Walking to the Party

Hello Lovelies,

a few weeks ago I got home to find a little square envelope had dropped through my letterbox. I opened in with happy anticipation.....a party.....how lovely.

One of the Mums I met when my twins were born had kindly invited me to a lunchtime get together at her house.....it sounded lovely, and a great chance to chat with the group of friends I only see a few times a year.......

Reading the invite I expected it to be on a work day, happily it was on a Thursday. I hesitated. Oh, my lovely group walking day. Then I felt guilty....of course I could miss a week.

In fact, I could actually combine the party and a walk as she lives in a village about two hours walk from me....and surely somebody would give me a lift home afterwards.

On the gloriously sunny and springlike day that was Wednesday I bought  a flowery card and seasonal flowers, and on Thursday morning I carefully placed them in my rucksack............

And headed out along familiar footpaths........

It wasn't sunny and at this time of year the landscape of bare trees soon looks wintry on a cloudy day..........

But happily I still had plenty of reason to smile. A friend who I met at the walking group had decided that they only wanted a short local walk too.....so we arranged to walk together for the first half of the route.

We are both a bit crazy about taking photos. Even on a dull day we were happily snapping away at promising views........

This cottage always catches my eye..........

But I had never noticed this glimpse of the church through the trees......

Having company also made me brave enough to go inside this church that I have simply walked past on many occasions.

I would never have opened the door without a bit of encouragement....scared of disturbing somebodies prayer, or something.

But of course there was nobody there and the beauty of the architecture made me catch my breath............

All the amazing skill that went into creating the building and the carvings and the stained glass......

What a stunning sight in a small village church.........

The colours in the stained glass windows really shone out.........

But I also loved the simpler patterned windows. This one reminded me of a crazy patchwork........

And all the delicate flowers here were so pretty...........

Oh, the colour and pattern.......wonderful...........

The whole church was beautiful and it was so lovely to be able to quietly explore it.........

 The sun even came out momentarily and I took one last photo before we went outside........

One of the many things I've learned from the walking group is that  church porches are perfect to take a coffee stop. So, as it was looking like I would get to the party too early,  we sat and chatted a while, before my walking buddy headed home.

I do enjoy walking alone, you lovelies know that.....but the second half of my walk did feel slightly lonely after having such pleasant company.

And there was a chilly wind up on the ridge.

I was glad to descend again and wander through the shelter of woodland, alive with cheerful birdsong......

The cloud was building as I walked the final stretch along the roadside........

and I was happy to reach the village without getting rained on........

The party was a relaxed affair, a house full of happy chatter. It was lovely to see my friend on her special birthday, fifteen years after we first met, still looking so happy and healthy.

Despite the lack of sunshine my day turned out better than I had anticipated.
 Full of old friends and new , walking and yummy food...........

.........and a lift home.Wonderful.
Jacquie x