R E L A X

People say to me you need to RELAX, it's an easy word to say isn't it?  Everything will be fine, just relax.  For me to do this I need TIME, a luxury that I just don't have, but when I become snappy, over tired and feel as though my knuckles are dragging behind me as I walk, it's time to book time off and...

R E L A X

A week booked off after an exhausting time and deciding what to do sends my mind into a whirl.  With older teenagers that blissfully do not need me hanging around while they're both doing their own things, I have the luxury of having my own time off.  No offspring to entertain, just selfish me!

Long walks, catching up with old and new friends (bang goes the diet!) and retail therapy.  Things that make me happy along with planning to see historical buildings at the beginning of next month with incredible company.

Reading, photography, my pace.

Crossing bridges in my mind, some scary with no safety net.

This new found time in my life sees a new chapter, I was that feather in the wind that settled down and created a nest and now I'm rewarded with time that I can enjoy.

Don't get me wrong, I am a mother first and foremost and that will be my priority throughout my life, but I get reminded that "oh you have a BIG birthday coming up" again and again and then met with surprise when I say that I am REALLY looking forward to it.  Life is to be embraced no matter how young or old, we have one life and that should be full of colour, humour, positivity and company of people we really care for with the same outlook.

Yes life's not perfect, it can sting at times, but since the New Year I made a decision that from then, no matter what comes my way, I will embrace it, look at things as I always do, positively and with humour.  I am who I am, I will not change, not now.  

And so, this week I'm RELAXING, doing what I want to do, selfishly, happily, no stress.  Surrounded by positive people. laughter and things I enjoy.  I think I've earned it!  I'm also taking a mini blog break for a couple of weeks and come back with a few more trips.  Trips that are going to fill my mind with history, photography, humour, knowledge.  PERFECT!

Until then, have a wonderful Easter break along with capturing the growth of Spring or the onset of Autumn wherever you are in the world.

And remember...

R E L A X

Capture and Share #26 - Raiding the Hedgerows

Walking along the black and red jewels scream out to me "JaM... cRuMbLe... SaUcE!!".  I LOVE this time of year!

Capture and Share #17 - Autumn Wings

On our regular woodland walk it was so satisfying to see so many of these beautiful winged sycamore seeds just waiting for that gust of wind to enable them to fly.

Capture and Share #16 - Smile!

The gorgeous bull (on the opposite side of the river) was more than happy to oblige smiling for the camera!

Capture and Share #10 - Keep Away from the Mud

The beautiful, lovely and sweet Tia on a more gravelly path on the Fen.  The mud is at epic proportions after the sugarbeet harvest so, step away from the muddy paths Tia, step away!  (As you can see, the ears and paws have already been exploring that muddy gorgeousness!)

The Indian Summer

Isn't a jewelled web a thing of beauty? (Even though the creator isn't in my eyes).  A similar photo was taken last year in November (here), but on a much colder and foggier morning.  I was so pleased that the hot humid air was lifting after experiencing the hottest September days that anyone could remember.  Standing here under an acorn tree on a telling misty morning, I knew the heat would come again later on today but I would be savouring every moment of the coolness while I could.

Summer has been been wrapping itself around my beloved love of Autumnal September and I think it's time for the wire cutters to let Autumn have its glory (well, in my eyes anyway!).

On the hottest day I took myself down to the river to catch any cool air I could.  I was happily rewarded with the sound of birds, lapping water licking at the banks and drying grasses rustling around me.

The rickety bench that someone had placed voluntarily at one clearing had been replaced with a more hand made version.  Clearly there for long term use, and for those who just wanted to sit awhile to do exactly what I was doing right now.

The heat was intense and the white brush strokes in the blue sky showed that this heat was going to get harder to deal with even with the breeze making the changing leaves dance above me.

Occasionally the thump of wing on water broke the symphony around me.  A feathered friend cooling its body while taking a dip in the water.

Seed heads still clinging on, waiting for that extra special gust of wind to carry them away to their permanent home.

Some seed heads providing short respite to the summer bugs.

