WE COLLECT BRANCHES FOR WINDOW DRESSING!

Early this cold and misty morning, Jenny and I went in search of branches to transform into free Christmas decorations!  Jenny has her hair and beauty salon - Skin and Tonic, and I have the One Craft Gallery to decorate.  We have some ideas for window dressing which may or not work...

We went up a bridleway which has an abundance of trees on both sides, and plenty of broken branches on the ground, so we were spoilt for choice!  Jenny liked the more intricate and curly branches, while I went for simpler curvy shapes.  The ones I brought back are now drying off in my conservatory before being painted...

GREY MORNING BRIGHTENED BY PAULA!

It has been a little while since the last walk, a combination of bad weather and commitments!  However, today was a treat for Jenny and I, as Paula Cuthbert joined us.  Paula is an alternative therapist extraordinaire!  She operates out of Jenny's Beauty Salon and keeps me fit and healthy!  It was a grey morning, but not cold.  The first part of our walk took us to Kilver Court to see what Christmas decorations they had up - see above.

We then went on muddy footpaths through farmland.  There were cows with horns in one of the fields that had a footpath going through it, so we quickly chose another route! We were concerned with one cow, that seemed to have a problem with its leg, so we had a quick word with the farmer and he said that one of them was disabled from birth.  We also went through a field full of sheep, and had a friendly greeting from a small dog!  The Charlton Viaduct provided a stunning backdrop...

Jenny is on the lookout for interesting branches that she can use for natural looking Christmas decorations.  There were loads of wood just lying by the pathway, so she picked up a couple of suitable ones. She thought one branch would make a good pair of antlers - see middle photo above!  Anyway, she insisted on carrying them back with her, although they will need some drying out before being sprayed...

GETTING FIT AGAIN!

Christmas is now well and truly over!  I hope everybody who reads this had a good time.  I unfortunately didn't!  I woke up on Christmas Eve with some sort of infection - I won't bore you with all the symptoms, but I felt awful and completely lost my appetite, so I hardly ate anything for days...

I am starting to get better, but having spent so long either lying or sitting down, I am now feeling so unfit!  I now need to build up my strength and stamina.  So as a start, today I walked into town, through Collett Park and past the allotments...

It was great to get out into the fresh air and move around in the beautiful Winter sunshine.  Although I was tired, and my legs felt a bit stiff afterwards, I certainly felt better for having made the effort.  I now need to get back into regular walking routines, so that is going to be my first New Year's Resolution...

   

FROM MOONLIGHT TO SUNLIGHT!

 My early morning walk today took me from a large full moon to the sun!  It was still dark enough when I started for the Christmas lights and decorations to show up...

It was dry, but muddy underfoot, especially along the bridleway and footpaths I was on.  I walked to West Shepton as the sun was beginning to rise, and the sky turned to many delicate shades of pink and purple that the camera did not pick up!

I have just read an article about barefoot walking, even during the Winter months! It is all about getting in touch with nature and connecting with it in a powerful, but simple way.  According to Lynne Allbutt, "When we put our feet in shoes, we block their ability to communicate with the earth."

It does sound inviting but I do think my feet would get too cold, muddy and painful for comfort.  There is, of course, barefoot shoes you can buy which can give a similar sensation, which I might investigate for the summer months... 

By the time I was nearly home, it was blue skies and sunshine.  The sun is magical this time of year as it is low in the sky creating long shadows and a yellow glow...  

IT IS NOW OFFICIALLY WINTER!

Today, I had to get up early to take my car in for service.  I wore my walking boots and warm clothes so I could go home the long way round, and make it into a proper walk, as my walking companions can't join me at the moment.  It was grey, cold and foggy, and according to the metrological office, now officially Winter...

As we are now into the first week in December there are Christmas decorations everywhere.  Last Friday was the turning on of the Christmas tree lights which happened in the Market Square, directly outside the One Craft Gallery.  The pics above show the gallery's Christmas window which I helped put together.

I walked back through Collett Park which always looks beautiful, whatever the weather.  There was still some ice on parts of the lake.  A small boy was poking it with a stick - see photo above, bottom left.  Can't say that conditions were ideal for walking but it was good to get out into the fresh air and exercise. As Gene Tunney, the American boxer,  who won both light and heavyweight world titles in the 1920s said, 'To enjoy the glow of good health, you must exercise'...

LATE SUMMER SUN!

Today Jenny and I enjoyed good walking weather - we went up to one of our favourite places - Barren Down, and took in the views.  We also had fun playing with our shadows - the sun being low in the sky made them very dramatic!

