Wandering Weather

Hello Lovelies,

we woke up to sunshine last Wednesday and I couldn't wait to get outdoors. By the front door I smiled at the emerging shoots of bulbs I had forgotten that I had planted........

I tided up the front garden a little, just enough to ease my conscience .....then it was time to go for a walk....yay.

I generally set out from my front door with no firm plan of where to go, but a day like this will always tempt me to go further.
I spot two mums I don't see now the boys are older, out walking their dogs. We stop to chat a while. It seems strange to be discussing what the children are planning to do after GCSE's ....wasn't it just last year they were at primary school?

Soon I'm alone again and listening to the Robin's song...........

Ahh, the hidden foot path....this door always makes me smile.......

It leads to a path between gardens ( but you probably knew that already as I've brought you here before)............

And opens out into the "Hidden Valley". I make up very original names don't I :0)

I walk beside the hedgerow, down the gentle slope.....

I loved the feathery dried flower heads here..........

and the sunlit stream..........

I'm walking in my wellies as I'm anticipating a LOT of mud. Some of my walking group are happy to walk 10 miles in wellies...I can't say I would be keen myself. This borrowed walking pole is also a godsend when the going is slippery............

I wander beside the brook and I'm wondering if I needed my wellies after all. By the pylon the path turns left.........

And up a slippery slope..........

Phew, it makes me hot as I'm wearing too many layers and I'm rather relived to get that bit behind me.......

Here I'm in a small village which is looking pretty on such a gorgeous morning........

It's a very tidy spot but I see they are planning to be part of an event I had not heard about. "Clean for the Queen" is a nationwide initiative to try and combat unwanted litter. You can read about it HERE.
How I abhor litter. I would never knowingly drop rubbish but I must admit I've never actually gone out to pick up other people's litter.

 Bacon butties might tempt me though :0).........

This stream is flowing quickly and I follow the sound of running water........

Aaaah a babbling brook....lovely.......

There are snowdrops here too..........

And I can't resist putting my camera on the ground to try and get a snails-eye view of these February beauties.........

There were LOTS of blurry rejects, but this one worked.

I like the towering fir trees here.........

and this cottage in particular.......

There's a huge Cedar tree too.........well I think that's what it is.........

I stand under it's branches and wonder how old it must be to have got to such a size.........

By a smaller tree there's a  bench........

where pretty Narcissi are flowering..........

And nearby  the low sun illuminates the Crocus..........

I pass the church...........

and start heading north...it's nice to have the sun at my back...........

And in this field I'm so glad to be wearing wellies........

Oh that blue sky with tiny wispy clouds is such a wonderful sight......

A little further along I notice a flock of birds on the ground so I try to sneak up quietly.

Most of them take flight but one or two remain and I manage to get a photo..........

Zoomed in I can see it's markings and as Louise had mentioned a previous sighting I had could have been Redwings I was able to look them up easily.
Thank you Louise :0).........

Here I was getting closer to home, stomping through the puddles and thoroughly enjoying my little self on such a glorious morning..........

and then I was treated to another new bird sighting.....

I think this is a Yellowhammer

There's a high hedge along the bridleway and at first I was not sure if I had heard correctly when amongst the Baaaa's there were little Bheer's . But yes....there were Lambs. It's always a joyful sight...the first lambs of the year. 

I hope they are somewhere warm last night, bless them ( it's frosty out right now) 

The last bit of my walk is along a fast road and I'm not too keen on it, but at least there's a verge and on Wednesday there was blossom.........

Looking perfectly pretty against the blue sky..........

I was home by 11am and this sight in my front garden added to the springlike vibe of my morning perfectly...........

I can see there are plenty of weeds that I missed too :0)

It was a beautiful Wednesday wander and I continue to feel very lucky to have the time to get out and notice the changing seasons.

Thank you for your kind comments on my poem Lovelies, I hope you all have a good week.
Jacquie x

Feeling a little Poetic

Hello Lovelies,

I really wanted to go out with my walking group today, but it was not to be. Youngest has a sore throat and I decided he better stay home. 

