A Beautiful Day For a Walk at Dove Stone Reservoir

A week ago today Caroline and I took a bracing walk round the picture perfect in the snow Dove Stone Reservoir.

There was still plenty of snow around on the hills.  Underfoot in places was sheer ice and we had to tread really carefully.

In other places where the sun’s rays had reached the going was much easier. 

This was not a sight we have ever seen before at Dove Stones.  A family camping!  In the snow for heaven’s sake.  Strange.  Very strange.  But true.

The walk is probably around three miles and on such a lovely day was a real treat.  Homeward bound now we made a stop at the Lime Kiln Cafe beside the canal for another treat.  Coffee and cakes.  Let me tell you, that scone was absolutely delicious!

Being such a gorgeous day we sat out on the balcony.  The fleece blankets provided by the establishment came in useful.  It was a gorgeous day but it was also pretty cold!

How January Is Shaping Up So Far.

A little look at what January has been like so far but first a little look at what I’m hoping for in 2015.

I found this wordart on Instagram and it just about sums up what a good life looks like to me.  2015 are you listening?

The long walks have been taking place already.  After suffering with a dodgy ankle from July to December last year and being unable to walk any distance I’m really appreciating getting outdoors and putting my best foot forward.  I’m aiming to take a good walk at least every other day and being right on our doorstep Ealees and the lake are our most oft trodden paths. This picture (above) was taken Monday morning when I enjoyed a walk with Caroline and Harley through a snow covered Ealees.

And here we are on a different walk a couple of weeks ago.

On one foggy, late afternoon, solo walk I spotted this lone oarsman as I reached the lake bank.  I quickly whipped out my iPhone and snapped this pic before he disappeared into the mist.

Ducks, Canada geese, seagulls and swans can all be found at the lake.  None of which are likely to starve to death, there’s always somebody feeding them.  Not me though.  Have you ever seen the mess swans and geese leave behind?  Not a pretty sight I can tell you.

Spied on another day’s walk the sun’s rays showering their light from behind the clouds.  A beautiful sight and always one of life’s simple pleasures for me.

This pretty scene is at the far side of the lake and I always like to feast my eyes on it.

And a view of the lake from a different angle.  Dry stone walls and cobbles.  I bet this little corner of the lake hasn’t changed for aeons.

I was charged with taking seven year old Nicholas to the dentist toward the end of last week.  He had chipped the corner off his right front tooth and it needed fixing. I was a bit nervous about taking him but Nicholas himself was not one bit bothered by it all.  This was the second time he’d had this procedure done so he knew what to expect.  He hopped right up into that chair and didn’t bat an eyelid.  Which was just as well because I don’t think this particular dentist would have stood for any messing. She was fast and efficient and did a good job but not once did she tell Nicholas what a good boy he was being and we had to ask for a smiley sticker at the end of the procedure!

After a walk or maybe halfway through we usually stop for a coffee in the visitor centre.  It’s a good cup of coffee too.

There have been other activities beside walking.  We had a day out shopping at Boundary Mill in Colne.  I wanted William to buy this tweed flat cap but he wasn’t interested.  I like flat caps and I thought this one really suited him.  I’m going to have to work on this.  I think he needs one!

There have been a couple of trips to Costco and a couple of pairs of very good quality, good value jeans for William.

One of my favourite things to do.  Trips to the library.  I have a Kindle these days but I still love to browse real books in the library.  William has taken to reading a lot more these days, what with retirement and time on his hands, so library trips are a regular feature again in my life.  Yippee!

A bit of sewing going on.  I’m working on a table runner which I hope will brighten up the dining room on these dark days of winter.

And finally… My shoelaces have a tendency to work loose when I’m walking.  Here William kindly fastens them for me. I don’t really know why but this is one of the things he’s always done for me. However in the last year or so he has suffered with back problems and I’ve taken pity on him and done it for myself.  I know.  I’m good that way!  It felt like old times. :-)

And then just one more for good measure.   A colourful scene looking across the lake.  The white building is a popular public house and that’s the West Pennine Moors in the distance.

