It’s been a perfect Spring day here today and as I spent most of last week inside it has been lovely to get out and let the cool March breezes blow away my cobwebs. I started my walk in the small and very pretty village of Westmill in East Hertfordshire. Ambling up the single main street, I passed the medieval church of St Mary the Virgin, its rough flint and stonework contrasting with the softly blushed blossoms of a beautiful old magnolia tree. There are some very pretty cottages in Westmill and all of the gardens were full of daffodils, primroses, chionodoxa and muscari, the best of the early spring flowers.
But the main reason I headed for Westmill is because I know that it’s a good place to spot spring lambs and I wasn’t disappointed. There were lots of them gamboling about in the spring sunshine and I was laughing out loud at their antics. They seemed to form into little gangs, frisking up and down the field and leaping and bucking with excitement and exuberant energy. A small straw bale seemed to be of particular interest to them and was the stage for lots of ‘king of the castle’ competitions.
I’ve come home to knit up some lambs of my own and I’ll pop back soon and show you what else I’ve been knitting here. ‘Til then I hope the change of seasons is bring you pleasure – if you have time please leave me a comment and share what you’re enjoying in your little patch of the world at the moment.
little cotton rabbits 
I am very much enjoying your gorgeous pictures, thank you Julie for taking me on such a lovely walk!
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What a lovely set of Spring pictures. They make one feel pleased to be alive! I thoroughly enjoy this wonderful time of year, so much expectation of the months ahead, the clocks going forward and the gardens and fields renewed after the long bleak winter.
Happy knitting Julie. I must make another little rabbit soon,they are all so gorgeous!
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Beautiful pictures! I am wondering, what are these knobby, almost-branchless trees that are so well spaced by the houses? They must be something lovely when they leaf out. What I’m enjoying at this season is all the little birds who’ve spread the word about our new bird feeder. I see chives peaking up, and hollyhocks, and columbines; but it’s too early for much else, we still have 7 or 8 weeks for frost! Good time for knitting things I mean to finish before it’s hot outside!
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The sight of those lambs bring such joy! A definite sign of the weather getting warmer and sunnier!
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Goodness! It is gorgeous where you live! I can’t believe how “springy” it looks. It is still grey and bud-less in northern North America.
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Fotos lindas!! Os cordeiros realente trazem alegria !!!
Aqui no Brasil é outono, no centro-oeste brasileiro outono é época de seca. Então tudo perde a vida e fica amarelo. Mas eu ainda consigo ver um pouco de beleza nos campos amarelados.
Abraços e até breve 🙂
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So beautiful Julie – I felt like being on holiday Thank you so much! And happy knitting
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I enjoyed your beautiful photography and the lovely village of Westmill. I’m on the Oregon Coast in the U.S. and we have rain and 50 degrees today–a typical day in March here. We have sheep in the field in back of us too, but no lambs this year. My daffodils, forsythia, and camellias are blooming now; a little late, but finally! I’ll take Lamb #5 please.
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Thankyou for sharing these lovely photographs! I am planning to visit Westmill this week and have tea and cake in the tea room. I shall look forward to seeing all those little lambs
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You really can’t beat a blossom and a blue sky pic, can you! 🙂 My goodness I love those houses with the teal front doors … stunning!!
And the little lambs are just gorgeous!!
I’m enjoying all the beautiful spring flowers that are coming into bloom, every day there is something new!
V x
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It looks so lovely, and so green. How wonderful. I love those tiny white flowers but have no idea what they are. The animals all look happy, love the donkey. I love sheep have no idea how anyone can eat one. They are so clever, great minds and excellent problem solvers. I had a poddy lamb once and had to find another to teach the first one how to be a sheep, she thought she was a person. The second lamb was the most innocent of creatures and was converted to be a person also so I had two little sheep who thought they were people. I had to erase the rest of this comment as it did not end well, most humans are not nice people. I am so glad that you are enjoying spring and that there are such beautiful walks near you, you are fortunate in this. I hope the rest of your life is going well and that your family are happy and healthy, I guess your daughter may be home form university soon for summer holidays. That is a nice thought and something to look forward too. Here in Australia I look forward to autumn even thought it is reportedly going to be hot and dry, I long to see green fields and healthy animals. Fingers crossed for rain. Looking forward to seeing your knitted lambs.
