Today is Tuesday

The crows above my head are cawing and cackling with what appears to be delight. They tumble and turn, buoyed by the light breeze and warmed my the gentle hazy sunlight. For the first time in a few days, the clouds have broken and slivers of blue slide behind the breaks. As the day wears on, the sky becomes more visible and by the time we set off for our walk, the day feels fresh and bright.  

Moss sets her shoulders and pulls me up the hill, normarily I would rein her in but her keenness is infectious and we all yomp up the lane only stopping to catch up with folk we'd not seen for ages - conversation gushes as we both start and finish each others sentences - as we had done in a time prior. We make plans to catch up properly.

We continue up the lane, through the playing fields at the top of the hill then along through the sheep fields - looking for any calves in the neighbouring pasture. A small herd of Highland coos  over-winter up on this ridge each year and as January slides into February - shaggy calves appear looking not dissimilar to oversized teddy bears.

Down the other side of the hill we join the path which takes us through the nature reserve. Moss can not get into the river fast enough. All the streams are full and flowing merrily and 'Sagar's Lake' (a heavily silted mill pond) is full with bathing ducks. The bulrush heads seem to float above their straw-coloured stems. There is very little sound apart from the distance rumble of traffic, our footsteps and the occasional bird song.

The further along the nature reserve we walk, the clearer the skies and it feels pleasantly mild and wonderful to be out. The reflections in the mill pond capture me for a moment and I pause to take a photograph and preserve this precise minute.

At the far end of the nature reserve is a busy little cafe - well frequented by dog walkers and families, Youngest and I don masks and purchase three take away teas. Then, Youngest, his Girl, Moss and I sit and watch the ducks on the upper lake (another millpond renovated in the late 1980s) as we drink steaming hot strong tea. 

Tea drunk and the sun gently sliding back behind slivers of thin cloud, we set off back home. We stick to the footpath alongside the road back into the village - I am plotting another mug of tea, there is lunch to be made and Uni work to be done. I also have things to do and a blanket to get on with.

It is growing and feels heavy and warm on my lap as I add rows -  now over half way there - it should not take too much longer to get to the end and then a few bordering rows to finish. There is a double bed waiting for it😊 

Hope your Tuesday was a good one, gently getting you ready for Wednesday xxxx