In the distance my favourite tree was providing welcome shade for anything that cared to sit beneath it now that the harvest had been brought in, but this was a fair walk away and one that I needed to be near as the heat was getting more and more intense.

How I wanted to to just dip into that Fenland Drain, but it was time to be sensible and get into a cooked car to get home for a cool shower and plenty of water!

Summer, it's time to go and sleep until next year!  Please let Autumn have its dance and showcase the colours that you have carefully put in place.

The good news for this Autumn loving blogger is that the heat is dissipating from this evening and into the weekend.  My Autumn clean up in the house can continue, sleep can be caught up on without trying to keep cool and breathing will be easier.  THANK GOODNESS!

So, without further ado and with the hope of a happy and less oppressive weekend, I bid you a wonderful Friday and a fantastic weekend ahead!  Thank you so much for your comments, emails and Instagram messages, I really do appreciate the time you take to make contact.  I feel a weekend of catching up with everyone coming on!

A Smell So Sweet!

I’m sorry I couldn’t resist the header!  Seeing the portaloo in the middle of one of the fields of gladioli just had to be captured.  

What a place to be powdering your nose!

I know I keep posting photos of the Fens around my way lately, but any spare time I have has been routinely spent taking little Tia out to enjoy her new found freedom and socialising with other dogs and people in an open and safe environment.  Every evening is gloriously different.  The sunsets now begin as we walk along, different colours and cloud formations make patterns in the skies above us.  A sure sign that the official Autumn season is only a week away.  (Then the quick walk back when we realise the sun really has gone down!)

I haven’t written about Tia’s progress for a while (apart from her Facebook page) but Tia's confidence has grown in literally leaps and bounds! along with her beautiful golden fur (and her cheekiness).  In the car she jumps in, waits patiently for her restraint to be fitted, window down and her ears and jowels dance in the air as we drive down to the Fen to try out all the different public footpaths.  She spots the tiny turning onto the track and the barking starts!

We are now at the stage that she will choose which way she wants to go and we follow.  She also has made little furry canine friends and they run along together off lead and enjoy every moment.  It's surprising how many spaniel type dogs walk at the same time and to see her exploring without a care in the world is such a joy.  This evening she spotted five of them in the distance and off she ran, enough to say, "wait, I'm here, don't leave".  Luckily the lovely owners know she is deaf and laughed at her running towards them with us shouting "stop that dog!" (don't worry, we are not too close to the roads on this fen!).

Instead of the pitying looks at the beginning when we nervously first took her on lead with her shorn look, tail between her legs and not knowing what to do to please, we now have comments of ‘she is really coming along’, ‘she looks so much happier’, ‘look at her fur!’.  She has had her mishaps along the way, some serious (we won’t mention the hamster… RIP Felix), but with rescues you can’t be absolutely certain of their past.  However, the rewards are stunning.

My two teens now talk to each other as they walk ahead.  To hear them laughing and playing with Tia as she catches up with them is a heart filled moment.

Watching sunsets in the distance and listening to the birds give out their evening symphony, uninterrupted by any other noise.

Watching the ever changing Lincolnshire skies reflected on the water.

Sitting amongst the grass and watching the fauna dance around us in the evening sun.

Waving to a canal boat as it meanders its way through to Spalding – such a delicious surprise to me… and Tia!  Everyone on board cooing ‘look at that lovely little dog!’ – so proud I could burst.

This walk has been perfect for Tia and for us, knowing that she is safe along the footpaths and bridalways that are drawn through the fields while we talk, laugh and capture the ever changing landscape.

It won’t be long before these walks will have to be at the weekends due to the night’s drawing in, but I am personally looking forward to those days when I can make up a hot picnic lunch for me and Tia and sit on the blanket under one of these trees looking out at the sunset all snuggled up with a flask of hot tea.

So in the three months that we have now had Tia she has become a happy healthy little dog, full of life and mischief – but still snores terribly! 

I’ll end with a before and after of Tia, the inserted photo was after she had been rescued and was with her lovely foster family.  Amazing what three months can do!

Have a wonderful weekend taking in all the changes that the season is now offering.

 

Me, Mr Teen and Tia

      

This week I am sharing with:

Sundays Down Under