Frosty Mornings and A Fractured Mind

I love my city best in early mornings, the peaceful nature of it all just waking up to start the day. Sunlight glinting from the old buildings windows, and catching the newer installations.

 However I feel Winter has gone on long enough, my body is crying out for real sunshine, warmth and vitamin D. We'll all full of colds in our house, and Lucas does not deal well with illness(I feel sorry for his future partner) which means 1am wake up calls and exhaustion in the household.

 

 It leaves me with my usually over filled brain feeling feeling fractured and unconnected, hazy and without merit(a bit like these pictures). 

Forgetting dinner money, and meal planning; homework and cleaning;birthdays and gifts; and all the other Mum things that fill my head

 I find the half hour to myself before work most peaceful and yet most head filling, sitting in a favourite spot(anyone from Carlisle should know it) where you can hear the whole city and nature next to one another. I go through my day trying to put it in order but simply remembering more that I have planned or have forgotten.

 I feel we still have a long road ahead before we feel true Spring, and lucky for me I have a sunny holiday planned in the next few weeks. I hope to return from it restored and whole, mind working to it's true capacity.; instead of the hibernating lump it is now. 

Blurry Wanderings and a World Waking Up

January is a time for waking up, after the tinsel and baubles are put away the job off getting on with the rest of the year happens. Resolutions are made, goals are set people start making their plans.

 For me it's a lovely slow time of year, everything seams to go a little slower, such as walking to work after dropping Lucas off at nursery (he was very excited to be back). There's no Christmas shopping to fit in, no jobs to do just time to relax and look around my city as it began it's day.

 I love where I live it has such beauty everywhere you look, and I didn't go 5 minutes from the city centre. The parks just outside are beautiful, but I'll save them for another day.

Take time to have a look around your home town this month, I'll be taking a lot more pictures of mine.

The Last Day of Summer

 So I was going to post a lovely shot of our town on the last day of Summer, but like the majority of Summer it was pouring down.  

So instead I thought I post some pictures of our lovely trip to Allonby Beach instead.

The children were grumpy, and bored as the evening became warm; and when Daddy came home from work we bundled them into the car for an adventure.

With shells to find, rocks to balance and the wind in our hair we enjoyed just being.

I hope you enjoyed your Summer 2012.

Amanda.x.

Darling Fell

Well as you can tell this wasn't today, earlier in the week we took the kids to The Lakes. Our plan was to climb Darling Fell which looked easy enough for them, or at least did on paper.
They enjoyed being out in sunshine and Summer clothes for a change.

This is Darling Fell, it's very close to Loweswater a tranquil little place which gets missed for the bigger Lakes. As tourists skim this area there's not as much parking, mostly National Trust ones dotted round.
We found one on the side of the road which led up to the fell next to Darling and the fields below.

Has you can see it turned out to be a wonderful, bright day.  Costs can stack up for days out during the holidays so walks around the local countryside are great as they're free.  We took a picnic which I think is always fun, the kids love eating out as it gives them the freedom to run around in between courses.
We always express the importance of taking everything back with that we came with, and not litter the Fells.

I think walks in the countryside lead to valuable learning opportunities, animals eating litter, farming, how to climb a sty, names of Fells and Lakes, sheep's wool, types of trees and probably a hundred other topics were touched on.
In the end we didn't make it to the top of Darling fell as the path was unmarked that way and the route to the top of the a joining fell was to steep and wild with thistle and bracken for the children(and me). We still had a great trek out.

This is Lucas climbing his first sty all on his own.

Have you been on any great country walks this year. Feel free to post your blog links in the comments below for everyone to see.
Love Amanda.x.

Watchtree- Summer

Watchtree is our local nature reserve this I've previously spoke about here, so I'll not go into how amazing the place is again but just show you some lovely photographs from out latest walk here from a week ago.

I love foxgloves, the hues of colour always in-trance me, more sun when a rare blast of sunlight shines through them.

They were shooting up everywhere in the woodland area, a shot of colour amongst so much green. Although the Summer has been a let down for us it looks like the trees and shrubbery(love that word).
It was sad to see walking round at the nest notes (little messages left by staff about nearby nests) that a lot were washed out by the rains. 

For a frugal day out with family this is amazing, it costs nothing to go in the reserve but donations are welcome and well deserved. You an take a picnic but there is a cafe onsite at various time. They do various talks, special walks and nature investigation sessions, check out their website for further details.

