I feel as though I've hardly stopped lately. Not that my life is fabulously busy doing wonderfully exciting things, far from it. It's just regular family life, those day to day mundane chores and the general business of trying to keep on top of them all. It is so good (and necessary), therefore, to take the opportunity for some time out now and again, and what better way to feel more grounded and to engage with nature than to take a walk in the woods, especially at this time of the year.
Last weekend was wonderful, and relaxing though it was, it still required a certain amount of organisation and planning. With already having made plans for the following day, last Saturday we decided to stay close to home and enjoy one of our favourite walks through the woods.
We followed the track alongside a shallow stream on the edge of some farm land, before trecking across the fields to reach the sheltering canopy of the trees.
The trees are really coming back to life now, with the fresh new leaves such a stunning and vibrant shade of green. The still, warm air with it's damp, earthy woodland fragrance occasionally gave way to the pungent aroma of wild garlic and then, as we turned a corner the woodland floor suddenly became the most gorgeous shade of blue. There were swathes of Bluebells as far as the eye could see, woven amongst the trees, although sadly, no matter how hard I tried to take a decent photograph, I couldn't quite manage to capture the intensity of their colour.
After a game of Pooh Sticks we enjoyed our usual snack break, the sunlight still managing to make it's way through the light covering of the tree tops. Our walk nearly complete it was lovely just to stop for a while and take it all in.
I expect you're wondering about the balloon. When we started out on our walk, we discovered it gently tangled in the hedge alongside the stream. With Lily's birthday being this week, it was as if it had been left there just for her. So as well as not wanting it to cause harm to any wildlife, we brought it home with us.
J. X
