5 cm so far, which was predicted for this part of the country. My plan for the weekend is lots of making - jewellery and sewing are top of the list, and admiring the snowy landscape without having to go out into it too much!
      I hope you manage to stay warm and cosy too.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. Anne18 January 2013 at 20:50

    What a lovely thing to do Ellie.

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    1. Ellie Foster18 January 2013 at 23:15

      Dear Anne
      It really was a generous thing for the owners to do, wasn't it? I am looking forward to my first visit there in February to see the snowdrops (hopefully the snow will have disappeared and the weather will be more conducive to garden visits).
      Have a warm and cosy weekend.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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