Crochet catch up and a sunny walk

A little update on my crochet endeavours. I'm really getting my confidence now and trying out new patterns. I saw this pattern on The Sewing Wren, where Jay had used the blocks to make a little bird - go have a look it is really cute. I just thought I would see if I could manage to make this African flower hexagon pattern, and I'm so pleased with my success!

I'm still enjoying making the other squares for a blanket and the pile is slowly growing - just picking up the yarn and hook when I have time.

The weather has been so wonderfully warm these last few days I've been trying to get out in the garden and out and about with our dog. We have had a couple of lovely walks on a nearby fell. The larch trees are looking a lovely fresh green as they start to get their new needles.

We had some very inquisitive sheep watching us on our upward climb...

 It was just so nice being out in the sunshine, with the curlews calling and hearing the bees buzzing - there did seem to be a lot of bees around for some reason. I'm not sure what this little bird is, but we got very close before it flew away.

….and then finally at the top, where the walking is much easier. Beanie must have traveled miles, far further than I had walked. He just loves to run and run, and I love to see his ears flapping as he goes - once the bracken starts to grow you only see his head and ears appearing every so often as he runs.

He always makes it to the top before me!

This photo is for M as she is missing her dog now she is living away.

Then back down again from the top, looking into the valley towards the village of Barbon.

I hope you are enjoying the sunshine too, or having warm autumnal days if you are in the southern hemisphere!

Hello Spring

After feeling a bit under the weather for the last week, I am much better now - I think the sunshine has helped! It was such a lovely day yesterday. It finally felt as if the weather had turned a corner and, now in March, has decided to be a little more spring like.

I just needed to get out of the house, and it was so lovely to feel the warmth of the sun on my back as I took a short walk with the dog.  Merlin trotted over to see us and poked his head over the wall as we passed by.

We walked to the bridge over the stream, stood for a while in the sunshine and then wandered home again.

It was lovely to see the shadows cast by the sun on the lane again….

…. and the blue sky when looking up through the trees in the wood.

The daffodils are nearly in bloom, and hopefully later this week the lanes will be looking very spring like :-)

Nature Walk

It was such a beautiful day here yesterday so, after doing the chores around the house and planting up  some seeds in the greenhouse, I took Beanie on a glorious walk in the sunshine. The photos follow our path from the house in a circular walk back home again - a bit of a nature trail.

First of all, a little lamb sleeping on our back doorstep. I'm supposing the step was nice and warm from the sun!

Then past the goose, which usually makes great hissing noises when Beanie and me walk by....

.... and on past the old railway bridge with the horses, ....

...past the ducks in the stream ...

... and the hens in the field....

.... through the wood....

..... along the lane, with primroses in the banks ....

... then past lots of sheep and lambs in the fields.

This slightly older lamb exploring the hay rack 'who me?'

This adorable lamb asleep in the sun.....

....and this one sunning itself.

I stopped to look at the view from the lane ....

...and then turned along another lane and looked to the view of our local fell ....

... and Beanie stopped for a drink in the stream.

More chickens at my friend A's farm...

.... then back to our garden with cherry blossom (and blue sky!)....

daffodils....

and bright daisy blooms by the front door.

The sun was so warm on my face, it was lovely - I really think spring has arrived now.