All morning I looked longingly at the bright sunny weather and happily by early afternoon youngest ( who is a teenager) as feeling a little better. He was content to be left on the sofa for half an hour while I went to stretch my legs. In the end I was probably gone for more like an hour....but hopefully he didn't notice :0)

Oh, it was so lovely out....

There was warmth in the low sun. And there were flowers....pink flowers even ....what joy....

 Of course it's the Snowdrops that make me smile the most in February............

How I love the bare tree silhouettes against the church. It's made from stones taken from a nearby Roman road and dates back to the 11th Century..........

It's a special place all year round, but especially pretty when the early flowers  are just beginning to bloom........

 and look what I spotted in the corner by the little woodland.......

Wild Garlic shoots.

All the time I was walking round taking photos, and then walking home, I was making up a little poem in my head. I dashed to my desk and put pen to paper ( after first checking on the poorly child...he was fine) .

Here's what I came up with. I'm sure it's far from perfect as I know nothing about writing poetry, but what can I say, it's lovely to feel inspired. 

I hope you enjoy reading it.

A Sunny day in February

I'm squinting at the sideways sun, a smile crosses my face.

The birds are singing in every bare branched tree, could there be a prettier place?

This churchyard I visit all year round, has never looked so sublime.

I stop, catch my breath.....the dark days are gone, it's so nearly, nearly springtime.

There are snowdrops amongst the gravestones, wild cyclamen and Daffodils too.

It may be muddy underfoot, but yes!, green shoots are bursting through.

I could stay here for hours on a day like today, no other human around.

Just rabbits and squirrels and the song of the Robin,

 in this timeless place .....Peace is found.

Jacquie x

February Begins

Hello Lovelies,

here I am with what seems to be becoming a regular weekly round up. I'd love to publish shorter posts more regularly but that's not happening for one reason or another. 

I'm smiling at this first picture as it's rather similar to the start of my previous post. Guess I just love sunlit winter woodland............

These images are from last Wednesday morning when we were blessed with blue skies..........

Though I think you could call the going "heavy" .......

It may be muddy out there, but there is blossom too............

Indoors the same day I was smiling at the Daffodils on my mantle...........

Then in the afternoon I was delighted to come across this wonderful "book bench" when mum and I visited a local art gallery...........

I had this edition as a child and it was one of my favourites...........

Ladybird books were a big part of my childhood and it's so nice to see them celebrated in this way, in the town where they were published. You can see more images of them HERE

On Thursday I was out with my lovely walking group again. This walk was being led by two ladies who haven't been leaders before. They did a great job, choosing an interesting route past a home that was once a windmill...........

and climbing up to look down upon the  raging wear.........

They even supplied yummy snacks to go with our morning coffee. This marmalade flapjack with sunflower seeds was so tasty.......

The group is full of kind and interesting people. They do  make me smile. I loved it when one of the older chaps started counting us using the traditional sheep counting rhyme...Yan tan tethera. His knowledge was impressive though he has never been a shepherd :0)

After a steep and slippery descent to river level, then a steep and tiring climb up again we were all happy to sit down by a pretty church and eat our picnics.............

Look where was a moss covered stone wall for me to dangle my legs over.........

excuse the mud :0)

It really was a delightful spot. The bulbs were just opening up in the churchyard......

and through the little cluster of charming old buildings you could just see the river..........

as another lady said, it really was a timeless spot.

I liked this weather vane very much..........

and it was appropriate as the only locals we saw were this friendly pair..........

On the way back we saw another converted windmill. Wouldn't it be nice to see them with sails...........

It was somewhat less scenic here....just acres of ploughed fields....this bit did remind me of chocolate though....

Milk or plain? :0)

And the farmer had helpfully made some tyre tracks for us to follow, otherwise it would have been rather treacherous.........

We have had quiet a lot of rain again too. On Saturday I never left the house. But I was enjoying more Ramblings podcasts on my phone...I got a little speaker, it's great...........

My Diary last week was telling me of Imbolc ( it's linked to Candlemass).... I loved the idea of celebrating the first stirrings of new life as the days begin to lengthen........

And I loved the colours in this wild flower Mandala.........

So I made a crochet version...........

It's THIS lovely pattern, with a slight twist

I think it looks pretty and seasonal, with it's snowdrop and crocus colours...........

It's making me smile despite the rain .

Jacquie x