We ended up by the Market Cross, where Shepton Market was being set up.  I was after some fish for supper, and as the fishmonger had just set up, I had great selection!  I chose some beautiful mackerel (see top right pic), and watched with awe as they were expertly filleted...

Friday has always been the traditional day to eat fish for Christians and Roman Catholics from the days when fish was considered a poor man's food and eaten on fast days instead of meat... Things have changed in our attitude to fish, but Friday being the day to eat fish seems to have stuck!   

In the Market Place, we have a new pop-up shop called 'Ho, Ho, Ho,'!!  Yes, you have guessed it - it sells all things Christmassy!  Not really something I want to think about in September, when I am trying to make the most of the end of Summer!

GLAMOROUS BRANCH!

Here is an awful pic of me taken on one of our walks in November when I was collecting this branch!  But see how great it looks now!  It was worth the effort carrying it home.  I love beautiful things for free -  some lights and baubles makes this simple branch spectacular...  Short walk today as I had to be back at the salon pronto as my first client was at 8.30am and my last was tonight at 7.00pm!  It's our last day at work and we are feeling a little bit excited, if not totally washed out...

A friend of mine in Oxford, who is also a therapist, has come up with a somewhat crazy idea - she suggests I pack a suitcase and make my way to her house on Boxing Day and then we book a last minute trip somewhere!?!  Sounds great if we can pull it off!!

Our walk took us back through our favourite Collett Park.  The pics above show some great tree silhouettes and some fabulous mosaics which are inside a shelter in the park.  It turned a vandalised structure, full of graffiti, to a thing of beauty and was done with a mosaic artist and the local youth club.  Read this blog to see how it was done...

Helen and myself have decided to have a blog free holiday...  So have a great Christmas break and a HaPpY NeW YeAr !!!

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS!

Talk about the countdown - 8 days till Christmas,  I'm sure I have everything more or less sorted!?  As each year goes by, you get more of a feel of what it's all about and it is certainly, as far as I'm concerned, not about spending lots of money!  Most of us realise it is more about visiting, hanging out, eating, laughing and a cuddle. Perhaps it's just me but it is fun to know everyone you love, is happy, smiling, and safe...

Top left is Kilver Court Gardens and bottom left I am holding a last minute gift bought in the market!

Lots of things to remember if you are out on the tiles next week!... Drink water, lots of water before you go out and have a large glass ready to drink before you hit the pillow!  Try leaving your cleanser and cotton wool pads on the bedside table as you should never leave makeup on, especially eye makeup...

Give your local salon a call for last minute appointments as expertly applied make up, beautiful nails, a simple eyebrow shape, or a deep cleansing anti-ageing facial, will ensure you feel buff, and finished off for the party season!  Kennedy, the hairdresser in the salon, and I are both booked through until we close on the 24th, but it is usual to have clients cancel last minute, leaving the odd appointment ...

We found ourselves doing a little window shopping in Kilver Court Designer Emporium this morning.  All looking delightfully classy & beautiful, if not a tad out of my price range!!

GLAD TO BE OUT THE HOUSE!

Weather wise there was nothing special today, just grey and still mild but it was great for me to get out the house as there had been more than enough drama at home!  A blocked shower and water coming through the ceiling into the kitchen below was not a good start for the day!

We didn't stray too far, but did discover a previously unknown, to me, area of Shepton where there were some recently built houses  along what was the old railway track.  Jenny said she used to walk along the track as a child. You often hear people say that the old tracks and railway stations should be restored and become fully functioning again, but this would be impossible as there has been so much development all over the country.

When we walk around Shepton it is so interesting to hear Jenny talk about her memories of the town and what the buildings used to be used for.  I have only lived here eleven years or so while she has had family connections here all her life...

As we walked round we had a good look at the Christmas decorations outside homes, particularly the variety of wreaths on front doors! 

We were particularly taken with Bowlish House, which is a popular hotel and restaurant.  Loved the greenery curled around the pillars and according to the pics on their website they have some pretty impressive Christmas decorations inside!!

MILD MONDAY

Still mild, we set off in darkness.  So keen to catch up with our news, we were heading up Waterloo Road before we knew it!  At the last minute we hung a left and took off into the Cemetery -  absolutely fascinating, calm and strangely beautiful. We made our way out to the other side to the meadows.  It was now light, with a flicker of sun and blue sky, a suggestion of a fair day in store..

As we walked back through the High Street, (full of Christmas goodies and decorations - see above), we discussed how we can ring the changes in the New Year, with our walks. We came to the conclusion that ' Walk the Talk' is a metaphor for getting on with all that is good for you.  It used to be that too often I would find myself giving advice to clients that were struggling with stress, energy levels, weight issues etc. and suffering all these things myself and yet doing nothing!  Not anymore, I keep a close eye on all these things, and then try to nip them in the bud. I haven't cracked it completely yet, still very often at my wits end!!

