Thursday 30 May 2019

Lazy Days


Although it doesn't seem any time at all since the last half-term, I was more than ready for another break from the daily grind. This week it has been wonderful to be able to press the pause button, take some time to just 'be' and, for the most part, do very little.
Copious mugs of tea coupled with unhurried mornings have been well received and the change in routine this week has seen me feeling much more relaxed, my sleep pattern greatly improved and I have made further progress in making time for myself  much more of a priority.







A lot of our time has been spent just pootling outdoors. We've walked through  fields, woodlands and down by the river. Everywhere looks so lush and green, which is quite surprising, as until the last few days, the lack of rain had caused the farm pond and stream to completely dry out. The pathways are slowly disappearing beneath borders of cow parsley and fields are golden with buttercups.
The air is heady with the scent of blossom and pollen, and the hawthorn and blackthorn have been blowing from the trees, falling upon us like snow. I've been eyeing up the hedgerows for elderflowers in anticipation of this year's cordial making. It is still quite early but I expect I will be collecting some within the next few weeks. I think I might have left it a little late last year as I only just managed to find enough, so I'm aiming to be a little better prepared this time.





We received a lovely surprise on our walk to the bird hide one morning. We needed to pass through some sheep and, much to Lily's (and my) delight, we were approached by a lamb who couldn't get enough of being stroked and petted. It followed us the rest of the way through the field to the gate at the far end and I'm sure, had we not closed it quickly enough, that it would have gladly followed us all the way home. Now, although inquisitive, lambs are generally quite skittish by nature and stay close to mum when there are people around, so we assumed this one must have been hand reared. After stroking it some more through the fence, we reluctantly continued on our way, although I have a feeling we may make a return visit before school begins again next week.
J. X

56 comments:

  1. Fantastic photos. Glad you are having such a lovely break.

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    1. Thank you, Jill. Time away from the usual daily routine is always very welcome. X

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  2. Beautiful photos, especially those lovely woodland paths. Everywhere you look at the moment seems to be filled with greenery, it's such a wonderful time of year. Awww, how lovely that you made a new little friend, I can imagine how thrilled Lily must have been to be able to pet the lamb. Enjoy the rest of the holidays, there were always people moaning about there being another school holiday but I always loved having my kids at home with me and I know you're the same.

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    1. I've noticed many blog photographs are looking icredibly green at the moment. It's a lovely time of year and very soon the hedgerows and verges will be overgrown.
      I am enjoying this week at home. We always manage to find something to keep us busy. X

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  3. Lovely photographs of your walk. Lambs are lovely aren't they so full of beans as long as mum is near by.

    Mitzi

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    1. Thank you, Mitzi. Sadly, I don't think this lamb had a mum. I'm sure she would have made herself known to us otherwise. X

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  4. It sounds like you've had some lovely days, and how sweet that the lamb was so friendly - definitely an awww moment :)

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    1. I always enjoy the half-term weeks and being able to spend more time with Lily. The lamb was gorgeous. X

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  5. Beautiful photos and how lovely to pet the lamb.

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    1. Thank you, Jean. I could have happily brought the lamb home with me. X

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  6. I'm so glad you've had a week off to relax and enjoy, Jules. I am not familiar with how the British school year and holidays go, but, I am assuming this was a short break and there will be several more weeks of school before the summer holidays start? I loved seeing the photos of all the wild flowers, fields, river, and woods. So pretty! So unlike my built up suburban neighborhood!

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    1. It's been lovely to have this week at home to be able spend time with Lily and recharge my batteries. For us school begins again on Monday, with the term lasting around six weeks before we finish for the summer break.
      I feel so fortunate to live where I do, Bless. I count myself very lucky to have such beautiful countryside on the doorstep. X

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  7. Oh what a sweet happening.... The friendly lamb.... Oh Lily must have really loved that! And Mommy too...