Even though this Summer day was overcast and we had 2 very noisy smalls with us I managed to spot a Hare, Dragonfly, various lovely birds and a group of dear running off into the woods.
I love the meadow setting left free to go wild under the whoosh,whoosh of the wind turbines; showing that even if people don't want to live near them nature isn't so fussy.

You'd not know it was Summer around here but we're not letting that stop us, Lucas loves this place as we can run round like a mad thing, although that doesn't help when looking for wildlife. 

When out on day trips lately we seem to pack for every weather prospect, I think our car boot contains coats, wellies, hats, macs, shorts,t-shirts and suncream.

It's always best to be prepared.

I hope you're finding lots of lovely activities to do during the holidays. Feel free to link your posts about them in the comments section below.

Love Amanda.x.

Wonderful Soggy Walk

On Wednesday Stu and I had the joy of a child free few hours together, and headed of to Keswick for the day.  Stu picked a scenic route from Keswick Lakeside to Castlerigg stone circle. We set out after enjoying a scrummy breakfast at Pumkin bistro, the rain had eased and the sky had bits of blue in it. 

However it soon clouded again, and out scenic route took a soggy meander through a steep woodland track, across a field, a road, another field, another wood, farm(where a bloke stuck his head out of a caravan to say we were going the wrong way) 

  another steep woodland path, over a bridge, through several fields full of lambs over another road, down a tiny road over a wall and finally....we found the stone circle. However by this point the rain was torrential, we were aching and cold and couldn't rise taking out the fancy camera for photographs.  

 We headed back to Keswick a much less scenic but more direct route, to warm us up we stopped by the lovely Temporary Measure. It's a shop that needs sought out, I've long seen followed Emma through craft fairs, then on twitter, then her blog and was so inspired in her shop...oh one day, one day.

 She's a lover of liberty, rabbits, yarn, buttons, bears and tea this girl can do no wrong. She was gracious even when a hasty bag turn resulted in taking half her canvases from the wall, thankful Stu has a stealth catching style, probably from being married to such a clutz as me.

 Every available wall space, nook crany and shelf was filled with beautifully designed bags, books and canvases. I couldn't resist buying Maisie a copy of Once Upon A Time When I Was A Rabbit. 

 The drawings are vintage beauty, something you don't see these days in modern children's books.  I already have my eye on Once Upon A Time When I Was A Bear for Lucas' birthday. 

 Bunting and bunnies everywhere, it certainly cheered me up on such a grim day. 

I love these old suitcases for stock, the yarn arranged so perfectly and baby booties to make your heart melt.  I'm surprised Stu got me out the shop without bags full. 

All in all, although soggy, and with muscles aching I had a wonderful day out with Stu just having time to chat about nothing, hold hands and be still for awhile in a hectic world.  I can't wait for out next adventure.

Love Amanda.x.

Alnwick Castle

Alnwick Castle, Northumberland.

The second largest inhabited castle in England, it's been the home to the Percys, the Duke of Northumberland's family for 700 years. 

The castle featured as Hogwart's in the first 2 Harry Potter films. 

It now runs Harry Potter themed weekends for children, although lots of adults seemed to be enjoying them.  They have lots of different events all year round.

Maisie, Lucas and Daddy and Ben got to do some broomstick training with the castles resident wizards.

 Maisie was a natural, getting to fly and making her broom float no problem

There's a part of the castle called Dragons Quest which if you have nervous or young children you may want to check it our first before taking them through, it's very old style haunted house. 

There was so much to do in the grounds that we never got the chance to go round the main house inside.

 There was a magic show performed by Hagrid and Harry, but my 2 were too busy with the games arena. There was a chance to dress up, make ceramic tiles, make a wizards wand, fight a knight game and drawing your own shield. All the castle helpers were dressed in period dress and really seemed to enjoy their jobs. 

 We didn't get to visit Alnwick Gardens this time as we were shattered, but will definitely make a point of going next time. 

As a family of four it cost £36 pounds so it's not the cheapest entry fee, but that price does include an unlocked ticket which allows you unlimited return visits for a year. More information on prices for The Castle and Alnwick Gardens can be found here.

 This is one venue which will defiantly be a family favourite for years to come.

Amanda.x.