Blogtober 2023 :: Day 9

Blogtober Day 9 :: Monday

Mondays are a favourite day of the week for me because it's a luxurious day off work that J and I both gift ourselves. Some weeks we get caught up in getting jobs done or each of us needing to do our own thing, but generally we do try and make the most of our Mondays together.

We both agreed yesterday that it would be good to get out into the countryside today if the weather was decent, although we couldn't quite decide where to go.

After some pondering over a coffee, we decided not to drive too far as it was very grey and lightly drizzling and maybe not the best weather for a full blown hike. We ended up driving into the Yorkshire Dales just twelve miles away, to the picturesque village of Grassington. Mostly we chose to go here so that we could pop into the National Park office to renew our car parking permit, but also it's a lovely place to take in the scenery without needing to walk miles.

A short walk down a stone-paved track from Grassington village (shown in the first picture) and you come to Linton Falls. 

It's absolutely spectacular here, with the River Wharfe running at high speed and great velocity as it tumbles over weirs and downwards over very rocky terrain. It's exceptionally noisy I have to say, the roar of the river almost deafening as you stand on the wooden footbridge right above the rushing water below.....

.....you can see the bridge in the above photo.

After we'd had enough of the rushing river and the noise, we ambled back to Grassington along the riverbank, leaving the falls behind and enjoying the tranquility of the slow flowing river. It's a short walk, only about half an hour or so, but just enough when you need a bit of green countryside flowing into your eyeballs and fresh air into your lungs. Little Lady was with us this morning, I forgot to mention that. She is now suffering with the same head cold that I've just managed to shake off so she wasn't feeling the best, but after spending two days in bed she was glad of the fresh air and gentle exercise.

Grassington really is a lovely village, very pretty with an olde worlde charm about it. It does get very busy with lots of visitors all year round, and at times it can feel a little bit much, a little crowded even.

It's a small place, well the old central part of the village is pretty small, with some seriously picturesque little streets and picture perfect cottages.

I mean, just look at it.......isn't it charming? If you think it looks like something out of a film set, you wouldn't be far wrong. It's been used as a location setting for all sorts of productions, including the television adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small. Yes, Grassington is Darrowby, and now you can picture it even more if you know the James Herriot stories.

On our meander up the main street, I took a detour into this pretty courtyard to have a little browse around the Courtyard Pottery. This is where ceramicist David Ashby works, and I really love his ceramics - I've a lovely little pale yellow jug with blue hearts on it which I bought from here many years ago now. I had a quick chat to him as he took a break from his potters wheel, and admired his latest collection.

I do enjoy a leisurely pootle around a picturesque place. I love just absorbing the visuals and details of streets and nature, and a little nosy in small shop windows and peoples front gardens.

The drizzle continued and we ducked into a cosy café to have a coffee and a bite to eat. It's always a pleasure to have Little Lady out and about with us - I'm making the most of it because I have a feeling her life is about to sky-rocket in the not too distant future and she'll be busy-busy-busy.

We parked our car in the car park (with our new parking permit of course) right next to a huge oak tree which was absolutely covered in acorns. I picked up this weeny branch which had broken and fallen on the grass and decided to bring it home....

....awww, just look how sweet this little autumn posy is?! Eucalyptus and oak, a few dried grasses with some crocosmia seed stems, and one of the Billy Buttons taken from my big bouquet. Love it.

When I was in the Courtyard Pottery I was drawn to their greetings cards as they had a great selection of beautiful cards for sale. I picked out this one by printmaker Angie Lewin, I'm a huge long time fan of her work. This image is called "Pebble Shore" and instantly reminded me of the holiday we had in July, staying on stunning Holy Island in Northumberland. My goodness I love it up there, that whole coastline is absolutely wonderful. I have a huge stack of photos that I took during our summer week and I might see if I can put them together at some point to share with you, I think you'd like the visuals very much.

I'm planning to frame the card and hang it in my bedroom, a reminder of gentle summer holidays by the sea.

