Beach . . .

We always try to take a trip to the sea side in the school holidays and over half term we headed to Cleveleys near Blackpool.

The beach had some new (to us) additions.

All the sculptures are based on a book called 'The sea swallow'

The shell was especially interesting to me, as I'm a engineer by profession, so looking and wondering how it was made. . . well where do you start. . .  what would the manufacturing drawing look like?. . . . etc.

The children had run off and left me behind!

 We will definitely visit again, but maybe I should have a look at the book!

Ooh why does it feel like weeks since the school holidays, its only day two of school?

Frog spawn, bug hotels, spider webs, rabbits...... Happy Easter!

A few weeks ago we visited some friends and came home with some extras!!

We had gone prepared with our bucket and luckily there where no spillages on the way home.

The frog spawn was checked daily.

 

And over the Easter break it hatched !!

Also out in the garden this week we have been making a bug hotel (also something we saw on our visit to our friends - thank you!!)

We manage to get hold of an old pallet and then just had to saw it up!!

Easier said than done - wet wood + old saw = very long job.

Most of the gaps have something in ready for some bugs.

Next to our Bug Hotel, I updated the 'canes and string' used for my sweet peas, with a spiders web. We just need a fake spider now to sit on it (no real ones, I cant stand them!!)

And lastly Happy Easter to everyone. 

Our very own Easter bunnies, Agnes and Margo got there first taste (this year) of fresh grass.

 There was definitely a spring in there step as they chased each other round, that's why my daughter is standing on some bricks (like you do) out of the way of there sharp nails!! (I did say 'put some shoes on') 

Bolton Abbey'

Today we had a day out at Bolton Abbey.

Last time we visited my little boy was in a pram!!

This time he was often well in front, running in his wellie boots.

The priory is beautiful, even on a dull day and the stone work is amazing.

Do you like a nice door? 

One of the popular things to do at Bolton Abbey is to walk across the river on the stepping stones.

The photo below shows the stepping stones and was taken from the yorkshire.com website

I suggested we all walk across for a bit of fun, never again!!

My little boys legs are not really long enough, we didn't fall in, but came soooo close.

The water in the photo looks calm, it was a lot faster flowing today and surprisingly deep in the middle.

We may try again, but only when the country suffers from a prolonged drought!!

We did a circular walk, so avoided the stepping stones on the way back.

Look at that, you would almost think they where chatting!

I told him 'If the duck follows us all the way back to the car, you can keep it as a pet', it didn't thankfully. 

To steady my 'stepping stone' nerves we called in at the fabric shop on the way home.

I felt sooo much better.

Early morning walk.

This morning as everyone was still snoozing, I headed out for a walk.

Over the last few weeks I have tried to walk a couple of miles a day.

Around a local reservoir this morning.

Past a few dog walkers and even a tent complete with campers!!

The view is amazing, all you can hear early in the morning is a few birds.

The speck of black on the water above is a Great Crested Grebe, not dirt on the lens!!!

(The photos where taken with my phone, maybe next time I will take my camera.)