winter walks...

 I confess to having rather had to force myself put in the cold wind yesterday but, wrapped up well, I set off...I am trying not to drive when I don't really need to so I just walked from home and 9 miles later, cobwebs blown away and significantly warmer, I was glad I'd made the effort.

Picking my way through the leaves, softened by weeks of wintry weather...

Early snowdrop spotting...

Realising that the OS map I've probably had since the '90s may no longer be up to date as I find the footpath rerouted via a laminated 'follow the white posts' sign (past two enormous bulls!!)

Appreciating that even in our flat county, the fields undulate away from you gently as the sun tries to shine just a little...

Back in more woodland, pleasingly called Hundred Acre plantation (fans of Winnie the Pooh will understand me keeping a half eye for Piglet and Eyore...), this time zig-zagging across to avoid the worst of the mud...

More open fields and beautiful cloudy, if a bit grey, skies...

Then back home to a cup of tea and a few rows, enjoying the fact that this is 'blankety' enough now to snuggle under whilst I hook away...

I am not a winter person and can't wait for the days to lengthen a bit more and be brighter and warmer. But the older I get, the more conscious I am that these days of whatever colour and temperature are increasingly numbered, so making the effort to get out and enjoy is more important than ever.