I am not sure where the time keeps disappearing lately but thought I better have a bit of a catch-up on my blog and also read some of my favourite blogs out there - I do apologise that I have been slow to respond with comments but will try and make amends today in an attempt to get back onto an even keel.
Well, what have I been up to over the last week or so? Mainly working, walking and crocheting but before I get to that I promised that I would keep you up-to-date on whether I managed to lose that vital 1 lb to get that longed for 4.5 stone award. I am pleased to say that I did reach that goal and received by certificate. Onwards and downwards now to get to 5 stone.
As my regular readers will know I am attempting to crochet several charity blankets this year and last week I completed a special one which I am donating to raise money for Ronald McDonald House in Southampton - a home run completely on charity donations where relatives of seriously ill people can stay to be close to the hospital where their loved ones are receiving treatment. This cause is very dear to an old school friend of mine and she is organising a fund raising event for this very worthwhile cause so I hope this blanket will go a small way towards helping her in her aim.
I did show you a few photos of thatched cottages on my last Five On Friday post from a walk we recently made around the village of Longparish. However I did take several other photos so thought I would show you some now. The walk was a new one for us called the Forton Loop. We were so lucky that we chose to do this walk on a perfect sunny Spring day which greatly added to the pleasure of walking in such a beautiful location.
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| The start of the walk takes you through a lychgate before walking through the Churchyard ... |
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| to the second lychgate which was apparently provided to rest coffins from the hamlet of Forton |
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| before glancing back to the pretty Church. |
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| On through the meadow with views of Middleton House in the distance ... |
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| before reaching the pretty hamlet of Forton with its chocolate box thatched cottages and seeing this delightful horse and cart. |
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| This was our least favourite part of the walk, the footpath takes you straight across the middle of a ploughed field, luckily it had been dry but not something I would like to undertake in wetter conditions. |
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| The footpath then leads up onto a common |
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| and along an area known as Cutty Brow. |
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| Couldn't resist taking a photo of this teasel. |
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| We have almost reached the Middleway where a group of beeches are a stunning sight |
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| Now that is what I call a woodpile .... |
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| Walking through the beech trees |
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| before admiring the far-reaching views from the Middleway. |
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| We then turn off the road again ... |
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| and cross the old Sprat and Winkle railway line (long since gone) ... |
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| and follow the Broadney path back to Longparish. |
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| The birds enjoying the 'pickings' from a newly ploughed field. |
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| Spotting a Comma - our first butterfly of the year! |
Good Friday dawned another bright sunny and warm day - time for another walk, our first walk of the year where I didn't need to wear a coat. This time we were accompanied by our eldest son and chose an old favourite - the Riverdance Walk - again around the village of Longparish. I have shown you photos from this walk before but this time I have tried to choose some different views for you.
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| Pointing the way ... |
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| Daffodils growing by the little stream - love the reflections in the water |
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| A stunning oak tree, it won't be long before it greens up. |
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| Another delightful chocolate box cottage. |
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| Lots of people out walking on such a lovely day. |
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| Celandines - Spring is here! |
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| Don't know if sheep sitting down means the same as when you see cows sitting down but next day the weather was horrendous - how can two days be so different? |
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| Longparish House sat in stunning park land. |
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| On this walk you criss-cross the river many times. |
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| Upper Mill |
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| My son crossing one of the many bridges after walking through the water meadows. |
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| Another view of the River Test. |
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| View from Lower Mill towards the weir |
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| Passing the entrance to the trout farm (on the homeward straight now)! |
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| Looked up and spotted these unusual chimneys. |
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| Our last crossing of the Test - love the sunlight reflecting on the water |
We are incredibly lucky to have so many lovely places to walk in our part of the world, I am hoping we can keep fit and active so that we can try out many new walks and enjoy our old favourites for a long time to come.
I will try not to leave it so long before posting again, over Easter we have had torrential rain and heavy winds - not really conducive to getting out and about in the countryside so I have been busy working on another charity blanket which I will show you next time.
