It’s the last Friday of the year, so it’s the final Friday Photo Challenge set by Postcard from Gibraltar. Today’s theme is winter, I’ve tried to find non-Christmassy ones…

These snow drops were in Austwick in North Yorkshire, a village well known for it’s snowdrops. My friend and I had been walking round to Norbers Erratics, a glacial stone formation, we returned via Austwick and saw a lovely bank of snowdrops. It had clearly been a bit of a damp walk! I love the droplets of rain hanging from the petals.

I rather like a good frost, it’s good for the garden, breaking up heavy soil and killing pests, and it looks rather beautiful. These little guinea fowl chicks get moved around the garden regularly.

Snow looks very pretty when it first comes down, when it settles on every little twig, so long as you don’t need to go out in it, in which case it loses it’s appeal very quickly!

I’m trying to put together a seasonal display of cross-stitch smalls. This little snowdrop cross-stitch was one I stitched many, many years ago and it sat in my workbox waiting to be made into something. I finally got round to it this year, it’s made a very pretty mini pillow.

As you can see I have had my ducks for quite a while too as their backs are covered in moss.

A sharp hoar frost can look beautiful, highlighting every leaf and blade of grass.

This little chap was quite happy in the cold weather, he lives at Harewood House in the bird garden.

Final photo goes to Rosie and Lucy, enjoying a walk in the snow up the garden and out onto the back lane. Lucy has clearly decided it’s worth eating!

For more winter photos follow the link to Postcard from Gibraltar.