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Such beautiful photos Julie – especially the ones of the magnolias against the church tower! We are enjoying a few days away in the Lakes this week and with wall-to-wall sunshine today everything has looked stunning, especially the view from Holehird Gardens overlooking Lake Windermere and the Langdale Pikes. Like you, I have so enjoyed seeing the lambs in the fields – the grass is so green here(lots of rainfall!), making a lovely contrast to the lambs’ white coats and the white dry-stone walls! Thank you so much for sharing your photos – glad you had a lovely day.
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So lovely…
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Loving your photos, all so green and lush and cottages that look so English. Here in Australia we have had no decent rain for 4 months so all is dry and brown. I cant wait for the autumn break but have just planted some pansies in pots and am on the look out for some bulbs to plant. At least it looks as if the worst of the heat has diminished but one never knows when suddenly a few days of heat will pop up, loving your posts and there is a new great grand child on the way so must get out your gorgeous patterns and knit up a rabbit or a bear.
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Your photos are always lovely and these just take the cake. My mother was born on the first day of spring and for 94 years she was the spirit of springtime all year ’round. Whenever the daffodils and primroses arrive I smile recalling how mom would have them scattered throughout the garden and the house. Your walk would have surely delighted my mother and it gave me another chance to grin and think of her.
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In my mid-Atlantic suburb, in the US, I’m jealous of how far along your spring is. I went to a local arboretum last week looking for spring, but didn’t see much. Witch hazel, a few hellebores, a handful of daffodils and some crocuses. Definitely jealous of the lambs, and so grateful you took your camera along on your walk. I love, love, love your photography. And your endearing knitted animals. Your blog posts are always a pleasure to savor slowly. Thanks for sending a bit of spring, and a bit of your pretty country over here.
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Gorgeous photos! Still chilly and muddy in New England but the daffs are pushing through😃
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We have plenty of blossoming trees in our garden and right next to the house, next to the french windows, there is a fence over which grows a forsythia and towering up over that a mock cherry tree. Right now it means that my view each day is this big patch of bright yellow blossoms topped with the soft pink cherry blossoms that seem to stretch all the way up to the clouds.
It is glorious…. every year again. And without all of the foliage you can still see all the birds hopping around between those puffs of flowers. Doesn’t get any better.
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Thank you for your lovely photos. When I am feeling a bit low I enjoy looking back at your wonderful photographs. I knit 24 of your mini Christmas stockings as an advent calendar for my grandson last year( I adapted motifs from some of the Christmas dresses so that every stocking was different). This year I plan on a rabbit- I am not a neat or perfectionist knitter so I have been improving my sewing and fiddly things skills( knit fruit and vegetables for my baby grand daughter). So this will be the year for a rabbit or two. Enjoying the spring on the Derbyshire/ greater Manchester border, the older I get the more magical and fleeting it is. Thank you for the patterns , blog and photographs.
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What a beautiful place, I love the little cottages with the blue front doors and those lambs…. x
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What a beautiful place, it looks wonderful in the spring sunshine. It’s always lovely to see lambs isn’t it. There are a few around here too, and I’ve been enjoying the magnolia and cammellia blossoms and the warmth in the sun. Seeds are in, washing is outside, the season has turned. CJ xx
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Spring exploded here in Italy, and I enjoyed walking around the beauties of Rome, ancient ruins and monuments. But the peace and joy your photos make me feel are priceless. Hafe many of these nice days.
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Such lovely Spring pictures! Those magnolias are so astounding on its colour and profsuion of flowers…
Thanks for sharing all this Beauty! Nature is always an enchantment. All we need is look and feel.
Teresa
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Just stunning photos
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Just starting lambing over here. Best part of springtime :-). I, too, am curious about the Dr. Seuss looking trees.
