Winter walk around the lanes

One of those frosty mornings when it is obligatory to venture out to explore. I've not had much time for walking recently, but the lanes and my camera were calling.

The air was thin and clean. Although it was late in the morning, the frost was still heavy.

 Crossing the clear river Cound, slow moving and icy.

Long shadows cast by the bright winter sun as we passed an old Regency farmhouse.

Then turning back up little 'Sandy Lane', a deep and old track still frequented by large tractors and lorries. But not today.

 Swans were quietly grazing in the thawing fields.

Before dropping down to the old converted  mill, and heading back to our own little cottage, nearby, which once upon a time might well have housed a labourer who worked at the mill when it was in use, over a hundred years ago.

Mystery Guest

She drove down to see me a couple of weeks ago. It was a rare, sunny day and wonderfully hot. We went for a little walk, with the Wrekin watching us from afar. I took her to my favourite spot, a ruined red brick building with clumpy trees. I had thought it was some kind of old feed barn, but she revealed that it was a disused World War Two firing range.

We sat and drank ginger beer. She noticed a buzzard being mobbed by crows, and taught me the song of the chiff-chaff. We wandered home.

 She gave me a gift - exquisite vintage decoupage clowns, which made me squeal with joy.

I made gluten free Lemon Cake, from a recipe I begged from Jenny Tidman, after seeing hers on Twitter - and  with her permission, here is the recipe as she gave it to me. For the record, I mixed mine by hand. 

Gluten Free Lemon Cake

Oven @ 180°. Grease a 1lb loaf tin.
Mix with an elec whisk 200g soft butter, 200g caster sugar, 4 eggs, 150g gluten free self raising white flour blend, 2tsp gluten free baking powder, 50g polenta and the finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon. Spoon into the tin & bake for 45 mins. Meanwhile make a lemon syrup by whisking the finely grated zest and juice of 3 lemons with 75g of icing sugar. Make holes all over the top of the cake as soon as out of the oven. Spoon the syrup over the cake allowing it to seep in between spoonfuls. Leave to cool completely before turning out...then scoff!

She brought along her Grandmother's patchwork quilt, which she is renovating. We sat examining and admiring it for the best part of an hour, as fabric lovers do. So many beautiful materials, even though faded and so much work in the stitching.

We decided that this sweet yellow print was one of the loveliest patterns. My  photos don't do the fabrics justice, but there are lots of fabulous samples of them on her Flickr set here.

She accidentally left behind her walking boots, so I am hoping she will come back for another visit.

Who was my mystery guest? She was the lovely Sue, from Mouse Notebook, of course. Thank you for a wonderful day, Sue.