    What you call cow parsley, we call Queen Anne's Lace. Isn't that a pretty name? Anyway, I love it. Naturally, it's a so-called weed and will spread like wild fire. But I love it dearly. As I love all so-called weeds. :-)

    What lovely country side you have, to ramble in. I can see why you would wish to be able to do so, every day.

    Wishing you more time to unwind, even if it doesn't seem to "be there." Just look, how it improved your sleeping! And sleep is so very, very important to our health and our whole way of life.

    Gentle hugs...

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    1. I think I might just have loved the lamb a little bit more than Lily :)
      What a beautiful name you have for cow parsley. Much prettier than ours. It is beginning to grow rapidly now and can make walking along some of the pathways quite difficult at times, especially if it grows on either side. I'm not complaining, however, it's beautiful.
      I've felt so much better this week and moving forward I'm going to try much harder to not overly worry about things over which I have no control and focus more on what I can. X

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  8. What a lovey week. I love days when I don't have to do anything, just relaxing. Sadly such days are few and far between LOL. What a sweet little lamb; I 'd be delighted too! Best, Jane x

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    1. I am a great believer of having days where there is nothing planned, it's just I never seem to get enough of them. :)

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    1. The photographs were taken over several walks, all of them close to home. I must try and get a snapshot of the lamb next time. X

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  10. Arh a lovely story about the lamb, we visited a small petting farm once years ago. The teens were much younger 5 and 7 ish then. They gave milk bottles to the lambs but later after petting the lambs & goats, the youngest boy wanted to bring a lamb home. I had terrible trouble convincing him that, just because the lamb was 'so cute' we couldn't bring him home. Children... so innocent and lacking sense at times but I suppose we're the same. I'm thinking of the Knit & Natter trip to The Wool Factory recently, thankfully there were no emotional outburst lol. Just lots of purchasing.
    All the best with slowing down and me time. I'm reminded that my MIL would say - come on, let's sit down. We'd all take our cuppa and sit down for a while. I know it's easy if you have visitors but a few half an hrs within a day makes all the difference, Cathy x

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    1. Thank you Cathy. I could have quite happily brought the lamb home with me. I just know Lily will now expect all lambs to be as friendly, so I will probably need to be mindful of that in future. X

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  11. Your tale of the lamb brings to mind the nursery rhyme mary had a little lamb that followed her to school one day!
    Hasn't the cow parsley been absolutely wonderful this year - we recently went out to Derbyshire and drove along such narrow lanes that the cow parsley was brushing either side of the car.
    I need to make some of your priority time for myself - it is hard not to get caught up in the life frenzy.xx

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    1. I had forgotten about that rhyme, and yes, this lamb would have probably done just that!
      The cow parsley is just beginning to really flourish now and the pathways can almost disappear where it borders either side. It is lovely though. X

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  12. You post and beautiful pictures relaxed me also. It looks like you are having wonderful springtime days.

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    1. Thank you, Arleen. It's beautiful time of year and summer is just around the corner. X

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  13. Beautiful photos and what a lovely moment you got to spend with the lamb. I bet you both had a spring in your step after that encounter. I'm a firm believer in making time for yourself, something I very rarely did when my children were young and it really affected me. Make the most of every minute you get, even if it's just sitting with a cup of tea and breathing in a view. xx Susan

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    1. Definitely, Susan! We were enjoying a beautiful walk anyway, but I had a huge smile on my face after petting the lamb - I'm a big softy.
      Time to myself can be difficult to find but I'm working on it. X

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  14. Oh, that lamb sounds so sweet! Baby animals are so adorable. Your photos and writing are exquisite.

