We're starting the second of 3 months for
☀Sunlit Sunday.
Welcome!
My recent drive in the countryside came about after a less than auspicious beginning to Tuesday morning. I was all set to head to the dentist's office, but my car had a different idea. It refused to start after a frigid night. Calling to say I wouldn't be able to make the appointment, I was politely and cheerfully told not to worry about it and that, "You're not the only one."
One jumper cable boost later, and being advised to drive for about 40 minutes to recharge the battery (but better yet to have it replaced), I headed out. It was a beautiful, cold, sunny day, so I opted to take a spin in the countryside.
My wandering took me through a small village and past this old blacksmith shop. It was built in 1854 and is still looking solid and strong with its thick, stone walls in earthy tones of warmth. I carried on driving and, noting that the battery light icon was yellow, decided to head to a garage to show my car a little love and get a new battery installed. It was either that or get a horse and sleigh. There are felines and canines in my neighbourhood, but a member of the equine contingent would attract the attention of bylaw officers, I'm sure.
A day that starts off on a sour note can turn around. Sunny photo opportunities were found, upbeat personalities were discovered and my car was restored to good working order. As Willy Shakespeare wrote, "All's well that ends well."
How was your week?
Let's begin!
Although the sun was shining bright today, there were no photographs - feeling a little under, rather than on top of the weather.
ReplyDeleteI love that blacksmith's shop and all of your photos.
You've had quite a week Karen. It's good that you now have a new battery and your car won't let you down again on a cold morning. Your sunny photos are beautiful. I love the old blacksmith's shop. It's so quaint. Thank you for hosting. Have a lovely week! Pam
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, That sky is SO blue! It looks like you had a fun drive. Much more fun than a dental appt I'm sure! lol
ReplyDeleteYour images are beautiful. Winter presents us with many beautiful sights to enjoy.
Hi Karen. What a stunningly bright and beautiful blue sky. I find the cold less hard to take when it's bright like that. The stone blacksmith shop is a lovely building - glad you could get out to photograph it. Having a reliable battery in the winter is a necessity, isn't it? Have a wonderful Sunday. Thank you for hosting.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. I love the shadows on the snow and that quaint blacksmith shop is adorable. Thanks for hosting and I am enjoying meeting so many of your lovely blog friends.
ReplyDeleteYour snow photos are so beautiful. Glad to be back after an extended break.
ReplyDeleteYael from Home Garden Diggers
A beautiful winter day there! I love the long blue shadows of winter!
ReplyDeleteHello, Karen.
ReplyDeleteYour snow is beautiful! The third one is my favorite. It would be a good place to walk. If it is so cold I not mind with my warm coat and boots.
Thank you for your a lot of help,Karen.
What a treat to get some beautiful shots while you did some car mechanics maintenance!! Thanks for sharing, the skies are so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jane
Hi Karen,
ReplyDeleteWhat bright blue skies! I've been staring at your first photo, observing the different textures, first, of whites in the snow before the fence, after the fence and in the clouds, and then the dark ones, of the trees, the barn and the fence, and how they all correspond to each other, making the photo 'click' into place!
I love stone buildings and this charming, old blacksmith shop, with its beautifully designed doors and windows, perfectly complementing the warm hues of the stone is picture perfect!
What an eventful day you had! Your 40 minute mission to recharge your car battery, bestowed on us, a permanent reminder of your serendipitous, sunny day out in the countryside!
Thanks for hosting and have a lovely first week of February!
Poppy
I found here by accident: your comment by HOOTIN ANNIE ...
ReplyDeleteYour photos are beautiful!
It's a great idea with Sunlit Sunday, I'll be there in the future forever.
Today is the first festival of light, Brigid .. and today find this meme - - -
Have a great and quiet sunday
http://maschas-buch.blogspot.de/2014/02/celebrating-light-and-blue.html
I hope that you don't have any more car (or dental) troubles this week, and that it brings all things sunny to you!! xx
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are so beautiful. Love the stone building.
ReplyDeleteLove the stone building and glad that the day ended well! lovely photos of a lovely winter day! :)
ReplyDeleteA winter wonderland ... love the sparkly snow and the great shadows. The Blacksmith Shop looks like Santa should be staying there! Happy Sun Lit Sunday!
ReplyDeleteThis winter has been hard on our vehicles and getting a new battery was a good idea Karen, it's long from being over.
