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Continue reading →: Helmshore: Soggy September Strolls and Sulky PeacocksI’ve been singing Autumn’s praises in recent posts, but this past 2 weeks have certainly tested my affection for the season. Fierce winds and relentless rain have been battering Helmshore, making it feel more like survival than celebration. Between recovering from a lingering Norovirus and the dreary weather, I’ve barely…
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Continue reading →: September: Roasted Squash SoupI’ve been lusting over the display of squashes in the Potato Man farm shop since the weather turned towards Autumn. Squashes are in season now, and it’s hard to choose which ones to buy. I finally gave in and bought this little beauty; a Kabocha squash, to turn into soup,…
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Continue reading →: Helmshore: Harvest Moon gazingPepper and I enjoyed a girls weekend at home when Mark disappeared with friends to do a bike ride in Peebles. We started off with a visit to the Lancashire Game fair in Scorton. I enjoyed a wonderful hours drive each way, through the Ribble Valley and surrounding villages, though…
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Continue reading →: Helmshore: the arrival of Autumn!This is my absolute favourite time of year. Some trivia for you, from the University of Texas! In the UK, we use the term “Autumn” which derive from the Latin “Autumnus”, or season of abundance, harvest & growth. The US term “fall” comes from the phrase “Fall of the leaf”,…
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Continue reading →: Brotherswater; Late AugustWe finished off the summer with a long weekend in the Lake District. Staying at Sykeside, a beautiful little site just off the Kirkstone Pass, close to Brotherswater Lake. On Friday night, we dined in after some light ales at the pub on the site. We went with beef ragu…
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Continue reading →: Helmshore: August Bank holiday weekendIt was a weekend of contrasts in the weather. On Friday, I was wearing a jumper and considering flicking the heating on; on Monday we were sunbathing in the garden! Whilst I was happy to wear my beautiful new fair isle jumper 🥰, it’s so wrong to be that cold…
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Continue reading →: Helmshore: late AugustIsn’t late summer glorious? I know we are supposed to love summer, but when you’re of Celtic heritage, heat and sun are not your friends. After the (frankly) unbearable heat and humid of the last 3 months, I am glad to return to cooler temperatures and the subtle shift into…
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Continue reading →: Masham in AugustWhat a wonderful place to visit! We arrived at the Masham Station site on Friday and pitched up in the late evening sunshine. It’s a beautiful quiet site, surrounded by apple trees which were all dropping fruit. On Saturday, Mark headed off early to partake in the Black Sheep Brewery…
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Continue reading →: Hope: Quiet weekend in JulyIt’s been a busy couple of weeks., so we took a day off work and did an extended weekend away in the beautiful village of Hope. Pepper certainly enjoyed some downtime, taking the opportunity to sleep in late every morning. She must be the only dog that has to be…
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Continue reading →: Helmsley; Birds of PreyThis weekend, I was doing a different kind of birding during a visit to the Helmsley National Birds of Prey Centre. Whilst it might be cheating a little, watching the flying display did give me the opportunity to practice photographing birds in flight; a lot easier when you know the…
I’m Sal, a writer drawn to the quiet magic of the natural world. My blog gathers the moments that shape a week: the first light over the hills, the call of winter birds, a walk that becomes a memory. I write about landscapes, seasons, travel, and the gentle threads that connect us to place.
Most of these moments are shared with Pepper, my ever-enthusiastic companion, who reminds me daily that even the simplest walk can hold a little wonder. Together, we explore the magic tucked inside an ordinary life — the kind you only notice when you slow down, look closely, and let the world reveal itself one small moment at a time.
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