A Solstice Wander

We'd made a little a plan while ago, my lovely middle sister Rachel and me, that on the shortest day we'd grab ourselves a little free time to walk the lanes and gather some greenery to decorate our homes.

So we set off this dank and blustery morning (perfect!) to wander around Bagnall, the village where we grew up. I only live a couple of miles away but Rach lives over the hills in Buxton and although she's often here visiting us or our folks, I can't remember the last time we had the chance to saunter about together with no time pressure or small people needing our attention.

Both of us were keen to see if we could still remember where all the footpaths went, so first of all we headed down towards to old mill pools and then onto the Salt Track where merchants brought the mineral over from Nantwich to the monks at Hulton Abbey centuries ago. I remember this cosy cottage in a really tucked away spot, as a tumbled down farm for a long time and it was great to see that its being lovingly restored

The wooded end of the Salt Track proved to be a treasure trove for the wreaths we wanted to make and we found wispy seed heads, berried holly and rosehips to snip (leaving plenty for the birds and the rest of the village.)

Our morning was literally a walk down memory lane. We had a good laugh remembering Grandad getting us to hang upside down from the little white bridge over the ford to grab moss for his hanging baskets! We kept complaining about getting wet but typical Grandad he just said' "its only a bit a' watter!" (and his hanging baskets were the best bless him.)

The little brick building is the parish hall where we went to Sunday School, playgroup and lots of village barn dances and things. There's a more modern village hall too that's much better suited to parties and events, but I have really fond memories of the church hall, the glorious view out of the back door and tea from Woods Ware crockery. Its been closed for years and I harbour a little dream that I might turn it into a family home one day (the wooden floors were wonderful!)

So this is what we made. Rachel's is a rather elegant effort, lots of ivy and some discreet rosehips that she's hoping won't get blown away in the windy part of Buxton where she lives. Mine's a bit more of a rustic affair with a little of everything we found including holly, yew, and ivy berries.

I had such a great time, it was treat for us to chat and put the world to rights together and I think just maybe we've invented a new family tradition.  Happy winter solstice everyone xx

Down by the Dove

We headed over the Weaver Hills late this Sunday afternoon to buy pumpkins at the farm shop and stroll along the river bank.

It's an afternoon that will stay with me for such a long time. A stiff breeze, tumbling rooks, the boys wheeling and whirling and the light fading fast (hence the not brilliant quality photos). I could taste the atmosphere, if only I could have bottled it. Autumn texture and faded colour all around us.

There was a fly fishing match on and we chatted to a couple of happy fishermen, wending their way home after a successful day.

The fields of stubble were showing a hint of green and bordered by skeletons of hogweed, some have come home with us to sit in a huge jug on the mantelpiece. 

I'm joining in with Nina's (www.ninanixon.blogspot.com) #wanderandgather link. The perfect join up if you too are the type never to come home without an empty pocket, always stuffed with nature's treasures!

Quicker than we thought the light slipped away on this afternoon after our clocks have fallen back. There couldn't have been a more perfect couple of hours I don't think and the only way to finish it off was to scurry home, stick on a roast and prepare to slump! 

Hope you've enjoyed your Sunday x

Away to the Sea

Well the sun may have disappeared as we travelled and the cloud descended, but our little day trip to North Wales was smashing all the same. In a way, the greyness set off the colours and textures of Llanddudno so well. The seafront is ever so elegant; lovely Georgian terraced hotels painted in subtle shades of cream, white and grey.

We wandered along the pier, me taking photos and the boys spending pocket money on toys and trinkets. The pier is truly beautiful. Everything from the bleached planks, wrought iron railings and the wooden huts filled with paintings, stained glass and tea shops were just perfect.

Afterwards we took a little boat trip around the bay and admired the view of brooding Snowdonia rising above the town. The wind was a bit keen though so we abandoned our plans for a beachy afternoon and headed a little up the coast to one of my most favourite places.

If you gave me a toothbrush I think I could actually move into Conwy Castle. Every time I visit I get tingles up my spine. Medieval history is something I find completely fascinating, ever since I became obsessed with Robin of Sherwood (classic 80s tv!) as a child. 

Conwy is a fabulous place, what one of my uni history friends calls "a climby castle" and I know exactly what she means. There are turret stairs you simply have to climb, wall walks, rooms inside the walls and great towers where you can still see enormous fireplaces where our ancestors warmed themselves, maybe alongside their king.

There are great reconstruction drawings around the site that do such a great job putting the ruins all back together for you, and a kids trail that our boys really enjoyed. We climbed the highest towers that are pretty scary but reward you with stupendous views across the bay, the walled town and the mountains. 

Back home my university books are out again and I'll be lost in medieval England for a while. Back soon :)

Bleak & Beautiful

Sometimes you just have to get out don't you. Even if it's heaving down and there are gales trying to blow you to kingdom come. We discovered a new bit of coastline yesterday, well new to me, this is Woody's old stamping ground of the Wyre and Fylde coasts. 

We togged ourselves up, new wellies got an airing and once our hoods were up we hardly noticed the rain and wind. It was just fantastic, exhilarating, to be out there, being blown about, sandblasted and getting lungs full of the freshest, fresh air.

This is Rossall Point, close to Fleetwood which was once the country's busiest fishing port but these days is a struggling coastal town. Such a shame, there's stunning scenery and great architecture. I loved the North Euston Hotel and it's curved, sweeping frontage. It must have been fabulous in its heyday. 

We climbed the observation tower that monitors shipping and the tides and is manned by lovely volunteers who welcome bird watchers and anyone keen to explore this estuary landscape with views across Morecambe Bay and the Lakeland hills.

 Even on a raw, epic afternoon it was beautiful. Such stunning textures, sounds and colour. We saw lots of oystercatchers and waders in their element in the storms. Brilliant. Exactly what we all needed. Of course Blackpool had to follow. More about that next time!

Chasing Autumn #3 - Family Time

Every Autumn we gather our little family together and have a tramp through the woods, hopefully after a nice big lunch. Last weekend we had a fabulous feast, hunted down wellies and waterproofs and headed out.

It's still quite green, Autumn is so late this year and there's only been an one frost. Our boys know thepaths so well by now and they hurtled along through the trees whooping at the tops of their voices.

 

I love seeing my little nephews among the trees here discovering these woods at the same age our two did.

The light was magical, filling the woods with amber and gold.

Special times.

Chasing Autumn #2 - Dark Nights & Sparkle

We travelled east to a medieval castle in the pouring rain  and had the most brilliant time.

There were battling Vikings with sparks flying from their swords, a burning boat burial and fire eaters who set the sky aflame.

Then with the loudest boom in the world the night lit up with a thousand lights and blew us far away.

Best fireworks ever - thank you Tutburyx

Chasing Autumn #1 - Down By the River

The season's moving on quite sharpish isn't it? I'm conscious of resisting the urge to dive headlong into winter, snow and all sorts of festiveness. So if it's alright with you, thought I'd do a quick few posts on the best bits of our Autumn so far.

There's been plenty of rain but there's golden sunlight amongst the heavy clouds. Our river keeps rising and falling, threatening to flood but not quite getting there.

The canal, the old steam railway and the river all run alongside each other, lined with broadleaf trees, a few cosy, brick cottages and the lovely pub.

 

On our walk we met a chap who'd put up a couple of tree swings for his granddaughter to play on. He was so pleased to see our boys enjoying them too. What a lovely, lovely thing to do.

P.S. Thank you ever so much for your massively kind and enthusiastic comments on my new kitchen! I was bursting with pride. We had a smashing lunch last weekend. It's completely changed our home. Thanks for being so kind xxx