Early on Saturday morning (well half past eight, is that early? Felt like it was...) me and my Little Man went out.
Just the two of us.
Just Him and Me.
Me on my crocs and Him on his scooter.
Out the door, turn right up our street. Turn right again at the end. Up to the crest of the hill and step/scoot onto the blossom-lined path....
It's been a windy week and sugar pink petals are flurrying around all over the place.
Along to the end, follow the path through the little copse of greeny woods.
Out onto the green green grass, still wet with morning dew...
...down the hill weeeeeeeee, Little Man flies down on two wheels.
Turn and look to see our trails stretching back behind us, lines of wheels and feet.
At the bottom of the grassy park slope, turn left onto the path.
Through the old iron gates, past the little ice cream van already in place.
At the canal side now, wait for the swing bridge, it's being slowly pushed closed after a boat has just passed through.
Over the bridge and turn left along the tow path.
Its the first day of our towns annual Waterways Festival.
Even at this early(ish) hour, we can already feel the festival atmosphere, sense the excitement and the cammeraderie amongst the boat owners.
There is laughter, chatter, dogs and people, hustle and bustle.
And there is bunting.
Oh my heart skips and flutters! I absolutely love love love coloured, jaunty, decorative, festive bunting flags. Uh-huh, I really do!
We walk along this little stretch of the Leeds & Liverpool canal every day on our journeys to and from school, so it has become very familiar to us now. We recognise the "regulars" which are a mix of hire boats being used for holidays, day boats being taken along for short trips, and permanent residential boats which are lived on all year round.
It's always busy and always interesting on the waterways along here, but on Saturday it was extra busy and extra interesting. Our regulars are joined by many many visiting boats all here for the Festival.
The canal is so busy that many boats are moored up two-deep.
The boat owners are busy.
There is decorative work to be done.
This is a Festival after all.
Each year the Festival has a theme.
This year the theme is "At The Movies".
It's competitive.
It's creative.
It makes us laugh, smile, admire.
The above boat was decorated to represent the film "Towering Inferno" and later on when the boats would sail along the canal for the Twilight Cruise, this tower was actually set on fire.
There were quite a few variations of "Pirates of the Caribbean"....
...and our favourite which was "101 Dalmations".
It's beautiful. The colours, the bright Spring weather, the feeling in the air.
We stroll/scoot, look, point, exclaim, admire, breathe it all in.
We take in the panoramic views...
...and the decorative details.
And we finish off our stroll with a stop for coffee/apple juice/cookie at a favourite coffee shop in town. We sit outside in the morning May sunshine and chat about all that we've seen.
Yes, it really was a very jolly outing along the Waterways for me and Little Man on Saturday.
He is great company. He talks a lot. He asks a lot of questions, expresses a lot of opinions.
He tells me (not for the first time) how much he enjoys it when it's just Him and Me.
How rarely we get to go out together, just Him and Me.
And he very thoughtfully suggests that on the way home we call in at the bakers to buy a cookie for his little sister, who is at home on the sofa and poorly. So's that she doesn't feel left out.
Love my Little Man, he is so much like his Daddy.
xxxxxxxx
You live in such a beautiful area with lots to see and do. Thank you for sharing. Make the most of your Little Man; they grow up far too quickly!
Posted by: alisonb2 | May 06, 2009 at 03:38 PM
This is so very sweet - and more exciting as I saw pictures on our news about your festival! It looks smashing!
Hope your little girl is feeling better, but Im happy you and little man had such a splendid time.
Love Julia xxx
Posted by: julia | May 06, 2009 at 03:20 PM
What a grand time you and Little Man had. I too love the boats and would like to hire one for a holiday. What fun that would be!
Laura
Posted by: laura | May 06, 2009 at 03:12 PM
Beautiful! Love the boats and decor, what a treat to have a festival! And, how lucky you are, having so much to explore with your little ones, right outside your door. Delightful! Hope the former birthday girl/now feeling poorly girl is better in no time!
Posted by: Vicki | May 06, 2009 at 02:50 PM
what a beautiful colourful post xx hope little sister is feeling better xx
Posted by: driftwood | May 06, 2009 at 02:48 PM
Thank you for taking us on your lovely walk and sharing such a special morning.
Posted by: Gina | May 06, 2009 at 02:23 PM
oooooooooooooh I whelled up a little bit there!! just lovely x
Posted by: Mrs B | May 06, 2009 at 02:18 PM
What a lovely festival, i bet the boats looked lovely at twilight. My little boy is great company too and we go on a lot of outings together. His sister is eighteen soon and does her own thing, you know, boyfriend and such things. Sam is only nine so we hang out alot, trying to make the most of it, they grow up so quick. Lovely photos as always lucy. xx noelle xx
Posted by: noelle | May 06, 2009 at 02:14 PM
Sounds like you had a lovely time and good weather. Its nice to do things with children individually as they often have different interests themselves. Hope Little Lady is feeling better today. Karenx
Posted by: Karen | May 06, 2009 at 02:06 PM
Thank you for sharing another beautiful day in your life! Do you mind if i use your photo of the pink blossom lined lane as my monitor background??? Just love it, especially as we are coming into winter. Am off to bed, but before I go, I must do another row or two on my scrummy Merino ripple blanket...again thanks to you and your very useful tutorial......
cheers
lzilulu xox Australia
Posted by: lzilulu | May 06, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Hello Lucy!
