Outdoorsy Sunday

We are being blessed with the most gorgeously glorious weather here at the moment, it really is quite something. I wouldn't say that Spring has arrived yet as it is still terribly cold, but during the past week or so the sky has been oh-so-blue and the sun has been shining it's little heart out, and I've been loving it. Love-love-loving it!

Yesterday (Sunday) we awoke to a frosty, crisp late winters morning, with the aforementioned oh-so-blue sky and sunshine, and we decided to venture out and do Outdoorsy Stuff. It was nothing short of a miracle actually :: all five of us breakfasted, dressed, washed (well three-fifths of the family was washed, the Little People are exceedingly good at avoiding the bathroom these days, the dirty/lazy little tykes) and out the door by nine thirty. Yes, you read that right, Nine Thirty! And on a Sunday too!! Are you impressed?? Cos I most certainly was.

Destination :: Bolton Abbey. Of course. It's our number one choice when we want nearby Easy Countryside, and if you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll have heard me go on about Bolton Abbey on many occasions. Here, here and here for example, and lots of other times besides I expect. We don't ever tire of it here.

This was the first time we've been here with Little B though, so it felt kind of special. Just before Little B arrived, we acquired a very good all-terrain sooper-dooper three wheeler pushchair with sooper-dooper pumped up tyres. It came third-hand from my neighbour for a sooper-dooper good price, and it's errrmmmm.....well Sooper-dooper actually! Yesterday was it's first outing to an all-terrain type of environment and it was brilliant. We went happily up and down all sorts of steep woodland tracks, bumpity bumped up and down steps and ancient bits of tumbled down old Abbey, crossed fields and jiggety-jigged over cattle grates. Little B slept soundly the whole way, which was rather Sooper-dooper too.

It really was a most beautiful morning and it felt reeeeeally good to be out in it, walking in it, looking up at the sky (oh-so-blue) and feeling part of the Outdoorsy World again. I've missed it somewhat.

When we eventually came home (via the cafe for cappuccino and carrot cake and milk tankering activities), I found that I did not want to come inside. I really didn't. Wanted to stay Outside and wanted to continue to do Outdoorsy stuff and wanted to stay under the oh-so-blue sky for as long as possible. So I decided on the spur of the moment to go and buy some flowers and do some lighthearted gardening. A suitably Outdoorsy Sunday activity I thought, and pretty too.

So I bobbed down to my local supermarket and loaded my trolley up with Pretties to bring home. Little pots of narcissi and primulas. Oh so pretty-pretty! I swooned a little when I unloaded them from the back of my car, I just adore buying flowery plantlets en-masse like this, one of life's tremendous pleasures (remember the PPP's from last year?)

The mission :: to prettify my (very sad) hanging baskets at the front of the house.

It turned out to be a lovely thing to do cos Little Lady decided to join me. I swooned a little more at her excited request to help me out and it suddenly seemed an age since we did anything like this together.

We enjoyed ourselves. A lot. I loved that in her excitement she called me Mummy all the time, when usually these days she calls me a more grown up Mum.

Above pics show the Before and After. I let Little Lady do as much of the planting as possible, even though it meant that the end results are a little erm..what shall we say? Unbalanced perhaps? I promise you I'm not a control freak, but ooohh so so hard not to interfere in these matters! I just about managed it. But I might possibly have to fill in the empty gaps with a few more flowers. Just so, you know, so it looks centred and not all-over-to-the-left.

But anyhow, it's certainly a definite improvement on what was there before which was basically a collection of moss and Dead Summer Things.

Yes, a beautiful improvement I think.

Even if it is off centre.

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Comments

[Margaret]

Ah, those pictures of Bolton Abbey made me homesick for a bit. We had friends in Yorkshire, in Sowerby Bridge and whenever we visited (every summer holiday) we so often went to Bolton Abbey. It's so beautiful out there. I looove Yorkshire and I think it's the best and most beautiful county in England. Sooo many memories, unfortunately our friend has died and it still hurts a bit to go back, for all those holidays we shared and loved. Sorry for the rambling, incoherent post.
Just wanted to thank you for the pictures. Happy memories...
All the way from Holland,
Love, Margaret

[Emma]

Lovely weather you have, here it is sooo windy!!!!!

