25th May, 2013.... a long awaited day off!

Glorious sunshine and no weddings or school, so we finally got down to Furness Abbey for a walk!

 

 

 

Every thing is very green and lush down here... well there has been PLENTY of water over the past six months!!

 

 

 

 

Lovely aroma of wild garlic drifiting through the woodland too. We saw a cuckoo pint today.... I haven't seem one for years. I can remember being warned that they were highly toxic when I was a kid??

 

 

Lots of people walking, cycling... and on horseback, enjoying the sunshine!

 

 

There seems to have been some upgrading to the railway bankings since we were here last. It looks like work is continuing, and there is a lot of 'digging' activity inside the Abbey grounds at the moment.

 

 

 

The Hillmans scrubbed up rather well for Uncle Andy's wedding a fornight ago. There is now another Mrs. Hillman to add to the collection- Congratulations to Andy and Charmaine!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5th May, 2013.... Finally, a summers day!

We were disappointed to wake up this morning to overcast skies, but when I went out to feed the birds, it did actually feel warm, even though it was 7.30am! Happily, the sun was out by lunchtime, so we walked down here... to find everyone else had done the same!

 

 

Lots of lovely early summer flowers out now, and even the lambs were sunbathing!

 

 

 

 

There was a lot of activity inside the Abbey ruins today, so we went in to have a look. An archaeological firm were working on the third phase of the underpinning- there's not much access to the church at the moment, and it looks like they've got a big job on. There was also a BMW parked in the car park, with a fancy crest on, and two gentlemen who were obviously not tourists walking round..... but even Tom couldn't tell us who they were???

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of clumps of Lady's Smock growing inside the Abbey grounds, looking rather attractive...

 

 

 

Look at the blue skies.....school tomorrow!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4th May, 2013....Herbie family at the Abbey!

Pleasantly mild May day, and we met our old pal Herbie down here today, with his wife and grandchild...slipped easily back into our old way of conversing!!

 

 

There finally seems to be a spell of warmer weather heading our way, accompanied by tree blossom and plenty of new greenery. The cows are also in the meadow again...

 

 

 

 

 

...or are they bullocks??! Everything is so late this year... we have usually got roses starting on our bushes in the garden, but in reality, the wild tulips haven't evened opened yet... there were some potted ones on view outside Abbey Mill today.

 

 

The first blue bells are just about to open in Abbots Wood, and there is plenty of early spring ground cover....but it's MAY!!

 

 

 

 

Steve Hillman photography had an exciting experience on Thursday when Fabrice Muamba turned up at school (not unexpectedly!). What a lovely guy he was! SH photography in wedding action for the next two days but strangely we are GUESTS at a wedding next Saturday, so look out for photos of a Hillman wedding!!