Out

36 comments

Sometimes you just need to take the bull by the horns and go for it. I guess that’s why so many people have the childhood memory of sitting on a seafront promenade, eating soaked fish and chips in the rain. Hood up. As they look out over the sea, they promise themselves that they will never ever put their own children through the experience. (But of course they do. We all do.)

Life cannot be put on hold just because the weather’s not ideal. We’d never get anything done.

This week has been wet and windy, with a splattering of sunshine for us, but when I look back, we’ve spent more time out than inside feeling sorry for ourselves.

We went to the Bath and West show, which everyone enjoyed. There was a short burst of rain, but on the whole, we were lucky.

Seeking more time outside, at home we put up our garden shelter and had a fabulous evening sitting out and toasting marshmallows over the fire bowl. There is nothing more wonderful than being outside with my family in an evening. Joined by our resident bats swerving in their evening flight, to investigate what their mad humans are doing, this time. They are curious like creatures, and so wonderful.

The children put on a light show. It became a competition on who could make the clearest image. I captured a few on my camera by changing the ISO setting to 6400. No-one went to bed early. I think this may become a family favourite.

Unfortunately, the wind picked up the garden shelter, a few days later, and impaled it on our oak tree. It took the whole family to retrieve it. The oak tree won. I’m afraid we won’t be using the shelter again, but at least it’s no longer in the branches.

Sigh

There is no doubt, however, simple playthings are the best. I’m so impressed by how the children can have fun with the most basic of objects. Give a child a tree, a rope and a piece of wood and they will play for ages.

My parent’s dug out the tree swing when we visited and the children set it up. Taking turns to swing. Higher each time.

They really did have fun. It was quite a wrench to see them back in their uniforms on Monday and heading off to school. Although I did bring youngest back home again, when I realised that they had an Inset day. Oops! He tagged along for the day with me instead. We popped in to see my parents again, and he stayed with them while I went to the dentist, so the day was good. Apart from maybe the dentist part.

We’ve been out noting all the changes in our garden and local area. We took a detour on our morning dog walk, through a local meadow which was splattered with common spotted orchids, as far as you could see, and more wild flowers than I could identify. Photos taken and we’ll research them soon.

Back home in our wild areas in the garden, it was noticeable how the the insects started buzzing as soon as the rain stopped. Waiting at the bottom of the stalks and under leaves to avoid the raindrops. There was a cloud of blue damsel flies triggered by the sun coming out.

These bugs are new to me, but are currently on my awesome list. I know they don’t look much and I would hate to meet one scaled up, but they are amazing little critters. This is the larvae of the dock leaf beetle. I included a photo of adult beetle last week. If ever a bug was a good reason not to spray an area with herbicides and insecticides, I’d put these ones forward as candidates. These guys annihilate dock. We are talking shredding it. Amazing. (Understandably, farmers don’t want dock in their silage as it reduces fermentation and quality, but hopefully you can see where I’m going with this.)

(Bowl of beauty peony)

During the week, I visited a friend who has recently moved, to see her new house. We had lunch at the local lavender farm. The flowers weren’t quite out, giving us an excuse to go back in a few weeks. It was still a relaxing lunch alfresco, overlooking the purple fields.

Looking back through the photos, it is amazing how much time we do spend outside. My youngest summed it up so perfectly. He reminded me that we’d never see all the interesting nature if we were in the car. You have to get out and look.

 

 

36 comments

  2. So lovely to spend time outside even if the weather isn’t quite so nice. I love the photo of the peony and the ones of your children having fun on the rope swing. The light show looks like it was fun too. I’ve never come across dock leaf larvae before – they sound like fascinating little creatures. #WotW

    1. I think the children are at their happiest outside. I know they are looking forward to the summer holidays.

    1. Oh thank you, Anne.They are resourceful, if given a chance. Outside is a huge playground, whatever their age.

  4. It just goes to show you don’t need a perfect week of weather to enjoy some outdoor time. I bet you had a lovely time at the Bath and West Show. Having been to the Royal Cornwall Show today I know what a fun and exhausting day the shows are, but I always come home with new ideas to try. You garden photos are beautiful showing the move into summer through nature so well and who could resist that wonderful looking tree swing.

    Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids

    1. Country shows are so good at inspiring new projects and ideas. Loving the move between the seasons. Can’t resist getting out there to see it.

    1. The light show was a battery operated, letter shaped light – if that makes sense. A glow stick or torch would work just as well, I suspect.

  6. That’s one of the good things I’ve learned from the British. The “never let a bit of rain ruin your plans” 😉 I have this image of my husband cooking the bbq in the rain under an umbrella and us trying to eat as fast as we can before our food got soaked! All part of the fun of course 🙂 Loving the flowers. Would love to have that much colour in our garden. #countrykids

    1. First rule of BBQ. Never say out loud that you’re having a BBQ. Second rule always supply the chef with an umbrella and visit him/her outside occasionally while they are tending the bbq.

  8. absolutely beautiful photos, I love the one of your son taking a photo of the flowers. just something about the moment 🙂 #countrykids

  9. I’m relieved my in law’s rope swing doesn’t go as high as what your children were swinging!

    Looks like it was still a good half term. The light writing photos are amazingly clear. #countrykids

  10. YOu really need to get out to experience nature! Your son is so wise! I am a lazy person so when the weather is gloomy I just want to stay inside and read a book. But I have a son who get cabin fever if we stay in the house long. So I think thats lucky because I can only imagine all the fun I I will missed if I didnt go out. #countrykids #wotw

    1. I can quite understand the wish to read too. Finding the right balance. There is so much fun to have outside. Most of it could never be planned. I think your son is right to get you outside too!

  11. So much fun! Beautiful photos, the flowers are stunning. You are right you just have to get outside and go for it! #CountryKids

  14. I”m in love with those light images. I am going to need to try that on our next late night adventure… or wait till winter winter. We had a wet week here and got out anyway. I agree with you that you have to just go and give it a try. Thanks for sharing what looks like an amazing adventure. #CountryKids

    1. Yes. Have a go at the light photography. The children had so much fun doing it and being able to see the results was perfect for them.

  15. Very wise young one!! It’s great being outside and we donbuild this into our daily schedule. Love the idea of wild areas in your garden, what a treat to see new bugs and letting them thrive!! I must get a bigger garden!! #countrykids

    1. It is lovely to be able to watch the wild areas in the garden change week by week. Even a small area of wilderness can hold a large number of different species, if positioned in the right place.

  16. Oh my goodness. I agree that putting things off until the rain is gone is no way to live life. We just need to make sure we’ve got the right clothing for it. #CountryKids

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