Walking in the Neighbourhood

These ornamental cherry trees are just up the road from the attic and are planted in the grounds of the old Local Council offices (currently deserted and empty, waiting to be demolished and replaced with new housing). Yesterday afternoon on a completely spontaneous whim, I felt an overwhelming urge to go and look at them. So I grabbed my camera, took Little B by the hand and led him into the kitchen, out the back door, through the back gate, up the cobbled back street, up the hill and there we were. I didn't even lock the door or shut the gate. I even left our dinner simmering gently on the hob. But the urge to get out into the afternoon light was so incredibly strong, I just had to go right there and then.

I can't find the words to describe the beauty of the light that we've had here these past few days, but you can hopefully get an impression of it from my photographs. 

It's made everything look so golden and rich and glorious that I've felt myself almost swooning with the beauty of it all.

I don't think Little B noticed the Quality of the Light yesterday, but he was very happy to be taken out for an impromptu walk around the trees. He doesn't talk much yet, but he has a whole variety of sounds that he makes depending on the situation. Yesterday he was full of "oooooooooaaaaaaaahh!!!" which is his way of vocalising a kind of happy discovery. It's very sweet.

This is the view from the very end of my street. Those pine trees are very, very tall and make an impressive noise in windy conditions. I took the above picture at about 3pm yesterday when I was just setting off on the school run. Yes, I did remember to lock the door that time, and turned the dinner off too.

The canal always looks stunning when the sunlight is sweet.

By the time we were dawdling home from school it was about 3.40pm and the sun was very low in the sky.

I asked Little Lady if we could walk a little further along the canal than normal so that I could take a few more pictures, and she was happy to oblige.

I love it at this time of year when we see the smoke rising from the boat chimneys. It always makes them appear so cosy and welcoming, and the smell of woodsmoke in the air is oddly comforting and homely.

Ahh did I say how swoony yesterday afternoon felt?? I did?? It made my insides squiggle with delight just to be outdoors!

Loooooooooong shadows at this time of day look :: that's me on the left (I look large and lumpy cos the pushchair is in front of me) and Little Lady on the right. Her left arm looks incredibly long and dangly!

This morning I went straight from school via the supermarket to the cafe to meet a friend and her Little Boy who is 4 months younger than Little B. I ordered my usual Large Skinny Latte and enjoyed it enormously. Our Little People are well used to cafe life but there is only a shortish time when they can be relied upon to behave appropriately :: with Little B it's roughly 50 minutes, after which time things can go very rapidly downhill. This leaves quite a large part of the morning left to fill, so we decide to go walkabout.

From the centre of town we head to the canal side and walk past the waterfall into the woods.

We are very lucky to have this stunning woodland walk just a few minutes from the town centre. I wish I remembered this fact more often! I can't recall the last time I walked here, it was probably way back in the summer.

The Autumn colour is only just beginning to arrive in our local woodland...isn't it funny how one minute it seems so lush and green and then almost overnight it seems to change colour?

The pathways are pretty good for pushchairs, although it's a little bit muddy at this time of year. But we don't wheel our Littlies the whole way. No, we unstrap them and let them loose for a bit, let them toddle and run and kick through the fallen leaves, let them get muddy and dirty and at-one-with-nature. They are quite precarious actually, Little B and his buddy OJ. They stumble and totter all over the place. Little B bizarrely chooses to walk much of the way backwards which adds to the precariousness. But isn't it so good for their Little Bodies to get such grade-A fresh air and exercise? 

We end up at this pool of water, not sure if you would call this a pond or a pool? It's incredibly tranquil. We scoop up our muddy Little Boys and pop them back in their pushchairs ready for the return walk home. Little B's eyes are already drooping.

I think for the umpteenth time how much I love living here in this sweet, friendly town. How wonderful it is to be able to walk round the local neighbourhood and see such beauty all around. Just got to go and clean the mud off our footwear now.

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Comments

[Tina]

Your pictures really make me realize how much I miss England and how long I haven't been there.

[Golf]

i really love reading your blog ^^

[Suzanne]

Simply lovely. My question is, do people live on those boats?

[Elena]

You make wonderful photos, I've been looking at them now and then. Very comfortable feelings.

