We enjoyed a really lovely stroll around the reservoir this afternoon, it was bright and breezy and just what we all needed I think. Fresh air, gentle exercise, fun family time.
We stopped half way round to sit on a wooden bench near the water, to drink fresh coffee and eat chocolate and the sweetest ripe strawberries (our usual walking/outing fodder). The Little People busied themselves spotting caterpillars (very striking stripy Cinnabar moth caterpillars), and trying to catch grasshoppers (they were remarkably successful at this actually, they caught and showed me at least three different varieties)
I was delighted to see so many butterflies a-fluttering around the place, especially a gorgeous Small Copper that I spotted. Obviously I had no idea at the time that it was called a Small Copper (it was just a HEY-look at this gorgeous little orangey-red one!), but by the power of the internet I now have that knowledge. Lovely butterfly website which has reminded me how much I adore butterflies. I just ordered us this identity chart. Hugely, childishly excited to plan butterfly spotting expeditions when that arrives.
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ps just now realised that we were three days early for this walk (see here and here), we should have waited till Wednesday ;o)x
Beautiful pictures, love the one of the caterpillar up close!
Posted by: J | August 21, 2013 at 01:01 AM
Lovely images. What camera are you using? The colours are really vivid.
Posted by: Garden Bags | August 20, 2013 at 02:39 AM
Hi Lucy! I've enjoyed all your wonderful posts - I just got home from our 11 day camping trip at our gorgeous lake and am catching up on my favorite blogs on my list (like yours!). I invite you to pop over and see the photos. I'm inspired by your lampshade cover.. I want to do one of those! Enjoy the rest of summer. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | August 19, 2013 at 08:03 PM
Can you tell me the name of the reservoir please., weare going to York for a week and my husband likes to flyf fish
Kind regards
Margaret
Posted by: Margaret | August 19, 2013 at 06:49 PM
A lovely walk - thank you. My walk to the paper shop passed a bush with pink flowers and about 20 Cabbage White butterflies all basking in the sunshine! It does seem to be a good year for them! :-)
Posted by: alisonb2 | August 19, 2013 at 05:10 PM
Hi Lucy,Anyday is a good day for family fun walk!!!Love the bees and butterflies!!!Hope you have a happy and creative week!!!
Love
AMarie
Posted by: Anna-Marie Field | August 19, 2013 at 05:05 PM
Hi Lucy, I too have been enjoying the butterflies this summer there does seem to be far more than usual! while trying to identify some I came across this http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/ and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent doing it and couldn't quite believe how many different species were visiting my humble little patch
Posted by: Rachel | August 19, 2013 at 04:28 PM
lovely Sunday afternoon stroll and lovely pics xx Joy xx
Posted by: Joy | August 19, 2013 at 02:45 PM
Dear Lucy, beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing! It is so very pretty right now where you are living. Take care, Sonja
Posted by: Sonja | August 19, 2013 at 02:03 PM
Hello, Lucy!
My name is Oxana, I live in Italy. I'd like to say thank you for your wonderful blog! It's so inspiring! Did you receive my package? I'm so worried...I have shipped it 2o days ago, please, let me know.
Have a nice day!
Oxana.
Posted by: Oxana | August 19, 2013 at 01:40 PM
Hi. I've been lurking on your blog for a while now and seriously love it. I used to live in Yorkshire and love to see your pictures too, reminiscing about our weekend trips to the Dales, moors and my favourite, Robin Hood Bay. I just had to comment - we just got back from a lovely holiday in Brittany, France. We spotted many butterflies on our coastal walks but my 7 year old daughter found a caterpillar exactly the same as the one you've pictured crawling across our doorstep - we had no Internet access at the time...so thanks for the link. She will love to see what it turns into! Xx
Posted by: Yvonne, London | August 19, 2013 at 12:01 PM
We found a pair of Small Blues the other day! Will keep my eyes peeled for the Copper ones. Also found this information via t'internet. isn't technology marvellous?
Lovely pics as always, Lucy!
Love Claire xxx
Posted by: thriftwood | August 19, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Thanks for the butterfly web link - that's a really good page. We've been out and about north of Leeds this weekend - loads of Peacock butterflies and speckled wood. Then we were delighted to find a Small Copper on the track up to Almscliffe Crag.
Love your photos - isn't it wonderful to be so close to such wonderful countryside.
Posted by: Clare | August 19, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Really impressed with the grasshopper hunting skills of your children. My lot tried very hard to catch one on holiday and one was all they caught! My daughter did get good at butterfly catching though. I was going to get them a pooter so they could catch smaller bugs. I've got a feeling there are online instructions for making one somewhere.
Posted by: Rachael | August 19, 2013 at 08:26 AM
What beautiful colors...inspires me choose the colores the new handwork:)
Gagnes
Posted by: Gagnes | August 19, 2013 at 07:52 AM
What a lovely walk. I've been searching for the perfect little butterfly guide so we can identify the butterflies we see - I've ordered the chart as well. It looks like a good find!
Posted by: CJ | August 19, 2013 at 07:32 AM
Sounds lovely. We spent Sunday on the beach, making the most of the heat wave that are passing through. This summer my children have done a lot of butterfly catching. Little Emmy 6 one day showed me a live Step by step tutorial on how to do it. Everything from finding a glass jar. Poking holes in the lid, catching the butterfly and putting it in and then how to let them out. Very interesting indeed.
Annette
My Rose Valley
Posted by: Annette | August 19, 2013 at 05:55 AM
I never realized how beautiful the English countryside is till I started following your blog Lucy! Thanks for sharing. Our weather is still on the wet side, and cooler than norm, more like fall really. A beautiful outing.
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | August 19, 2013 at 01:42 AM
Lucy, thank you for your excellent reporting of another glorious day in the beautiful out of doors near you. The brilliant colors definitely influence your yarn colorways. The clear air surely influences your lively spirit and creative enthusiasm.
xo
Posted by: Frances | August 19, 2013 at 01:40 AM
Loved your "taking a walk" photos. My walks would not include gentle hills and meadows...where we live is deep forest, rocky coast, and wilderness. We live in such different environments, but equally beautiful. Thx for sharing...Hugs, MO
http://moisbloggingit.blogspot.ca/
Posted by: Marylin | August 19, 2013 at 01:19 AM
Such a perfect way to go on a sunny summer day. Butterfly id charts are so much fun-identifying any little critter brings such joy and feeling of accomplishment to the Littles.
Posted by: Lynda M O | August 19, 2013 at 01:18 AM
What beauty :) Just lovely for a Sunday... m.
Posted by: maria | August 18, 2013 at 11:38 PM
What beautiful photos, Lucy!!Thank you for sharing them ;)
Posted by: Emmy | August 18, 2013 at 11:13 PM
What a lovely place to go for a stroll
Posted by: Chelsey | August 18, 2013 at 11:07 PM
That caterpillar caught my eye, I wondered who it might turn into! Some crochet caterpillars to go with the ladybirds maybe? Tiny ones would be very cute x
Posted by: mrsbrownmakes | August 18, 2013 at 11:06 PM