Monday 29 August 2011

Up the 'combe

Bank Holiday Monday. A day for gardening, walking, enjoying the warm sunshine after so much rain. I started the day by driving someone to the station, and stopping off at a nearby garden centre - just to price shears, you understand. One carload of perennials later...

Dog walking first. It was a good afternoon for a longer walk. We went upwards; starting with our morning route, we diverted onto a narrow track.




Off to the left. A well-used path.





Flossie had to take a ball along, to stop her from doing what had led us recently to another disastrous, malodorous night, an early morning trip to our new vet, and an afternoon visit from the carpet cleaner man: chomping windfall apples and delicately pulling blackberries from their prickly stems. And then finding that her stomach/fermentation tank was in trouble at 2 a.m. 'Nuff said.

She still managed to sneak some in when I wasn't looking. Labradors don't learn the cause-and-effect theory easily.



Up we went; Tosca often has to be carried for many of the steeper slopes, but not today; she was full of beans.

Summer is gently giving way to autumn.








At intervals, we stop and gaze....




There's a little bench halfway up.



A rather special bench.


And now we're on the downward slope.









It can be rather stony for little paws. But Tosca always speeds up on the way home.



The poisonous red berries of the cuckoo-pint are beginning to go over, but, hips, haws and brambles abound.








And we're nearly home. The owner of this cottage grows stunning agapanthus, and tells me that he simply throws the ripe seed heads on the soil, and they grow for him, fuss-free.

 
A neglected garden has hollyhocks that fall under the wheels of passing cars on this narrow road. I pinch off a ripe seed pod now and then, and will try propagating them myself.



And we're home.



To the sleepy cats, a cup of tea in the sun, and some planting in the company of the gardener's friend.



A nice way to spend a Bank Holiday.

26 comments:

Unknown said...

What a lovely walk, doggie tummy aside, you and your furry friends sound very happy! x

Arthur Ransome said...

Wonderful stuff - thanks for so many photos. Has the fuchsia actually bitten the dust? It's lovely to see you've had some sun. I ventured all the way to Edinburgh to a concert last night and came home chilled to the bone - it was like November here.

Rose H (UK) said...

Sounds like the perfect day to me!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for inviting us along on today's walk; it was enchanting. I needed something like that as I missed mine today, stuck indoors fretting over a computer problem for my hubby (the original Luddite), but I rewarded myself with the late evening sun shining into the garden cabin on me and tabby cat, blissful. OllieV

Anonymous said...

It seems you left us up north just in time, we're in mid Autumn already and not a very nice Autumn either!!

It looks like the animals have settled in really quickly!

the veg artist said...

Lovely to see Tosca taking a long walk - does this mean that her legs have improved again, or is it just the warmer weather? As for Flossie and her digestion/lack of, at what age do they learn?

Lucille said...

They must love walking there. And you get to accompany them. Lucky you.

Anonymous said...

what a lovely post. gorgeous pics and fantastic views. thanks for that, it cheered my morning

Debbie said...

What a lovely walk you had with your best friends.
You must enjoy exploring all the walks and lanes together.

Susan said...

a tres lovely virtual outing xo les Gang

Noelle the dreamer said...

Oh dear...I so loved the 'walk' and I do not feel even tired...but MacIntosh agrees with Tosca...outch, those stones can be painful to little paws!
Thank you Rachel for a wonderful end to a very nice day!
Blessings to all,

lethe said...

What a lovely new home you have. I am so jealous!

mrspao said...

It looks like a really lovely new spot and an enjoyable country walk. Sounds like you are very content in your new home.

Dartford Warbler said...

What a lovely walk. Those views of the sea are so beautiful! It is such fun to discover new walks when you move to an unfamiliar area.

Sympathies with the fermenting dog. One of our Border Collies can`t resist the pears and crab apples in the garden. He picks pears from the tree, by himself, if I`m not watching......

judy in ky said...

A beautiful way to spend a holiday... peaceful and quiet and surrounded by nature.

Marcheline said...

Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful walk with us! Whew - I'm tired, think I'll have a glass of wine and rest. 8-)

Ginnie said...

What a beautiful new home you have chosen! And maybe (you know, in your spare time, in between box-unpacking /electric-upgrading / garden-improving) it's time to update your "about" page.

I'm very impressed with how quickly you have made decisions and are having work done. I seem to waffle for ages before making home changes.

Looking forward to reading more about how things are going and seeing more beautiful pictures.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Beautiful place. Younger daughters lab puppy was here the other week and gave us a neat demonstration of the difference between the digestion of raspberries and plums. Don't ask.

jabblog said...

Breathing in the views - they are wonderful.
Good tip about the agapanthus. Ours didn't do very well this year and probably need splitting again. I'll try broadcasting the seeds - I fancy an agapanthus forest.

flwrjane said...

That was a lovely and relaxing day.

So glad we could spend it together.

Oh Flossie. When will you ever learn, when will you ever learn?

xo Jane

Daisy said...

What beautiful pictures. It's almost like we were there with you.

Anonymous said...

How did I miss this post? Must have been dozing. What a marvellous walk, shame about the carpet cleaning though. Hope all is well now.

Annie said...

What a wonderful set of photographs, thank you for letting us share your walk :D Oh, and don't tell my whippety companions, but I think I'm in love with Tosca!

Gwen Buchanan said...

so much nature, beauty and gardens all at hand.. you have picked a wonderful location!! Thank you for the pleasant journey today.

Anonymous said...

Good to see Tosca invigorated and enjoying her walk. Maybe it's the change of weather and location that's making her feel like a young pup again. Will Flossie ever grow up I wonder?

Planet Penny said...

Seriously in love with where you live. A beautiful virtual walk to enjoy while the remains of Hurricane 'Irene' lashes around here in Norfolk!

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