Monday 24 May 2010

Messing about on the river


I have been reliving my childhood over these last couple of weeks, doing with my children all those things that I remember spending long, idyllic summers doing. Paddling in rivers, bare feet on green mossy rocks, scrambling and slipping over stepping stones.


Even skinny dipping when we have got far enough off the beaten track. The water is clean and clear - icy cold as it tumbles down from the moor.


Magpie and Daisy love the water, although they become worried once I get in too!


We have walked barefoot through woods and spinneys, the children's shrieks of laughter scattering the wildlife well before we arrive, although yesterday, alone and silent, I watched deer, and a fox watched me as I inspected her den, while the elusive raven pair, often heard, but rarely spotted, swooped low over my head.




We have lain on our backs, looking up into the beech canopy as the sun makes the young leaves glow.


The fern fronds are unfurling through the bluebells, and in a week or two will have smothered the flowers. But for now the blue carpet is glorious!



It makes my heart sing to see these things, and to watch my children playing as I used to. We are so privileged to live amongst this, to be able to walk in woods and on moor, to play in the rivers and streams and bogs, to have all this beauty and wilderness on our doorsteps. We can't afford holidays, but who cares? This is just the best place to be!

17 comments:

Amanda said...

Lovely photos. I've travelled quite a bit and I still wholeheartedly believe nothing beats this beautiful island we live on.

Windsongs and Wordhoards said...

Beautiful, beautiful pictures, a truly fantastic place to live - I love the green wilderness!
I'm glad too that my two little ones are having the same country childhood that I had. There's been pondfuls of frogs and newts, secret leafy dens, pies made of earth, goosegrass and the leaves of wild herbs... you know the kind!

Valerianna said...

I'm COMPLETELY in agreement. I was just thinking this morning, while sipping coffee in the moss garden, hmmm, no money for a vacation, but, then again, people come HERE for such things!

And beautiful, mossy trees... lovely....

Rima Staines said...

We are lucky here aren't we :) so very.
Delightful post Danielle!
x

Clare Wassermann said...

My heart sings too - wonderful. I am looking forward to Cornwall next week. Nothing beats the south west in Spring

Unknown said...

Danielle...I am so envious of your paradise. Who needs holiday when you have all that beauty.

xoxoxo

A mermaid in the attic said...

Sigh...strange how your lovely post and gorgeous photos can make me homesick for a place I've only ever briefly visited, but spent most of my childhood daydreaming about!

Emerald Window said...

You live in such a beautiful and magical land. I've visited once, would live there if not for the fact that all of my family live here in the US.
Thank you for such stranquil and awesome photos.
Cenya

Kath said...

It must feel like you're on holiday every morning when you wake up.
Lovely photos, very atmospheric.

Karen said...

You can't beat the wild woods and the bluebells!
Beautiful pictures xx

Gail H. Ragsdale said...

Such beautiful picturess! I love the moss on the rocks in the river and the beautiful woods with the light shining through from above
!

Freyalyn said...

Such a wise thing, to know you are happy and lucky WHEN you are happy and lucky, not just in looking back. Lovely...

Velma Bolyard said...

lovely post, i especially love the final pic of the leopard appy looking out the stall, WHAT a stall door, too. nature and horses and the occasional skinny dip. what could be better?

Yarrow said...

Oh, I love these pictures so much. What an amazing place you live in, such a picture book of fairytale images :) I adore the picture of Red, he's such a handsome boy :)

Dartford Warbler said...

I found your blog for the first time today. You live in such a beautiful part of England and share my own love of the native ponies on our doorsteps.We have fewer foals in the New Forest this year, thanks to a responsible curb on breeding by the Commoners. I wonder how things are on Dartmoor and Exmoor this spring.

Carol Anne Strange said...

Such a wonderful post, Danielle, filled with nature's rich essence. What beauty we have on this fair isle. Bliss! xx

The Flying Dragon said...

ahhhhhhhhhhh, so beautiful, moss, rocks, sun-dappled streams, and ponies to top it off. I will save my pennies and plan a special time to slip away to your enchanted land.

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