Daffodil Sunday

Hello Lovelies, 

I do hope you had a good Easter. It's such a lovely time of year I like to make an effort to add a few spring touches to our home.

I was rather last minute with the decorations this year. But it's O.K. to have less than perfect trimmings isn't it.

I didn't have any of my usual natural bare branches so I hastily grabbed some artificial blossom branches from elsewhere in the house, and added some of our Easter pretties as best as I could..........

 Home made crochet flowers and Mini Birds, along with plastic eggs. This may not be the most tasteful Easter Tree we have ever had, but it still makes me smile............

There are also pale yellow and cream Daffodils on my mantle.....with the most amazing frilly trumpets. Just look at that zingy green centre..........

Daffodils are the quintessential Easter decoration in my eyes.

I had a lovely quiet day on Sunday, with a few hours to myself, doing some gentle housework in the morning. The weather was dull. On such a day staying home and restoring some sort of order makes me happy ( though it doesn't last long!)

After cooking and enjoying a roast dinner with the family I felt the need for a little fresh air. Nobody was keen to join me, but that was fine.

I headed off to try and find a new path which my walking friend had told me about.......along the edge of suddenly-so-very-green fields, and down to the railway bridge..........

Where the birdsong sounded different this week............

And the branches were not quiet so bare.

Along the side of the railway track, and over the stream............

Where I turned to look back towards the hill.........

Before entering a little woodland.........

Where delicate purple Violas bloomed...........



And the low afternoon sun made the texture on the bark here look so dramatic...........

I was very happy to discover a new route that led to one of my favourite places.

 I entered the churchyard through the kissing gate..............

And smiled at the Daffodils adding cheer to long forgotten graves.........

How I love this simple old church made of a patchwork of rough boulders. I love it's simple lines and lack of ornate decoration.........

As I walked around the front I noticed the floral decorations in the porch.........

I was enchanted by the natural looking display of seasonal flowers and foliage.........

Magnolia branches, Euphorbias, Hellebores......and beautiful Daffodils with happy orange centres.......

As I sat quietly taking these pictures, lost in my own little world I was surprised by an old lady holding a huge key.

"Would you like to look inside" she said as she unlocked the door. I hesitated......."that's kind but my boots are muddy"

Then I couldn't resit a peek inside this lovely building, so removing my boots I stepped inside.

It was such a beautiful and simple space.........

everywhere there were Easter flowers and decorations .........

Just look at the thickness of those old walls.

But it was the stained glass window that really captivated me. The lady told me it had been fitted in 2000. A wonderfully crafted contemporary piece of stained glass in this beautiful old space.......

I loved the way it featured the church building and the lovely natural setting it sits in. With the local bird life and flowers featured prominently too..........

The light was not great to photograph it as the sun in the west by now, but I can imagine it looks stunning during the morning service on a sunny Sunday.

It was so lovely to get a glimpse inside this church and I happily chatted with the old lady who obviously loved it too.

As I walked home I smiled at the roadside Daffodils who were looking at their cheerful best.......

I Love Spring and I loved this memorable  Easter Sunday..........

Jacquie x

March Walking Review

Hello Lovelies,

continuing with the monthly walking reviews I started last month HERE. I'm taking this opportunity to round up my monthly walking activity at the end of each month. It will be interesting to look back on at the end of the year. And maybe I can inspire some of you lovelies?

As some of you know I'm trying to walk 1000 miles in 2015, inspired be THIS challenge.

Once again I've been recording my miles walked on a dedicated calendar.

This month the image on my calendar was the stunning Chatsworth house......such beautiful walking country........

As in previous months I recorded all my outdoor miles walked and religiously kept a running tally, then there was no kidding myself I was doing more miles that I really was :0)

The month started really well with a blustery family walk at Bradgate park in the 1st of March........

The following weekend we had another family walk around Elvaston Castle......it was looking a bit sad, all covered in scaffolding, but the gardens were lovely............

I walked with my beloved walking group on three Thursdays, one of which was SUNNY!

Here are a couple of mosaics from the other two walks. These cloudy walks were  not so great for photography, but it didn't rain and I still loved getting out into different landscapes, not to mention their friendly company.........

and spotting signs of early spring, even on a gloomy day............

Loved this 12 mile walk. My longest walk with the group so far.

The lengthening days meant it was even possible to walk after work . I loved adding an extra half a mile to my total by simply walking the long way back to my car, capturing a pretty sunset and some interesting silhouettes in the urban skyline as I passed...........

Shortly my two eldest boys are doing their bronze D of E expedition. So I've been trying my best to ensure they are prepared, with walks to break in their boots and practice getting them fastened correctly!..........

On this hike we did 5 miles around local footpaths and to the nature reserve, where they loved the ladder bridge.

Eldest even spotted a Kingfisher, well a flash of blue anyway....I was so envious.

My boys are great company to walk with, they make me laugh. When we passed this hay barn I was doing my typical mum type lecture on how they shouldn't be tempted to climb on the bales because they might collapse, when middle son lightened the mood with, " Yes, O.K. mum, but could you find a needle in it" :0)

and here's a smile for you lovelies......this is what we spotted in the local yarn shop on the way home.......cheep, cheep, Baa .............

bless

March stats are 

Miles walked with walking group              28.5

Days with no outdoor walking                      1

Longest Walk in Miles                                 12.0 yay 

Total outdoor miles walked this month       86.0

Total miles so far this year                         248.0

That's only two miles behind target......I just need to keep up my momentum and that 1000 mile target should be attainable without too much difficulty.....I hope.

