Just about bordering on odd, I see things through different eyes.The heading says it all - I live, I love, I craft, I am me...

25/01/2022

Drink tea, bake cake and walk - sounds good to me.


 I thought, while I wait for the dried fruit, nuts and spices to gently simmer on the stove I would pop in and say hi. I can just about detect the first of the warm boiled fruit cake fragrance drift into the lounge. I'll check it in a while and probably make myself a mug of tea.

Any hoo, I'd been waiting for something interesting to land in my lap giving me something to waffle on about but life has bumbled along gently and quietly and I realised that if I waited for that amazing story - I might never write about anything!  Life is more about the normal daily things than the unrealistic 'insta' moments which foster false reality.

I'd worked the Saturday and to be honest I was really tired after a fairly hard going week however I'd set my heart on a walk and Himself was more than happy to oblige (as was Moss). So we took to the hills and parked up behind Kettlewell, Upper Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales.  Our route is one we have walked since before we were married and has many happy memories for us. Kettlewell is about 300 years old and is thought to be a derivative of the Anglo Saxon word - Chetele Welle meaning stream or river.


The path started in the village and crossed the river Wharfe and turned up towards Starbotton - a village that for years I thought was called 'Star Bottom' which is rather sweet but it is actually more likely to have evolved from 'The place where the stakes come from' - Stauerboten - in Old English. 

The path gently follows the length of the river much to Moss' delight and despite the chilly temperatures she threw herself in to the water and grinned from tip of nose to end of tail. The valley is full of ancient fields with plenty of stiles and stone barns full of sweet smelling hay or old rusty tractors. I always try and peep in if I can - wondering at the stories these old walls could tell.

We stopped for lunch on a steeply wooded bank - the breeze was rather sharp and could cut right through our clothing so hunkering down in some mature trees was a relief. We ate cheese salad sarnies and sipped piping hot tea, swiftly followed by chunks of fruit cake - hence me baking more - we have run out and in this house that is a 'national disaster'!

There was a steady stream of walkers, mostly families or groups with dogs and on the whole everyone passed by with good humour. Occasionally we'd mutually have to call our dogs in and lead them up to prevent any silly dog behaviour. 

At the furthest part of our path we'd reached Starbotton - a picturesque hamlet which can get very busy in the tourist season - I feel for the locals, probably they need and dislike the hordes of holiday makers in equal measure. We crossed through the village and headed back towards Kettlewell on the opposite of the valley.

This time the path rose high up on the flanks of the hills giving us glorious views both up and back down the valley.  The breeze was once again rather cutting and we took the first opportunity we could to shelter from it by sitting alongside a small wild little wood full of twisted hawthorn, rowan, holly, hazel and ash. The last of the tea swallowed and the final two squares of ginger cake scoffed, we set off again through the woods and back down towards the village.

In all it was just under six miles and enough for me - the fresh air and walking certainly did my head good but I was ready for a freshly brewed mug of tea back at the van before setting off home. However, before I could drink it - I decided to create my own 'insta' moment! 




25 comments:

  1. The" influencers" have nothing in you. Your day sounds perfect to me. I think if fruit cake at Christmas so good to hear it gets enjoyed equally through the year

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    1. It was a lovely day thank you Sam :) I must make at least 50 fruit cakes a year - as well as the Christmas version - so yes, fruit cake all round it is!

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  2. The lintel over that window is far more interesting to me than some vacuous influencer trying to flog me stuff I don't want!
    Hasn't it been cold? Well done for braving it! xxx

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    1. It has definitely been cold! I loved that bird carved into the lintel - I wondered if it was a pheasant? the spotty coat and long tail - what ever species it is representing, I loved it!

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  3. I don't live an Instagram life either. It's a life of wonderful moments and then a fair bit of tedium, especially on grey winter days! I enjoyed your walk and the scenery and those Spindle berries still being on the bush despite the time of year. I miss those from my walks along the Shaftesbury Drove more than half a lifetime ago.

    Boiled fruit cake is moreish - I have a recipe with pulped pineapple in it which is very toothsome.

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    1. Here here with life of wonderful moments!
      The Spindle was quite a surprise - I would have thought that it would well and truly over by now, but in the brief flash of sunlight they shone out!

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  4. Cracking walk...and cake!!

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  5. Great walk Kate & I've been the same, not blogging because life has become boring & I'm sure others don't care what we've "not" been up to, but realise it's my blog & photos, so thank you for being an inspiring blogpal & friend. Probably won't walk today, as the mini heatwave we are having has been horrendous & I've not slept well again, so feeling quite lethargic. Stay warm, take care & hugs.

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    1. Sometimes just 'nattering' about the simple and mundane helps to see that life is actually better than you think - you just have to look for the good in it x

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  6. I keep meaning to make boiled fruit cake. You are tempting me. I love the pictures, and I love hearing the history behind them, thank you for sharing. And isn't it funny that you can't keep dogs out of a beck or puddle but you can't get them into a bath!

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    1. Did you make the cake?! and what is it about dogs and water and dogs and baths! haha

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  7. It sounds like a lovely walk, I've been round that area myself but many years ago now. Your descriptions of Moss enjoying herself always make me smile and I love the colourful photo with the berries :)

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    1. Think you need to get yourself there again - it is lovely walking there x

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  8. What a lovely walk. Glad you can still do walks like this one; too far for me but then you allow be to tag along so I can claim I've done the walk! xx

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  9. I love that folkart carving too. Your baking has reminded me of a mincemeat and marzipan teabread recipe I saw which I must do. Arilx

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  10. Wow, haven't been to Kettlewell and area for such a long time. We once stopped there in a holidaycottage with our previous doggy Jake. He was quite old then , so all we could do was potter, but it was a lovely break. I like the name Starbottom. :)

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    1. You need to take Wil and Hugo there - lovely walking (and pubs!)

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  11. I hear you on the nothing is happening what shall I write about but it is not all about those insta moments you are so right. Thank you for taking us on such a delightful walk x

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    1. Sometimes 'normal' feels meh until you start writing about it and then you realise that actually life is rather special :)

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  12. Well that last shot is just Insta porn for tea dunkers!!! I also approve of your tea flask and ginger cake antics. What a lovely sounding walk. I love some of these Yorkshire Dale names - Kettlewell and Starbotton, just lovely.

    Hope the fruit cake went well. I 'm sure it did :) Lulu xXx

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    1. Hahah - tea drinkers porn love it !! The cake vanished with very little notice (like they all seem to do)

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  13. I can almost smell that cake boiling. I too have used pulped pineapple in a fruit cake but I have never seen it in the supermarkets here as it was in SA. I enjoyed the walk with you, thank you. 🧡🦴😃xx

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