When we got home this afternoon I finished doing the laundry as I'd washed our bedding this morning and was eager to get it dried and back on the bed. I absolutely LoVe a clean-sheet-day, and right now I'm sat at my tiny desk in the corner of my bedroom and I can see my bed looking ridiculously inviting and cosy. I popped a little jug of flowers on my bedside table yesterday - these are just a few stems taken out of my large bouquet - and I think that small act of self-care goes a long way.

Before I go, can I just say ((thank you)) for all your lovely comments on yesterdays post, I'm happy that my witterings don't seem to bore you and you enjoy me sharing my ordinary days. If you haven't already, do read the comments at the end of yesterdays Blogtober post, it's just the loveliest thing to hear from you all, to find out where you are in the world and what you got up to on your Sunday (including what was on your dinner table, I loVED hearing all about your food!) I really enjoy our friendly Attic get togethers, thank you so much for popping in for a chat. See you tomorrow!

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Comments

[Jackie Farrow]

It’s a catch up blog day for me here in Perth Western Australia. Love, love, love everyday. Today especially, my favourite tree Oak and acorns. Thank you so much for sharing your days with us all. Seeing your photos is a joy as I think there nothing better than having a walk around the English villages and Country side. Don’t get me wrong love home here in WA but walks here aren’t the same. Anyway, need my second coffee and will sit and read some more of your blog days before housework. Jx

[Melissa]

Lucy I am reading your blog from Australia and I just love love how you take us out and about on your walks. You live in such a gorgeous part of the world and I love following you around! The flora and villages are wonderful to see, thank you so much for sharing with us...it is definitely not boring. Love all of it! You have inspired me to put posies in little jugs! Thank you.

[Kate Buckley]

What I love about your daily blogs is that they make me appreciate all the small things that make a good day - clean sheets, a posy of flowers, coffee with a friend. It's so easy to take these things for granted and we really shouldn't.

[DOMINIQUE]

Thank you so much for your posts. It is so interesting and enjoyable to read you. I wish you would blog every day all year round.

[Debbie McKinniss]

I've enjoyed your blog for a few years now and never tire of your daily wanderings, visits to coffee shops, and work in your wonderful attic. Your home is charming. I've visited England several times and loved each trip. I'm in USA--New England. Center of Connecticut. Our house is 2 hrs. from New York City and 2 hrs. from Boston. Our small town is home now (after 37 years) but not nearly as charming as where you are!

[Lynn C. (NJ)]

Thank you so much for the peek into your daily life. I haven't been to your part of England so far but I feel like reading your blog is research for a good trip. :)
I crochet in a limited way but I'm finding hard to resist making one of your blankets. They are beautiful.

[Katherine Brown]

Lucy, I so love your blogs. I check almost daily to make sure I don't miss one. Also just started viewing "All Creatures Great and Small" on Amazon this weekend and thought Grassington looked familiar. I'm so jealous of your wanderings through that lovely village.
Take care of yourself, you have lots of fans all over the world, this one is from Charlotte, North Carolina in the US.

[Beverley]

Grassington looks a lovely place to visit. We are planning a visit to Yorkshire at the end of October and although we probably won't fit it in this time, we will definitely add it to our places to visit in the future.

[Louise]

All these little villages are just beautiful! By the way I'm a jug addict and love the little blue one on your bedside table. Exquisite!

[Jacqui]

Oooh that looks beautiful! Just started watching all creatures great and small on tv carchup.
So pretty there we still havent travelled up there but must try next year (cant leave kittens)

[Gillian]

I really enjoyed reading this blog post over a morning cuppa and the photos are beautiful. Grassington is WOW. We love Northumberland coastline also and the wonderful Holy Island. Such a magical and peaceful place. Take care Lucy. Lots of love xxx

[Kerry O'Keeffe]

I am absolutely loving your blog and all the glorious photos.Yesterday, I even told my mum how great it is and for her to read it, I am in Essex as children myself and my brother had many family holidays in Yorkshire with hikes across the Dales and the Moors. Grassington is definitely familar to me and the falls,they also reminded me of seeing Asgarth Falls among others.

