Silent Sunday Sunny Saunter

so good to see the sea again

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Two Bloggers Go Walkabout

Here comes a RainbowJunkie

It is always exciting meeting someone from a train, but a fellow blogger – that’s very special! I was looking forward to our day and RJ seemed very happy to have arrived at my local station.

We went back to my house for a quick cuppa, and then onto the National Trust Car Park above Ringstead.Glorious!

We walked along the top, enjoying the views out to sea and far inland,  

and then turning downhill towards one of my favourite destinations, St. Catherine’s Chapel, a little wooden gem, which has featured in a couple of previous blog posts. Here, and here.

There is a fine view of the sea from the windows, and always pretty garden flowers to decorate the chapel.

Outside, in the graveyard, there are plenty of benches on which one can sit and enjoy the view

even when the sun goes behind the clouds.

Watercraft was buzzing about while we sat chatting about blogging and crochet, listening to the rhythm of the waves below.

 

 

Neither of us are particularly keen on having our photograph taken but we thought we would have a go at a selfie as part of the record of the day before heading back to the car for a 20 minute drive to Moreton Tea Rooms for lunch.

We sat in the gardens

both choosing the same dish from the menu – very British fare – Ham, Egg and Cheese on muffins

And can you see the beautiful gift RJ gave me! one of her fabulous Celtic pot stands. WOW!!!!! How lucky I am – it is GORGEOUS!!!!

After lunch we explored all that Moreton has to offer.

First a visit to Moreton Church, famous for its wonderful engraved windows by Laurence Whistler.

This church holds a special place in my heart as my son and daughter-in-law were married here, their two boys were christened here and one Christmas with her Dad playing the organ, my lovely daughter-in-law, 6 months pregnant with her first baby, in a pale blue robe, led the choir into the church singing a solo of the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City. It gives me happy goose bumps when I remember that magical occasion.

The floor is beautiful too

I see doodles, mandalas and crochet patterns

We went on for a short walk to the river, where there is a ford, a popular place for paddling on hot summer days. We visited the grave of T.E.Lawrence, or Lawrence of Arabia as he was called, then into

Moreton Walled Garden (photo taken earlier this summer) for a wander and a cup of tea before returning to the railway station, about a mile and a half away.

It was lovely to spend time with a fellow blogger and get to talk about our many mutual interests. I felt very lucky to be able to show Jane around my patch and on such a lovely day – not too hot and no rain – perfect! I hope you enjoyed coming along with us.

Cliffs and Bluebells

Continuing our bluebell walk in West Dorset …

we decided not to walk up to Thorncombe Beacon, but could see others enjoying the view

a perfect day for a paraglide

Click on any picture to see it larger.

We climbed the hill and over the stile

to see yet more spectacular views to the East towards Portland

and as we turned inland, Westerly views towards Devon

(Click on the link for other  good walking routes along the coast path.)

We took time to smell the blossom in the hedgerow, I think this is a wild plum

we must return in September to find out.

Through the gate, with a look over our shoulders at that glorious scene, saying farewell to the sea we continue

onward through more bluebell woods

to marvel at the way the light plays through the trees,

joining Cee’s Flower of the Day

and no matter how often I see it, my heart never fails to skip and dance when, standing in deep shade,  and spying a shaft of sunlight bathing a patch of bells in silver light

Magic all around us

A time to stop and breathe and notice how all the senses are tingling with pure joy, blessings counted, smiles exchanged between friends and for at least the hundredth time we say how lucky we are to live here……

 

Silent Sunday

Bluebell time

Last Sunday I met a couple of friends for a bluebell extravaganza of a walk!

The path took us through deep dark woods

Joining Cee’s Which Way Challenge

and lighter glades where the light was stunningly, beautifully, softly, frothily romantic

I took so many photographs, it has taken me all week to choose which ones to share( they certainly won’t all fit in one post).

We stopped at Down House Farm

and sat out in the garden

for a delicious lunch of Bubble and Squeak, eggs and bacon, all local produce and drank apple and ginger fruit punch

after that we headed out to the cliffs and wide open views towards Portland

 

Oh what a joyful day, the sun shone, the air was sweet, the sky was blue, our batteries were well and truly recharged …..

to be continued …………

 

Fence

caught my eye

in the fading light

treasure found

~

Our ‘One-a-Week’ Photo Challenge Prompt this week is FENCE

Ronovan’s Haiku Prompts are EYE and FADE

The mitten on the post must have been there a while as it was green with algae. Since starting to do beach cleans, I see all litter and dropped items in a new light. They are all potential art materials with a human back story. It did feel slightly weird taking it from it’s post, but I am pretty certain it’s owner is not likely to return for it. It will go with other found clothing I have and see what art work it might inspire.

The top of the fence post is a little world of its own

The photos were taken on a walk from Nine Wells towards Solva (Pembrokeshire) along the coastal path.

 

I was walking from the treehouse as the sun was going down.

There was no wind and I stood to watch the sunset before returning

to the cosiness of my nest in the trees.

What fences have you found this week?  Leave a link in the comments below, we’d love to see them.

Wednesday Walk-Along Beer to Branscombe 1

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Set off by walking past the Anchor Inn, near the beach, and up the hill past the allotments. What a place to garden!!! Look West, and then look behind you to the East. The panorama is breathtaking.A first glimpse of the red cliffs of Devon.(more pictures in the slideshow)Decide whether to walk the undercliff (too boggy at this time of year) or take the high ground to the old Coastguard’s lookout with a Buddha now keeping watch from the upper window – and here the Buddha’s viewand on across the top to Branscombe ……. (to see the continuation of this walk click here)

Melissa and I started a Renga when I was in Devon and although we did not carry it on -( life sometimes takes over – and we do it for fun – no pressure) I wanted to record what we wrote, cos I like it as it is! And it refers to this very walk.

Melissa starts with her Haiku Challenge and we alternate the verses from there, if anyone else would like to pick this up and run with it you are very welcome:

On rare occasions                                                                                                                  I imbibe much and suffer                                                                                           Harsh headaches always

Away on a weekend break                                                                                          White wine for me, no headache

Sulphite free that wine                                                                                                  Must be, grapes sent from heaven                                                                                  To you in Devon

Walking on air along cliffs                                                                                           Clear head and cobalt sea drifts

Fresh air is the best                                                                                                  Remedy for my sore head                                                                                          Sleep? No! Walk instead

(addition in green! Melissa wrote the above next verse …. ah! now to see if the next couplet comes to me)

I love to include walks from other blogs here too, so we can all wander round the world together: this week join a delightful family walk with Alisa Burke, in Oregon, USA I would skip for joy if you put a link to your walk in the ‘Comments’, and if you don’t have blog, send me some pictures by email with a few words about your walk and they will appear in the next Wednesday Walk-Along. 😉