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I love catching up with you here Julie, your photos bring such a beautiful seasonal feel-good! I’m enjoying the light at this time of year, especially in the early mornings. It was light enough for me to sit and crochet without a lamp on at 6am this morning, such a lovely way to start my day xxxxxxxxxx
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as always your space brings total joy….the photos are magnificent, the sentiments ready to instill spring even to my little not very spring-ish part of the world! We head into more rain and cold this week to see the sandhill crane migration along the Platte River in Nebraska. An airplane ride…two overnights….and home again. Quick trip. Hoping to tip toe through the raindrops to see these stellar creatures.
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You are an artist in Every cell, such Fabulousness in your vision- able to always see the BEAUTIFUL💕. Thankful for such wonderful people like you in the world😇 creating beauty, seeing beauty, seeking wonderful thing’s makes a kind person 🌼😇.
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Here in Michigan, USA, the sun is shining a bit more, but the temperatures are still in the 40s and we may get snow at the end of the week. Loved seeing the beautiful sites of Westmill!
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Hi Julie, lambs are popping up here, there and everywhere and the blossom and daffodils are wonderful.
This week my tortoise woke up from hibernation and I’m enjoying spending time just looking at her and watching her eat her first meal of dandelion leaves.
Enjoy the sunshine!
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The pictures are wonderful and inspiring, – bringing hope for a new season! Just looking outside there are still some piles of snow – a big drift in the backyard with some spots of snow peeking through. A high of 8 degrees Celsius tomorrow – shows some promise of further melting here in Manitoba.
Curious about the trees that look like they have been hacked off – is that specific to the tree type or some severe pruning someone did?
Putting in some tomato seeds in seed starter today – looking forward to a warm summer with fresh vegetables and fruits of the garden!
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What a beautiful part of the world you live in Julie, in Australia we are saying goodbye to Sumer – thank goodness,it has been a long hot one with lots of fires – I am enjoying the cooler mid 20″s days.
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Such a beautiful post and I thoroughly enjoyed your spring Julie. Here in Oz heading to Autumn and as Brenda said we are sure over the heat and fires. I loved my time in the UK twice so pretty everywhere xo
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What beautiful photos. They are exactly how I imagine the English countryside to be. So very green and picturesque. Here in Australia it has felt like summer would never go. Today we are having our first cool, under 30 deg day in a very long time. Now if it would only rain. Seeing your photo’s reminds me that mother nature is resilient and will eventually get around to sending us some rain and everything will be green again.
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I’d have kidnapped one of the lambs with black legs, glorious photos as usual Julie.xxx
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Thanks so much Mirjam, it would be lovely if you could join me in person 🙂
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When I was younger autumn was my favourite season but the older I get, the more I enjoy spring – like you say it is such a hopeful time of year with lots to look forward to, thanks so much Yvonne x
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Thank you so much for sharing this walk. You made me dream once again and when my mother saw the little lambs pictures, she was reminded of her childhood and it put a huge smile on her face.
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Hi Karen and thanks. They are like cartoon trees aren’t they? I don’t know what species they are but every year they are trimmed hard in winter (I think that’s called pollarding) and then when they come into leaf they are perfect little lollipop trees – I’ll pop back there in summer when they are in full leaf and take some more pictures.
Your spring enjoys are lovely, the birds are good at networking and it never seems to take long for word to spread about the location of a new feeder – enjoy watching them and I hope there’s not too much frost to come for you x
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Thanks Charlotte, they are so joyful aren’t they, I could have stood and watched them for ages – though the cold breeze got the better of me!
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Hi Bonnie Jean and thanks. I really wish I did live in this village but sadly for me home is in a much less pretty and idyllic location. Still I am very grateful that I can drive here and enjoy this peaceful place. Hope you get some signs of spring with you soon x
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É adorável que você ainda pode encontrar a beleza nos campos amarelos secos, que é uma grande habilidade de vida para ter e significa que há sempre algo para levantar o seu coração. Muito obrigado Leticia por seu comentário amável x
(Eu usei o Google para traduzir, então eu espero que seja OK!)
(I used google to translate so I hope it’s OK!)
