Another weekend spent at home...February is flying by... I have gotten into a bit of a rut lately which has resulted in very little blogging.. But I'm back again. Below are a few images of what I have been up to lately...
The weather has been quite dull so again apologies for the gloomy photos..
First up, Millie our little kitten posed for me on the farm... I think she might have a career in modelling- what do you think???

I needed a new bag for everyday and picked up this one from Oasis, it is reversible which is great, tan leather on one side and black on the other side- I am really loving it. It is really practicable and has a small purse attached too.

Winter always has the nicest sunsets. Here in Ireland they are so quick, when I see the sun setting I literally have to run out the door with my camera in hand. I try to make it across the road and up the lane for a landscape shot over the lake. Last week I didn't make it that far so I just took this one from my front door and to be honest it didn't disappoint. I am so grateful to live in such a lovely place and it's a photo like this that makes me appreciate nature more than ever.

We are experiencing a cold spell here in Ireland these days so everyone needs to wrap up warm. Earlier this month I went shopping and picked up a few casual tops for over the winter to layer with cardigans, scarfs and jackets. What are you wearing this winter?

Wearing for the Winter months ahead...

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. I'm having a quiet one as I have the cold... The weather has been awful the past few days. Thursday it snowed heavy and Friday it was freezing. I didn't go to work Friday as I have the cold and the roads were slippy. I have over 40 minutes drive to work each way on narrow back roads. I'm snuggled up now on the couch with a blanket and a big mug of tea. I felt really housebound so went out for a stroll about. Here are some images from my walks over the past week...

This was my local road on Saturday.... nice winter sunshine but very cold...

This was a view out the window today just after dinner, it was beginning to get foggy and very cold. A lot of the snow has melted however there are still patches in the area. 

 More of the snow and ice...

 The flooded lake which was taken earlier in the week..

And a view back towards the village, spot my shadow.... Enjoy the rest of the weekend and keep warm and cosy wherever you are...

This morning we woke to a winter wonderland with lots of snow everywhere. There was a chill in the air. I took a stroll around and as the day went on it snowed even more. I picked some daffodils yesterday- how pretty do they look with their little heads popped up against the white backdrop of snow. Did you have snow today? There is still a lot of snow out there now, so fingers crossed that it doesn't freeze too much tonight and I get to work in the morning.

It is very windy and cold here in Ireland this past week. I haven't had much of an opportunity to get out and about as it is dark when I get home from work and dark when I am leaving in the morning. At this stage I am looking forward to Spring time with the longer days and brighter mornings. I haven't had the chance to use my hunter wellies much but hopefully soon.... Is anyone else longing for Spring time now???

Hope everyone has a nice weekend. Imagine we only have one more weekend left until Christmas. I started decorating the house this weekend, using lots of foliage I picked in the hedges and woods around  the farm. I have just a few more decorations to put up and more holly to pick. Here is an image of the arrangement I put on my entrance table in the hallway, do you like it? I might add some more holly to. I'm getting my Christmas holidays on Thursday :) Have you all your decorating done? 

What have I been up to lately?
Below is a little collage of photos I took recently. I have spent a lot of time indoors as the weather hasn't been great. Today was miserable, however whenever I go out I bring my camera with me.

From top left:
1.Sunset yesterday evening over the lake shore- how beautiful is that sky.
2. A lovely graceful swan on the lake
3. Sparkly fairy lights on my kitchen dresser, I visited IKEA a few weeks ago and bought more fairylights.
4. Reading The Hidden Cottage- I'm enjoying it but reading it quite slowly.
5. A winter walk in the local woods- the landscape is just beautiful in Winter.
6. Eating fruit this weather to keep the colds and flus away.
7. A visit to the park.
8. Another evening sky at home, spot my favourite tree too.
9. Our cottage through the hedge.

What have you been photographing lately? It is hard believe it is the 1st December, I'm listening to Michael Buble Christmas and drinking tea at the fire. Roll on Christmas......

Do you like winter time in Ireland? I know it can be a bit damp and cold but it can be lovely to have an excuse to stay indoors in a cosy living room with an open fire or alternatively when it is dry outside, wrap up warm and go for a nice stroll in the countryside... Here are a few photographs of what I am talking about....

