Dull weather suddenly gives way to one of those beautiful winter days that just draws you outside to take pictures.

It also coincides with Dylan's 5th birthday and a morning 'PAT dog' trip to Keswick for him and Ann,

so today Dougal and I go for a local walk and a short morning drive.

First, let's jump back a few days . . .

The weather recently has been overcast and dull . . . mild I think they call it on the weather forecast.

There's a cold spell on the way and over the weekend there was snow on the fells but only a hail shower down at this level.

With the mild weather many of the spring bulbs are flowering early.

This group of snowdrops are surrounded by the remains of a shower of hail.

Another bunch well into flower in the lower garden, but not all of them are quite as advanced.

- - - o o o - - -

Over the weekend the astronomers, and for that matter the weather forecasters, had predicted

clear skies and good views of a lunar eclipse, best seen between 4am and 5am in the morning !

The red phone box at 4.30 am . . . Dougal woke me up at 2.30 for some reason

so I got my own back on him by waking him out of his slumbers two hours later.

Two adjacent bright stars shine brighter in the reduced moonlight.	The "blood moon" lit by the refracted red light from the earth's atmosphere.

I've combine three photos to show the later stages of the eclipse as the sunlight returns to the moon's surface.

As the clock ticked past 5am the moon was starting to be obscured by a light bank of cloud.

That and the cold of the night drove me indoors and back to bed !

The following day . . . the same moon but with no eclipse this time . . . but with a pink pre-dawn light instead.

It's Wednesday 23rd January and it's Dylan's 5th birthday.

Thanks to Sherran and Bill for the emailed photo which was waiting for us as we opened up the computer.

- - - o o o - - -

Outside there's a thick hoar frost on the roof of the cottage.

Down in the garden not a lot grows . . . it is a time for winter maintenance jobs.

Last weekend I managed to double the size of the fruit cage and de-turfed the lawn within it.

Sadly I got a little carried away and my back muscles are now complaining big time.

I fear that it will be a couple of weeks before I can do anything more in the garden .

Here's a non-technical time lapse . . . firstly a pink sunrise sky out to the west . . . perhaps I had better warn a few shepherds ?

. . . later it has changed to frosty grey with the sun catching the summits of Mellbreak, Hen Comb, Blake and Carling Knott.

. . . finally the sunlight yellow streaks across the fields, lighting up the church and the top of the garden hedge.

Likewise a time sequence outside on the road . . . the pink dawn.

The frost grey with the promise of better to come . . .

. . . and the full sunlight as it floods into the valley and brightens everything around.

Low Fell catching the first rays of the sun . . .

Soon after, the full fell was opened to the bright rays of the sun.

Rose Cottage with a yellow hue from the bright, pre-breakfast time light.

Back at the bedroom Velux window with the wintery view across to Whiteside.

Can't spend all day in my dressing gown so while I'm up here I'll change into some warm clothing for the rest of the day !

- - - o o o - - -

Ann's off to Keswick with Dylan, suitably dressed in his PAT dog uniform (a bandana threaded on his collar)

This car isn't planning to move just yet so the frost can stay for now.

Dougal and myself take a short stroll . . . passing the red phone box.

Over to Rose Cottage . . . to talk to Ron the decorator.

[ He'll have a cold job if he is to paint the outside today ]

Ron's van in the gateway . . . the garden looking tidy after the gardeners have strimmed away the old plants by the stream.

Dougal appreciated a run in the field as there are few sheep about.

Whiteside and Grasmoor through the back gate to Godferhead Farm.

At five months old Dougal is more or less sheep trained.

Importantly his recall to voice or whistle is brilliant even if he does show signs of wandering in their direction.

All the sheep were in the field after all . . . just that they were rather out of sight from below.

We were trying to walk away from them but we were being followed !

Still they made a nice foreground for this distant view of the Whinlatter fells.

Makes me thirsty just thinking about it . . . I'm getting an image of Carling (Knott) rather than Holy (water from the vicarage).

- - - o o o - - -

Some surprisingly heavy traffic on the road today . . . I think it is the first time we've seen a gritter for years !

With time to spare, sunshine a plenty and road grit on the hill

I thought it would be a good time to pop over to Loweswater for a few pictures.

Look carefully and you may spot the arboreal Loweswater Pheasant on the side of Carling Fell, standing out nicely from the snow above.

Midday now and there's a slight breeze spoiling the reflections on the lake.

Dougal come down to the water's edge . . . so I persuade him to venture out onto the outer rock for a picture.

Looking serious for the photo . . . or is he just afraid of falling in the cold water ?

Looking down the lake towards Mellbreak and the snow covered summit of Red Pike.

Almost the reverse photo about ten minutes later . . . it's quicker by car than walking all that way.

Low Fell and the Thrushbank cottages from the meadow at the foot of the lake.

The beach tree seen from the water's edge, with the north western fells behind.

On the way back home . . . just a few extra views I would like to commit to the camera's memory card this fine morning.

Godferhead Farm and two of the horses Ross and Sue keep in their fields.

The top gate by Foulsyke House looks down on Godferhead's pond.

The signpost points to our home just two fields away.

I'll leave you sitting with "Tommy" to enjoy the view to Rannerdale Knotts and the high fells.