The Beasty from the Easty...

It is quite amazing what the weather had brought us in such a short space of time...The school's were closed because of it and getting food and supplies seemed like a huge task!...It all started with quite a funny weather report about 'The beast from the east'~ We laughed at the time...We were not quite prepared for what lay a head...I walked Sophia to school on the Thursday morning in a hale/rain/sleet blizzard!~ we couldnt keep our eye's open...Then at 2pm I had a text from the school to pick the kids up before the snow storm arrived around 3pm...well, It was all quite calm at 2pm...But after half an hour of a walk it all dramatically changed.

A huge black cloud fell over our small Dartmoor town and the snow came in buckets!...The ice on the paths was dangerous and we walked like penguins to not slip over...We couldn't see out of our eye's again and I do not know how we made the walk up the slippery ice hill home. My partner was trying to get home from his work early as they'd all been sent home to. The snow and ice was a lot worse across the moor roads~ I was worried for his life~ That does sound dramatic but it really was that 'hellish'...He had cars swerving across the roads in the ice!...sooo dangerous. We were lucky to just need to make it home by walking i would of cried if i was in the car!. My partner said the snow fell so quickly across his windscreen he could hardly see in front of him and at one point he pulled over and almost left his car at the side of the road to walk home. We hardly ever get snow in the west country...Quite rare indeedy. I don't think i will ever wish for it again like I did just after Christmas. I always think how beautiful the landscape is with snow. But if you have to drive to work in it its not a good thing at all.  So my rosey tinted spec's came off. I was so happy to give my partner a hug and know he was safe despite him looking quite shaken after an hour drive! He left his car safely on the main road and walked our hill home. We sat and watched the snow fall from our cottage~ safe and snug inside.  Sophia hadn't seen snow like it before~ she was about 2 years when we last had quite a few feet. The next day she quickly put her wellies on and rushed me outside to build a snow man...Our little Dartmoor town looked so beautiful in white!...My partner had to take the next day off work due to the roads. So it was a wonderful extra few days together. It was wonderful to look at it from the window and be all snug by the fire...It really was 'The beasty from the Easty'...Sophia said it sounds like a childs fairytale. 

I have been enjoying floral blooms to cheer my home...My bright bit of sunshine on the stormy views outside.

I hope you all made it safely home in the Winter skies?...I think most people are starting to get back to normal routines? . Sophia is celebrating World Book Day today (as they missed out on it due to the school being closed last week) ~ She is Sophie from the BFG.

x   K a z z y   x

Cosy, colourful days of January...

Oh' these days of January can seem long and bleak...

Finding the colour in the simple, little, daily pleasures cheers my soul...

Myself and My love went for a wonderful walk (almost 8 miles)...The rain came down in a light mist most of the way and it was quite muddy down by the river bank and through the woodlands...Snowdrops, new green shoots of daffodils, primroses and camellias covered the grassy bank and amongst the hedgerow and that gave me great comfort of new life and that Spring is just around the corner.

When we climbed the woody, muddy path towards the national trust property called Cotehele house we sat near the river Tamar just below the property. We were good we didnt give into the sight of other's enjoying cream teas...We carried on walking past the Autumn coloured reed beds and an old bridge crossed the road and back towards the woods from the opposite direction...slow up hill climb...I sat by a trickling stream when we reached near half way point to catch my breath and take in the smell of the woodlands and the sweet song of the birds.

By the time we walked back down the path ways and towards the river the light was beginning to fade...

Quite a magical, calm and spiritual feel on the quiet walk back to the car...The smell of wood smoke from the river cottage...a distant sound of a dog barking in th woods.

I love breathing in the atmosphere and having a glimpse into cosy cottage windows as we pass by...On the side of the path is Potter's home and its lovely to see what they have created each time we visit.

Back towards the village where we park is a lovely gallery (not open again until march) we peer through the gallery window and admire wonderful lino print landscapes and clay bears with jumpers...