ReplyDeleteSending a little sunshine to you from Florida this morning, was 83F when we arrived yesterday.
You still can't beat a snowing scene lit up by the sun!
Judith
Hello Karen,
ReplyDeleteThe sun is shining today and one of first it is a warm day. I enjoyed visiting your little drive and most of all the barn. I need a bumper sticker that reads, I stop to take pictures of all barns,lol. The blacksmith shop is an interesting building also, I can imagine the doors were left open to invite others in and to let the heat out. Lol good job you got to the garage I can't imagine the team you would have had pulling the car. Take care,
I'll be around to others when I'm not on duty, grandma duty.
Hugs,
Cindy
Karen...I'm so sorry you had to get a new battery...BUT what an amazing photo op! Look at all these gorgeous photos you were able to take! Love them all...but the Blacksmiths shop was fantastic!! Picture perfect!! smile..
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting this Sunday event!
Blessings,
Gert
Beautiful, beautiful photos!!! I'm almost glad you had a battery problem, 'cause you got these lovely pics. No, not sorry you had a battery problem. But it is goooood, to get a new one installed.
ReplyDeleteOh look at how that snow looks as if it is icing (or whipped cream), cut with a pastry knife... 2nd picture. Simply gorgeous.
Oh and that old building! I do hope "The Blacksmith's" is now a sturdy, cozy, warm little home. Wouldn't it be fun, fun, fun, to live there????
Tessa~
Your pictures are wonderful! I especially like the first one! My little corner of SW British Columbia has missed out on winter this year, which has seemed odd since everywhere else has been hit so hard.
ReplyDeleteIt was a bit complicated, but in the end it was a splendid way to avoid the dentist!!!!! I enjoyed the drive with you - there is nothing quite like an Ontario stone building on a snowy, sunny day. I miss that bright sunshine and the little towns and villages that are so much a part of the Ontario landscape.
ReplyDeleteSome great shots. Love the ones with shadows. I also had the dead battery syndrome about 3 weeks ago. A new battery and feeling like photo snapping outside again. Thanks Karen.
ReplyDeleteYour first shot says it all...Mother nature does it again!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos ! I didn't do any for this hop this time *sad face * . It rained most of the day yesterday and the temps have been very mild to this morning we had very fine snow falling and now the sun is trying it's best to shine . Snow is melting like crazy here thank goodness . Thanks for hosting and sharing . Have a good week !
ReplyDeleteLove the blacksmith shop picture... We did get some sun this past week... but as I don't have a vehicle during the week I have to just take pictures around the house and it was too cold to be outside. Thanks for hosting. Glad that even your misfortune brought some sunshine.
ReplyDeleteI loved the beautiful photos of your dive Karen! You live in such a lovely place. I think I would have much rather gone on this ride than the dentist :)
ReplyDeletesending hugs...
Sorry about your battery, but great pictures! I've enjoyed your 'Sunlit Subdays' so far; thanks for organizing it.
ReplyDeleteYou made beautiful pictures on your drive to the garage, better than to the dentist is n't it. The landscape with snow is of an outstanding beauty.
ReplyDeleteHow strange that you also had car trouble last week. Really late one night last week, my daughter called in a panic. Her car wouldn't start. What should she do? The poor thing, she had stayed late at work that day and it was an exceptionally cold night. Nothing is worse than feeling stranded in a cold winter night. I love what you did with your unexpected chore (keeping your car running for 40 minutes). I love this quote from Abraham Lincoln: "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." You did just that! You turned an unpleasant day into a fabulous day with gorgeous pictures to share. You are a true hostess of Sunlit Sunday!!!
ReplyDeleteWell - I'm sorry for the battery trouble but at least you got out of your dentist appointment (I'm giving my dentist aversion away :) And then you had a lovely drive in the country instead. Love the blue shadows on snow. I never tire of them (Well maybe in April!)
ReplyDeleteBetter to be safe then sorry...especially this winter! The Blacksmith Shop building is amazing!! Your header is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. Your drive was very picturesque. That old blacksmith shop is really cool looking. So happy you were able to get the battery problem taken care of. I had the same problem last week and really do need to get a new battery. It's COLD here again this week so I'm staying inside as much as possible. Enjoyed my 1st time participating. I'm not following your blog.
ReplyDelete