I am busy working on my second Yuletide blanket and have the Springfrost to do and absolutely love the Starbright one. Thank you Lucy for such beautiful projects and for getting me crocheting! xxx

[Lynne]

I love reading about your walks in your beautiful part of the world!
We had a belated Father’s Day dinner at a very swish restaurant over looking the Sydney opera house! We shared a Tommy hawk steak!

[Elizabeth]

I've listened to all the unabridged James Herriot books I have been able to get my hands on. I just love them. I've also seen some of the BBC series, and enjoyed that, too. But nothing has brought the Dales as much to life for me as your pictures. It is just beautiful! Mr. Herriot often said how lucky he was to live and work there, and how happy he was there. I can certainly see why. I've always been curious about a location he describes, perhaps you would know? In one of his books, he mentions that when Calum Buchanan marries Deidre, they slip away to an ancient church, a wild and beautiful ruin. Mind you, I have only heard the word, so I am probably massacring the spelling, but I think he calls it "Keela." I have always wanted to see pictures of that church. Do you have any idea which it is? It sounds so beautiful and it has captivated my imagination. Added to that, as far as I can tell, my family came from Yorkshire all those centuries ago before they crossed the Atlantic to colonize North America. I believe that England holds a special place in many people's hearts because it is their ancestral home, even though they have never, and probably will never, visit it.

What a delightful day you had. All-in-all, a very nice Monday indeed. Beats driving into the city to sit at a desk in front of a computer all day!

Glad to hear you are on the mend; sorry about Little Lady -- isn't that always the way? Someone in the family just getting better as someone else is falling victim. Take care of yourselves.

[Tammy]

Thank you so much for sharing your life and pictures! I so love reading your posts :)

[Heather]

I'm in northern Canada and I absolutely Love your photos and comments. Your part of the world is so lovely and different from my wide open farming community. It's Thanksgiving weekend here and I've added your blog on my list of things I'm thankful for.

[Danielle Di Pietro]

How beautiful! Your travels are amazing with all the gorgeous scenery and Grassington Village? Wow. The building right on the water. I'm not sure if those are homes right on the water but I could only imagine having the windows open and listening to the river. Thank you for sharing the scenic travels. I need to invest in a passport. Have a wonderful day.

[Jenny]

Aarghhh - seeing Grassington (and indeed anything from the Dales) tugs my heartstrings soooo much…. I’m an Aussie, back in Melbourne now after nearly 17 years living, loving, hiking, horse riding and working in Yorkshire.
I will always miss those sweeping green and purple views, villages, pubs, down-to-earth people, fruit cake and Wensleydale, and all the history (York!!)…. I would love love love to return and live there again…maybe one day…

[Em]

I really enjoy your blog Lucy of your day-to-day life. I am in Australia and love watching your seasons change the other way :-) I did live in the UK for a bit and miss it dearly. My eldest turns 20 tomorrow so we are having her favourite salmon marinated in miso and soy baked on sweet potato and brocolini. Thank you for bringing joy to my days xxoo

[Brandy]

Lucy, I just LOVE your blog and I have just ordered my very first yarn pack of yours — I’m a bit of a beginner but I want to teach myself to make all of your beautiful blankets! I was wondering if the out of stock packs ever come back in stock from Wool Warehouse or once they sell out, are they gone for good?

[Debbie]

I am also a hUgE Angie Lewin fan and have a couple of her linocuts which never cease to bring me joy!

[Lauren]

What a great day you had in such a beautiful area. We were there in May and wandered the same paths. It seems a long time ago now as we are now well and truly back home enjoying our Australian landscape which is beautiful in another way. It’s always good to get out and about and it shows you often don’t have to travel very for revitalisation. xx

[Rosana]

Sensacional!!!

[Hilary]

Looks like you had a lovely day in Grassington and at Linten falls. We were there last week for a few days and took similar photos of the falls. Such a beautiful place and a lovely if rather wet walk to Hebden. Nature at its finest.

[Carolyn wood]

I love that card too as I love the sea and shore!