Keep cosy,

x  x  K a z z y   x x

November days...and a welcome back to Country Rabbit

Hello there...Its been a very long time since I have been on here...I hope you are all well...
As many of you know I had started a 'new' blog (saltypebble which I now will be deleting) ...but I was not sure if many of my old followers would find me there??, so I've made a return to this blog. Sorry if I have confused you all but I am hoping that more of you will find me here.... My new life on the edge of the Dartmoor national park has been the best move I've ever made in my life...Not only that I am now a family unit with Stevie by my side...It will be two years since we moved this Christmas....
We have made our old cottage into a home...and I've started to do more and more craft and art fairs and joined a local crafting groupy once a week. I even gave my first children's workshop on a Saturday and we made spoon people  which has made me feel more settled into the community here.  My daughter has been with her new school 2 years and will start secondary school next Autumn!~ Blimey!? time has rocketed past my eyes, so much has been happening in such a short space in time...The Dartmoor national park being on our doorstep and a stones throw from Cornwall we have the best of both coastlines and country. The one thing that Myself and Stevie have always had in common was the country and coast and our love of exploring/walking... As most of you know through my phone photographs to Instagram we got 'engaged' this year!~ We haven't even set a date for a wedding...I've started wedding planning but with so much that has been going on we are waiting a while to tie the knot but I will keep you posted on that...
I'm still always out with my phone camera capturing the seasons and enjoying finding new places to explore with Stevie...

I have good intentions to keep a regular blog post going...thats my hope anyway....

I was enjoying the 'new' Making Winter book by Emma Mitchell with her hand made silver jewellery, crochet and beautiful glimpses of her garden and the natural fen lands where she lives.  It is a wonderful read and the whole point of the book is to make the most of winter days...The natural beauty, the creative mind and the way we look at the winter months. The main reason I enjoy the Autumn to winter days is the change in the seasons from falling leaves, frosty mornings, capturing the light through my camera...the cosy, snug feeling of a warm cuppa on a cold morning...The frost on late flowering rose petals and the dewy ice clinging to the grass land across the park...The squirrels busy hiding nuts and seeing a fox dart across the field in the early morning light...Its enjoying these simple, yet beautiful moments. Also, over on the blog 'Attic 24'...Lucy is capturing the Autumn to winter seasonal beauty through walks in her woodlands, moors and down by the canals. Also she is amazingly talented with wool creating the most spectacular autumn crochet wreaths, blankets and even gives patterns for her crochet designs... She is capturing the seasons on instagram  #makingtheseasons and Emma Mitchell through her Instagram #makingwinter (also her blog via Silver pebble).  

I do hope to see you again...

Thanks for still following...please say 'Hi' if you get a moment and then I can find you and your blog easier (if you have one?).

x x    K a z z y   x x 

y e l l o w

I love yellow at the moment~ It bright, colourful and very very cheery!...

I've shared this Pinterest collage before it reminds me of April and the Spring to Summer colours.

The lush greens in the woodlands and down by the river banks.

The last few days have been very Summer like here in Devon. Though the April Showers have been making their appearance, usually on the School runs.

(images from my pinterest board~ to look up original source)

x    K a z z y    x

Seasonal round up 2012

A Seasonal round up of 2012

~  Spring in my step ~

I have been having a rather nostalgic look back through my archives of photographs.

A year of colour and beauty, Country side and coastlines, West to East, Jubilee celebrations and the Olympics...and the comforts of home with my little girl...Its not all been a whirl of wonderment and happiness~ Life's been a rough ride at times, but I dont document that so much on my blog as this is my happy escape and my place to document the happy, colourful parts. I have a lot to thank my daughter for and my lovely family ~ they keep me grounded and loved. And that's what always see's me through.  I find New Years quite daunting and a little anxious of what the new year may bring...but I find one step at a time...and focus on the simple things that give me joy.

Photography has opened up a really happy door in my life the last 5 years~ I love capturing a precious moment in time ~ And looking back through my photographs I can see how important it is to capture those really special bits.  I thought a seasonal round up of 2012 will be a good way of bringing the new year in.

~  Summer ~

A rather wet beginning to the Summer...

~ A holiday to remember for a life time ~

~ Autumnal days arrived ~

Bringing with it a late Summer of sun into September...

Sweet pea turned 6 years old...

Then it was my birthday and in a blink of an eye it was time to celebrate the festive season...

Its been good to look back and remember those wonderful highlights...

I wish you all a happy, healthy 2013!!!!

And I look forward to seeing your blog posts in the new year.

Thanks always for the lovely comments,

x Kazzy x