Where did the weekend go?

Why is it a four day weekend seems to slip by as fast as a two day one? 

No, I don't know either, however I do know that we must have filled every last second with something and you know that old adage ...I'm going to work for a rest?? Well, I think that might be what I've planned for the rest of this week!

Friday evening kicked off with an picnic (of fish and chips) eaten outside alongside one of our favourite picturesque canal banks near Gargrave. With Eldest and his lovely girl we watched an amazing and unexpected display of hot air balloons as they drifted through the sunset. We were surrounded by cowslips, violets and early bluebells. Moss was of course more than happy to throw herself into the canal at a moment's notice and was a little disappointed when it was time to eventually leave however within  a few seconds she was racing up and down following interesting scents and hunting down sticks - happy dog. 

Saturday was rather good too - we set off for a walk in Skipton Castle Woods to find the sculptures. Himself and I have been before and now that there was a new willow sculpture of a stag, we decided that we'd take Eldest and GF to show them too. It was such a lovely day, a bit fresh to start but soon warmed up and despite it being a bank holiday and warm(ish) and sunny(ish) it was surprisingly quiet. The town centre was busy but still quieter than I have seen it in the past. The woods did not disappoint and nor did the new stag. Most enjoyable. 

Eldest's GF has been delighted by all the lambs in the fields but has never had the opportunity to bottle feed or cuddle a lamb, so I messaged a friend who has rare breed sheep and goats and asked it there was a chance for a bit of lamb cuddling action and the answer was yes! So off we went and held and tickled the cutest (and tiniest) Ronaldsay lambs we've ever seen then spent a very happy time scritching and scratching Golden Guernsey goats and goat kids.

Sunday we had my folks over for tea and cake and in the afternoon we went off looking at the lambs in the fields - the fields are liberally sprinkled with lambs around the village, from the tiniest little long legged lambs to the mini sheep sized lambs full of bravado as they charge around the fields in little groups.

By Monday it was back to Himself and I so we decided to jump in the van and head off to the Dales for a walk. Himself chose Littondale and we easily found parking above the isolated valley. Once again we were surprised how quiet the roads were and how few folk were about despite again the sunny and reasonably warm weather. We dropped down on to the side of the valley and walked up to the head of it, crossed over and back down on the other side. There was a cutting breeze that seemed to find its way through all clothing however, when the sun shone it was gorgeous. We stopped in a dry limestone riverbed for our lunch and found a sheltered and warm spot. Lunch was piping hot mushroom soup, cheese and pickle sarnies followed by chocolate eggs - what a treat! Moss of course found a pool of water and played 'dipping for sticks' as she stuck her face in and blew bubbles in the rather chilly water. (what a strange dog!)

The last stretch back up to the van was a bit of a pull as it was from the valley bottom (in the far distance in the main photograph) up to the crest of the hill on the left. In all it was over six miles and we hardly saw a soul. 

Now, Tuesday, I am wondering what happened to our extended weekend? I know we stuffed it full and made the most of every minute but it still seemed to vanish in a flash!

How was your long weekend?

Did you manage to make it linger and feel like a holiday?

or did it fly by in a blink of an eye!?!