what comes after a Friday?

Saturday of course

Saturday was a day of three parts.

Part 1 

A warm day, warm, warm start. We had late breakfast on a hill high above the sea. But before we could go down to the water's edge, we had a hill to climb. Well, a hill with several mini hills atop. The air felt thick and dry, Moss went from boggy patch to boggy patch, wallowing happily. By the time we got to the top I was very glad I had my hat and a large bottle of cold water - we managed to find a much needed breeze while we sat amongst the rocky outcrop. We scanned the horizon with my spotting-scope. It was lovely watching distance views, small people and even small dogs on the beach, tractors working their fields, motorbikes trundling along narrow lanes, small boats slicing through the water, trains sliding through the countryside.  Our return back to Zeb was a lot easier, not only was it DOWNwards but it was into the breeze - bliss.

The sea was calling and I was not about to ignore her dulcet tones.

 

Part 2 

We pulled up alongside the beach - a rubbly pebbly scrubby sort of precious strip of land between a carpark and the sea. The air was salty and fresh beneath the jewel-blue sky. The sea pushed out lazy rolls of small waves and cheerfully growing between the pebbles were the smiliest of faces I have seen in a long time.

Moss turned into a selkie within seconds of running into the salty water. I have never seen a dog dive under water and surf instinctively as she did. We worked our way along the water, my eyes just ate the view, skimming over the stones, soaring over towards the horizon, following a skane of gulls flying through the view ... each one a panacea for my soul. 

Part 3

We lingered, the tide slipped out and the pebbles now fringed a wide sand beach strewn with pools of mirror like puddles. The sky turned from a clear blue to a rich apricot splashed with purple clouds making for a spectacular light show.  I made us something to eat and we sat and watched the sun slowing slip down behind the horizon. We dried Moss, wrapped her in a fresh towel, then lifted a tired dog onto her bed in the cab of the van. Packing completed, everything stowed away securely; we looked at the now dark sky, the sun fully gone - time to go home. 

Zeb - thank you for a lovely break - having you has opened our small world into one of many possibilities and advantures. You have given us the freedom to quietly escape and still maintain the pandemic restrictions and you have made a dog very very very happy.

Until next time xxxxx

Then it was Friday ...

Friday was warm.

Sultry and sunny.

As we ate breakfast we stared at the profile of distant ruins on the horizon. We'd spotted them the evening before. Large and foreboding, even by the naked eye.  (In the above photo it is the small 'bump' on the horizon just left of the large tree in the foreground)

I zoomed in with my camera and knew we had to investigate. 

 

Breakfast eaten, washed up and put away, lunch packed, water and flasks filled, boots on and the hills calling. Moss was ready and so were we.

En route we visited a small church with a lot of history. It was seeping out of the stones, although on a small but busy road, once inside it was cool and quiet. The air gently teasing tendrils of scent from lilies, chrysanthemums and small white roses.

Moss, keen to walk, was (almost) patiently waiting for us as we stepped out of this still oasis back into the muggy hot day. Our route very quickly took us into another sacred space - this one green and damp...

...and filled with streams for Moss and scents of a different kind - warm tree breath, damp soil, the cool draft of air above the moving water, fresh green moss, heady fern, the sweet sharp smell of grass. Sounds changed too - from traffic to bird song and the whisper of leaves in the light breeze. 

All too soon the delicious woodland path burst out on to meadowlands - hot and airless. Flying ants lazily zig-zagged around our faces however, they did not land on us. It was a relief to all three, when we reached the end and fell into a small copse with a babbling stream cheerfully crossing through.

Moss could not have been more delighted and immersed herself, transforming into an otter with a wag of her tail. 

It took a bit of persuading to leave this little oasis and continue upwards but as we climbed the air cooled and a wonderful breeze picked up. The ruins did not disappoint. 

Not as brooding as we first thought we explored the stones and looked at the amazing views.  Then we sat alongside the ruins for our lunch - contemplating it's history, debating and discussing and imagining it's past. There was even a little silliness to be had - now I know what 'Santa' wears in summer......

 We eventually tore ourselves away, following the old route from the hall over the hill and down into the valley. Where old saw mills still worked, with piles of logs and slices of wood piled high. Again scent swirled around us, this time, resin and wood, smoke and dried leaves, damp corners and dry sawdust - a delicious combination.

We continued along an old track, tracing the edge between a long woodland and working fields. It wound it's way down to the river, so we stopped and Moss immediately plunged in, her inner otter taking over once again.

Over seven hot and wonderful miles, we returned to Zeb. Hungry, thirsty, tired but really really happy.

With Moss fed and watered, I cooked us a risotto then we sat eating as we watched a happy woof resting on the grass.

Another lovely day .... another early night. We had one more day before heading home.

More to follow soon ....  xxx

What we did on Thursday ...

 We've been away.

Moss, Himself and I. 

We took the slow roads, walked the quiet paths, visited the lonely hills, played on the empty beaches. We breathed, we watched, we talked. We remembered how it was before us two became us four and recently up to us six. 

Our first walk - on the Thursday afternoon was warm and humid. The air was full of scent - hot bracken, warm sheep, damp soil, pine resin, tree's breath. I inhaled deeply - taking in as many of the different fragrances - filling myself up with their essence. 

As we rose up into the hills, the clouds came down to meet us. The air was thick and muggy, it felt as we were walking through warm water, swirling and rolling around us. Then the heat broke and the saturated air became fine mist - cooling and clinging. Flattening my fringe and making my eyelashes sparkle and drip warm rain on to my hot face.

We walked on through the clouds, through the damp bracken and wet grass, puddles and streams grew and gave Moss so much pleasure as she jumped into nearly every one.

Our route kept climbing upwards until we finally reached the shoulder, turning us back towards our van. We followed paths which lead us off the hills, leaving the clouds behind, returning to fields and ancient tracks, returning to Zeb for a large mug of tea and much deserved slice of cake.

Our evening was of quiet chat, planning the next day's walk, enjoying watching a sleeping dog - who had played so much and had worn herself out and was now dreaming happy dog dreams.

Falling in to bed was easy, as was falling asleep and apart from being rudely disturbed by three low flying training flights at stupid o'clock it had been a good start to our micro-adventure. 

More to follow ......

All change

Morning,

Thank you all for joining in with last month's scavenger hunt - it is lovely reading your stories and seeing your photos -a snap shot of peoples lives from around the world :)

New words are up - they are inspired by this last weekend's 'goings on', my brain was rather preoccupied with the present and could only think up words that were connected to moving houses.

Eldest and his lovely partner are now safely in their new (first) home. I know that, despite being surrounded by boxes and still waiting for furniture to be delivered, setting up home for them is both an exciting and terrifying time - but it is time, time they started their own lives and Himself and I are quietly proud of how they are doing.

 Any hoo - I was inspired to write something first thing this morning, but now I have set up and sat down, all I really want to do is have a quick shower, do some yoga and get ready for my stint at the community shop.

...And the flowers? Partly just eye-candy but partly to share them, the white roses were from Himself, just on a whim and who am I to disagree, the sunflowers are from Eldest and GF as part of a thank you for helping - their sunny faces (the flowers!) glowing warmly from the corner and finally a small bunch of heavenly scented flowers from my garden.

Any hoo, best wake up Youngest - he worked hard helping shift heavy furniture and boxes. We have had a bit of a move around at home too - he (youngest) had started to move into Eldest's old room and is wanting to complete the change over today.

So, all change.

Have a lovely Tuesday - stay safe, keep your distance and here - have an 'air hug' from me !

xxxxxx