Winter Wonderland

red cabbage

 Freezing weather round the clock means the Boxing Day snowfall is still with us turning even the most mundane things into art.

a transformed stick

brick path

patio table

Down the Rabbit Hole at Chatsworth

 Christmas time is quickly approaching, so time to visit the festive decorations at Chatsworth House. This year the theme is Alice in Wonderland, so off we go down the rabbit hole.....

...to The Mad Hatter's Tea Party

The photo doesn't show it, but there was steam coming out of the teapot!

 ...with The Cheshire Cat overseeing almost every scene with his wicked grin

Here's the Queen of Hearts playing croquet with flamingos

while the house of cards falls down around her.







It didn't have such a wintry feel as last year's Narnia- themed decorations but outside was cold enough to make up for it.

As it was getting dark too, we skipped out a walk round the gardens, being happy with a brisk walk to see the Emperor Fountain, then up to the Stables.

Last week's sunshine....

 Yesterday was frosty and foggy. Today is wet and dismal. So I was especially pleased to stumble across these photos I took on one of last week's dog walks round the Wood, back when Autumn was sunny and bright.

The Brights Lights of Skegness

 The last stop of our seaside jaunt was Skegness, arriving there just as darkness fell and the illuminations came on...

Belton House

We've called in at Belton House many times in the past on our way to Norfolk, but this time wandering beyond the house and the formal gardens we discovered somewhere new - the Lakeside walk, ideal for a short 'leg-stretch' especially now as the leaves are turning golden and drifting underfoot.

The quaint boathouse has been restored recently and provides a focal point as you wander round the lake.

It was a lovely quiet walk, well away from the busier areas near to the House.

A Flying Visit to Norfolk - part 2 - Burnham and Hunstanton

The second half of our 'flying visit' saw us heading west towards home, via Burnham Deepdale, another 'coastal' village sitting a long way from the sea.















 Sadly we didn't have time to walk all the way out to see the waves so had to be content with a short walk out onto the marshes - the best place to admire Norfolk's "big skies"

 Then it was on to Hunstanton, which was certainly living up to its reputation as "Sunny Hunny"

Time for a stroll along the beach...

...and even a brief paddle