The other day I picked up my camera and headed off for a walk around the village - something I haven't done for a while, due to all manner of things that have interrupted my daily rituals.
The Linden trees are in blossom; this one overhangs the pavement and smells so sweet - attracting hordes of bees and literally buzzing with life.
In July the verges alongside the road become a tangled mess of grasses that are in need of cutting; most of the wild flowers are over, except for a patch of moon daisies I found that have escaped from a nearby garden.
I have missed taking this walk every day; it helps me feel connected to the countryside and the seasons; become more conscious of the weather; the flowers; the crops and the animals in the fields.
I can spy over hedgerows and fences and see my fellow villagers' gardens; all the things that make this such a pretty village.
And when I arrive home and see my front garden, I once again remember just how lucky I am to live here in such beautiful surroundings.
Look on yonder earth:
The golden harvests spring, the unfailing sun
Sheds light and life; the fruits, the flowers, the trees,
Arise in due succession; all things speak
Peace, harmony, and love. The universe,
In nature's silent eloquence, declares
That all fulfil the works of love and joy, -
All but the outcast man.
Nature and Man
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Elaine
p.s. I woke this morning at 4.45 a.m. noticed a red glow through the curtains, and witnessed a glorious sunrise. I reached for the camera, took a photo, and promptly went back to sleep, waking again at 9.00 a.m. - half the morning gone!
What a delightful walk and lovely village - thanks for sharing. It is quite good to sleep in once in a while.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan. I rarely sleep in, so this took me by surprise - and I have to say I didn't actually feel any better after a couple of hours extra sleep - maybe I should have got up there and then and gone out for an very early morning walk :)
DeleteIt does seem to be a lovely place to live.
ReplyDeleteWhen you have lived somewhere for almost thirty years you find it hard to imagine living anywhere else and not a day goes by that I am not thankful for living here.
DeleteBeautiful garden. Beautiful village. Beautiful sunrise. What a lovely place for a walk.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susie and thanks for stopping by.
DeleteSuch a lovely place you live.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you would love it Sarah, although maybe the soft, cushiony surroundings are a little tame for you - I know you love wild places.
DeleteIt's all so gorgeous Elaine. I think a little bit of heaven there. Loved those daisies and I do think I saw my Gracie and Brownie in that field. Glad things are back to normal for you. In the last three days we've had a terrible storm in this part of the state and then Nice and now Turkey. It is a comfort to see where you live - home.
ReplyDeleteDear Donna - thank you. Sorry to hear about your storm, hope everyone and everything is OK. It is a comfort to know that we are relatively safe here in the country - the world news is pretty devastating.
DeleteYou are indeed lucky to live in such a beautiful place. It has everything you want an English village to have.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pretty small hamlet really , at one time it was more of a bustling place with all manner of shops, a post office etc. Now all we have left is a pub and a church, like most other small villages I expect.
DeleteWhat a lovely walk you took me on in the countryside! I miss it so much living in the town! What a beautiful garden you have and the village looks so charming. Those pink roses cascading over the brick wall are simply gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI am sure living in a town has its merits Sandra but I have got rather used to the country living now but I am sure I would adapt should the need arise.
DeleteA most enjoyable post and lovely pictures. You are indeed lucky to have that walk and those beautiful surroundings, and to appreciate them as you do. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Flighty - you are so right, I really do appreciate my beautiful surroundings which I hope I convey in my blog posts.
DeleteThat is a glorious sky and worth getting up for. Your walk looks so lovely and the village you live in so pretty. The flower border in front of your home looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI usually miss sunrise whilst I am slumbering but I find when I do manage to see one that they are often nowhere near as spectacular as winter sunrise - not sure why that is.
DeleteI needed that, a calm, gentle blog post with gorgeous pictures. Peace, harmony, and love. Oh, how we wish.
ReplyDeleteI do so agree - glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteLovely photographs, you have spurred me on to do the same here in our village. And we need to celebrate peace, harmony and love more than ever at the moment, Jane x
ReplyDeleteThank you. It is always interesting to see where other people live, and doing a post like this teaches you to be more observant of your surroundings :)
DeleteAh, the lovely red brick houses and walls of Leicestershire - a very nostalgic village walk today. The serenity of the countryside which I left behind 30 years ago when I moved to Cornwall. No regrets, but I do miss the typical Leicestershire sights - the red bricks, fields with hares and big skies; village greens, Yellowhammers, Bedlington Terriers (never seen one in all the 30 years I've been here!), electric milk floats and Midland Red buses.
ReplyDeleteI lot of the things you remember Rosie have disappeared - they call it progress :(
DeleteOn my last visit to Leicester (the city) I was amazed and shocked at how it had changed so completely. But about 8 years ago, I needed to be near to my family and lived for several months in Sproxton, near Melton Mowbray. A beautiful little hamlet where I was able to refresh my memory of the fields with lots of hares as I walked with my dog along the many footpaths. I'm a country lover, like you, and have no wish for so-called progress.