Not to be "a lurker" I already tried to post a comment but it went wrong. So this should figure on top of the previous comment! I am living at this moment in the Netherlands and discovered your blog 2 weeks ago, looking for something on Google about crochet flowers. This led me to you and ever since I have been hooked! you inspire with all the freshness, colours, walks in the morning down hills covered in pink petals. As a mother of three "Little People"(now aged 23, 21 and 17) we had many adventures over the globe, together with my husband, living in many different places teaching and helping refugees. We unfolded our suitcases in Yaoundé, Djibouti, Beograd, Dhaka, Addis Abeba, and a few other places, staying for one, two, three up to six years in one place. My own "suitcase" always beheld a good pair of scissors, a few crochet hooks, knitting needles, a spinning toll and good pencils. The hunt for new, local materials has always been and will always remain one of my greatest pleasures.
In your stories I recognise the same spirit and enjoy your errands even more!Sorry for this too long posting but I wanted to tell you this!
For the Paper Boats, I think tou will be interested. Joanne B. Kaar is a paper artist and very explorative.
greetings, adrienne
Posted by: Adrienne van Hövell-van Lynden | May 06, 2009 at 01:22 PM
That last line brought tears to my eyes. Wonderful!
Posted by: Vicky | May 06, 2009 at 01:17 PM
I love the idea of the burning boat. Were you tempted to go back and photograph the flames?
Posted by: The Coffee Lady | May 06, 2009 at 01:08 PM
so about the Paper boats:/www.joannebkaarpaperboats.blogspot.com, maybe you want to make some as well???
and for the crochet, a nice project in paris and burkina faso!:http://fillesdufacteur.typepad.com/and also :/www.facteurceleste.blogs.com
Delphine, the initiator , is a cousin of mine. She built herself a traditional mud-house in a very beautifully decorated village called Tiébélé. Strolling through her blog you will see it.
Nice, all these inspirations over the globe!
Adrienne, Holland
Posted by: Adrienne van Hövell-van Lynden | May 06, 2009 at 01:06 PM
That was lovely Lucy. It is hard to find time for each on their own isn't it? And as for time as a couple or time for oneself...ha! We have 7 children, ducks, cats, hens and each other!!! x
Posted by: Pipany | May 06, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Lucy I love your pictures and your work. I'll certainly follow you around. YOu'll see a lot of me around here. Kisses dear! Take care and keep smiling.
Posted by: Kenia Cris | May 06, 2009 at 12:50 PM
How sweet! I love the photo of the path lined with pink petals...gorgeous!
Posted by: Tracy | May 06, 2009 at 12:49 PM
OOoohhh I love canal's and a festival too with colourful jaunty bunting - what a treat!
Thanks for the croc/scoot adventure.
take care,
Nina x
Posted by: Nina - Tabiboo | May 06, 2009 at 12:45 PM
What absolutely wonderful photos!!! I loved seeing a slice of the festival scene--we have nothing quite like that here. And such a special memory you've made with your little fellow!
Posted by: Vera | May 06, 2009 at 12:44 PM
I have a little lad who is an incredible daddy clone! It makes me happy that I can see a bit of what my husband was like before I knew him.
I have serious union jack bunting envy, I saw some in a local shop for £25!!! I know!! (ok, it was handmade) x
Posted by: The Antidote | May 06, 2009 at 12:04 PM
What a lovely morning you had. When I first came here in 1995 I got to ride up a canal on a canal boat with my little boy - he was 3 1/2 years old at the time. He used to chatter and express lots of opinions as well. It was such a lovely experience even though it was the middle of winter!
Posted by: Lorraine | May 06, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Those are great pictures. When i was in England two weeks ago, the weather looked the same, the petals were flying everywhere... It was a perfect time to go. The boats are really awesome, and thanks for sharing. It makes me want to be back in Hull, visiting my boyfriend.
Posted by: Brianna | May 06, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Wow how lovely! You are so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world! When I was a teenager my dad wanted to do a 'canal trip' of europe. Just mum,dad, my sister and I on a boat. At the time I thought nothing could be worse- imagine your parents dragging you to the other side of the world away from your friends! At the time I was relieved that it didn't happen...Now especially as my father passed away aged 48 I wish that it had actually happened...it would have been beautiful!
Posted by: dette | May 06, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Best sort of day!
Posted by: PaisleyJade | May 06, 2009 at 11:07 AM
I love stopping by your blog, the colours and all the inspiration that you just througing towards my eyes!
Posted by: Anna | May 06, 2009 at 10:52 AM