A Perfect Morning Walk

Hello Lovelies,

Yesterday I was working a late shift. I generally prefer to get up and go to work, not go later in the day. But there is a lot  to be said for the chance of a morning walk in the sunshine. 

It was such a perfect spring morning too. I was walking with a friend somewhere new. Somewhere local, but  a little bit too isolated for me to brave it alone..........

The doggy was just passing by.....in case you thought I had a four legged friend :0)


Suddenly everywhere you look leaves are unfurling...............

And the lanes draw you onward, wondering what's around the next corner..............

how we loved this glade of towering pine trees...........

The filtered sunlight was so beautiful, illuminating the fresh green leaves...........

And the forget-me-nots were still damp with dew............

Above our heads the sky was clear blue and the birdsong was delightful...........

Though the birds are already getting harder to spot now the trees and hedges are coming into leaf.
This Chaffinch was easy to see at least, happily singing on the power line.........

Here were were treated to far reaching views across the fields.........

Just look at that sky.

A little further along  we were back into the woods again........

Where I loved the mass of pretty yellow Celandines............

and all the green..........now I've missed the green this winter.

It was an idyllic morning for a walk in the woods. I even spotted a few early Bluebells.....

such a special spring flower.

The world looked wonderful at every turn.........

And the blossom in the lanes was a frothy delight..........

 It was hard to head indoors when the time came.....but I was delighted to be able make the most of the perfect morning.

Jacquie x

Meanwhile this week

Hello Lovelies,

Thank you all so much for your kind comments on my Yorkshire posts. I'm  touched that you take the time out of your busy lives to write such interesting and caring comments.

I always forget how unsettled I can feel after a trip back to my childhood places....so it's been nice to have this week at home with my boys....a gentle week to readjust and appreciate my life right now. Life is good, and I've had plenty of opportunity to get out walking. That always lifts my spirits.

My favourite places are looking so pretty.........

And it's been lovely to have the company of all of my boys on different walks..........

The Celandines are still flowering, shining prettily along the roadside............

And the Highland cattle have another baby...............

I've been collecting Daffodils.....not literally....but photos of all the different types I walk past......

Love these lemony ones with twisted petals.........

And these with pretty orange centres..........

The double ones in bright shades.......

and pale...........

and these simply delightful beauties...........

Above my head to blossom has been wonderful...........

and in town the lovey dovey pigeons have made us smile........

The longer days have even brought the opportunity to get out for a family evening walk beside the river.......

Where the light and the reflections were fabulous...........

The tree silhouettes were perfect...........

and the peaceful atmosphere was so relaxing............

Later in the week the fields really looked yellow..........

The butterflies continued to enjoy the warm weather...........

The hedgerows turned green............

And lambs returned to the field at the end of our street :0)

It's been a simple, but special week off at a special time of year.

This part of the world has delighted me .... the people I share my life now are wonderful.....I am truly blessed.

Jacquie x

Yorkshire Places :: Part 3

Hello Lovelies,

On Sunday the weather forecast was less than promising. Never mind, it gave mum and I  time to do some indoor things.

Despite the grey day it was clear that spring had arrived in Yorkshire.............

And it was being celebrated in the gallery at Salts Mill............

Here I need to thank Jenny at the lovely blog Saltaire Daily Photo.
 Her POST about this exhibition is very interesting and mum and I would not have known of it's existence otherwise.

And what a treat it was!..........

The paintings were so joyous and inspiring.........

A real celebration of the changing seasons in the countryside 

I LOVE the way David Hockney sees colour.

The exhibition space was gorgeous too. It was also very quiet when we were there and we loved being able to sit peacefully  and drink it all in............

The whole of Salts mill is such a delightful place...I even took a photo of the ladies loos....like you do :0)

It's filled with tempting things to buy as well.........how about this lovely notebook.........

with inspiring an inspiring quote

Or a nice crochet book...........

We could have stayed for hours, but had another place or two to squeeze in.

But first it was coffee time ......we parked overlooking another delightful Reservoir..........

Unfortunately the rain, which was being blown sideways in the strong wind,  obscured the view somewhat!

HERE'S the view on a better day

It was so disappointing after all the lovely weather we have enjoyed the previous week.

 Over in Calderdale the weather was just the same.........

and HERE'S this view on a better day!

It was a bit grim....talk about dark satanic mills..........

We were heading for Hebden Bridge, who's steeps streets ran with water..........

But I still loved details like this red letterbox in the stone wall....and being up amongst the rooftops..............

We were heading to this pretty town in search of another exhibition.  Stupidly I just presumed the gallery would be easy to spot. I got out of the car and wandered around in the pouring rain.......

It's such a charming spot, even in a downpour...........

But my feet were getting wet and I was feeling decidedly chilly after a while...........

I was so glad to find the warm and welcoming Tourist Information Centre, and step indoors for a while............

It was a lovely space....and I especially liked this O.S.map  armchair....brilliant.

The ladies in there were brilliant too. They were chatting with a local when I arrived so I wandered about, looking at the displays, but also enjoying listening to the Yorkshire accents. They always sound like home to me. My own has faded somewhat over the years.

When I emerged, with directions, I collected mum who was waiting in the car and we headed for the gallery.

Look, it's my Reservoir on the cover of Kate's leaflet!

The exhibition was another delight in a rainy day, small but perfectly formed, as they say. If you click on the pictures on Kate's facebook pages HERE you can see her beautiful work clearly.....in real life it's even more stunning...simmering with gold thread and touches of gold leaf.

By now it was early afternoon and there was just time to squeeze in one more visit. As the weather was still not cooperating we headed for a museum.

Shibden Hall dates back to 1420! ....I think it's beautiful....even in the rain.

It's somewhere I'd been as a child, both with family and on a school trip. My photo's taken here are pretty rubbish. I was on my reserve camera as I'd flattened the batteries in my new one....and my old camera does not cope well with low light levels.

There are lots of interesting rooms to explore. From the kitchen to the impressive Grand Hall

I loved the ancient leaded glass windows..........

There was a very informative guide in the main.house.  A lovely lady who made the place come to life.

Outside there is a folk museum............

I loved the estate worker cottage here. It had just two rooms, a kitchen, living room on the ground floor.............

And a tiny bedroom, up a steep wooden staircase...........

By this time I was thoroughly frozen....wet feet do that to you, don't they. And mum was tired, so we called it a day and began the drive home.

I was very good, and resisted all the tempting things in Salts Mill.....but I did treat myself to a small purchase in the Heart Gallery.

 I loved this little jug, which was made in England and designed by Yorkshire based ceramic artist Kate Thorburn

It's perfect to hold a small posy of spring flowers picked in the garden. And a lovely reminder of a special weekend with mum.
Jacquie x