All photos, except the shoelaces one, taken with my iPhone.  I love that little gadget!

August Bundled Up.

September is well and truly here and I still haven’t posted all of August’s family doings.  So here is the rest of August in one bundle.

Over the last few weeks now William has been doing a fair bit of painting and decorating at Caroline’s house. Being retired is a hectic business for some and that’s the way William likes it. So decorating at Caroline’s house has been his choice and, what’s more, fun for him! To show their appreciation Caroline and Trev took us out for a meal to The Shepherd's Rest.

My beautiful daughter, sweet Caroline.  (Remember that song?).

After the meal I snapped this lovely picture of Caroline and the men in her life.

And a fun pic with the other man in Caroline’s life. 

We had a lovely time and the meal was excellent too.  Will definitely eat there again and when my American sister and her husband next come home for a visit The Shepherd’s Rest will certainly be on the list of places to take them.

Nicholas and Charlie stayed overnight with us just before school started back.  They made their own “breakfast”.

The weekend before last Caroline, Charlie and I took Nicholas up to Bay View.  Once again the weather was good and the boys played out a lot.

Climbed some.  Yes, Nicholas.  That is a long way down. 

Built a dam.  Getting wet feet is just par for the course.

And making a bridge over a ditch?  All under the umbrella of fun for little boys.

Beautiful twilight over the Kent Estuary as we walked back to the caravan.

And a magnificent sunset!

The day after a visit to Gibraltar Farm for an ice cream. 

With this view stretched out before us.  I have recently upgraded to an iPhone 5 and have discovered the joy of using the pano function.  What joy!  I’m now hooked on panoramic photos.

Loss is Eternal

This poignant, sorrowful World War I  commemorative sand sculpture is in the grounds of Hebden Bridge Town Hall.  It’s an amazing work of art and larger than life size.  Follow this link to find out more about it.

I think that just about wraps August up and already I have memories stacked up waiting to be preserved as we roll into September with an Indian Summer.  How lucky are we? Very!

Caroline’s Birthday

Well, five days after the event here are the photos from last Monday when my girls, their boys, me and our men all went to Towneley Park for a picnic.

There was a special reason for this.  It was Caroline’s birthday last Sunday but unfortunately she was working.  However she and Trev were both off on the Monday which was a Bank Holiday which meant the boys were off school too, and by way of a little celebration she suggested a family picnic in the park.   I’m thinking this is a sweet pic I took of her and Trev.

I pointed the camera at George and Charlie while they were eating.  Charlie immediately ducked his head.  I boxed clever though and waited for him to look up again and caught this cheeky little face!  Little monkey!

Of course, a game of football was part of the fun.

There was lots of stuff going on in the park.   There was a fun fair too with rides.  The boys had a better day than they expected because of that.  I don’t care for fairgrounds so I enjoyed watching a dog agility show while everybody else enjoyed the funfair.

I had to include this picture.  William had joined in kicking the ball around for a bit.  Only a bit though.  Football’s no good for somebody with a bad back is it William?  Trev played too but for some reason I didn’t manage to catch him in action.

Here’s George, my first born’s first born, looking very smart in a rather nice Tommy Hilfiger polo shirt I brought back from our USA trip.   I found it on sale for just a few dollars in the Tanger Outlet Mall, Branson, Missouri.  I love me a bargain! 

Wasn’t he a good boy , standing still while I took a photo!  Wish I could remember what I’d said or indeed what he’d said to make him laugh.  Bless!

It isn’t that often that we are all together on an outing so I thought I’d try for a family portrait.  I quite like this one.

This one might’ve been alright too if the birthday girl hadn’t purposely hidden her dad’s face and Charlie hadn’t been pulling his tongue out.  He also may, or may not, be making the sign for loser!  Kids!!  :-)

 

William, the dog whisperer.

And another one of the birthday girl striking a pose with her man.  Bless her little cotton socks!