Jacquie x

This Weeks Group Walk.....Number 15

Hello Lovelies,

 Thursday was the last day of the school spring term around here. I knew it would be the last group walk that I could attend till the Easter break was over and I was really hoping for nice weather.

The forecast was cloud,  yet as we set off there might not have been clear skies but there were certainly shadows.........

The walk leader ( who was wearing wellies) warned us of the boggy conditions. There were puddles, which was hardly surprising after all the rain last week, but generally the conditions underfoot were ok.

It was such a beautiful day....and, joy of joys, there was no wind..........

We passed a tidy farm..... where, now I'm looking back through these images, I'm pretty sure the white van belonged to a mobile farrier..........

As we walked along the path everyone commented on the huge horses hoof prints along it. I should have taken a photo with my hand for a guide to the size , they were massive....maybe 10 inches across or more.

As I dropped to the back of the group, enchanted by the views here, I gazed back towards the farm and saw who probably made those prints..........

A beautiful Shire horse.....such magnificent creatures...........

Aware I was holding up the back marker, I hurried to catch up with the group....and then stopped again to photograph another pretty view of where we were heading.

"There's the church", said the chap who was making sure nobody got left behind....."and the Abbey"......

what church and what Abbey?....I could see neither

We caught up with the group again as we travelled through pretty woodland..........

Where the fresh green shoots of Bluebell leaves grew at the base of huge old trees.........

How I loved the views here.........and the palest blue  sky with wispy white clouds...........

Leaving the woodland we approached a cluster of gorgeous old buildings.........

it was such a charming spot..........

And when we entered a sunlit churchyard I was still confused where the church actually was.........

Squinting into the sunlight and talking to other members of the walking group I realised the building here was the church....and a house ....a house church, or maybe a church  house?.......

Whatever you call it, it was an idyllic spot to sit on a low stone wall and eat a picnic..........

After the chilly winter picnics we have endured throughout the winter this one seemed like a precious gift.

 Sitting chatting in the warm sunshine , watching a Buzzard ride the thermals rising in the clear still sky and enjoying a yummy gift of Easter chocolate to finish off my picnic. Wonderful.

All too soon it was time to move on. We passed squat stone cottages..........

and soon came to the huge arch, which is all that remains of an Abbey that was once here.......

It seemed amazing that it was still standing in isolation, resisting all the elements for so many years.

Close to here were a heard of small black sheep, they seemed to fit right in with the pretty, old fashioned setting.......

I think they may be THIS bread

As we walked past stunning mature trees I wondered how many more weeks they would look like this......surely they will be turning green soon..........

 This little cottage garden amused me....it looked like the sort of place where nothing goes to waste. Things some would consider to be junk were made useful or simply decorative, again..........

The car seat deck chairs made me smile.

By now we were nearing the end of our seven and a half mile walk. We had negotiated some mud, but nothing too bad.

As we approached this field our cheerful leader told us this was the "best bit" with a twinkle in his eye........

Gosh it was muddy, in multiple places. People braved barb wire, hung onto gates and balanced on logs to try and avoid it, but wellies were certainly the best footwear here!

But the mud certainly didn't ruin this walk for me. In fact I was sad when it ended. Walking is such a wonderful escape and this first really mild group walk of the year was a special one. 

This peaceful spot will remain in my minds eye for a long time.........

Jacquie x

Edited to Add....THIS is where we walked through, in case any of you lovelies were wondering.
J x

Family, Flowers......and Crochet

Hello Lovelies, how are you? 

This last week of the school spring term has been extra busy. There seems to have been loads of  homework for my boys to complete. I'm always so proud of the effort all my boys put into their school work.

 Here eldest was using my coloured pencils to draw a Gaudi Dragon........

 He spent AGES on it and I know he doesn't get the same pleasure from drawing that I do....so I admired his dedication.

 How I would love to take us all on a trip to Barcelona to see all the fabulous  Gaudi Architecture 

The weather has been so mixed this week. Spring is here, but the wind and rain has been terrible at times. Last weekend I took the boys to the tennis courts to get some fresh air, but it was so blustery we had to give up after a while.........

There's been lots of rain and the garden flowers seem to be loving that..........

The hyacinths have never looked so blue..........

It's all thanks to the longer days of course. And now the clocks have gone back the sun doesn't set till after 7pm....yay!

 Back indoors I've been inspired to pick up my hook again!

 How could I resist Lucy's Mini Chicklets.........

 This photo makes me smile, The wreath ( which is admittedly looking a little saggy these days) was made, and blogged way back in 2010, using an  Attic 24 tutorial HERE .....I still love it.

Five whole years later that lovely lady is still generously sharing the wonderful crochet her creative brain designs.

How cute are these little guys............

And they were such fun to make. A clear, simple pattern, with lots of little touches to make them special.

I'm not great at embroidery, but I had to try  and create the sweet little flowers in their tummies.....

I loved making these as little gifts for friends this Easter..........

I particularly loved how this chap turned out. He's made with Stylecraft Sherbert....but I like to think of it as Duck Egg blue :0)

Sending warm wishes for a Happy Easter to all you Lovelies. I do hope you have a fun and relaxing time.
Jacquie x