Life on the farm: Sunday Walk

It has become a tradition in our family, and seemingly in families all over the English countryside, to take a good long walk outside on the weekend. Saturdays are busy for us, with football (soccer to my fellow Americans) practice, riding events, getting homework out of the way, and doing errands. But Sundays always consist of a leisurely and often quite social lunch, and then an ambitious walk in the fresh air, no matter the weather. At first my kids resisted going out for a long haul, just when they thought they had earned a lazy afternoon, but now they have surrendered to not having a choice, and also to the knowledge that they love it as much as we do. They also love the enthusiasm of Ginger, for whom the walk is the highlight of her week. She gets long walks with me nearly every day, but to have the whole family out together doing what she loves most, sends her into a frenzy of over excitement, swirling around the yard and jumping so high that all four feet leave the ground. 

The combination of the wind on my cheeks, the exertion of my body, the company of family and friends, and the chance to get into a casual chat or a meaningful conversation without the distraction of daily life, all make our Sunday walk one of my very favorite things about our life in the country.

Zach often brings a ball to toss around, and there is always at least one dog with us.

This church is visible from our regular walk around the farm. I take comfort in seeing it, as it is the same design as the one in New York where Christopher and I were married. They are both a copy of Magdalen Tower in Oxford.

This day was so gloomy. We had just returned from New York, and I was having a hard time coming back to such depressing weather. Just at the end though, as we were coming up the drive, the sun broke through the clouds and everything looked beautiful. I felt grateful. 

Walking through the Barrington's with Lenny and friends.

We were staying with some friends who live on the grounds of Babington House. Everything was so beautiful there that we walked on both days of the weekend.

Here I am in Christopher's jacket walking around in the thaw at Babington.

Friends joining our walk.

Just when we though the snow was gone for good we got one last dump.

Gingy on a mission.

It's hard to say who loves the snow more - Zach or Ginger. They both go a little bonkers with excitement.

Leaving our neighbor's house after Sunday lunch for a walk to see the local flooding. But first, the beautiful gardens!

The massive flooding after the snow melted.

Christopher and an old friend, slugging through the mud.

Zach, working off his sugar rush.