Stormy

There seems to be a welcome lull in the weather at the moment, Storm Franklin was rather boisterous overnight and the trees have angrily danced and twisted up until about half an hour ago. It is still very breezy and the sky is a mass of fast moving greys and grim but it is now a bit calmer .... 

Yesterday, as we sat finishing off our breakfast mugs of tea and coffee, the dog and cat both vying for prime position in front of the woodburner, Himself talked through a route we would be taking. I had asked for 'an adventure' and although the weather discounted a decent walk out, we packed a picnic of samosas, sweet potato and onion bhajis with a thick lentil soup. Collected coats, hats and boots, camera and binoculars.

Going out in the van has the glorious luxury of being able to heat food which, when the weather is as dismal and chilly as a rain-filled windy February, is wonderful.

We expected, but were shocked, by the amount of water everywhere. Several roads that we'd planned on using were impassable and had us changing direction, others, although under water, we could drive through (carefully......And yes, that is a road in the picture above - just look at the water shooting through the base of the wall on the left).

Moss usually sleeps at my feet in the cab - there is plenty space but today she seemed to want to watch the world go by, so I shifted over to the middle, put her dog-seatbelt on and she gazed out at the passing drenched scenery.

We drove up to a naturally formed lake somewhat unusual in the Yorkshire Dales - Semer Water - where Himself took Moss for a quick dog break. Just as he went down the lane to check if the bridge was open, the weather unleashed a barrage of rain, wind then hail. It must have been one of the shortest dog-piddle-breaks in living history but it was just long enough to see that the bridge disappearing under the rising water. So, no - we could not continue, another division was required.

We turned for home - buffeted by winds and sharp sleet showers as we trundled back down through the Dales. Once back we dashed between the house and the van as we unloaded, Moss suggested rather firmly that she would like her dinner and the cat pointed at the quietly simmering fire with a cross face reminding us that we were the primary fire tenders and we had failed!! (Don't worry the house was lovely and warm, the fire  just was not a huge burning pyre as she would like it to be haha)

And, now as I type this - the lull in the weather has flown away with a gust of wind and the rain has returned .... so I shall do baking, washing and finish off some commissioned garden related work. Stay dry, stay safe and here is to storms passing by x