A Midsummer Catch Up

Things have been busy, busy, busy in the first half of this year and blogging has taken a bit of a back seat. I suddenly realised today that we are fast hurtling towards the longest day of the year, so I thought I would do a very quick update. Not a walk as such, but some photos taken over the last few months.

Great Tit

Spring and early summer has been a very hectic time for the garden birds. Rearing a brood of chicks is no mean feat and topping up the mealworms has been a full time job!

Female Blackbird above, male below left.

Fledglings have been harassing their parents for food, from dawn until dusk.

Robin fledgling

The Rhododendrons have come and gone, providing a welcome nectar kick start for early butterflies and bees. 

We've enjoyed plenty of glorious sunsets...

Lake District Fells from Lowsy Point

Isle of Man silhouetted at sunset

... there have been some beautiful moonlit nights also.








Suddenly the garden is in full summer mode...

Mock Orange and Black Elder - the smell of Summer!

Recent walks have been around the local area, rather than the Lakeland Fells. Luckily I don't have to go too far to find beautiful buildings and countryside.

A refreshing and tranquil stroll through Furness Abbey, in the Vale of Deadly Nightshade is one of my favourite walks. 

Some of the houses nearby have beautiful stained glass windows and lovely doors. I've got a few of these houses on my wishlist.

Well, a girl can dream!

 I hope you all have a great Summer!

Thanks for visiting, hope you've enjoyed the photos. 

Please "like" These Boots Facebook Page to be notified of my next blog update

Beautiful bluebells on Good Friday

A walk amongst the swathes of bluebells in local woods was the perfect way to enjoy Good Friday's glorious weather in Cumbria.  Holywell, Daffy and Legbarrow Woods were awash with bluebells, sorrel and primroses.
We started our walk at Hill Top farm, near Greenodd.

There are numerous footpaths and small woods in the area. We headed for the one leading into Holywell Wood, simply because we could see the bluebells from the road!

A fledgling thrush was startled by our approaching footsteps. It hopped frantically away from us, but then suddenly found its wings and flew to safety.

Wild garlic, not yet in bloom

Wood Sorrel

Wild Primrose

 

Tinder Fungus, otherwise known as King Alfred's cakes!

Click here to see how this fungus earned its nicknames!

Not sure if this was the same baby thrush we saw earlier...

Retracing our steps, we passed Hill Top farm again and took a footpath which led behind the building...

This path led into Daffy Wood,

where we found a spectacular display of bluebells.

Lambs enjoying  the sunshine completed the Spring picture.

At the edge of Daffy Wood, the village of Penny Bridge was visible in the distance. We headed in that direction, skirting Legbarrow Wood as we did so.

I've always loved this house.

Green Alkanet, which I misidentified as Comfrey when I first saw it.

The River Crake

A Peacock butterly soaking up the sun

Ragged Robin

Bracken fronds slowly unfurl

The River Crake joins the River Leven, which in turn flows into Morecambe Bay. 
In the foreground is Greenood bypass. In the far distance is Heysham Power Station.

After making our way back to our car, we decided to round the day off with a lovely meal at the nearby Royal Oak at Sparkbridge.

 We even brushed up on our Cumbrian dialect. That should come in handy if we ever want to count sheep in Cumbrian!

Thanks for visiting, hope you've enjoyed the photos.