It’s lovely that you can still find beauty in the dry yellow fields, that is a great life skill to have and means that there is always something to lift your heart. Thanks so much for your kind comment Leticia x
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Thanks very much Claudia xx
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Glad that you have signs of spring there too Vikki but I’m sad you’ve missed out on lambs this year – hope you get some next spring and can enjoy watching them play. Good choice – no. 5 is a cutie x
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Now I’m jealous Yvonne! The tearoom was closed on Monday so I missed out on their delicious home-made cakes. Have a lovely time when you visit and have fun watching the lambs. The ponies are sweet too – they are in a field alongside the north forked road going out of the village back to the A10 – turning left just past the sheep field as you head to the A10. Enjoy your tea and cake xxx
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Absolutely right Vivienne, I took so many pictures of that magnolia tree, it really was a beauty and wouldn’t it be great to be able to explore inside one of those little cottages, they look so sweet don’t they. I thought Spring would be hard at work in your garden, conjuring up lots of beauties from your flower beds, enjoy each days new discoveries xxx
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Hi Megan and thanks for your kind words. So lovely to read about your little people lambs but sad that the ending for them was not a good one, it is easy to forget that when watching them full of life and freedom and playfulness. Hope that rain visits you soon, xx
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Sounds like you’re having a wonderful time in the Lakes Doreen, it is so beautiful there in any season but in Spring sunshine must be at it’s very best. Hope you’ve taken lots of pictures, I love looking back over mine when I’m feeling low or it’s a grey and miserable day. Hope you’re bringing lots of happy memories home with you xx
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Thanks so much Cristina x
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Congratulations on your soon to be new great grand child Penny – such exciting times. I hope that things cool down there and you get some rain soon, it must be quite difficult to take such constant high heat. Wishing you a peaceful and relaxing autumn x
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Thank you so much for your very touching comment Kathryn. Your mother sounds like a wonderful lady and it’s lovely that you have such warm memories of her xxx
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Thank you so very much for your kind comment C. I am so grateful to have this space to share my pictures as it gives me the impetus to go out with my camera – I’m sure if I didn’t have the blog I’d make more excuses to sit inside with my knitting all day! Hope your Spring arrives soon and is as full of simple delights and pleasures as mine is here xx
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Yay for daffs – always the sign that chilly and muddy days are soon to be in the past. Enjoy their cheery arrival Lori Ann xx
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You paint such a pretty picture Himiko, that sounds like a beautiful and uplifting sight and a lovely combination of colours. Like you say, it doesn’t get any better and it’s sad it is so fleeting, although perhaps that is part of the magic? Enjoy your beautiful view and thank you for sharing it xxx
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Thank you so much for your very kind comment Jill. Like you I find each Spring more poignant as I get older – it’s such a beautiful and uplifting time of year but is so short-lived. It is nice to have pictures to look back on that preserve a little of it’s magic and I’m so happy that my pictures bring you pleasure – thank you for letting me know. Good luck with the knitting, if you get stuck with anything please drop me a line and I’ll help if I can xx
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Thanks Teresa, it is a small hidden gem of a place xx
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You sound very well organised CJ. I’ve not yet planted seeds so might be resorting to plug plants yet again! Like you I love hanging washing outside – it always smells so much fresher than when it’s aired inside. Enjoy that warm sunshine – I think there’s more forecast tomorrow so I’m sorting my washing after replying to comments here – I’ll think of you as I’m pegging it out tomorrow xxx
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Hi Claudia, Rome in Springtime sounds like a such perfect place to be and rather romantic. Enjoy the sights and spring-time joys of your beautiful city xx
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You’re absolutely right Teresa, Nature is always an enchantment, thank you for your lovely words xx
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Thank you very much Paula xx
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Love your lamb pictures over on your blog and wishing I could come and visit you for your ‘hug a sheep day’ – that sounds like so much fun! That is the perfect description for those trees! I’m not sure what species they are but they are heavily pollarded every year so that when they come into leaf they form perfect lollipop trees. I plan to go back in the summer when they are full leaved and take some more pictures because they are a very sweet sight. Enjoy your new lambs xx