I have a question: I want to do a tutorial for my dress (posted on my blog) that would cost a thing to download (have to get some student money even if I'm not a fanatic about the paying thing)
but well, the question is, now that I've used your ripple pattern, would you mind that I put the explanation of the ripple on the tutorial, with of course a link to the blog and your name etc...

Have a lovely day!

[Laura]

thanks for sharing your beautiful photos, I feel as if I take a little trip when I visit. Happy you are able to enjoy some good weather!!!!

[Shorty]

Beautiful post. I would love to see such a place one day! So glad you were out to enjoy the sunshine!

[Amy]

What a beautiful place. Thanks so much for the wonderful pictures as well!

[lulu]

lovely pics, i so enjoy seeing them..Its so beautiful where you live Lucy..

[[email protected]]

Lovely to catch up with you. I know you are always keen to see a Granny Square appreciated, so check this out!
http://thewomensroom.typepad.com/
(it's a lovely website/blog by the way, worth browsing around).
Lovely to think of you all out and about with the little one.
xx Elspeth

[The Garden Bell - Kate]

Now, your talking and sooooooo back to your old self... yipeee. Great to see you back outside. Love the Little Ladies baskets of joy. She is going to be a gardener that's for sure.

Sure enjoyed all your pic of the Abbey here.

Gardening Hugs,
Kate - The Garden Bell

[Patti Johnson]

You live in a wonderful part of the world! I love your pics. Our Sunday was a beautiful day also here in Pa. We took our kids out for the last time on the snowmobiles, it truly was a great day to be outside!

[Lynda Rivinius]

What a lovely Sunday you all had!! I too have just recently discovered your blog and so enjoy your cheeriness. Here in Montana in the USA we have had a very long winter and are looking for every bit of spring we can spot!! Please keep sharing your adventures!
Lynn

[Cinzia]

Hi Lucy,
thanks for sharing your world and your pictures with us... I started peering at your blog because of your cheerful and inspiring croheted work, only to finf literally hooked by your writing too: better than a hundred-hours course to learn your language from Italy and... I love-love-love it!

[ina]

offtopic:
you may like this
http://sarahlondon.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/seamless-symmetrical/

take care <3

[Val]

In a few weeks when it's all filled out and full of gorgeous flowers and colours, and when it's hanging up ..... no-one will notice "the centre" ...... and Mummy, it's just so special for the two of you :0)
Blessings!
Val

[Tina Daugherty]

We are having one of those beautiful blue skies today and it makes me want to bury my hands in dirt and plant pretty flowers but it is still a bit to early. A crisp sunny walk is in order for this afternoon.

[jude]

Lovely Sunday!

[Cláudia Santos]

Hi Lucy!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!!!!
Thank you
God bless you.

[Vicky]

The basket looks lovely Lucy. We too are enjoying glorious weather in South Gloucestershire. It makes you feel like a different person, doesn`t it. xxx

[Heather Thorp]

Hey there Lucy, I have started a hexagon blanket and I wanted to know how much of each yarn you used for the edging - was it more than a ball? Thank you so much for sharing your patterns and photos - really uplifting!
xx

[Krista]

Beauty day!!! Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Sarah]

Lovely post! I so enjoy reading your blog.

[Val]

Such a beautiful abbey! Oh, how I wish I lived near a place where such things existed. Unfortunately, though, the good ole' American Midwest is a bit lacking in several century old church ruins. Thanks for the beautiful pictures!

[Anne Bebbington]

Ooooooh - I'm pining for the fjords (as my dear husband calls my homesickness) Bolton Abbey is so beautiful always but never more so when the sun shines - thank you so much for sharing the pictures they bring back so many happy memories

[alisonb2]

I'm pleased you enjoyed your first outdoorsy walk with all five of you! And the basket does look pretty. Take care.

[Victoria]

Hi Lucy - we're having some of that glorious sunny weather over on our side of the Pennines too, and like you we have been Playing Out. I tidied up my pots this weekend - your before shots of the hanging baskets perfectly reflect the state of my pots before this weekend. Much better now! x

[Pati]

Hi Lucy! I love the look of Bolton Abbey, it seems very romantic to me! The weather was great also here in London and I can feel that the garden daffs will appear soon...In the meantime, I am getting a bit of spring by looking at your flower pics.
Pati xx