A heavy frost was quickly burned away, by the early spring sunshine, to reveal blue skies and a surprisingly mild day. Housework and gardening can wait, so can the spring cleaning, there will be plenty of wet or chilly days when indoor chores can be done. Conscience salved, I set off with Toby dog.
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| image from woodland trust.org |
Not far into my walk I saw four hares cavorting and boxing in a field of stubble. Toby was busy following a delicious scent; they didn't spot him, and he didn't see them. For three or four minutes that sight was mine to behold and enjoy.
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| This image: the guardian |
Then I remembered my camera - too late, they spotted the movement and off they went across the field. Glorious, beautiful creatures.
I'm including this lovely photograph, it is exactly as it came off the camera disc. It was a dazzlingly beautiful morning, no wonder the hares were out having fun.
We were cutting through farmland, to visit this beautiful little glade. In a few weeks it will be looking even more beautiful, with lots of new growth and flowers. Wild garlic grows in abundance here.
We climbed up a steep hillside, skirted another field and came to this farm.
Up over another hilltop, down the other side, we came to the village of Swaby, lovely whitewashed cottages, quaint outbuildings, very narrow roads.
There were sheep and goats bleating on one side, a dog frantically barking at Toby on the other side and an oil tanker was blocking half the lane and making a horrible noise.
It could have been tricky, there were so many scary things, obstacles, distractions, I didn't know how Toby would cope with the overload. I needn't have worried. He looked neither left nor right, but trotted beautifully along at my side. Phew!
We had to cross the occasional lane, but we didn't see any other vehicles, or walkers. The track took us along the side of this river.
Nice old buildings, gently running water, and still we had that blue sky and sunshine.
I called in at the church, once again the door was locked. I must have a chat with the churchwarden, it always used to be left open during daylight hours. I really wanted to try and take a better photograph of the crusaders statue. I have almost finished deciphering the 1837 poem which someone wrote about him.
Down past the old dovecote, through the farms and on to home.
And the housework.
Hasn't it been the most glorious day! Housework - nah!
ReplyDeleteI had hoped that the housework elves would have been in, done their stuff, but no!
DeleteOh I am so glad that you let the housework wait, till later!!!! For you. For Wisdom's sake. And for me, who got to go along with you.
ReplyDeleteHere it is awfully cold again, not time to venture forth, for me. But at least, we do not have the snow storm, which is not all that far to our East!
I love hares!!!!! Lovely that you got to observe them, for the time you did.
That photo of the stream, sparkling in the spring morning sunshine. So lovely.
And the little glade where the little dams are... I am thinking I may remember this!!!! How is that? I am becoming familiar with some of your walks, to (think) I remember them. :-))))))
Such beautiful country side! -happppy sigh- I do hope the English Laws remain as they have been. Protecting these lovely country sides. Because I have read of certain English politicians, wanting to change the Laws. To allow, for more building of housing. --- I am now stifling myself. To not say more.
I hope the snow storm passes you by and that the milder weather of Spring comes to stay instead.
DeleteSpotting those hares just doing their own thing, completely unaware that I was there, was one of those magical moments. I felt so privileged to see them. I think it is possible that I posted a photograph of the little glade on IG, an old photograph, taken when the roses were blooming. I also used it as the header on one of my older blogs.
There are always arguments about the use of the greenbelt land v brownfield sites, building in unsuitable areas prone to flooding, etc. We need many more new homes but they also need the infrastructure to support them. Arguments and debates will continue, as must the building. Let us hope they choose wisely.
Beautiful blue sky and lovely....and lucky.... to see hares .
ReplyDeleteIt was the loveliest walk, the hares made it extra special!
DeleteGorgeous photos - you really do live in a lovely area!
ReplyDeleteIt was nice and sunny here today as well but still just hovering around zero C. The weather channel keeps saying that it's going up to 4 or 5C in the afternoons but it certainly doesn't feel like it - still very crisp & cold! No flowers for us for at least another 6 to 8 weeks really. I saw a patch of white crocus down by the lake last week (must have been in a very protected spot) but a snowfall had pretty much buried them. I doubt we'll see a tulip or daffodil before the end of April and only if it warms up a bit. Sigh.....
Goodness, that does sound a long time to wait to see some more spring flowers. At least you got sight of the crocuses. I can see that the trees are starting to wake up, no foliage yet, but they are preparing - as are the birds. They keep coming and inspecting the bird boxes. I hope they pass muster!
DeleteNo doubt we shall return to our normal cold, grey weather before long, meanwhile I intend to revel in this milder spell. They say it will get up to 11C today, with sunshine! Such a shame that I have to go to our market town today instead of rambling the fields. It is a lovely little market town though, I must make the most of my visit.
I hope your weather warms up soon. Stay warm.
I'm all in agreement! Leave the housework and seize the day! What a beautiful walk with dazzling sights on every hand!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
It was a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours and for once the ground wasn't wet and slippery. Bliss. Thanks for visiting.
DeleteLooks and sound like a wonderful walk. The other day when we were going to Wales I spotted s couple of hares in a field outside the village. I stopped the van and my wife took some photos and we watched them for And we moments before they moved off.
ReplyDeleteAren't they wonderful creatures! I hope your photographs turned out well, Bill.
DeleteWhat a wonderful walk and such a delight to see the hares, we see them very rarely now and they are one of my favourite animals:)
ReplyDeleteRosie, I wish you could have been there, they were so joyful, carefree. I saw squirrels, livestock and wildfowl but the hares were the very best bit.
DeleteElaine - what a lovely walk (and lovely weather, I am jealous!) AND seeing boxing hares - it is many a long year since we saw Hares locally. Such beautiful creatures. I hope you can get entry to the church again to photograph the Crusader. There is a lovely walk near Llansteffan which takes you to a ruined church and several flat Crusader gravestones. I must try and find the post I did on it and give it another airing.
ReplyDeleteIt was a magical and memorable sight. I'll look forward to seeing those Crusader gravestones and the ruined church.
ReplyDeleteThere us a ruined church a couple of miles away from here - there is not a gravestone to be seen there, but we do occasionally see ancient bones, which the rabbits have excavated, on the side of the hill! I'd rather have the gravestones.