A Silent Surprise

The temperature is dropping and Winter is closing in fast...it seems like only yesterday we were preparing for the Harvest Supper at the end of Summer...

where the villagers get together to donate and then auction off produce from their gardens and fields...

I had a lovely time, along with my friend Nikki, presenting and arranging the goods this year.

Autumn arrived in a lazy fashion, with the leaves and foliage hanging around in mild temperatures...

and only slowly changing colour...

I took these shots through the car window as we hurtled through Wales..

However, the snow on the Brecon Beacons was a bit of a hint that Winter was on its way.

Back home, our floral arrangements reflected the change of seasons...

Lots of oranges and deep reds...

with the cheerful faces of the pansy making an appearance inside...

and outside.

My mate was (and still is) a frequent visitor to the garden, foraging for the walnuts that I supply... I can now actually open my front door and roll them out to him..

This handsome boy also makes an appearance, looking for worms and the seed that I keep in the bird-feeder.

As the weather cooled, the cyclamens appeared in the shops, in a variety of colours...

Then, on Wednesday this week, I awoke to my silent surprise...

I didn't know that it had made an appearance throughout the night...you can't hear it arrive like rain...pattering on the roof..

and, although it was only an inch, it always 'pretties' up the village, and puts a smile on my face..

and guess who had visited...early in the morning...looking for more walnuts..

along with my feathered friend.