Thursday 14 May 2020

Another Week


Another week, or has it been two? I've reached that stage where I can't quite remember. Following a return to a steady routine, the days are passing me by quickly but gently. Home schooling is taking up much of my time. I'm learning to adapt the curriculum work to suit ourselves and chip away at it gradually each day in an attempt to avoid any unnecessary battle of wills. I'll possibly have just about got the hang of it by the time the schools open again.


The weather continues to be glorious in our little corner which is enabling us to make the most of our time outdoors. Walks are unhurried and several times now we've ventured a little further afield than usual.  Last week I couldn't resist another visit to the woods to see the bluebells. Many of them are beginning to fade away now and in the dappled sunlight, beneath the canopy of the trees they appear as a purple haze. 





The hedgerows are full of blossom and there is a soft sweet scent in the air as we walk along. With all this fresh new growth the world is turning a brilliant shade of green, and with an abundance of cow parsley the lanes and pathways are becoming more narrow as a result.











Along with a change to our walking routes we've also been out riding our bikes, the quieter lanes being an ideal opportunity to get Lily used to feeling more comfortable riding on the roads.
A couple of  short journeys to get the hang of it, then we travelled a little further, meaning I was able to call in at the farm shop for some sugar, which I hadn't managed to get from the supermarket last week. (I was eager to bake some cookies and I can confirm they were definitely worth carrying the extra weight home in my rucksack for 😋) On one of our rides we took along a light picnic lunch and enjoyed a stop off by the river for a rest and a quick bite to eat, and it was lovely to see the decorations and bunting hung around the village for VE day.  



Last weekend, while the weather was still lovely and warm, we camped out in the garden. We never got the opportunity to go camping last year, the good weather never seemed to coincide with time off work and school, and I have no idea what this summer will bring, so we pitched up in the garden for what turned out to be a pretty good night's sleep. The night was quiet and still and we stayed lovely and cosy in our sleeping bags. The following morning, however,  the wind had picked up, so at 6.30am we made a hasty retreat into the house to make breakfast.

J. X

67 comments:

  1. Although we are now seriously low on flour I made some cookies last week, using the last of the cocoa and some Biscoff spread we'd bought for Dan's mum but hadn't had chance to pass along - her loss is our gain!

    The weather had helped so much for those of us able to get out and about hasn't it. I don't think I have ever considered myself to be so fortunate as I do during this time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel so very fortunate that I can get out and enjoy the countryside here, so I imagine your early morning walks on the beach are very relaxing for you.
      Biscoff spread in a cookie recipe sounds delicious. X

      Delete
  2. Such lovely countryside for your walks and bike rides! Those look like some delicious cookies! Chocolate chip? Looks like Mog enjoys camping as much as you and Lily do! LOL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The cookies were delicious and huge, they didn't last long at all. They were chocolate chunks rather than chips. :)

      Delete
  3. I don't know where the days and weeks are going, they're passing by in a flash. It looks so peaceful in your photos, a good idea to get Lily used to her bike while there isn't much traffic about. I've never been on a proper camping holiday but I remember pitching tents in gardens when I was a child and camping out with friends, it was always so much fun. You have me fancying cookies now but I must resist.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm relieved it's not only me that feels like time is passing quickly just now, I'm sure the good weather has a lot to do with this.
      The camping was a lot of fun. X

      Delete
  4. Such gorgeous images Jules, you have captured the light & shade of the woods beautifully.

    Well done for an al fresco sleepover, good to see Mog checking out the accommodation 🙂 Did she spend the night with you both?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mog spent a very pleasant afternoon enjoying the warmth inside the tent before trying to climb up between the inner tent and the fly sheet! I had a feeling she might try and join us during the night but was relieved when she left it until the morning instead. X

      Delete
  5. How lovely to camp in the garden. I bet Lily was sooo excited. Great that you are able to venture further on bikes. Isn’t it lovely having quieter roads to enjoy. B x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The camping was a lot of fun and it has been lovely to take advantage of the quieter lanes just now. X

      Delete
  6. Absolutely wonderful. Lily is going to have so many lovely memories when she's older. I like how Mog has claimed the tent. The cookies look delicious. I'm OK for sugar but getting low on flour now and there doesn't seem to be any where I shop. Mind you, maybe that's no bad thing because I only bake cakes with it! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean about flour, Suzanne. I've never baked anything like as much as I have recently. X

