Seven thirty and my lovely Little Lady asks me if I'd like to head out for a walk with her. She is old enough to go out by herself if she wants to, but how can I resist when she asks for company? I immediately close down my laptop (I'm working on a magazine article for Yarndale), pull on my boots and off we go into the chill of the early evening. Not a cloud in the sky, and that glorious dusky pink end-of-day glow over the hills.
We walk up, up, up - a steep lane with views over the town, then over an old wooden stile into a steeply sloping field. Up, up, chatting and puffing, stopping every so often to catch breath. We reach the dry stone wall at the very top just as the sun is almost down - it is unexpectedly bright and breathtaking and makes us both squeal with pleasure. We sit a while a-top the wall and watch the sun disappear over the horizon. We gaze out over our town spread out in the valley below - we can see our neighbourhood, our street, our house. We can see the schools, the church, the shops. We know where the canal runs even though we can't see it, and we know where our friends live and where we walk every day as we go about our routines. We both say how much we love living here, agree on how comforting it is to be surrounded by green hills and countryside, how joyful it is to climb up high and see the sun set, take in the view.
We begin to feel chilled and so we climb down from the wall and walk on over the huge field. Down, down, down until we reach the farm track at the bottom. It's an easy stroll now, downhill all the way. The sky is quickly darkening, the moon bright and a blackbird singing loudly from his perch in the bare treetops. We are walking along residential streets now, houses lit up from inside, all cosy and settled for the evening.
Eight thirty, and we arrive back at number 24, rosy cheeks and a slight ache in the back of the legs from all that steep climbing. Little Lady is glowing, she looks and sounds so happy and content. She tells me she loved our walk, and could we do it again tomorrow if the weather stays nice. Yes, yes we can. I am already looking forward to it.
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I feel like I am reading an English novel, love the way your describe everything on your walk, now I have to get ready and go for a walk to start my day, thank you for your beautiful writing and beautiful crochet colors which brighten my day just looking at them. I am a beginner, doing granny squares but I would love to do a striped blanked, can you suggest a not to difficult on for me to try. Thank you so much.
Bonnie from Newfoundland, Canada
Posted by: Bonnie Brocklehurst | June 06, 2019 at 02:39 PM
Awww! Your walk with your daughter was just lovely. I felt as though I was there with you and I feel homesick for England (I live on the other side of the world). Precious moments to keep in your heart.
Posted by: Lindyloufromoz | April 16, 2019 at 07:29 AM
Really lovely to read.
Posted by: Dana | April 15, 2019 at 11:16 AM
I've been reading your blog for several years and I think this is my favourite post so far. My 23 year old daughter is away and I'm missing her a lot. It's great you are able to do such simple lovely things with your daughter. Also your Dune blanket is wonderful! Linda x
Posted by: Linda Forbes | April 15, 2019 at 04:39 AM
I would love to visit this part of yorkshire, where is this beautiful place
Posted by: Anne Gorman | April 14, 2019 at 04:13 PM
What a lovely post. For you a memory to cherish!
Posted by: Miriam van Wieringen | April 14, 2019 at 10:09 AM
I love this! With two boys aged 10 and 5 I am so conscious of how quickly time is pacing along... the other day the 10 year old walked hand in hand with me and I was so overjoyed by it! I love your blog so much and love to read all the lovely family times you have together. ♥️
Posted by: Vanessa | April 13, 2019 at 07:47 PM
Wow! The photos were lovely...the article even more precious! Enjoy all the memories...& Thank you for reminding us to appreciate all of our days!I
Sue Floyd
Posted by: Sue Floyd | April 13, 2019 at 04:59 PM
Pure perfection! A moment to cherish for sure. Have a lovely weekend, and I hope the weather is nice for more walks.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Angela-Southern-USA | April 12, 2019 at 06:39 PM
Thank you for sharing such a special moment. Beautiful story that gives me the feeling of walking along with you and your daughter.
Thank you!
Posted by: Ida | April 12, 2019 at 05:44 PM
So sweet and beautifully written! Go as often as you can- these walks with your daughter are so special.
Posted by: Cindy Rawnsley | April 12, 2019 at 05:17 PM
Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Charlotte. | April 12, 2019 at 01:11 PM
Your pictures and narrative put a longing in my heart for dear England. Oh to be there at any time of year. Former resident of Yarnton, Bister and Aynho.
Posted by: Becky | April 12, 2019 at 01:06 PM
Special times with your child. They grow up way too quickly.
Posted by: Wendy | April 12, 2019 at 09:36 AM
Hi Lucy, I don't crochet but I really love reading your blogs only trouble is I feel really homesick. I keep reading though and always look forward to the next one.
Regards June
Posted by: June Whitham | April 12, 2019 at 02:22 AM
What a lovely way to spend time with your daughter. Those are memories you will both treasure.
Posted by: Carolyn Dietrich | April 11, 2019 at 08:52 PM
I love my walks and jogs with my own daughter too - I grab every moment - with one daughter at uni and the other in upper sixth, the time is so precious with them- keep grabbing the moments!
Posted by: Ali Patel | April 11, 2019 at 03:45 PM
One of the joys of having a daughter. Reminds me of the talks I had (and still have) with my lovely daughter.
Posted by: susan | April 11, 2019 at 03:26 PM
Such a lovely entry and pictures- It all made me take a breath in and out. Thank you for always sharing your adventures. I always look forward to a new entry. It's such a gift that you can see the beauty in everyday things! Keep writing, keep sharing!
Posted by: Melissa | April 11, 2019 at 03:23 PM
This post made me well up, more than a little. You have obviously done a good job parenting for a teenager to request yoyr company. Enjoy every minute.
Posted by: Su | April 11, 2019 at 03:12 PM
I love the fifth photo, the moon and the tree and the wall at the top of the hill, and the evening flight to NY or Canada into the sunset. How spare and evocative!
Posted by: gina in alabama | April 11, 2019 at 02:25 PM
No amount of money can buy that walk - you are richly blessed. And do-overs? WOW!
Posted by: Mary W | April 11, 2019 at 02:01 PM
Made me cry, such a treasured moment awwwww beautiful photos as well.
Posted by: Jacqui | April 11, 2019 at 12:56 PM
That's lovely, making moments to treasure too. X
Posted by: Andrea | April 11, 2019 at 11:05 AM
You live in such a beautiful spot, how lovely to be able to walk up above the town from your door. And lovely that you were invited too! A magical evening I think. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | April 11, 2019 at 11:05 AM