Yes - you DO want to get some fresh air!

.............Aww Mu-u-u-um - do we have to?.................


Yes I cheerfully say as I frog march a world weary teenage-boy and an over enthusiastic 10-soon-to-be-11 year old out the door to be greeted by our ever-ready-for-walkies giddy dog.

Our last local walk was thwarted by rain, but this time there was sunshine and I wasn't about to waste it!

Our last attempt - already wet - then the rain started in earnest

We set off over the hills to a neighbouring village where our path took us through the church yard. There the cemetery has gently decayed into a slumbering Eden, filled with wild life, ivy covered stones, self sown trees and has a most wonderful view.

Every cemetery has a story.  The faded stones with names of folk long gone, their memories and their family gone too. The First World War pilot shot down, the Second World War private lost in the trenches and the entire family lost to typhoid when the water went bad.  The old man laid to rest alongside his mum. She died when she was 102. He had been a war hero, and when I knew him he still limped and shyly wore a mask of shrapnel scars after being shot down over France.

All around wildflower-filled grass cover the plots like shag-pile carpets, lush and unkempt, seemingly only visited by us and the birds.



We left the solitude of the strangely comforting graveyard and walked into the village. Down through quiet streets. Narrow and winding. Hardly a soul. Down to the village 'well' for giddy dog.

The well, water trickles constantly along the trough, the deeper section against the wall, the shallower edge on the left.

A small green island amongst the jumbled shoulder-to-shoulder stone cottages, the well's garden has a couple of benches, a few trees and neatly mown grass. Cool and inviting. Giddy dog slips into the weedy water, laps, turns around a couple of times then lies down - briefly - the icy water seeps through her fur and she quickly stands up.

  A refreshing stop for giddy dog and for us on our walk

The water from the well, once a lifeline, then a killer, is now a decorative feature in a rustic hillside hamlet.

We left the village and crossed the valley back towards home

We follow a favourite route - passing by some of the locals. Friendly feathery folk, who run up to say hello and happily pose for the camera.

The boys never fail to be delighted by these birds and the dog never ceases to be fascinated - hunching down in typical border collie pose to creep closer and peer steely eyed. The chickens on the other hand fail to be impressed by the dog's antics, preferring to see if the boys have anything worth eating.


We finish our walk in record time - I have a fair bit to do at home and need to get back sharpish.... Eldest flops on the settee declaring exhaustion and feebly muttering things about being famished but unable to forage from the fridge for himself. Youngest still bursting full of energy leaps on his scooter and he and the dog rattle up and down the empty back lane.

Kettle goes on, lunch is started - I wish I didn't have to go to work, it feels that my day with the boys has only just started and it seems so unfair to leave now.  Never mind - next week.....{ oh next week!  Be still my beating heart!}...... we are together for 10 whole days (after which I will probably be glad to go back to work!!!)

So glad you came along with us on our walk :) I love sharing our day with you - have yourself a wonderful weekend..........

Thank you for all your lovely comments about my ripple blanket - I hope to finish it this next week.

Love and sunshine -  hawthorn
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