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.