Brr!

Brr, it’s cold!  The temperature has suddenly dropped this week and I’ve been eagerly watching the weather reports in case there’s any chance of the white stuff landing in Winwick.  Google is still being very polite and telling me “No, there is no chance of snow in Winwick” without adding “you stupid woman, stop asking me!” although I am sure that it’s robot-y mind is thinking that.

It was a Skipton Day yesterday and I headed up the motorway to Yorkshire to see my friend Lucy, well wrapped up against the freezing weather.  Turning out of our driveway, I had to stop for a moment because there, landing very gently on the windscreen, were snowflakes.  Snow!!  I resisted the temptation to shout “You know nothing, Google, do you hear me, nothing!” and instead grinned my way all the way up through Lancashire to Yorkshire whilst around the car the snowflakes danced and swirled.  I watched the snowflakes dancing and swirling all day out of Lucy’s Studio window, but they didn’t stick – perhaps just as well, but you can imagine that there might have been a little secret part of me that wouldn’t have minded being snowed in up there in Skipton.

If you’ve ever read Lucy’s blog then you’ll be familiar with the hill that she can see from her Attic window – this is what it looked like yesterday as I went to get back into my car … carefully disguised as a snowy cloud!

I came home a different way to my usual route which took me down small country roads and through a village with stone cottages clustered around a converted mill and then up onto the moors.  I’ve driven that way before but never in snow and there was a fair bit of it up there.  Luckily, the road was easily passable and I did stop before taking the photos …

You’ll know that I can’t resist a photo of a sheep and snowy sheep?  There was no way I was going to drive past these!  They were super-friendly (I think they thought I had food) and I did wonder if one of them thought it was coming home with me!

Snowy sheep - www.winwickmum.co.uk

Snowy sheep - www.winwickmum.co.uk

I had to say goodbye to the sheep as others from across the field thought they were missing out and started hurrying over to the wall – I didn’t want the farmer wondering what the stampede was if he (or she) was looking out of the window!

Snowy sheep - www.winwickmum.co.uk

There was no sign of the snow back in Winwick although this morning it was still very cold.  The Heuchera outside the front door looked very pretty …

Frosty morning - www.winwickmum.co.uk

and it was one of those lovely bright, crisp mornings that are a pleasure to be out in (as long as you’re well wrapped up).

Frosty morning - www.winwickmum.co.uk

Frosty morning - www.winwickmum.co.uk

Frosty morning - www.winwickmum.co.uk

Frosty morning - www.winwickmum.co.uk

There’s something about walking on a frosty morning, the ground sparkling as if a million diamonds have been scattered under your feet and your breath steaming out in front of you, that makes it feel very special and these are some of my favourite times.  I’ll still live in hope that we’ll see some snow in Winwick this winter (we got snowed in one year so it does happen sometimes!) but for now, I’ll take the frosty mornings as compensation.

On to woolly things now … I got home yesterday to find a squishy parcel waiting for me.  Kate at Northern Yarn has just launched her brand new Zwartbles yarn which was spun from local fleeces. Zwartbles sheep originally came from the Netherlands but have happily made their home elsewhere, including Lancashire.  Kate is calling this her “chocolate yarn” as it’s gorgeously rich dark brown colour.  It’s quite rustic-feeling and fabulously sheepy – I don’t know how it will wear for socks but I’m keen to give it a go.  When I spoke to her yesterday, she’d sold nearly all of her stock but if you want to go and take a look to see if there’s any left, you can find it here.

Northern Yarn Zwartbles 4ply

I’d also like to tell you about a giveaway over on Helen Kurtz’s blog – she blogs as Josie Kitten and is one of the Stylecraft Blogstars so you may have heard of her before.  She is raising funds for the British Heart Foundation in memory of her husband who died very suddenly in 2016 and has a amazing range of gifted yarns and books – including a signed copy of Super Socks – to give away in return for a donation on her JustGiving page.  You can read more about Helen’s fundraising and the giveaway here and find her JustGiving page with more information on Helen’s fundraising to date here.

I think that’s about it for now – I hope you’re keeping warm wherever you are!