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Hello Lucy, thanks so much for visiting me and for your kind words. That does sound like the most perfect way to start the day, isn’t lovely when the days start to draw out at each end? I’m looking forward to the upcoming change of clocks, those first few longer evenings are a real treat. Enjoy your peaceful morning crochet time xxx
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Thanks so much Stephanie. I looked up the sandhill crane migration and it looks like a completely breath-taking sight to behold and the sound of them all calling is amazing. I hope you get some wonderful views and that the flocks are huge and spectacular xxx
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You are absolutely lovely Kathy, what a very generous and kind gift your comment is. Thank you so much xxx
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Keep warm over there Kathleen, it sounds like a chilly week ahead. Hopefully things will be warming soon and you’ll be enjoying Spring’s arrival there xx
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That must be a special moment to share with your sweet tortoise, I hope she enjoyed her dandelion leaves and is wide awake and ready to be out enjoying the Spring sunshine, thanks for sharing xx
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Hello Verna, sounds like winter still has Manitoba in it’s grip. I hope Spring is just around the corner for you and that your tomato plants get a good start and bring you lots of delicious fat fruit later in the year. They are unusual trees aren’t they? I’m not sure of the species but they have been pollarded (definitely a very severe pruning) and in couple of months, once they’re in full leaf, they’ll be looking like green lollipops. Someone cuts them back each year so that they grow like this – they make a very pretty avenue when they have their leaves. Keep warm and cosy xx
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Thanks so much Brenda, I do wish I lived in one of those cottages there – they are very pretty aren’t they? Glad to hear that the extreme heat you’ve endured over summer is cooling now, enjoy your autumn days xx
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Hello Wendy and thanks for your kind words. I’m glad the heat and fire risk are over for this year – it must be hard to endure. Hope your autumn days are peaceful and relaxing in more comfortable temperatures xx
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Thanks so much Louise. I hope you get some much needed rain soon, it sounds like it’s been a tough summer there xx
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Believe me, I was very tempted, though I’m not sure I’d have managed to catch one – they were fast! I would very much like a sheep in my back garden, small though it is. Though you have a larger garden so maybe you could have one and I can come and visit? 🙂 Hope you’re feeling better xxxx
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Thanks so much for your kind words Kay, I am very happy that my pictures have created a smile for your mother and a dream for you xx
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There isn’t much left to say that hasn’t been already said. I love the photos and it gives me a glimpse into your side of the world. Wow! … so beautiful. Here in Canada, there is still snow on the ground and temperatures are very cool. Thank you for sharing your photographs and spring in your neck of the woods. Cheers, Sue
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No blossoms here yet, still a bit cold. So lovely to “join in on you walk”. Wish I was there in person. And I can’t wait to see what comes off your Needles next.
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Julie, your photos, as usual,make me feel I walked along with you and we had a wonderful visit with the lambs. Here in Maine, USA it’s mud season with dirty snow,gray skies,and WIND,but there is tiny little green stuff (soon to be crocus) in the garden. Thank you for taking the time to share your adventures with us.
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Oh, what a bucolic, gorgeous setting. LOVED seeing your pictures. Only wish I could have been strolling along with you, Julie. Those cottages are my favorite kind of architecture. It would be my choice to live in one of them if we could have homes like that here. Hugs, Kimmy
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Hi Julie I have just given our district nurse who is having a baby soon, a girl rabbit in a spring dress. She loved it!! Busy in the garden this afternoon enjoying the spring sunshine. Love your photos! Sue x
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Oh my what I would give to go for a walk with you through this gorgeous little village! Such beautiful sights! We are watching the last of our snow leave, ever so slowly (Idaho, USA). Tulips, daffodils and irises are finally poking through to say hello. This is a very welcome sight! 🙂 Love the pictures here, thanks for sharing!
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Your spring pics are just lovely. Grass here is just starting to turn green. I have been enjoying all our new goat babies.
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The lambs with yellow tags in their ears remind me of Steiff toys! 😂 Love your pictures and your new patterns for littler cotton rabbits❣️ Thanks for sharing.
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Lovely photos Julie… just seeing pictures of the lambs is enough to make me smile. Love your new mini knitted bunnies too!
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Oh, LOOK at those beautiful thatched roofs! And SHEEPIES!!! They’re so sweet. You take such beautiful pictures Julie — thanks for sharing your breath of fresh spring air!!!
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