Saturday 30 April 2011

Come with me on a walk.....







We haven't had a walk together lately, so why not come with me on our walk this afternoon - the farmer, Tess and me - round our fields and down our lane in perfect Spring sunshine.

Some of the fields are absolutely golden over with dandelions; how pretty they look in the afternoon sun. The field on the horizon belongs to a farmer friend. The depth of soil is shallow and it is on a slope and already it is beginning to show serious signs of drought as you can see.

We strolled up our fields - well actually 'strolled' is not quite the word as the grass is getting long and it was quite hard work. These meadows are grown for silage and we needed to walk in the hedge bottoms so that we didn't tread down the grass. I watched constantly as I so wanted to find a bird's nest. My father used to be so good at finding them. But birds are clever - they always build in the most inaccesible places and when they fly out they tend to go a way down inside the hedge before they do so, so that where they fly out is nowhere near their nest. As the farmer so rightly said - if I could find a nest then what chance would the bird have against raiding magpies? But walking in the hedge back has advantages and we found the first purple orchid. And we also found May blossom (hawthorn) in bud. If you live further down the country yours is no doubt out - or even over - but here it is just neginning to show white in the hedges. I love its froth of white when it finally comes fully out.

Out onto the lane, totally dry after so much dry weather. Tess enjoying the freedom. And then back past the dairy herd - totally out in the fields both day and night and enjoying the sunshine. Don't they look happy?

We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area. This weekend is the Dales Festival of Food and Drink in our local small town, so we are keeping away as the town is heaving. We did go in for our morning coffee at the Golden Lion - but now it is strictly stay at home and enjoy the sunshine. To go with the Festival our local Hall has a Tulip Festival, organised by a Dutch Bulb company. I just hope, with all this lovely weather, that the tulips are not over too early.

Enjoy your weekend.

13 comments:

Gwil W said...

It's looking to me more and more like it could be a drought year. Can farmers prepare?

All the rain seems to be falling in the north USA where they now have serious floods. There's even news that dams might have to be dynamited to release the overflow.

The weather is strange. Yesterday big hailstorm in Lisbon, Portugal

Tomorrow it's May.

Heather said...

Thankyou for that lovely walk Pat. How nice to have a quiet lane and fields to walk in and wild orchids too - they are so beautiful. You are right, our hawthorn is fully out and I hadn't realised until the other day just how many hawthorn trees there are in this area. The hedgerows were white with blossom as we drove back from Malvern. I do hope we get some rain soon. It doesn't matter so much for gardeners but for growers and farmers it must be a real worry.

Totalfeckineejit said...

Ah, Weaver, How I needed that walk! Thank you.

Cloudia said...

you take me to lovely places. thank YOU



http://thenewcaferacersociety.blogspot.com/2011/04/via_2510.html

Gerry Snape said...

Thanks for the splendid walk Pat.
It's so good to see the country somewhere else and have an idea of where it's up to weather-wise.
The wind has been fierce here for two days even though the sun is shining.At least ...no tornadoes.

MorningAJ said...

Looks gorgeous. I noticed the dandelions when we were out on Monday. Are they particularly numerous this year? I wish I knew how to make dandelion beer!

PurestGreen said...

This beautiful sunshine just makes everything looks amazing. Love the stone wall and those green fields. The food festival sounds fun, too.

Acornmoon said...

Ted and I enjoyed the walk, you do live in a very beautiful place.

Lori at Jarvis House said...

The signs of Spring are here on Long Island too. Lovely walk about. Thanks, Lori from the Jarvis Garden.

The Solitary Walker said...

I enjoyed the walk, Pat. (Incidentally, I have a project to walk the Viking Way - which passes by Washingborough!)

Pat Posner said...

I enjoyed the walk - so did Tim and Ted. But we really need some rain, don't we? It's very windy here today and there are clouds of dust and pollen everywhere.

Unknown said...

A country walk with the sun on my face, what could brighten a person's spirits more? Thank you for the lovely outing, the wonderings about nesting birds and the happy cows. I was out gardening most of Saturday and my knees are achy today. I need to ice them. Welcome May.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Strange weather everywhere, as Gwilym says. Although our weather is nigh on perfect - we do need some of that rain. Thank you for visiting.