Big Blue and Green

(I can't think of a better title!)

This is one of the many beautiful views we have on the walk up the hill from our house. Although this picture may not be amazing, I chose it because it sums up the day really well for me.

My husband has been working all bank holiday weekend and finally finished at lunchtime today. So we took the dog and our youngest child on our regular hike.

It is quite a spectacular walk and today was extra special. There was strong bright sunlight and a stiff breeze. Harmless little fluffy clouds would be replaced by bright blue sky only to then be replaced by large, stacked-up grey clouds, and, because we were so high up, in every direction there was a different sky. I swear there were two very different shades of blue up there today, and the sky seemed somehow bigger ('bigger'? Yes, I know it sounds silly!) and more noticeable. The passing clouds left parts of the fields in darkness momentarily and other parts in full sunshine and the surrounding North Devon hills shone in emerald green patches, enriched by some heavy rain over recent weeks. The distant cows looked more reddy/brown than usual and our daughter danced ahead of us in a bright pink t-shirt, that I swear is never usually as pink as it looked today. Even the black dog looked slightly blueish.

In the clouds, I saw what looked like a terrier, and a crazy chicken wearing a headdress and happily snapped photos non-stop for about half an hour. We picked blackberries and elderberries and our daughter cartwheeled around happily.

It's lovely to get up high and let your eyeballs have a big fix of sky and hills; to let the bright blues and greens into your psyche. I felt very chilled and lucky to be living here and was casually snapping pics of everything around me, until I saw a butterfly on a nettle and decided to have a go at a decent close-up. It came out quite well, if I do say so myself!
But today was about being cheered up by lush big countryside so that's what I chose to put on here.

I took a cup of tea in the garden and braved the chilly wind when we got back, so I could continue to feel the sun on my face before it bogs off and leaves us again... Bliss...

Of course, it's all gone belly up since then. I've burnt a saucepan, trying to make elderberry cordial, the youngest and middle child have had a massive fight, the dog has been a total arse, and at ten past seven I still haven't made the evening meal...
But it was good while it lasted and thanks to the big blue and green fix I am slightly less stressed.