Today’s guest picture is a second from Bruce’s recent visit to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. I make no apologies, I love steam engines. This one was built in 1896 and is a lot older than me.
We had yet another lovely day here with more wall to wall sunshine and no call for a jumper or jersey at all. It is going to be a shock when we get back to normal spring temperatures in a few days time.
Meantime we are enjoying the weather without complaint.
The tulips are enjoying the weather too…
..with new ones coming out each day.
Mrs Tootlepedal has a lot of dicentras spread about the garden and that makes me happy as both the bees and I like them a lot. I got a rare shot of one without a bee nearby today.
In general, the garden is looking very cheerful with plenty of colour on all sides.
I spent a happy morning pottering about, chatting to neighbours over the fence and dead heading daffodils as well as doing a little mowing while Mrs Tootlepedal planted some onions.
The plum blossoms are pretty well over and the birds are now posing among the leaves.
After lunch, I went for a short walk, crossing the Wauchope Water which has been reduced to a trickle by the lack of rain…
…and enjoying a rhododendron in the park as I climbed the steps…
…up to the Stubholm track, which was looking leafy.
While this adds to the pleasure of going along the track, it detracts from the views along the way.
The purpose of my walk was to take a second look at the bluebells to see if two sunny days had brought them on.
They had.
There were bluebells on all sides.
The individual plants are looking very healthy this year…
…and the combined effect is well worth a walk to see.
At the bottom of the hill, I saw the first wild garlic of the year…
…and looking along the Murtholm, I could see that the trees are going green in earnest.
My feet are still a bit troublesome so I turned and walked back to the park along the Beechy Plains.
Keeping an eye on the river as I went along.
Two gulls were in position on handy rocks. They were just too far apart to get them both into one shot
When I got home, I had a moment to look at the birds…
…but there were not a lot about, possibly because the sparrowhawk paid several unsuccessful visits to the garden during the day.
After a short rest, I got my bike out and stretched my tender tendon by cycling fourteen warm and sunny miles at a gentle pace, stopping only once to record a good show of blackthorn along the Cleuchfoot road.
The bicycle is a fine mode of transport because not only does it get you from A to B reasonably quickly and very economically, but it also has magical properties. You may be a fairly elderly person, with unreliable joints and poor eyesight but when the road is flat and the wind is helpful, even you can whizz along at such a speed and with such freedom and ease that you can easily imagine yourself as Young Lochinvar or one of the three men who brought the good news to Aix from Ghent and feel quite young again.
Of course any little hill or change in the wind direction can knock that fantasy on its head in a moment but there is nothing like it while it lasts.
And Mrs Tootlepedal cooked a delicious tea to round off a good day.
While we were taking a late turn round the garden, we were visited by an old friend who has returned from America after many years away. He is a good flute player and I hope that when he has time, he will give me some tips to pass on to Luke. (We didn’t have a lesson today as it was both a holiday and too good a day to waste time indoors.)
The flying bird of the day is a siskin getting ready for a landing on the feeder.
I’m glad that sparrowhawk was unsuccessful, but I shouldn’t be as it probably had beaks to feed.
It had several more goes today.
Wonderful flower photos today and a charming redpoll too. A wonderful description of the joys of cycling.
It is hard to beat cycling at any time but on warm day, it is the best way of getting around by far.
Beautiful bluebells and stunning red and white tulip!
I am glad that you enjoyed them both. I had fun looking at them.
The bluebells are amazing. I’d walk miles to see them.
The Stubholm track looks a lot like a place I go, but right now it is greener.
I like steam engines too. You’ve shown two nice ones.
I like that fact that they are simple enough to keep working for years on end and yet powerful enough to pull hundreds of people along.
Love the first shot of the Stubholm track.
It is lovely spot with the mature trees on the top of the banking.
I’m glad to read you’re feeling much better of your foot problem. Enjoy your sunny days. 🙂
We will. Thank you HJ.
The Redpoll photograph is a lovely one.
They are very striking little birds in spring plumage.
Lovely pictures of the bluebells.
Glad the cycling was such a pleasure, thanks for all the colour you photographed.
All looking quite stunning. We love steam trains too. Our last ride was on one in the Cevennes — uncovered carriages make for a very grubby experience.
Looking at that black smoke (bad stoking, Bruce tells me) reminds one of how literally filthy rail travel was in the days of steam. A bath was needed after a trip from London to Edinburgh.
We had a discussion with Louis about terminology of the evening meal. His family call it supper, we call it dinner, and I mentioned the regional tea. We went on to serviettes and napkins. Lovely bluebell shots – and all the other landscapes.
You have supper last thing at night before you go to bed. You have dinner if you go out and pay for it. You can also have afternoon tea and scones.
As children that is when we had supper – usually a cheese sandwich. Cream teas are all the rage here
I would have one if I met one.
With Dropscone?
He is not a cream tea man at all.
You live in such a pretty place. And so true about bike riding. it’s a great form of exercise for those with creaky joints.
Pain free (apart from occasional saddle soreness and crashes!)
Yay!!!!
love those bluebell woods
Everyone round here loves them too.
The garden is looking great! I LOVE tulips. And the bluebells!
You have excellent taste.
The bluebells are so lovely!
They are our answer to your poppies.
We have a kind of bluebell, too in years like this, also vervain and ground pink. I saw another blue one today that I have to find the name of. It has been a super year!
It has been a good spring here but rather earlier than usual.
I appear to be falling behind (again!), but I couldn’t pass up a peek at the blooming bluebells! They are lovely!
A much awaited sign of spring each year.
Ah, those bluebells…and the blackthorn, always mentioned when I read about hedgerows, so lovely and frothy.