Shipley Glen Walkies

It was a glorious day yesterday.  One of those you don't expect to be anything special but then turns out to be blue skies and sunshine.  My parents and I decided to talk Anni for a walk at Shipley Glen.  We used to go up there when we were kids, and it's lovely to have another reason to visit now.  I don't remember ever walking down to the river, when we were children - did we Mum?

We park up, let an excited Anni out of the back and off we go.  Thankfully, unlike Patch (our first dog) Anni does not get car sick.  Down one side of a valley, the trees are lovely, to a river at the bottom.

Going down,

and down (don't you love that Dad waits for us - and Anni has already disappeared into the river!!).

I even managed to get tape of Anni swimming.  She tries to avoid it if she can, she prefers to run round, or try and jump through the water, but every now and again she will swim and seems to like it.  I hope you can see the video (you may want to turn off your speakers so you can't hear us all!).

Then starting up the other side and it is pretty steep.  Half way up you come to these fabulous, massive gates which lead to nothing.  Dad tells me that it once led to the mansion of Sir Titus Salt but it burnt down in the early 1900's (I think).  It does feel weird that the gates are still there.

Looking further up the hill from the gates- hope we don't have to go up there!

Looking right, whoops Dad can't wait to get going

Anni is off.  See her in the distance.  When she was smaller she wouldn't let us out of her sight.  She'd go a couple of feet then come running back to us for safety.  This went on for a long time.  She'll now go round a corner for a nano second before barrelling back to us at 90 miles an hour (no love, I haven't verified the speed).

There were a lot of bluebells out in the woods.  My Mum complains that she can never get a good photo of them.  It helps if you bring your camera Mum............  (wonder when she'll see this)?

 Looking back down the hill from the gates.  I love the old cobbles leading down the hill.  I can imagine someone with a big old fashioned bike pushing his bike up the hill in days gone by.

I love the splash of blue through the trees.

Our first "Selfie".  Not sure we'll be doing many, but I did get to wear my new sunglasses.

I must have put my phone away here as I don't have any more photos.  We walked along the top of a ridge, back to the river, Anni had another paddle then back up the other side and back to the car.  There is a lovely little cafe, with a real sun trap of a patio to have lunch.  It almost makes the walk worth it,  almost.......

Wow

Not sure how Hubby knew.........  Look what came with the shopping yesterday..........  a bunch of 2 coloured tulips, even with my most favourite shade of pink ever.

Ok, so I bought them myself but a girl can pretend!!!!!!!!!! and he did buy my Mini Eggs to celebrate the 2 year anniversary of leaving work!

I haven't posted photos of Anni lately so thought I'd best rectify that.

She loves taking up as much space as she can when she is allowed on the sofa and S-t-r-e-t-c-h

and finally, I am brave enough to let you wrap me in my blanket Mum - I'm 2 now and not as scared of as many things..........  maybe.  

Favourites

Do you have a favourite?

Now that spring is here - is it??????????   We are hiding in the house to avoid the bad air outside.  My nose is running and breathing a little raggy.  I suffer dreadfully from allergies, a recent -ish development.  Indeed, I kinda disbelieved those who suffered each year and thought oh, yeah how bad can it be.  Well from someone who now relys on allergy tablets and nasal sprays and can still feel like death, I take it back.   I am so sorry, please make it stop.................


I LOVE flowers, absoultely adore them.  So it got me thinking if I could have a bunch of flowers suddenly appear - are you reading this hubby?  What would I choose?

Would I choose yellow roses (as in my wedding bouquet)?

Or Lilly's?

Maybe Lavender - I love the smell?

Gerbera ?

Nope, I'd pink a bunch of pink tulips - every single time, or a bunch of mixed vibrant tulips.  I love flowers, but I love the simple flowers that make me think of sunshine and happiness everytime I look at them.

 Pics taken from the Internet.

March Roundup

March roundup already.  Where is the time going to?  My Mum always used to tell me that time passes quicker as you grow older - oh dear!

From top left: First attempt at a dishcloth (2nd since completed), Mother's Day card, Birthday cake, buns

From left (clockwise); D and Anni enjoying the outdoors, Mum and Dad, stream, flowers, G, A

Happy as a dog in muck!!!

But am I referring to me or Anni????????  (Or even, at a push, hubby!).

I couldn't sleep last night so I got up and spent some time with Anni, who didn't want me to go back to bed!!!!!

Today, we have all been out in the front garden.  It were lovely.  Not sunny, but it wasn't cold.  Oh, it feels so good not to be cold all the time.  

Even Hubby managed a smile.  Even though he'd spent the morning at work, he managed to help in the garden.  So his helping was mainly sitting and directing but it was nice he had a little more energy to do so.  Energy has been sorely lacking in our lives so far this year.........

We only have a small garden at the front of the house and a yard at the back and we are desperate for a real garden but we love what we have.  We haven't kept up to it for the last year or two but we are determined to change that this year.  Anni was especially brave this afternoon.  Well for her!!!!!!  She happily sat and watched the world go by, people were another matter but the world was not so scary after all....... (she usually hides between/under your knees).

 

First signs of Spring were finally spotted too.  I love colour in my garden, Hubby prefers green - yuck.

Am I sad to love my watering can?

Can never have too much pink!

 

 From left:  Magnolia, first ladybird of the season, Our "Camilla".

Sky at Night

I love the unexpected things.  When Anni wants to go out we have to go downstairs and tonight we were greeted by this gorgeous sight and I nearly missed it.  I MUST start looking up more!

View from the back door.

Anni

Do you think she is watching too?

And then night is already starting to encroach on the sunset.

Do you like trees?

I have a thing about trees.  They fill my nightmares.  Well I don't have many nightmares but I have had one since childhood (always the same one).  For a long time I didn't like being surrounded by trees.  On our recent holiday I was fine until it was dark - then I struggled to take Anni for her last walk of the day (indeed after the first night I let Mum and Dad take her!).  The photo below is my very idea of hell.  Lots of straight trees with little space between them - shiver....

I know I am irrational.  It's just an area of trees, minding their own business.  No threat to me (unless one were to fall on me).

However, since leaving work and getting Anni, we have been walking through local woods and I can appreciate the beauty of the trees.  I have seen them in snow, spring, summer, and Autumn (perhaps my favourite time to walk Anni).  I love taking photos of this kind of tree.