      Delete
  7. Camping in the garden sounds like fun. I remember doing this as a child. I was always a bit scared actually... It sounds like you have a good routine going and life is good. Cycling along the quiet roads is definitely a great confidence builder for a budding cyclist :-)

    Life here is less harmonious, I am struggling with the burden of far too much work. If anything, I spend less time with my children now than before we were all stuck in the same house all day long.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry you're finding things a bit of a struggle at the moment, Christina. For those still working it is very much a juggling act right now, especially on top of all the additional difficulties we are facing. X

      Delete
  8. Love the photos of your outings and the opportunity to camp in the garden. We went camping with the grandchildren last year. Just as we got the tent out it started to rain. It didn't dampen our spirits.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're a hardier camper than I am, Tania. X

      Delete
  9. Hello!
    I so enjoyed your lovely photos this morning.
    We are finally getting some warmer weather here in Pa, and slowly the buds are forming.
    It is very late this year!
    Your cookies look DIVINE!!!!
    Have a cozy day, and stay safe and healthy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Billie Jo. The cookie recipe was one I hadn't tried before, but I'll definitely be baking them again. They were delicious. X

      Delete
  10. What a lovely walk you took us on, such a joy to see the bluebells. How wonderful to have a little camping trip too, such fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The camping was fun, and I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by some beautiful countryside for my daily walks. X

      Delete
  11. What a lovely area you have for hiking and biking! I was happy to see the bluebells blooming here too. It is an annual event for me and I was glad not to miss it this year. I am too old for camping in the backyard but I bet that was great fun! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ellen. I do feel very fortunate to be surrounded by some beautiful countryside here, especially just now. X

      Delete
  12. As a retired teacher I think you are approaching home schooling in just the right way.
    Strike when the iron is hot and (to mix my metaphors) if the kettle goes off the boil do something else which is really a learning experience but doesn't seem like it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like your approach, Pat. The kettle has gone of the boil quite often this last week. My girl is happiest outdoors :) X

      Delete
  13. Wherever you live, it is magnificent, in its natural beauty. And affords you so many opportunities, for getting out and about, in complete safety. So necessary, at this horrible time of Wuhan Virus.

    You are so very, very lucky. -smile- And I am so very happy for you.

    Stay safe!
    ✨💛✨💛✨

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you WoW. I feel very fortunate to live where I do. X

      Delete
  14. It's sunny here too, but a chill wind is keeping the temperature down. What a beautiful walk! We are still keeping our walks local. I love your idea of camping out in the garden. It's lovely to see all the new growth and it gives a feeling of hope; which we really need right now. Take care and stay safe. Jane x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The temperatures have been so unpredictable, and the wind can make it feel so very cold that at times I've needed to wear my hat and gloves. X

      Delete
  15. Your posts are always an oasis of calm and loveliness! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lovely photos as usual Jules. The cookies look delicious and it seems that Mog has found herself a new den :) Garden camping is a great idea, I did think about it myself a couple of weeks ago but my tent is brand new, still boxed up and easy to store so I didn't want to get it out as I would never get it back in its bag, therefore it would take up more space. Hopefully it won't be long before we can all get back to proper camping :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trying to get a tent back in it's bag can be a test of manual dexterity, so I don't blame you for keeping it boxed up for now. Fortunately, this one is only small and is very easy to pack up, therefore perfect for occasional nights away.
      Fingers crossed for some proper camping later this summer. X

      Delete
  17. How fun...camping in the garden! I would be afraid of the wild animals here. I love that the two of you are riding your bikes. That photo made me smile. I'm going to bake some cookies, too. I'm glad that you got your sugar.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fortunately, the only 'wild' animal we need to be mindful of is Mog :)

      Delete
  18. Your pictures are just lovely and I so enjoyed looking at them. I did not have much of a chance to enjoy the spring as our weather has not cooperated. We got spring in winter and winter in spring.

    ReplyDelete
  19. How lovely to get some garden camping - wonder if you will do some more - looks like your cat thinks it a good idea :) I remember my boys camping in the garden as youngsters - a great adventure indeed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It wasn't bad as far as campsites go. The facilities were quite nice and it was lovely and private. X

      Delete
  20. Nature is very generous around you there! Love all the beautiful green and flowers! The river is so serene! Queen Anne's Lace is so beautiful. It brings memories of Iowa where it grows alongside the roads. Your camping adventure sounds good, it was nice to have the house right there to go inside when it got windy. Take care!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We were lucky with the camping, Angela. The wind only picked up in the morning when I was almost ready to get up anyway. The tent wasn't blowing but it was very noisy, roaring through the large copper beech tree behind the house. X

      Delete
  21. Great photos, thanks for sharing! You are quite a bit ahead of us as the trees here are just beginning to come into leaf. Your camping adventure sounds like fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Chris. The trees are leafing quickly here now, and the woodland floor will soon be in shade once again. X

      Delete
  22. Your area is so beautiful. It seems so quiet.