[Debbie]

Dear Lucy - I just want to thank you for sharing your wonderful world with us - your blog touches my heart and inspires me in so many ways. Thank you, thank you xx

[heidi]

what great pics! i am enjoying similar fall impressions here in deutschland as well... lovely of you to share all this! love the canal most because thats something i dont have nearby so these pics are especially cherished... you are so right about the breathtaking light. fall is so special and i wouldnt want to miss it even if the days are ever-so-fastly becoming shorter.
i, too, have a new lucy-stash... sit in front of it and just admire the brilliant color combo as if it were a huge flower bouquet! and if it is of any condolence, i can't say what i will be starting first either! (@garden bell) so many ideas circling in my head!
i am so happy to read that there are a few pennsylvanians out there, reading and commenting lucy's blog as well... heartfelt greetings to you in the homelands!
xoxox heidi

[Sally]

Thanks again for taking the time to share such beautiful photographs. Breathtaking.

[Gabli]

You are blessed to live in such a beautiful place! Thank you for sharing the beauty where you live and reminding the rest of us to stop and take a second look at the treasures hidden in our neighborhoods.

[Gena Resende]

Beautiful photos you have taken Lucy...you have the soul of a poet!!
Enjoy your deserved weekend with as much hapiness as you can!!
Hapiness happens when we find the god of small things and let us involve by them. Be happy.

Gena Resende

[Dori]

I got a tear or two in my eye reading this blog entry! You have a very special place there, and it's so lovely to read time and time again how much you love it. I love nature, but am not well and have trouble getting out of doors for any time at all these days, so reading about your walks and seeing your pictures is always welcome. Thank you.

[Enid]

I know how you feel we have just come to live in a historical village called Evendale in Tasmania , today they have a penny farthing bike ride paople come from all over we have beautiful weather at the moment
Your pictures are amazing

[Carole68]

What beautiful surroundings, the colours in the pictures are just astounding ! It is indeed a charming place that you're living in !

[Julie (Johnson) Powell]

So lovely. Yorkshire is God's country!

[Anja]

Hi Lucy,
wonderful photos -- your every day life is beautiful.
I´d sent you a birthday present in the first week of October.
Has it reached you? Please give me an answer...
Anja

[Guillermina from Argentina]

rewarding little moments!! at a low cost!!! coffee and a stroll with friends..simple, great!!

[Gill]

Your town is indeed a lovely town - I even thought of moving there yeeaaars ago but ended up in Scotland!?! I even had my photo taken by that very waterfall - it really does have some stunning walks nearby. I even had a little jaunt on a special boat up and down the canal when Spud was little so it's lovely to see it in all its Autumn finery.What a lucky girl you are.

Love and stuff xx

[Ana]

Really beautiful. I love autumn colours. You are very lucky to live surrounded by all that. I like the fact that you appreciatte and enjoy it, not many people do that nowadays. Have fun!!

[Cris]

love the place you live
Cristina

[Lucy Gulotti]

Hello Lucy
Its Lucy from Rocket and Bear, ummm I thought I'd drop you a line just to run an idea past you? I knit and sell stuff, I have one wool supplier that I buy wholesale from but the choice of wool is limited and to find other suppliers that wholesale to makers impossible. So... I'm thinking of opening an online wool shop that would only sell wool on cones in bulk to makers (people like you and me)ie min orders 5 or even 10 kilos I've just bought the URL mylovelywoolshop.com
What do you think? am I bonkers do you source your wool easily (I'm not fishing for your supplier)
I would love to hear your thoughts?
Kind regards
Lucy

[Lindy]

What a beautiful place to live!

[Lauren]

You live in the most gorgeous place. It's so idyllic and pretty and just... aah! Every time I read one of your posts, I smile. Thank you for that.

[Christina]

Such rich, warm colors! Your walk with the little ones sounded very fun too. And thank you for sending me some blog love! Xoxo

[Jen]

Such a wonderful way to spend a fall day! It brings back memories of similar days with my sweet littlun who is now a man. :o) Your fall colors are gorgeous.

[Marian]

I live in the South...Texas to be more precise...not much in the way of fall weather, fall colors, or cool fresh air. Lots of wonderful things here too, but reading your post I feel like I could just pick up and move to your town!! So beautiful!!

[Patti]

I love your little neck of the woods where you live! So enjoy your pics! This past weekend we had a freak snow storm (PA, USA) and wound up with about 12 inches of snow! Of course we lost our power along with it. :(
It was so pretty but cold too soon! Will be interesting to see what the rest of the winter brings with getting snow so early! Have a great day!