 Ready to light the fire and keep cosy in Castle Leslie (Image from Co. Monaghan)

Walk along the by roads and country lanes to see the colourful leaves adorn the place (Image from County Cavan)

Dusk setting in on an evening walk (Image from County Cavan)

Even the cats are keeping warm on the farm 

and ducks are enjoying themselves (Image from County Leitrim)

The start of November tends to be a bit like the calm before the storm in the build up to Christmas. The Christmas adverts are on television now and lots of Christmas stock in the shops. I shouldn't even be mentioning the big "C word" yet as we still have 6 weeks to go.

This weekend we decided to take it easy and relax, apart from some house work.  It is chilly out today and you just want to stay indoors and keep warm at the fire. We have the wood burning stove on and the living room is nice and cosy for the long night ahead. So time for some cooking, reading, blogging and watching TV. In the meantime, I have gathered together the images below for you. I am drawn to them as they all look like warm snug interiors from my travels around the Castles of Ireland.

It's beginning to get a lot like winter at home...
The snug in my home is nice and cosy with the log fire burning away, my fairy lights sparkling and candles burning.What else would you want apart from a warm mug of tea.... The days are getting dark so quickly.
Hope you are warm and cosy where ever you are...

Hope you all had a nice weekend. I had a busy one cleaning and dusting before putting up my Christmas decorations. Here are a few images *sorry they are blurry) of my trees (I have one real one in our sunroom and the other one is an artificial one in our sitting room. My husband cut the real one on Saturday, it was difficult as the weather was so bad. He had a great choice, it is around 9-10 foot tall and fits nicely in my sunroom.

Our Real Christmas Tree

View from Kitchen of our Christmas Tree

Close up of the top of the Christmas Tree

Sitting room with artificial tree

 Merry Christmas Everyone from All things nice...

Hope everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit of things. I can't believe it is December already and it is just a few weeks now until Christmas. I haven't put up the Christmas tree yet but below are a few images from around my home last Christmas. Last year my husband went off to the forest to get a nice Christmas tree and I  gave instructions that I wanted a big tree for our first Christmas in our new home, so when I got home from work I had an eight foot tree in the room! We had to buy extra lights. I loved it, not sure if we will have such a large one this year though.

I got this lovely gift last week, it is a lovely knitted throw made from really vibrant colours. I am looking forward to using it in the winter months when the weather is chilly. The Autumn is already beginning to slowly creep in here in Ireland. The evenings are getting shorter and much cooler. I don't mind the Autumn time, I love the trees changing colours and the crisp air. I light the log burning stove and cosy up at the fire with a big mug of tea, some blogging or a good book. We had a great Summer here in Ireland this year, the weather has been so good with lots of sunshine and heat. We got our garden almost completed now and the painting of the exterior of the house is coming along well. What have you got up to this Summer?

Hope you are all having a nice relaxing weekend. The weather has got very cold and windy here in rural Ireland. It is almost like Winter again, I'm snuggled up here at the log fire with a big mug of tea. The interior images below are all from Good Homes Magazine.

From the images above, you can see that it is all about cosy warm comfort, it's a cold evening with the wind howling outside. But I am longing for good weather with lots of sunshine and wamth. The images below reflect what I want and soon!

{All images via Good Homes Magazine}

We are all influenced by the seasons and the weather and our style also reflects our journey through the year too. Fresh flowers, bright whites and floral patterns speaks sunshine to us all- Summer time is on its way!

Here are some of my new winter clothes. I've starting moving at last, have all my kitchen ready now including dinnerware and glassware. Bedroom furniture arriving in the morning, lots of packing to do now! One of my friends called today with a big hamper full of goodies and new saucepan set. I was delighted with them. Also got my proof wedding invitations today which I am happy with. Christmas is almost here, hope you have all your presents wrapped.

Here are some perfect christmas stocking fillers, all from Monsoon, Next and River Island

 Lots of snow here in Ireland and it's very cold, how about these lovely grandma slippers :-) How cosy and comfy they must be...

Now take a seat and relax after that long walk in the woodlands and enjoy the rest of your weekend where ever you are!