24 hours

Snapshots from the weekend - a brief visit to the coast.

Moss, who is back to her normal (almost) bouncy self  'wearing' a mudpack set of black boots... she smelt 'delightful'!

Bluebells nodding in the brisk breeze on Saturday afternoon - their fragrance whipped away before I could smell it, will have to wait for a less windy day...

St Helen's Church, Overton - one of the oldest churches in Lancashire thought to originate around 1050 - 1140, depending on which wall you look at with evidence of both Norman and Saxon architecture.

A heron tentatively dipping a toe into the estuarine waters - it was incredibly choppy with spray breaking off each little wave.

We walked around Bazil Head (a small farmed peninsular) where the coastal defences are huge boulders piled up against the land preventing erosion during stormy weather. Someone with a sense of humour created this ....

With my back to 'Stone Face' I photo-ed the view - Himself and Moss ahead of me of course.

Further round, in a marshy inlet there is a fine line where the land starts and the sea ends with the fence as the marker, although it does appear as if the sea breaches that manmade barrier on a regular basis.

All around the headland were small red place names - obviously a community who love and care for their little headland on the edge.

Then as the sun began to set, we watched four hares loping around the fields below us. We could make out two male and two female and although there was no boxing or chasing, there was definitely a platonic group happening as they grazed in the lengthening shadows.

In the morning after breakfast and a dog walk  (wallowing, stick hunting, mud puddling, sniffing and running. Insert any or all listed ...) we packed the van - with a list of chores to be done we returned home to make the most of Sunday afternoon.

Hope your weekend was a good one 😊

A Monday of many colours (not just blue!)

Today is supposed to be 'Blue Monday' - which was created by a travel company to boost sales during a rather dull January ... there is - apparently - nothing medically or scientifically proven yet it is still touted as an actual 'thing' and looking out the window now, I wouldn't mind a bit of a BLUE sky to admire as it is rather dreary and grey out there. Any hoo.

I have been wandering around inside my head deliberating a theme for today's post. There are a number of stories that are rumbling around and I've been rerunning them to evaluate their 'story-ness' worth.

I have toyed with the one where the postmistress and I laughed conspiratorially together behind the curtain of the photobooth, where the rather boring and essential task of having an image taken for a driver's license turned into a moment of shared silliness with a stranger. However, when I tried to write it - it was not as funny and the act of typing it lost the spontaneity and immediacy of the situation.

So I wondered about our most enjoyable walk - the  one we did yesterday with Youngest and his lovely GF. However, as beautiful the views were or how gently mild the weather - it was just a walk. Nothing outstanding. Nothing earthshattering. Just a gentle good humoured trundle around the hills, along the coastline and through a nature reserve with lovely people. One that leaves you with a happy heart but not necessarily a story.

On the baking front - I've tried something new, which I will share, just not right now.

The blanket is almost done, the border is the final push and then the last few ends to weave in.
So.
Lots goes on, life rolls forward, days lengthen and clouds fill the sky. 

Nothing really worth waffling on about.

And in the interest of 'eye candy' I took the blanket in the van yesterday as we drove up to the South Lakes and with the 'assistance' 😆(I use that word hesitantly!!) of Youngest - I took a photo of said blanket draped on a wall. 

So if you'll excuse me I have a date with a crochet hook, a mug of tea and a blanket on the settee - speak to you soon xx

Following on

 June has been fairly flaming hot - which is glorious - it warms me right through to my bones, although, I am still wearing heavy work trousers, T-shirt and lightweight fleece and boots daily - yes it is warm but it is delicious.

June is also my birth month and this year must have rated as the best birthday weekend I have had in a very long while.

It was filled with family and camping, sultry sunsets and mesmerising reflections, thoughtful gifts, delicious cake and wonderful walks.

Moss is an oddity - she feels the heat yet does not stop (the hard-wiring in a working collie brain won't let her - I am yet to find the 'off switch') so at work she has access to plenty of water and I have to make sure she takes a break.

Initially she took over a tray of water designed to soak freshly pricked out seedlings - it stays permanently full of water (and the occasional dog) in the lobby of the glasshouse. Then my boss bought her a paddling pool ..... I can see staff favouritism occurring here .... where's my pool?

Please note the snarky side eye as I snap yet another photograph .... 

I shall leave you with a small selection of photos from June - and we have only really just reached half way - still time to enjoy the long warm days it as we head to July.

You can also read my latest work post HERE

Sunsets

There is something wistful

yet defiant

about a wintery sunset.

There is that metallic tang of cold air

as the sun slips behind the horizon

The sky can be soft shades, pale and pastel

or fiery and vibrant.

As I look at each of these photos, I can feel the icy chill that appears as the winter sun slips away. Although as beautiful as they are - I am looking forward to warmer days as the season turns towards spring.

It's not just a sunset

 

Life is, as you all know, is limited. It is not however limiting but, yes, it is limited. I find that my day revolves around simple things. 

Cooking. Walking the dog (and my head). Gardening. Crafting when the inspiration takes hold. Looking inward and keeping family safe, conversations light and positive and making sure I find beauty and good where I can. 

I refuse to be dragged down the the constant news of CV19, the still lingering and long term mess of Brexit, the 'when-will-I ... get a holiday/be able to go shopping/go to the pub/restaurant/hairdresser' moans, I will not be smothered by doom and gloom, whether it is via the news, the internet or people. Don't get me wrong - I am not blinkered and am well aware that all of that nightmare is real and is very frightening and very present and the medical profession is stretched to almost breaking point.

However, if I let it in, it will drown everything. So my way of dealing with it is to be buoyant and to remain afloat and to limit my time and energy with the negativity of it all. We all have coping strategies, this is mine.

Yesterday's walk was one such coping strategy and we were truly rewarded by the sunset. It made us both feel alive and so very glad to be alive.

Oh, and having dog that has absolutely no concept of all that goes on in our heads and probably has confetti and unicorns in her happy little heart - that helps, that helps a lot. 

Here, let me gift you a hug (if you need one) a smile (please smile back) and some of that light from yesterday's syrupy golden sunset - it will warm your heart, there is such beauty about, we just need to see it ❤🐾 

Life in colour

The colours of autumn are so different to any other season - the light casts a benign glow while foliage softens, sweetens and changes.

The heady blues of summer mellow to gentle clear sapphires and pinks. Clouds wrap horizons shawl-like and the air has a taste of distant memories of toffees and salt.

A grey sky to me is like wearing a lead weight, yet other greys abound with such delight - the muted camouflaging greys of a silent river sentry, 

the swirling eddies of deep grey water as it moves with meaning and purpose through a narrow gorge, 

The unnoticed 'invisible' grey supporting flashes of brilliant colour..... a wonderfully stumpy and broad slab of rainbow luminance...

The unobtrusive grey of a boardwalk covered in a confetti of leaves.

Then, there is the more expected colours of autumn,

The punchy reds and pinks....

Oranges and yellows,

Russets, browns and darkening greens,

Rusts, terracottas, ambers, creams and golds....

Tawny, sandy, sunset shades with flashes of caustic whites and sinister alabaster shades.

Talking of sunsets - they too have been sharing their shades of autumn, from fiery and volatile ...

To a more gentle slide into dusk then darkness.

There is so much more to autumn than the decline into decay and a loss of light - I am having to re-think my feeling of loss when the summer goes and learn to see the beauty in the faded charm and cooling weather.

It will take a lot of practice... have yourselves a lovely weekend filled with colour and sunsets in the most glorious shades of autumn xxxxxx