Chatsworth at Christmas - by night

A couple of weeks ago we went over to Chatsworth for a wander round the gardens by day, and another by night. I didn't want to plaster the night-time photos everywhere on my social media as I intended going back with my elder daughter and toddler grandson, and I wanted to see them in 'real-life' first. 

Last week we went back, and the experience was just as wonderful, though my photos were blurrier as toddler-wrangling and photography aren't a happy mix. You can probably spot which photos were taken on which visit :) 

 At night a few strategic lights can magically transform the most mundane space, but having a head-start with water features and rocky grottos Chatsworth becomes a wonderland. 

The house is also decorated inside but our only glimpse of that was through the windows.

This is one of the most amazing sights - the grass on either side of the Cascade lit up with hundreds of lights. It definitely needs a better camera than mine to capture them, especially the colour.

On thing was sadly missing on our second visit - a huge illuminated bauble, big enough to walk through, which unfortunately fell victim to the gales of the previous weekend. I hope the rest survive any further wild weather, as I'm hoping to be back again in the week or so after Christmas. (This is the time of year when I really appreciate my 'Friends' membership and unlimited number of entries)
 

Snow day - or two

Last weekend was one of cancelled plans and unexpected snow.

Derby missed the highest winds - they rushed in further north and while the garden was shaken nothing fell over - but there was little warning about snow.

Sleet had been forecast for Sunday - and we were beginning to wonder about the advisability of a proposed trip to Chatsworth - but about lunchtime light fluffy snow started to fall. And fall. And fall. So we cancelled that idea, instead sitting tight and watching flakes cover the garden, turning it into a winter wonderland.

I was a bit surprised to see everywhere still covered in white the next day

It was the wet bulky sort of snow that clings to everything - transforming leaves, branches, even the washing line into something magical! Not for long though. 

 

Chatsworth at Christmas - by day

I decided last week that it was time to start getting into the swing of Christmas - not by buying presents or putting up decorations but by heading out to see the illuminated gardens at Chatsworth. Although the house has been specially decorated at Christmas for many years, last year was the first with a garden trail (and very nice it was). From the social media posts I'd seen this year's was going to be bigger and better, and, although I intend to go back with my grandson, I wanted to get an early glimpse uninterrupted by toddler-wrangling. 

First though I wanted a wander round the garden in day-light, past the fountains at the top of the Cascade, 

along the winding paths through Arcadia where Christmas roses were in flower,

 

to the Grotto pond and Barry Flanagan's Drumming Hare, and walking back along above the Canal Pond with the House's windows shining in the setting sun.

Waiting for darkness to drop, we warmed up with snacks and drinks, then wandered back through the magical lights. I'm not posting pictures of those for a while, till I've taken my daughters to see them, but also because my phone ran out of charge part way round! So Chatsworth at night will be coming later. HERE

 

Autumn Sunshine at Shipley

Last week was written off due to tiredness after my covid booster, but a sunny day on Monday tempted me outside, for a late autumn walk at Shipley Country Park

Messing about doing things at home meant it was quite late in the day before we arrived. The sky was still clear, but with the sun almost setting it was dropping decidedly chilly.

Heading up the drive to Horsepool Hill took us back into the sunshine for a short while. Shadows were long and spindly, and the last rays of the sun turned the fallen beech leaves red.

There were so many fallen leaves piled up beneath the trees. Excellent for stomping and kicking!

I'd planned to walk further but having mis-estimated the time of sunset decided to cut things short by staying on the west sunset-facing side of the hill.

For a while I sat and watched the sky turn to red, then dim again, but cold drove me on, bacl down the hill to the reservoir and the warmth of the car