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28 Responses

  1. Caroline says:

    Oh, you are brave driving in that Christine. I'm a complete coward after getting stuck overnight with two kids a few years ago. The lorries couldn't move and that blocked the road. I could drive, the car was moving fine but the road was blocked with traffic. Very scary.
    We have had just a dusting of snow this morning in north Hampshire, much to my teenagers disgust. He's desperate for a snow day! Keep safe and warm.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Now that would be scary – I've never experienced anything like that which is why I'm probably more likely to risk driving in the snow. I'm glad you all got home safely xx

  2. Zoe says:

    Thanks for the pictures! Those sheep are so cute! I love the two in the back on the left who are just watching with that funny expression on their faces. 😀

  3. Anonymous says:

    Ohhhh Christine how lovely to be cool. At the moment I am typing this in 36 degree heat in Victoria Australia. I can't wait for Autumn, my favourite season. I don't knit anymore but I love reading your blog. Thank you. Regards Lynne 🙂

  4. Julie says:

    Brrr your Yorkshire trip does look cold, but so very pretty too.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      It was really pretty to see the snow on the heather – we don't have any of that in Warrington so it was quite a different view xx

  5. Susan Rayner says:

    Loving the frosty pictures and the sheep!! Particularly the sheep!! Thank you for the link to Helen Kurtz's Fundraising page – a wonderful way of raising funds and awareness!

  6. Chris Vanhie says:

    We have snow in the forecast here for today and tomorrow. We awoke to cold temps -20C. The trees had frost and snow on them they sparkled like diamonds on the way to the barn this morning, just beautiful.

  7. lilysgrannie says:

    Oh how I loved your sheep in the snow pictures. Here in sunny California we don't get snow on the coast and haven't had any rain in months.

  8. josiekitten says:

    Thanks for the mention Christine and thank you for donating a copy of your book. Love those snowy sheep photos. We've had nothing more than a dusting the whole winter.

  9. fran says:

    Greetings from British Colombia, I very much enjoy your blog. The country scenery bring a good feeling to heart.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Ooh, I bet it's snowy and cold where you are! I've got nothing to complain about with our just-into-minus temperatures! xx

  10. Susan Zarzycki says:

    I loved your pictures today! Here, in Pennsylvania, usa, we have snow and cold. However, I will be heading for Maine soon and they have LOTS of it. I am a crocheter not a knitter but I do wish I had a fraction of your sick knitting ability!

    • Winwick Mum says:

      I've been reading a book about Maine recently and that sounds like a place to visit if you like the snow! You can crochet socks although I've never tried it – there were some patterns in this month's Simply Crochet magazine that didn't look too bulky if you're able to track it down xx

  11. Lilly's Mom says:

    I absolutely loved seeing your snowy, wintry pictures and I'm happy you arrived home safe after driving in this kind of weather. Those sheep photos are amazing; I absolutely love sheep and never get to see them where I live. How nice of your friend to send you a skein of her new yarn. You will enjoy creating something with this for sure. Speaking of yarn/knitting, I just knit my first pair of toe up socks. It was a fun learning experience. Enjoy your week and stay warm. I'm sending you lots of warm sunshine from California 🙂 Pat xx

    • Winwick Mum says:

      How did you find the toe up socks? I've made a couple of pairs using that method but it's not my favourite way to do things. It's useful to know how it works though! xx

  12. Lilly's Mom says:

    It's me again, thank you for sharing the link above for the Heart Foundation fundraiser. I was happy to take part in this. My best to you, Pat

  13. My Creative Life says:

    Lovely snowy photos. I've finished my first pair of socks using your book and the short circular needle, yay! I'm very pleased with them and just wanted to let you know, I've linked your details into my post. If anyone needs help, they'll know where to go, thank you, Cathy x

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Hooray! That's fantastic! I've just been to admire them on your blog, you've made a great job of them – and I suspect that the sock bug has already got it's teeth into you … 🙂 xx

  14. purpleivy says:

    Interested to know which moorland road you took for Skipton/home again. I drive to Harrogate (from Stockton Heath) regularly and vary the route, unfortunately more often than not it's the motorway. Sometimes I do the M6, then A59, which is quite nice in parts.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      I went through Carleton – it's one road from Skipton that goes all the way over the moors to Colne and then picked up the M65 at Colne and the M6. The other way that I go is through Earby but sometimes that road can be slower coming home because of the traffic so it's nice to go over the tops sometimes 🙂 xx

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