Sunday breakfast

These photos were taken at eight thirty this morning. We are an early-to-bed-early-to-rise family, the Little People have made it this way. Ever since they were babies their natural wake up time has always been sometime just after 6am (5am at the height of summer) and as parents you kind of have to go along with it. You can't just roll over and demand another two hours shut-eye. For a long while this made me very cross indeed. I listened with envy as friends boasted about their offspring sleeping in until 8am. Pah! But these days I find the early mornings are often the best times of our day, the most relaxing and with the best weather too (and by now you know how keen I am on studying the weather right?)
Sometimes it just seems right to leap out of bed and seize the day and this morning was just such a morning. I packed a bag with a blanket, a flask of coffee, some fresh orange juice and some granary rolls filled with grilled bacon and tomato and off we went into the crisp, frosty blue yonder for a river walk and a picnic breakfast. We went up into the Yorkshire Dales to Burnsall to walk along the River Wharfe.

It was dazzlingly bright and crisp. Actually, now I come to think about it, it wasn't so much crisp as very blooming cold with frost and ice and snow on the hills. But blue sky, a lovely stillness in the air and beautiful clear reflections in the water.

We have walked many, many times along this stretch of the river and love it very much.  Along the way there are a couple of small river "beaches" where we went down to the waters edge to skim stones across, much to the delight of the Little People. Well to be more precise, J expertly did the skimming while we did the clapping and appreciating of his skill. But there's something really pleasing about just throwing stones into water don't you think? I think it's the childishness of enjoying a good plopping sound, me and the Little People spent a long time plopping big un-skimmable stones into the river and laughing a lot while J did his expert skimming.

This suspension bridge was where we were headed for breakfast as there's a little wooden bench near the riverside perfect for picnicing. The Little People thought it looked like the bridge from the film Shrek and had great fun wobbling it and pretending to be Shrek and Donkey crossing over hot boiling lava.

Our breakfast was absolutely scrumptious, I have to say. I am a big fan of eating al fresco, food tastes so much better eaten outside somehow. Even when the air is freezing your fingers off.
We came home at about 10.30, with the sky clouding over behind us as we drove down out of the hills. And by lunch time, the blue sky had disappeared, and lo and behold the white stuff arrived. Look at the view of my street, whats gong on?! Where has the Spring gone, I knew I shouldn't have said that Spring thing yesterday, should have kept my thoughts to myself.

I've been sat at the computer uploading my sunny photos from Dorset last week and then looking out the window at the snowy sky :: I have mixed feelings about the unpredictablilty of our English weather, but mostly I like the changeableness of it. Keeps us on our toes. Talking of sunny Dorset, I will be showing you something of my hols tomorrow, I did mean to do it today but wanted to share my breakfast with you instead. Hope thats ok with you? Oh good-o, you're very accommodating :o)x

Comments

[Maddy]

What a fantastic place to eat breakfast, and so picturesque.

What is it with the snow, it's beautiful but in April???

We got to see the UK snow on the 6 o'clock news last night with the protesters trying to put the Olympic flame out and our new PM visiting the Queen.

Enjoy the snow wont you, we never get any snow here except for high in the mountains.

[Chris]

Having children forced us to become morning people too, though I still find it hard.
I love your idea of a breakfast picnic~ I'll have to remember to try that sometime!

[Regina]

Hey Lucy,
Again - great read!
Love the bridge, especially as there is not so much air in between (and especially no lava - grrrh).

[kathy]

Hi, Thank you again for sharing your lovely day. And bacon sarnies too, mmm. My boys (10 & 8) used to wake early, but now like to snooze in or are quiet and just pad downstairs with the tv on - it gets better, honest! I love the bridge, my boys (oh, OK me too ;o) would love to run across that bridge. We are off to Cornwall the week after next (school hols finally start this week here in Devon!) Mums and children only (ratio 3:7!) and I think a few breakfasts on the beach is definately on the cards! Kathy PS I absolutely adore your blog.x

[Clairey]

Luce, you've inspired me to have a picnic breakfast!

That was such a lovely post and the pictures are gorgeous.

Clairey xx

[Gill]

What a lovely start to the day! You're right, children dictate the sleeping pattern of the whole family, my two were always early birds so I quickly got used to being up and about soon after sunrise. At the time I also got a bit fed up but you can get so much more done if you're up early. Now they're 15 and 19 they often stay in bed until after lunch but I still tend to get up early (unless I'm off from work and have sat up until 1am reading blogs!!).
I love our weather, I couldn't bear to live in a hot country and in spite of many rainy summers I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

[Simone]

I would love to have a picnic breakfast! You have some lovely walks around where you live. I woke up to a winter wonderland with a flurry of snow at 8.00am this morning. Now it is just a distant memory and the sun is just peeking out for a nose!