Three good things

Watching my teenage kids giggle as they played Monopoly together.

Smiling to see my elderly neighbour set off un the dark to visit a housebound lady in the village.

Realising that however big our problems feel there is always someone worse off than ourselves and we have a lot to be thankful for.

30 Days Wild - Day 2

Pushing up Daisies -Day Two

As I sat at traffic light this morning I noticed that the grass verges (which were nothing more than scrub land surrounding an industrial estate) were full of ox eye daisies.They looked really pretty and they're easy to grow.I bought a packet a few years ago and they pop up everywhere where now.In fact I recently planted some wild flower seeds round our village in  the RHS Grow wild scheme and noticed that they are native wild flowers to the
 UK

Today I'll be transplanting a few to an area I intend to turn into a wild flower meadow.
Here's a little information about them and if you fancy trying to grow a meadow yourself.How about

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/5623401/How-to-grow-an-ox-eye-daisy-meadow.html

30 Days Wild - Day 1

Walk in the Rain

I went for a walk in the rain today.I 'm a fair weather girl really but I thought "so what, I'm supposed to be going wild!"

So I put on my wellies and waterproof trousers, on went my anorak, then I picked up my trusty camera and went outside.

Rain was pouring out the down spout and the green watering can was floating backwards and forwards in the water gathered in the wheel barrow like a ship out at sea.

Water dripped off the shed in front of the shiny leaved rhodedendron and water droplets nestled in the achimilla mollis.

A great tit clung to a hanging coconut shell oblivious to the rain and a blackbird pulled worms fro the damp soil as I walked down the grass track.

Hens huddled under a corrugated iron roof to take shelter from the rain, although the ducks were in their element sploshing about in the puddles.

The track is full of frothy cow parsley at the moment- it's late this year and this rain will probably batter it but at the moment it looks like the floral decoration for a country wedding, in-dispersed with buttercups and vetch.

The hills across the estuary were hardly visible through the curtain of rain although the colours close to were full and rich.

The village lane was empty,everyone huddled in their cottages, all that is apart from a neighbour who had stopped his car and was passing the time of day with a local gardener, returning early from his duties! They smiled and looked at me sympathetically as I looked out from under my dripping hood through the mist of my glasses.Perhaps I should wear a sign saying "I've gone Wild!"

Oyster Catcher Extravaganza!

• Thousands of oyster catchers fly up in front of me as I walk along the beach
• The sea is calm and the sea groins are reflected on its surface as it creeps over the final metres of sand
• A sea of snowdrops under the trees!

Stroll on Sunday!

• Donkeys on the beach in the sunshine!
• Sucking ice lollies on the beach after an energetic walk along the coast!
• Picking up my son from a wonderful weekends camping!

Snow Dog!

 

 

• Walking over the fields in the snow to the Doctors surgery
• Supervising my twelve year old as she made pancakes for tea.
• Watching the dogs as they frolicked in the fields around the church.

Best Step forward!

Snowdrops in the Churchyard

Snowdrops by the beck

• The snow drops are out and I saw my first celandine today
• Several people in the village heard me speak about Autism on radio Cumbria and it related to them personally!
• 9075 steps with my new pedometer when training for the Coniston2Barrow today. Only 925 more and I have covered the recommended daily amount of steps to keep fit!

Don't Worry,Be Happy!

• Walking over the Fells to our local market town and enjoying Sunday Roast at Grandma's.
• Smiling at the plaque on the back of a bench in the grass verge
• Stopping to photograph the sheep who were watching as we passed by!

Pigeon Post and Pancakes!

Get ready, there's a car coming!

Waiting to Swoop!

• Pancakes with syrup and lemon for tea!
• Doves from a neighbours dove cote line the side of the main road and rise up as the cars pass by!
• I've seen my first snow drops! The weather is the mildest it has been in ages and it's light taking the children to the bus stop in the morning!

Frostbite Camp 2013

• The village is cut off by the snow- no way in, no way out
• The first sledge of the season. The farmer joins us, driving up the track on his quad, his wife behind him and granny and children in  the trailer behind!
• Walking through the village at 7.00am .The village looks magical in the snow and we crunch down the road to pick up a lift to scout camp in the lakes.

Curries, being Creative and Curling up!

• Curling up with a hot drink in front of the fire when I get back from walking the dogs in the snow this morning.
• Curry soup and fresh bread for lunch
• A creative morning in the kitchen using up the leftovers from Sunday lunch

Cold Sunday Morning!

Look at my Icicle

Icicles

Our very own ice slide

• Looking at the fantastic shapes formed by icicles overhanging the mossy bank
• It won't be long before the snowdrops appear. Their shoots are apparent on the banks of the beck.
• We climb the fells and find our own ice slide!

Winter wonderland!

• Hot Pot and apple crumble for tea.Just like my Mother used to make!
• A peregrine falcon hovers over the garden for a while obviously looking for dinner.
• Sledging in the dark by torchlight!Magical!

Coniston to Tarn Hows

Walk to Tarn Hows

• Beautiful walk in the Lake on a sunny clear day.
• A drink of homemade Limoncello, snuggled in front of the fire.
• Predictions of snow over the next few days.

New Beginnings!

A misty day on the Beach

• Training has started for the Coniston to Barrow on 11th May Half an hours brisk walk with the dogs.
• Cheese and onion pasties made this morning from the leftovers.
• Planning lessons for the New Year including new healthy recipes!

A New Start!

Getting some fresh air!

• New Years Day and the sun is out. I note that there is a Wallflower in bloom and  a primrose outside the back door.
• At last I feel that my cold is finally lifting. I go for a short walk down to the shore.
• The 'boys' play under the car all afternoon. Home education doesn't get much better than Dad and son time,

Christmas Eve in the Village!

• My elderly neighbour trundles down the footpath on his tractor delivering presents for Christmas.
• As I put return the hens to their coop for the evening I realise the rabbit is hopping round the hen enclosure unperturbed. He jumps happily into his hutch when I place his food there.
• It is brought home to me as I walk round the village delivering cards and chattering just how many people there are for whom Christmas this year will be a sad time full of memories or fear for the future. Peace be with you all!

Carols, Christmas and cleaning!

Winter sun!

• Singing carols by candlelight with the additional aid of a wind up torch which could be heard 'whizzing' between the carols.
• The last of the presents has been wrapped and I can now relax and enjoy Christmas
• Giving the hens and rabbit a spring clean whilst the weather was dry. A tree had blown over in the garden overnight with the strong winds.

Delivering Presents!

• Walking in the mist and semi light towards a warm and cosy cottage whose twinkly Christmas lights shone out across the field.
• Sipping sherry with an elderly neighbour before her Christmas holidays began!
• Delivering home made gifts to neighbours and friends who have made our year so much happier!

The Christmas Holidays begin!

Homemade Chicken nuggets

• My son took part in the school carol service this morning and played the drums in "Fairy tale in New York".
• An afternoon pottering away in the kitchen making quiche, crumble and homemade chicken nuggets.
• The children come home from school at the end of term and my daughter curls up in bed and falls fast asleep!