A cold and gray day

No sign of blue in the sky

 Nothing for it but a walk in the forest

And of course a cuppa afterwards

 

 Wishing you a weekend of rest

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength"

~Corrie ten Boom~

A foggy day....

Boxing day is a relaxing, recharging day for us.  However,  we always start the day with a walk in the Lickey hills. This morning was a foggy day with the air crisp and fresh. 

Take a walk with me

 

        The Tearoom is in sight 



 

Ah, that welcome cuppa

 

Somewhere in Shropshire....

There is something about wooden stiles in England that are such a representation of the freedom we have here. The fact that we have open passage through farmlands  always amazes me.
We have enjoyed these walks into the heart of the country as the children were growing and now as adults, especially with a cocker who loves the freedom of these byways.



A stile always gives one the promise of something unexpected on the other side. Come with me on a walk through the Shropshire countryside and see what we will see.

Passing by a rural cottage 

And next we pass through shade and overhanging branches

 

The path begins to go uphill

 Boys stopping to admire their surroundings as we come across a stream

A very happy pup

 

The Cotswolds...what more can I say

If you know and love the Cotswolds you sigh as you think of the idyllic villages.  For those of you who do not know the Cotsworld of England , they are a prominent range of limestone hills running over 50 miles.

Cotswold stone is warm and pearly and seems to glow with absorbed sunlight.

We are only just over an hour away by car and have decided to do some of the circular walks on the Cotswold Way.
"The Cotswold Way is not just a long distance path for long distance walkers. A short walk anywhere along its length will lead you right to the heart of the country's most beautiful and varied landscapes and introduce you to just what the Cotswolds have to offer. From bustling market towns to sleepy villages, from windswept hill tops to sheltered woodlands, from the wildflower-rich grasslands of summer to the unhindered views of winter, a walk one day will never be the same as the next." ~ Cotswold Way Circular walks.

 The village of Stanton was our first choice.  It is a beautifully untouched village with a very good walk; not too strenuous but some good inclines, lovely crassy hills and bautiful views.

 

The village Stanton is untouched by the tourist industry and sits nestled in a time frame of it's own.  No shops, although a bit of retail therapy is always welcome, keeps this village tranquil for walkers to do what they do best.

The honey-coloured stone houses are a delight and I noticed a dog friendly BnB which we will have to try out one day.
The weather was dry which was a big bonus as rain and muddy walks are quite common for this time of year.
It was still cold enough though for a welcoming fire (and of course a plate of steaming chips) at the end of the walk.

                                            

 
How pleasant to find a dog friendly pub in the village. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the doggie patrons were well behaved. There is a lovely deck overlooking the village which will be very good in the warmer months.  I think we will definitely be walking in these parts again.

Catching up on myself...........

 I miss the opportunity of posting on my blog :( and yet I always encourage my children to not miss opportunities.  I think I need to practise what I preach ;)
I like to share my experiences with friends and families, but I want my blog to also be a record of the the places I go and the changing seasons around me.

I am not a "new year's resolution" person, but I'm going to endeavour in 2013 to catch up over the next few posts and get myself up to date with the pictures and thoughts of the past years.

 

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." ~John Muir

                                                 

Walking is one of the most enjoyable past times I have with my children, and the English countryside has a wealth of walking and "breathing" spaces. Although I do not live in a rural setting, it is semi rural and we are fortunate to have a few walks to take, walking in the snow is my favourite. England can be wet, rather wet and muddy, but when it snows not only is the ground a pleasure to walk on, but the normal winter dullness is turned into the most beautiful fairyland.

Only a light dusting but ever so pretty



The Changing Seasons..........

I seems like it was just yesterday that we discovered a new walk along the towpaths during the summer,and here we are well into autumn....that wonderful "season of mists and mellow fruitfulness....."

So I'll take a walk down memory lane of the past three months...........





And then there where blackberries beginning to form, I love this side of English countryside, where berries can be picked while out walking.



Puppy gets introduced to blackberries, and she doesn't need much pursuading to help herself to sweet morsels. She seems to know which are the ripe, sweet ones to eat :)

There were numerous flowers galore and one of my favourites,the little orange flower, is a scarlet pimpernel.

Soon there were more berries and then the wet weather brought on the mushrooms and toadstools. I've yet to master the art of mushroom identification which my sister and young niece are so good at.


I love this shot of the fallen oak leaves and enjoyed collecting fallen branches to decorate the entrance at home for the fall season.

The pumpkin idea is thanks to a friend who suggested them on her blog and gives a good tutorial here http://ohiofarmgirl.blogspot.com/

For everything under Heaven

There is a time and season

Given by God with a purpose

As well as a simple reason.