I have seen something recently, which I think we should all be mindful of.  There is an Indian belief that we are all  - 'a house of four rooms - Spiritual Room, Emotional Room, Physical Room & Mental Room'.

Most of us live in one room for most of the time,  but according to this belief  we should visit all of them everyday, to give them an airing and make us more rounded. I think that makes sense!  Hopefully, we can incorporate a little more of what goes on in the rest of our rooms, other than the physical, on our quest to Walk the Talk...

LOOK TO THE SKIES!

The interesting thing about walking early in the morning this time of year, is that the light conditions change completely during the course of our time out.  Today when we started it was dark - we could see a half moon (see above, middle, left), and the large tree by the Market Cross was shining brightly with the Christmas lights (above, top, right), that were officially switched on by our local celebrity, the founder of the Glastonbury Festival, Michael Eavis, last Friday.

When out, especially on high ground, we often look to the skies to see wonderful colour combinations.  My camera doesn't do justice to them.  Sometimes it is the sun rising with beautiful pinks, oranges and purples or at other times it is stormy and moody with great cloud formations and delicate pastel colours.  By the end of our walk today (see above), the sky was looking very dramatic and held the promise of a sunny morning. 

  
The other thing that was special about this morning's walk was how warm it was for this time of year.  We were soon unzipping our jackets and I even took mine off for a short time!  Although the trees are almost bare, the grass is still very green and growing - testament to the wet and mild conditions...

We spied this ironic piece of graffiti on a lovely old natural stone wall that encloses the local cemetery.  I feel there are places where this sort of graffiti is not amusing and is just vandalism, defacing a place that has special meaning to some people...

MIDWEEK CATCH-UP

Pretty routine walk this morning but very enjoyable with Christmas everywhere! We had lots to catch-up on so time flew by...  I have definitely decided on a holiday directly after Boxing Day, perhaps a last minute deal - maybe a cruise?  Never been on one, but I have clients that love them and seem to think cruising will suit me fine!  My dream would be to fly to Miami and then cruise from there to the West Indies.  Or the Canaries will do me fine..  Would just love to have some sun for 10 days...

Kilver Court is beautifully decked, very classy - see the picture above middle left.  I haven't been shopping there for a while, but now may be the time!  It all looks lovely, if not a little on the expensive side.  I have decided that Christmas gifts this year (the few I will buy) should be small and thoughtful ...

The Christmas street lights are looking great again (see above).  It wouldn't surprise me if they were based on a line of bejewelled knickers!  Helen showed me the window display in the One Craft Gallery which she had done yesterday with a fellow member of the co-operative.  Red and white seems to be the colour scheme of choice this year.  It is up and down the High Street - see pics below.

The photos we take always suprise me.  They are always very good and depict exactly what we see and feel.  The weather and light conditions are always different but I feel the results are good -  hope you enjoy!  I'm not keen on photos of me and I think Helen is much more photogenic...

STROLL TO CHURCH!

Today the weather forecast threatened heavy rain and winds but it was unexpectedly benign.  However, we did not stray far from Shepton as Jenny was expecting an early client.  So it was a stroll through the park, past the allotments, through to the Church and up the High Street!

We paused to look at the oldest building in Shepton, the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, which has parts dating back to the 12th century and is Grade I listed. Although we can see the spire miles away when on our walks and looking down from high ground, it is hidden away, due to the ugly Amulet building which was allowed to be built directly in front of it in the 70s.  The Amulet has had several incarnations and it currently houses a gym.  However, we are told that in addition to this, work has started creating a microbrewery complete with pub...

The allotments still have a colourful appeal, even without flowers! We love looking at them any time of the year as there is always something interesting to see and signs of great industry.  I admire people who grow their own fruit and veg and I am very grateful when given any surplus!  The great thing about a juicer is that you can utilise large quantities of produce, especially fruit.  I have recently used apples and pears from my parent's fruit trees which were either too small or ugly to look good in a fruit bowl!!

Although there is still 6 weeks until the actual day, the High Street shops have started displaying their Christmas goodies.  I will be doing the gallery's window on Monday week.  Inside, we currently have a display of Christmas cards, including my handmade collaged ones.  We saw some great re-cycling ideas - the Father Christmas made out of polystyrene cups (above right) and for exterior display on an outside wall, how about this tyre made into a colourful planter!  There were, in fact, two of them, looking very effective.  The Father Christmas (middle bottom), is one of Sophie's Cakes.  She is an award winning cake baker and decorator based in Shepton. She has a great display in the window of a hairdresser!