DeleteThanks for sharing those beautiful photos with us Elaine. Your walk must be a tonic for the soul.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pleasant walk Anna, it only takes about half an hour but there is always something different to see if you keep your eyes open :)
DeleteHello Elaine, I have just mentioned in a comment on Rachel's blog that I would come and look at yours, because I need a new blog to read, as several of my " posters" have given up for a while. I love your photos, and your garden looks fab! I was born in Leicester, and lived there til I was 29, when I got married and moved away. Firstly to Morpeth for 4 years, and now been in Harpenden for about 37 years. Do you see the " Born and Raised in Leicester" page on Facebook ? I love it…..great reminders of the city I should call my home. Which village do you live in?
ReplyDeleteHello Frances
DeleteThanks for dropping in. I live in a small village called Mowsley in South Leics. not far from Kibworth and Market Harborough - we moved to Leicester in the early 60's. I will check out the FB page which will probably bring back some of the very happy memories I have of life as a teenager and all the places in town that have now disappeared.
Just looked up where Mowsley is…..when the parents were alive…..2/4 years ago, we always came off the M1 at J20 and came through N. Kilworth/Wigston, as they lived in the Evington area. My cousin lives in Kilby, husband's cousin in Willoughby, and SIL lived in Fleckney many years ago, but I only really know the road through. Did you actually ever live in Leicester? I lived off Abbey Lane til I was 14 and then we moved to KIngsway Rd.
DeleteFleckney is the next village along from ours. No I never lived in Leicester, I spent my teenage years living in Glenfield which is north of Leicester but I am familiar with the Abbey Lane area. Of course all my early jobs were in Leicester, lee circle, Charles street, and also Fenwicks, the dept. Store in Market Street.
DeleteAs I sit on this Sunday afternoon with cuppa by my side and looking at your lovely photo's ... I think how fortunate we are to live in such a beautiful country.
ReplyDeleteThe UK does have so many wonderful places.
Enjoy the remainder of your weekend and have a good week next week!
All the best Jan
Aren't we just. It is a lovely day here - like you I have been sitting outside reading (too hot to do any work) well that's my excuse anyway. You have a good week too Jan.
DeleteJust flew in from Rachel's blog. Beautiful photos - makes me feel a bit homesick for the English summertime.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue
DeleteNice to see you here. On a gorgeous day like today you can't beat it :)
It sounds and looks like a lovely place to walk and take the details to heart! Such a pretty morning!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by - yes, it is a delight to walk around the village at any time of year, but especially during spring and summer, with so much to catch your eye.
DeleteDear Elaine,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful village you live in. I love the street with the thatched roof, and the beautiful green fields..
Arriving back at your beautiful home.. your garden is stunning.. a lovely entrance to your home.. xxx val
Dear Val
DeleteYes it is a nice place to live. The thatched cottage is one of only two in the village and was recently re-thatched, it took weeks and weeks but the result is wonderful isn't it.
Dear Elaine I think you must live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The sunrise was the icing on the cake so to speak! Hope you have a delightful week. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie - yes it is lovely but nowhere near the most beautiful :). However, it suits me fine. Have a lovely week
DeleteThat is one gorgeous village! I did enjoy the peek into all those front gardens. Glad you are back to taking your daily walk, I'm not surprised you missed it. That sunrise was certainly worth waking up for, 9am and half the morning gone....gosh you are an early bird! I'm more of a night owl. I loved the picture of the moon daisies!xxx
ReplyDeleteLuckily there are some lovely gardens to look at and all the open countryside as well I do enjoy my strolls, although they have been lacking lately, there are some nice say lanes too, just the job during this little heatwave we are having at the moment. Yes, I wake early but it takes me ages to 'come round, I am ready for bed at 8 and start yawning until I go to bed at 10.
DeleteElaine, I'd love to take a stroll around your lovely village. Such beauty.
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn't take you long Barb but with your stamina you would be able to take in all the nearby villages as well.
DeleteWhat a glorious place you call home, it's heavenly and your photographs and lovely. Great poem too - stole it for my journal. Namaste Cx
ReplyDeleteThank you Carrie - nice of you to stop by. I think the poem is very apt at the moment. Take care.
DeleteSo very nice for you to get back into your routine. I rather enjoy your walks. I love the village where you live, and I always enjoy seeing the farm animals in your photos. I do tend to put a lot into one blog post, don't I. Sometimes I just don't know where to end. Probably ought to post more than once a week. Enjoyed a word from Shelly, too.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is nice to get back to normal after all those months of upheaval. Glad you enjoyed a walk around the village, nice to have you with me :)
DeleteA beautiful walk!
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely day for it .
DeleteOh, thank you for letting me tag along on your walk, I enjoyed that! I haven’t been to your blog for a while – too many blogs to visit, not enough time, and too many things happening – but I am glad I turned up for a visit today :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Helene
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