Tags
bare trees, birch, corsican pine oak, Harleston, hedgehog, honeysuckle, pinks, primulas, Robert Louis Stevenson, Scots Pine, St Cross South Elmham, St Georges church, The Black Arrow, Tunstall Forest, viburnum bodnantense, walking, winter-flowering honeysuckle
I had a lot of difficulty trying to think of a title to this post as it is made up of a mishmash of lots of different photos taken from the beginning of December up to New Year’s Day and at a number of locations.
This little creature looked healthy enough, though still not quite full-grown. It seemed unbothered by my presence and was trotting about looking for and finding things to eat in the garden. The photo is a little blurred because it didn’t keep still long enough for me to take a good picture of it. Hedgehogs are normally nocturnal mammals and only emerge during the daytime if disturbed or hungry. They hibernate during the winter but emerge during mild spells of weather to feed.
Not only do we have all these flowers but also miniature Iris, Grape Hyacinths and Hyacinths are in flower. On my travels I have seen Daffodils, Snowdrops and Winter Aconites. My mother’s garden has Hardy Geraniums still in flower from the autumn and also the bright red flowers of Ornamental Quince. We have had a lot of rain (though much less than in the north and north-west of the country) – the ditches are filling fast, the roads are thick with mud and have standing water on them and parts of our garden are like a quagmire. The grass hasn’t stopped growing but it is too wet for it to be cut. I spent some time a few days ago pulling out Stinging Nettle runners from under our Crabapple tree.
I had reason to call in to this church a couple of days before Christmas and while there I thought I’d take a few photos. I didn’t have much time to spare so only took a few pictures – I hope to return there again soon and finish the job.
The church is large and seems very tall especially as one approaches it from the bottom of the valley. I didn’t have time to walk round the outside of the church or visit the grave of the Canadian poet and writer, Elizabeth Smart.
We stopped off in Harleston on our way back home after taking Alice to the station on New Year’s Eve. Harleston is a town on the north side of the River Waveney and in Norfolk. The Waveney is the border between Suffolk and Norfolk.
After we had finished our shopping we treated ourselves to a wander round this shop. Adnam’s is a local brewery based in Southwold. They brew many different types of beer and ale and recently have started to produce wines and spirits as well. They opened a very large store selling their beers and spirits and also cooking utensils, china and glassware in Southwold. This shop in Harleston is a much smaller version of their main store.
On New Year’s Day, Richard, Elinor and I went for a walk in Tunstall Forest. The forest is managed by The Forestry Commission and is about 20 miles to the south of where we live.
One of my favourite books when I was a girl (and I still enjoy reading it now) was The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson. I was overjoyed to find that I was living near the Tunstall Forest of the book when I moved to Suffolk in 1988. Surprisingly, this walk was the first time I had visited the place.
The day was very dull and the ground was muddy from the quantities of rain we had had recently. It was difficult getting decent photos of the walk and there wasn’t much to see of special interest. However, the walk in the fresh air and in good company was good in itself.
And now for my music choice.
Thanks for visiting!
quercuscommunity said:
WE were saying we need to get down to Sufolk this year but now I know Adnams has a shop this is becoming more likely. Am planning on reading The Black Arrow this year so was interested to see you mention it.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you! The Adnams shop in Southwold is very large and full of good things! I hope you get to see it. I also hope you enjoy The Black Arrow. Stephenson’s stories are great fun.
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quercuscommunity said:
Sounds good!
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susanpoozan said:
I loved your tour of the church and the pictures of all those colourful plants.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much Susan. With colder weather forecast for next week I think the flowers’ days are numbered!
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Gallivanta said:
The seaweed like algae is impressive. Hope it doesn’t take over!
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clarepooley33 said:
So do we! It isn’t particularly pleasant – so slimy!
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Jill Weatherholt said:
What a beautiful church, Clare, the organ is wonderful. I enjoyed your photos and I especially liked the cute little hedgehog. I’m curious, on your walk, was Richard walking fast or were you and Elinor walking slow? 🙂
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Jill! 😀 I think it was a bit of both – Elinor and I were talking and got slower but Richard kept his speed up. The church is a beauty and I have never had the time to look at it properly before.
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Lavinia Ross said:
What a sweet little hedgehog, and flowers in winter! Thank you for those, and the views into your countryside there. Nice music selection too!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Lavinia. I’m not sure how much longer we’ll be seeing the flowers as it is supposed to get colder next week.
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Julie said:
The Nancy Ames track is very jolly Clare, just the thing to get the dinner on with! St George’s Church looks to be a very restful place to visit, you’ve captured some beautiful light in there. We’ve had similar weather to you but I see from the forecast its due to drop next week and some frosts are due, I hope your hedgehog finds a spot to hibernate in. I enjoyed your walk too in Tunstall Forest, not somewhere we have ever visited, hopefully we will be able too one day.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Julie. I would be pleased if the weather got a bit colder and drier! I haven’t seen the hedgehog for a few weeks now so there is hope that it found somewhere to sleep. Glad you liked the music!
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tootlepedal said:
I like the Black Arrow a lot too so I was pleased to find out that it was set in a real wood.