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    1. The lamb was incredibly sweet, Stephenie. I will try and get a photograph if I see it again. X

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  15. What a lovely post, my friend.
    I felt as if I was walking along with you!
    Your photos are lovely, and I adore the cozy, slow paced life you live!
    Have a cozy weekend. : )

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  16. Lovely to have the time to appreciate the beauty outside. I dare say you too have had rather a lot of rain the last couple of days. Certainly a good excuse to relax. B x

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    1. Time outdoors makes such a difference to how I feel, so it is something I always try to prioritise. We have had rain over the last two days. Not too heavy, but it is the kind that does the gardens good. X

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  17. Lovely photos and what a lovely lamb adventure - wonder if it has been hand reared before returning to the flock :)

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    1. I think it must have been, Kate. The field had plenty of other sheep and lambs but there didn't appear to be a mum anywhere nearby - and they always make their presence known pretty quickly. X

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  18. What a lovely stroll you took us on. So glad you are enjoying the half term and able to spend quality time with Lily I used to love the holidays and was always sad when it was time for them to go back to school.

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    1. I love having the time away from school when I can get to spend more time with Lily. We always manage to find plenty to keep us occupied. X

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  19. Perhaps a pet lamb that has been hand fed and only just let into the field. This sort of thing is such magic for a little girl.

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    1. I think it must have been, Pat. In a small pen, at the edge of one of the farm buildings, there looked to be a couple more in a similar position. X

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  20. That lamb will be brought up in conversation for some time, I'll bet! "Mummy, remember when we saw that lamb....." How lovely. Oh I loved half terms; well all school holidays, really.

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    1. I expect it will, Eloise. Lily usually gets frustrated when the sheep we see in the fields are not exactly accepting of her affections, so it came as a pleasant surprise to her that this one was more than happy to oblige. X

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  21. Your world is full of beauty and you pay attention to it all!

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    1. Thank you. That's a lovely thing to say. I feel very fortunate to live where I do. X

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  22. A memory to remember all year stroking the spring lamb on your walk, how wonderful and rare.

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    1. Definitely, Julie. Lily will probably expect them all to be as friendly now. X

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  23. So pleased you were able to enjoy time out and about. Your photographs are lovely to see and I feel as if I was walking along with you …
    The lamb sounds so sweet, and yes I have a feeling that you may re-visit soon.

    Enjoy the weekend and good wishes for the new month of June.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. I was hoping to re-visit this morning but Lily had other ideas and we walked elsewhere instead. Maybe next week. X

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  24. Beautiful photos. I really like the ones of the path. Make me want to walk down that path enjoying the greenery.

    Have a wonderful weekend Jules.

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    1. Thank you, Nil. The first one was taken looking back from the pond and the second was as we walked further into the woods. There is an abundance of greenery to be enjoyed at the moment. X

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  25. What a relaxing week you've had. The elderflowers are starting to bloom on the bush in the lane at the caravan park so not long to wait now. Amy would have had that little lamb tucked under her arm and housed in our shed in the blink of an eye lol. I've finally made flapjacks using your recipe and while mine were a bit crumbly, probably because I was too quick to take them out of the oven, everybody said they were the nicest I've ever made which they were - absolutely delicious, so thank you for posting the recipe. xx

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    1. It's been really lovely, Suzanne. I've consciously taken a step back, not allowed myself to stress about anything and just allowed the week to happen - it's done me the world of good.
      I'm pleased you enjoyed the flapjack. I felt a bit silly posting the recipe, but it would seem a lot of people struggle with getting it just right, just like I did, and if Lily loves it then it can't be bad. X

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  26. What a wonderful 'journey' through a bit of your life. The scenery is gorgeous. Every spring my brother and I would go before Easter to each pick out a lamb from my uncle's farm and bring it home to keep for a few weeks. We knew it was temporary but loved those little lambs fiercely. It was hard to let them go back to pasture after a few weeks. They were so sweet and would follow us around like puppies. I always picked the 'black sheep' if that tells you anything about me. lol

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    1. Oh my! I would never have been able to let go of the lamb. I think it would have broken my heart.
      I would have chosen the 'black sheep' too 😊

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  27. I love the unhurried mornings and copious mugs of tea which come with school holidays, and I love May for its wildflowers. What beautiful pootles you have had. x

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    1. I'm already on countdown for the summer break. Hopefully there'll be much more pootling. X

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  28. Oh for endless days where you can do as you please...bring some on please! x

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    1. I'm already on countdown for the summer break. X

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