A Late Summer Evening

Hello Lovelies,

this past week I've been walking every evening, accompanied by Mr BM. This pleases me greatly.

After many years of having to go out individually if the boys were not involved it seems like a real luxury to walk as a couple again.

We walk straight from home and are soon in the countryside ( this pleases me greatly too....I'm very lucky to live where I do )

Thursday evenings walk was particularly photogenic. The evening sunshine made this rabbits ears glow.........

And the straw coloured countryside had an orange hue............

The bales made super long shadows................

And the horses enjoyed the still warmth.........

I love the silhouettes of the Hog Weed skeletons.......

It really was a most pleasant evening to be out and about. And yet, on footpaths close to our large neighbourhood, we saw not a soul.......

Soon the moon was rising.......

and the geese were flying off somewhere new...........

The sun  set by 8pm. There will not be many more weeks when we can get out in the countryside in the evening..........

I'm so happy we are making the most of the daylight and the warmth..........

Back on the local streets we realised something else............

It was not late and the boys would be fine if we stopped at the local pub, for a drink........

Also enjoyed outdoors....it tasted so good :0)

Jacquie x

A Sunday Family Walk

Hello Lovelies,

back in February I was doing some on-line research into family walks and came across THIS interesting sounding walk . 

Somehow six months whizzed by and we still hadn't got around to doing it. 

Happily we woke to sunshine on Sunday, despite a dodgy weather forcast for the day. We decided to risk the predicted showers and head off up the motorway to the village of  Baslow in the Peak District National park.

The sun was still shining when we arrived and began climbing up through steep streets, passing pretty stone houses.....to a lass from Yorkshire this is always a joy........

Soon the path was climbing steeply and we left the houses behind.........

The countryside looked green and lush.......

And in the distance we noticed the letters ER in the hillside. Presumably in was created to celebrate the Queens Jubilee........

The track was quiet busy. We saw lots of walkers, cyclists, Riders and even runners heading up the hill.........

We were making much steadier progress, poor youngest was fast getting blisters from his suddenly too small walking boots. Here he sat down and refused to walk any further for a while.......

I did feel bad for him....but I was also distracted by the gorgeous heather......

It was covered in Bees.......

and looked so beautiful in this natural setting...........

My BM and I helped youngest up the final rocky section of path while the older boys walked ahead........

We were rewarded by this gorgeous view.........

If I zoom in you can see Chatsworth House in the valley below us...........

On the open moorland here there is a very prominent natural rock formation........

The Eagle Stone

And also a Man made Monument........

In memory of the Duke of Wellington..........

My BM kindly took a photo of me here. As you can see it was a warm day and I loved walking in a dress.........

In the photo I'm also holding the route for our walk, but due to youngest's blisters we had to abandon any further exploration.

 After a short stop for a drink and a snack we began the decent. I was a bit sad to leave to lovely Heather behind .........

How I love high places with a view into the valley below..........

soon we were back amongst the houses........

 A warm breeze blew and the air was full of these things. When I was a child we always called them Fairies.
 As they floated past us we couldn't resist trying to catch a few.........

And when  we reached the bottom of the hill it became obvious were they were all coming from..........

I large patch of Thistles all producing Thistledown...........

Our walk may have been shorter than I really would have liked but I was still  happy we made the journey. It was so nice to get at least a taste of what this area has to offer.

And the sweet shop by the car park made the boys smile..........

As it was so warm the ice cream seemed the most appealing treat. Mint choc chip.........

My childhood favourite too :0)

On this occasion I resisted all the sweet temptations inside the shop, though we grown ups did indulge in a cup of tea and a shared a huge scone from THIS gorgeous little cafe.

 And  how could I resist a bunch of Dahlias from the table outside the sweet shop.........

As we travelled home the weather broke and I was so glad we made the most of a sunny morning.

And the bunch of flowers I brought home have been cheering me up all week........

Oh the colour, oh the pattern........

Mother nature is amazing.

Jacquie x

p.s. I'm just testing the water over on Instagram..... I hope some of you lovelies might be able to join me there. There is now a button in my side bar, near my profile.

Cornwall 2015 :: Afternoon Walks

Hello Lovelies,

Thank you for all your kind comments on my holiday posts. Here's the final instalment :0)

As well as a morning walk, these days I sometimes get the luxury of an afternoon wander as well. It's so nice now the boys are older and they don't need me so much. Most days my sister in law and I left our offspring with their Dads and their Nanna for a little while.

Our favourite beach to visit has to be Porth. It suits our whole party...and parking right on the sand makes life so easy. We have been coming here, on and off, for many years. Though it's only now that I am getting to explore the local area a little. 

On this afternoon we headed past the river Estuary, and stopped here a while to soak in the relaxed holiday vibe........

Families having fun in the water and on the sand  .............

A little further along the road climbs steeply and we found ourselves looking down on Whipsiderry beach.........

Such a contrast to Porth, still visible in the background.

We walked a little way along the South West Coastal path that runs along the cliff tops here....

I love the colours in this photo...the shades of blue and turquoise in the sea and the colours of the cliffs..........

Looking inland and towards Watergate bay we could make out spots of colour on the Boardmasters festival site. A zoomed in shot shows the mass of abandoned tents and rubbish waiting to be cleared away......

 I'm sure the organisers remove all this, but it does make me a little sad that we live in such a throw away society.

On another sunny afternoon....the day of our departure....we walked in the opposite direction.

Passing pretty Lusty Glaze beach ..............

and looking towards the headland........

Oh, the colours of the sky and the ocean were stunning..........

the tide was a long way out and the beaches were huge.....

It might be hard to see but lots of people were enjoying surfing, body boarding,  or simply being in those beautiful waves............

We were happy to gaze down on all the fun and cherish our last few hours at the coast........

There are so many beaches at Newquay....each with it's own different vibe...........

Tolcarne beach looked very inviting but for us it was time to head back.

Back on Porth beach it was lovely to enjoy a little more crochet and a yummy cream tea....delicious with added strawberries........

As the sun sank and the cloud built I stood in the waves for one last time.........

And felt a little bit sad that our days on this favourite beach were almost over for another year.........

This spot has a special place in our life. We have built up so many happy holiday memories here over the years..... It's woven into our children's childhood and our own parenting journey.

These last two photos are of my Twins. "Eldest" and "Middle" son as they are known here. Though they are only 15 minutes apart in age :0)

Firstly them on Porth beach this year..........

and then , this one of them on their first ever holiday and first visit to Porth beach 14 years ago...........

 How blessed I am.
Jacquie x