    I hope homeschooling goes well. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Nil. I am lucky to have some quiet places to visit when out and about. X

      Delete
  23. What lovely pictures. I am really missing visiting Cumbria at the moment, but going to stay home ( or visit places closer to me for walks) still. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Shazza. I'm only walking or cycling directly from home for the time being, and I realise just how fortunate I am to have some beautiful countryside on the doorstep. X

      Delete
  24. Oh how I remember the children camping out in the garden...endless fun...and sooo long ago now! x

    ReplyDelete
  25. It's all becoming one big blur isn't it...time racing yet passing slowly at the same time. Maybe if I just bury my head in the sand for a wee while all will be well again when I re-surface?! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's bizarre isn't it? Strange times. X

      Delete
  26. What a great idea to pitch the tent in your garden, I'm sure that was a lovely adventure for Lily. Those cookies look delicious :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a lovely adventure for me too, Eileen :)

      Delete
  27. Oh my! I'm relieved we don't have to worry about bears here, only cats :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. We love camping in our backyard too, Jules. The weather is cooling off here though so we might have to forgo that for a while until the Spring...or just tuck in extra blankets as well as sleeping bags. Meg:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We had blankets as well, Meg. I don't get any pleasure from camping if I get cold. X

      Delete
  29. I enjoyed your walk and ride a day or so ago but got distracted and didn't comment so I've just been out again delighting in the bluebells and the river and the trees. With only one deciduous woods on the Island your walks make me a little homesick for Wales and The Lakes where I walked as a youngster. I have just got rid of my bikes. I haven't ridden them for a couple of years and the reality is that I will not ride them on the roads here - largely because there is no shelter and I am no longer strong enough to battle the winds because if I ride into Stornoway I then have to ride back (it's only 7 miles) but with 30mph winds being almost the norm I decided it's shanks's pony for me in future (or the car!). I used to camp on the banks of The Derwent when I was a young man. I think I last camped when my children were young. I won't mention how old Gaz is now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We were initially planning for a bike ride today but it is quite breezy so we'll be going out for a walk instead. Cycling into the wind can be exhausting and definitely not a lot of fun for Lily.
      I'm looking forward to a time when we can go camping again. Fingers crossed for later in the year. X

      Delete
  30. Wow what beautiful countryside, and those cookies looked delish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel very lucky to have access to the countryside just now. X

      Delete
  31. A night out camping and breakfast in comfort - seems like the perfect combination to me!
    You photos are lovely - thank you for sharing with those of us who live in more urban surroundings. No sea-side holiday for us this summer, but fingers crossed that we will still make the Lake District in September

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought about setting up the camping stove to cook breakfast, but it was so windy that it wouldn't have been much fun.
      I'm missing the sea too, and I can't wait until I can go for a walk along the shore.
      I do hope you manage to get to the Lakes later in the year. X

      Delete
  32. How lovely camping in the garden. It has been really cold here this past week which is just as well as I have been really busy and not able to get out of the house much! I always get frustrated when I need to be inside and the weather is glorious and sunny outside.

    Cycling on quiet roads is a wonderful way to learn to ride on the road which is not fun when it is busy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been very up and down here. One minute it's lovely and warm, then the next I'm reaching for my jacket. And yes, it's very frustrating being stuck indoors when the weather is bright and sunny. X

      Delete
  33. So nice to see your photographs …
    Camping in the garden can be such fun and handy when the weather turns a little chilly!

    Hope the week ahead will be a good one for you, perhaps with some more walks/bike rides.

    My good wishes.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Jan. I enjoy camping, but I must admit it was a relief to know I could retreat to the house in the morning when the winds picked up.
      I hope you and your family are keeping well. X

      Delete
  34. May 18th

    Thank you so much for your comment, after we lost power to a bad storm. We are all fine though, and that is all that really matters.
    💨💦 💨💦 💨💦

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm relieved to hear it. I hope the worst has passed. X

      Delete