On Saturday, Liz, Jon and the girls collected me and we went to Holt Country Park. I think our last visit was back before lockdown! It was a beautiful day - we began with Ro and Jess enjoying the playground [swings, slide, zipwire etc] Then we set off to walk through the trees. Rosie in the lead, I was behind her, [she is nearly as tall as I asm now!]then Jess and Jon, with Liz taking pictures ...It was sunny, and a little cool, but the ground was mostly dry and firm underfoot. Suddenly Rosie stopped - she had come to a place where there were fewer branches overhead - with a clear few up the bank covered in gorse, to a clear blue sky. She called out to me
Catch the beauty, Grandma!What a lovely comment! She went on to explain to me that we all see nature in our own different ways, but she thought this was just beautiful. And she thought it sad that others did not appreciate it, or take care of it. Such enthusiasm for creation gives me hope! 
We walked on together. To the south of the park is Holt Lowes, where there are Dartmoor Ponies. The rest of the family caught up with us. We admired these beasts but did not attempt to stroke them or touch them in any way. [Please note Ro's amazing K-Pop hairdo!!]
Then I said
No, that looks like two water tanks. No, it is a sculpture...
It is called The Carved Men, and Rosie sat and had a chat with them!
We walked on to Tin Can Alley - a brilliant arrangements of cans tied on a beam with pine cone missiles to make a form of Coconut Shy. Simple yet clever. The cans do not get lost, and the cones are easily replaced [and when the cans are all hanging, you can 'play' them with sticks like a percussion instrument] Liz and I both felt the Men's Shed could use this idea!
Then on into Holt for a delicious lunch in Holt Fish Bar - helpful staff, very family friendly, lovely chips!
Sunday lunchtime they all came over to Cornerstones for a Roast Chicken Lunch. The house is full of flowers and cards. I feel extremely loved. Grateful for them all...
Catch the beauty, feel the love
We walked on together. To the south of the park is Holt Lowes, where there are Dartmoor Ponies. The rest of the family caught up with us. We admired these beasts but did not attempt to stroke them or touch them in any way. [Please note Ro's amazing K-Pop hairdo!!]
What an amazing place! The sculptures are wonderful and I love the idea of the Tin Can Alley.
ReplyDeleteI was intrigued to see that you went to Holt. My grandparents lived near a place called Holt, just outside Wrexham, What Three Words code is slippers.companies.vague. It's funny how place names can be duplicated over the country. There are about a gazillion places called Burton.
HOLT is an Old English word meaning "wooded grove", so it's not surprising to find them elsewhere in the UK. You are right, there are more than 40 Burton! That is from Middle English and means "town of the fortress"
DeleteA perfect day!
ReplyDeleteAll in all a beautiful weekend
DeleteIt is beautiful to hear a small girl loving nature and all it's glory. A lovely post, I really felt the joy of your family.
ReplyDeleteChildren can teach us so much 💜
DeleteWhat a lovely place, those carved people are a bit creepy though, Rosie was very brave. :-)
ReplyDeleteShe is positively intrepid. It was the carved man with shut eyes👀 I found the creepiest
DeleteBeautiful 🩷
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DeleteWhat a beautiful outing with such lovely company. You are truly blessed. Catriona
ReplyDeleteWe truly are 💜
DeleteWhat a wonderful time you all had! JanF
ReplyDelete🌳🌳🌳😊🌳🌳🌳
DeleteTin Can Alley sounds fun and I loved Rosie's hairstyle. Like you, I'm height challenged and Iris is fast catching me up. You also had beautiful weather which always helps. Xx
ReplyDeleteBlue skies and sunshine help a lot! I cannot believe how fast these children grow!
DeleteWhat a brilliant day. Those two girls are astonishing!
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DeleteI was touched by Rosie's exclamation, "Catch the beauty, Grandma". She has a precious gift that will be a joy for her even in old age. I have been given that gift, too, and often when nothing seems to be too great on a particular day, I will see something little thing, like the way the snow sits on a dead flower head, or the way the squirrels legs look when they are running away with a peanut, and I feel the joy and give thanks!
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ReplyDeleteRosie would have been enthralled if she had looked out of our upstairs windows this morning when the sun was sparkling on the snow. Our winters are brutal and inconvenient but some days are magical and I wouldn't be without winter!
DeleteLast time we had snow, she ran outside in her pyjamas!
DeleteGood for her!
Delete😉
DeleteThat was such a beautiful request from Rosie. I am so glad she revels in the beauty of nature. It is sorely lacking in many who have not been taught that by loving parents like Liz and John. I, too, appreciate nature and the effect it has on me.
ReplyDeleteI remember teaching the children the Japanese song, Sakura a couple of tears ago and then one day, the Cherry Blossom tree was in flower in the playground and I saw a child standing in rapture under the tree as gentle petals rained down on her whispering the word, "Sakura! SAKURA!) as she stood under it!
Oh beautiful! 🌸💮🌸💮
DeleteIt sounds like you had a lovely weekend with your family, Angela. What a blessing!
ReplyDeleteIt was wonderful
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