Waking up to clear blue skies and sunshine at this time of year is such a pleasure. The sight of it this morning prompted me to take firm charge of family matters (just as I did last month) and get everybody dressed, booted and out the door by 10am. I declared that we all needed to go forth and Appreciate Nature on such a fine morning. So we took a short drive to Bolton Abbey for a walk in Strid Wood :: only a short, circular walk, short enough for Little B to toddle the whole way round. You can see from the above pics how child-friendly the pathways are, they zigzag beautifully through the trees, and they are marvelously even-surfaced and free of tree roots. Perfect for Little Feet.
It was incredibly beautiful. I felt so energised by the greenery and the light. Oh the light!!! That soft, sweet, pale early Autumn sunlight, how I LOVE it! Being able to actually see the sunbeams as they shaft through a leafy canopy is an extraordinary experience. The Little People were entranced by it. They danced around and around in the sun-dappled woodland, turning their faces up to the sun, blowing plumes of "smoke" from their mouths like little dragons. Yes it was cold enough for Breathing Out Smoke (what to call it? But you know what I mean right?!) and despite the lush greenery of the woodland, it definitely felt crisp and Autumnal.
I was chattering on and on to myself about the colours of the woodland. How perfectly green it is! And how beautifully mossy everything is! How wonderful to see so many verdant shades of Living Green! J commented on the oxygen, how he loved to breathe in the woodland air because it was so full of Oxygen. I never thought about that before, about breathing in the fresh Tree-Oxygen as you walk through woodland. Lovely thought, isn't it?
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Breathing Out Smoke? We call it Fire-Breathing Dragons! You're welcome.
Posted by: Bronchitickat | August 11, 2013 at 01:46 PM
Hello Lucy-
I so enjoy popping in to see what's up at Attic 24. It is great to see your photos and read about your spot of the world especially since I am in CA
and am curious about life abroad.
Loved your post on the finding of your yarn basket. I also have a special yarn basket that I got a few years back while traveling around the South with my folks. We just happened upon a fall Apple Festival in TN where people were selling their handmade items. I treated myself to a large egg basket made by a gal from AL. I love displaying yummy yarns and some of my special handmade hooks in it as well as working from it. I also want to comment on your candle border. Very clever twist to ordinary candle holder! You are right they would make lovely little presents and would be good to keep on hand just in case you need a little Thank you gift or Hostess gift to share on the spur of a moment. Hope you will treat us to the pattern. Thank you for all of your creativity and sharing your cozy Attic with all of us.
Annie in San Diego, CA
Posted by: Annie Bookser | November 11, 2011 at 06:37 PM
Love the ripple trend with the developing colours. Going to hook one with citrus colours for a friend who's expecting and calling her bump "Limey". Thanks for being so inspiring.
Posted by: Lyvvie | November 02, 2011 at 07:59 AM
Our autumn seems to be a little slow in coming here in Northern California this year... but I can sense the changes in the light and such. Love this time of year. Planning to visit the redwoods next weekend.
And we just call it seeing our breath. Dragon smoke is much more fantastic sounding. :)
Posted by: Kristen | October 18, 2011 at 12:10 AM
Aren't our seasons just wonderful
Posted by: maypole | October 17, 2011 at 08:15 PM
Gorgeous photos, thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Archie the wonder dog | October 17, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Awesome photos!
Posted by: Mikimu | October 17, 2011 at 05:39 PM
what a wonderful walk you've had!!!!! thanks for sharing these beautiful pics!!!!
Posted by: Happybee | October 17, 2011 at 07:48 AM
What a wonderful landscapes!! I can even breathe the air!!! so lovely!!
Posted by: Maria João | October 16, 2011 at 07:35 PM
Thank you for sharing such mindblowing photos of the woodland and the sunshine....it was like that all day with us too.
Posted by: Joyce Stewart | October 16, 2011 at 07:34 PM
Sound like perfection.
My daughter used to call it fog breath lol
Posted by: Julie | October 16, 2011 at 06:59 PM
Glorious.
Love from Mum
xx
Posted by: Mum | October 16, 2011 at 06:43 PM
Hi Lucy....what a perfectly beautiful day, isn't it a wonderful unexpected gift....beautiful day here in Alabama as well. Love the post. Your Alabama friend.
Posted by: Marilyn Warner | October 16, 2011 at 06:36 PM
I love pictures where you can actually see the sunrays! :)
xo,
wink
Posted by: winkieflash | October 16, 2011 at 05:02 PM
Cathedral windows of the forest..is there anything more beautiful?
Posted by: ellen kelley | October 16, 2011 at 04:51 PM
We're loving the Autumn colors in Germany, too! My little one loves the crunch-crunch-crunch of dry leaves under his feet. Such simple pleasures, thanks for pointing them out.
Posted by: tizabell | October 16, 2011 at 03:13 PM
Beautiful shots of the light coming through the trees.
Posted by: Anne Marie | October 16, 2011 at 02:55 PM
Oh Lucy!
What beautiful places you have, right in your own backyard. Just had a lovely adventure viewing all your photos! Looking at them I thought for sure I spotted a Fairy dancing in the wood! Seemed the perfect atmosphere! Enjoy Life with your family. Thanks so much for always sharing. I look forward to your entries about life & all that you do. What an amazing person you are!
Sunny skies to you,
Donna
Posted by: Donna Kuhn | October 16, 2011 at 02:30 PM
Beautiful photos:)
Isn't nature wonderful ? x
Posted by: Jan | October 16, 2011 at 02:12 PM
Thanks Lucy,for the Fall view(sothern slang).Love the light.Ours is further along(South USA).Every Fall we load up the car and take the Girls thru the mountains.Sometimes its the Great Smokey Mountains.We'll spend the whole weekend just driving taking in the Soul renewing views.Stopping along the way for picnics and exploring.Keeping a sharp eye out for the "locals"black bear,rattle snakes and the less threating ones:)like the white tail deer,chipmunks etc.This year we stayed closer to home and enjoyed our local mountains.All the beautiful colors,alot of red and yellow this year.The sky was cloudless and sooo blue!The day started out cool(40's and reached the 70's F).A nice change from our record breaking heat of the Summer.
The blanket looks wonderful,but I knew it would:)No time for a big project(Christmas presents).I'm rippling along with y'all on hand warmers and a scarf or cowl to match.In four shades of blue, a bright green and white.Keep rippling:)
Posted by: angela-southern USA | October 16, 2011 at 01:37 PM
Oh I miss Autumn - we don't get it or Spring in our part of the world - the trade-off for warm weather is just Summer and a mild Winter. Just proves you can't have everything, so I'll just enjoy your pictures!
Posted by: Angela | October 16, 2011 at 11:51 AM
There is something so very primeval about woods isn't there. My children used to play 'looking for bears' because they were convinced bears must still be living in an English wood somewhere!
Posted by: Annie | October 16, 2011 at 11:35 AM
So beautiful!!!!
Posted by: Lucy | October 16, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Gorgeous light, gorgeous colours. Looks just like the New Forest where I have just walked Joe Cocker. Have a lovely Sunday and enjoy this wonderful weather. x
Posted by: Victoria | October 16, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Beautiful photographs. And yet more evidence that you're a better mother than me... Similarly beautiful, but mild, day in London Town. Did I take my children to the local woods? No, we did an hours circular walk to our fabulous local wool shop. Bad, crochet obsessed, mother.
Posted by: ZebAlex | October 16, 2011 at 10:40 AM