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clarepooley33 said:
It is nice to know that Stephenson knew the area. The wood changed a lot when the Forestry Commission took over but with the replanting of native trees since 1987 I believe it is starting to look as it used to do.
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New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
That’s a cute little hedgehog. With him wandering around and all the flowers and new leaves you’d think it was spring there. Too bad that you’ve had so much rain but at least you’ve had warmth as well.
I like the faces in the church. I wonder if they were real people or just the artist’s imagination. It seems like you’d feel like someone was always watching over your shoulder with them there but since I’ve never been in a church that had them it’s hard to know.
I hope you’ll see some sunshine soon!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Allen. Yes, the temperatures have been more like April and May than December and January so it is no wonder the plants and animals are confused.
The faces are so high up in the roof that most people don’t know they are there but those that do are quite happy to share the space with them. The bearded gentleman looks as though he was a real person and probably was painted there during the 19th century when there was a lot of restoration done. The other person is probably an angel and looks as though he was painted when the church was built. Many of our churches have angels up in the roof – either painted ones or carved. I love them!
I think some sunshine is on the way. Tomorrow morning is wet again but the afternoon is supposed to be bright and we are to have some colder brighter weather next week!
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unionhomestead said:
I love those faces on high and very much enjoyed the music!!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you! I find a little Latin-American music does wonders for me!
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quietsolopursuits said:
It was great to see so many beautiful flowers this time of year, and as others have said, the hedgehog was very cute. I also liked the photos of the church, both inside and out. Hopefully, you’ll get a few sunny days so things can dry out there.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Jerry. I think the worst of the rain has passed by now and we have a colder week forecast for next week. We are lucky to have a hedgehog living in our garden as they are in serious decline in this country.
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thehappymeerkat said:
Wow, lovely pictures. I love the hedgehog (I love anything wildlife) but even more the pictures of the church. I’m fascinated with old churches, cathedrals, castles, etc and just love how they look inside. Especially when you look up, that face is something some people might miss:).
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much! You are right – the faces were difficult to see with the naked eye.
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Ste J said:
That watcher chap looked a bit sinister, I like the jaunt around different places though, I do especially enjoy your posts that take us on a tour of different places, it makes me feel like a Hobbit on a journey but with less hairy feet.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Ste. I think I will always think of feet when I see your name now. I usually try not to tour too many places in my posts as people can be put off but I’m afraid I wanted to clear the decks and so included all these bits and pieces in the one post. I’m glad you don’t object to the tour 🙂
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Ste J said:
It’s good to mix it up every so often. Just for the record though I don’t have hairy feet!
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clarepooley33 said:
I am so glad to hear that!
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greytabby1 said:
Hello Clare! I loved your “mix it up tour” – it was really fun! How lovely to see the little hedgehog. Its amazing isn’t it how warm it has been everywhere in the northern hemisphere? Everything is so terribly confused and although it is lovely to see all your lovely blooms and the leaves coming out on the trees, I worry that we are going to have a cold spring – even over here, so I hope the little hedgehog will find somewhere warm to hide it out. St George’s Church is absolutely beautiful. It looks as if it has been beautifully maintained and I was particularly taken with the lovely roof and also the wonderful condition of the carved pews. The light is also really lovely. I know that so many of the ancient churches struggle with upkeep costs these days.
Hopefully things dry up a little in England and it doesn’t get cold.
– Kate
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much Kate. We have had a frost and are due for a few more over the next few days. The flowers are looking a little sad now! St George’s church is lovely. I haven’t ever had the time to look at it carefully before as we visit for a service then go home quickly to get the lunch ready!
I hope you manage to protect your beautiful garden from any frost you might get this winter.
Clare x
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Cynthia Reyes said:
Such marvelous sights, Clare. Church, forest, toadstool, and brilliantly yellow gorse.
I love old churches like this one – though I know that they require quite a bit of upkeep. Thanks for the link to the life and work of Elizabeth Smart. What a remarkable woman. She and her mother must have been constantly at loggerheads.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Cynthia. Elizabeth Smart was remarkable! Both she and her mother were so sure they were right and neither would give way an inch! I am so pleased she chose to live here in ‘The Saints’.
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Aquileana said:
Such a pretty winter-miscellany, dear Clare— I loved the landscapes, flowers and especially that little hedgehog… I have never had the chance to see one in such a detailed and close way… You are lucky to be surrounded by nature, my friend …
Sending love and best wishes. I hope your 2016 was off to a great start. Aquileana
PS… I will be adding a widget linking from my blog to yours, you are among my dearest worpress friends and.. I love your site… thanks for being there/here—
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clarepooley33 said:
How very kind you are – thank-you!! 2016 has been fine so far – we have a gale blowing tonight with lots of rain and snow Ugh!! I hope you have had a good January so far. Much love, Clare xx
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Aquileana said:
I hope the weather improves… yes, my January is going very well.. I am enjoying the pool and summer days down here… Oh, those different hemispheres. Glad to know that you liked to be on my blog, in the shape of a trackback, so to speak… Love to you and yours. Aquileana 😘
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you! How lovely to hear about summer days 🙂 ❤
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lundygirl said:
I suppose that if the sermon isn’t going too well the preacher can escape up the stairs 🙂
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clarepooley33 said:
How funny! I’ll have to suggest that to our vicar!
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