Under rainbow skies

We've been feeling so cooped up lately. What with one thing and another, we haven't really been out anywhere since Christmas and we were starting to feel that if we didn't get out into the countryside soon we might burst! Saturday promised to be mostly dry, so in the afternoon we filled the Thermos, filled the biscuit tin and headed out to Greenway Bank Country Park. As we arrived the heavens opened and the most vibrant double rainbow appeared in the sky. Thankfully the shower was short-lived, so after some rainbow gazing we headed into the woods for a short walk. It felt so good to be outdoors again!

Pretty snowdrops telling us that Winter is coming to an end and Spring is around the corner

Playing in the woods

Raspberry Rambles

We enjoyed a lovely walk around Ridgegate Reservoir in Macclesfield Forest this afternoon. The Podlings consumed their own bodyweights in wild raspberries, frequently stopping to pick handfuls which they shared with one another. We ended our afternoon with an exciting picnic tea which saw us repeatedly dashing under the shelter of nearby trees to avoid the rain showers! We were forced to admit defeat during our second cup of tea when the showers turned to a decided downpour, but we had finished our picnic by then anyway and at least it stayed sunny for our walk!

Tea and biscuits at Beeston Castle

Sunday afternoon saw us enjoying tea and biscuits with a fabulous view over the Cheshire plains from Beeston Castle. We never travel without a Thermos! 

Shortly before a butterfly landed on Emma's hair bow, no doubt mistaking it for a flower

The floor is lava! Very much the game of the moment.

This three-hole entrance to a rabbit warren looked poetically like a rabbit paw. There are so many rabbits on the hill at Beeston Castle and we love to see them.

Alex looking after the biscuit tin! You have to keep an eye on him as he likes to take a bite of a biscuit and then put it back before taking another one!

Our holiday in Germany - A Last Farewell

After checking out and letting the Podlings have a final play in the play park, we decided to take a farewell walk around the perimeter of the campsite and down to the countryside behind. It was so beautiful and I wish we had walked there earlier in the week so we could have followed the path further down the hill. There was a field of wheat on our left with beautiful purple vetch climbing up the stalks to delightful effect. The verge was lined with wildflowers and butterflies and to our right the open countryside afforded stunning views. It was like something out of a storybook and I wish we could have spent more time soaking it all in. I would very much like to come back here again.

Capturing this photo of a fritillary butterfly on field bindweed rather made my day!

We found the biggest dandelion clock I think I have ever seen, so I photographed it with Mark's hand to illustrate its size.

Alex couldn't wait to blow the giant dandelion clock. He was a very happy little boy!

A Day in the Lakes

We took advantage of the lovely spring weather to take a day trip to the Lake District. The Lake District holds a very special place in our hearts and is so beautiful in the spring. Our first stop in the Lakes was Townend house at Troutbeck. A farmhouse belonging to the Browne family for over 400 years, this delightful home really captured our hearts. The house and its contents were left to the National Trust by the last occupant, George Browne. A successful farmer, he was able to retire early and then took to carving the contents of his home. The house is filled with his intricate carvings, right down to the little chairs he carved for his children. The house has so much personality and I just loved it!

After Townend we took a lovely walk in the nearby St Catherine's Wood and, as ever, finished our day at Wray Castle where we enjoyed tea and soup at dusk on the shores of Lake Windermere as the bats flew over our heads in the darkening sky. Such a lovely day and such lovely memories.

Those curls! He melts me!