We went first with our friend Kathryn (my age, not the childrens') and all that any of them wanted to do was be with the animals. So we watched the sorry looking cows for a while, all very much covered in mud. Then were delighted to find some horses. With a bit of patience 3 of them came up to the gate of the field we were next to, and the girls enjoyed spending some time with them, and observing all sorts of things about them. Kathryn mostly got to be there with them as Peter was not content to stay in the one place for long, and so was backwards and forwards, round the corner and right next to the road, and obviously needed a companion (me) right there with him. I did get to sit down for a while though as we found a broken wall (the top bricks were all chipping off in layers) and the different shaped pieces were immediately cars, tractors and houses to Peter, so sitting on the wall there for me and playing with the cars allocated to me while he stood by me playing with his was acceptable for various longer periods of time. I was tired and glad of that.
They watched the horses taken back from their fields come early evening and hosed down before going into their stables, and at that point Sarah started begging me to take them back the next day (Saturday). I did in the end, but as we hadn't gone for a walk at all the day before said that we'd be doing that first. We've found it a lot harder since being here to just get out a bit of every day (or most days), and certainly not for some decent exercise and fresh air. The weather is better now to be out in the garden a lot more, which we are more often. The hilliness of the area hasn't lent itself as well to riding bikes though, or for exploring from home on foot (especially with me being pregnant - I'm too easily wiped out before we're half way up any hill!)
Well with horses to spend time with my suggestion of a walk didn't go down too well, and for I'd say all of three minutes I had an especially grumpy Rachel. Literally three minutes later though they were off exploring, and loving every minute of everything they found. Not such a bad idea after all - just haven't done enough of it for a while I suppose!
Hannah was immediately trying to get up a tree (though she didn't choose the easiest one to start with).
Peter preferred a little 'house' they had found - just his size and complete with benches along one edge. He kept going back there. I wished I could get down to that level to play there with him, but I just can't bend so well now.
We have just loved seeing the spring flowers coming out everywhere. There is normally a sudden hush and a look of wonder by one or more of the girls when we come across a beautiful patch of flowers, which is just what happened here.
They did of course end up in a tree. It took Peter a while to spot them from where we still were, and he wasn't sure about being up there to start with, but he didn't complain about having an afternoon snack up in the tree - a perfect place away from the dogs who were also out enjoying the blue sky and slightly warmer afternoon.
From their spot in the tree they had a great view to watch a man and woman in a nearby much taller tree who had brought all their climbing gear with them. The man was up to the very top within minutes, securing a rope up there. The woman was having a good go, but showed just how hard it really must have been. The children thought it was all fascinating.
Stopping on the way back (to the horses!) to notice a very tall family of shadow people, ...
... then racing off following a trail of hoof prints they noticed on the lawn, which disappointingly ended with the road.
The church at Stanmer...
... and of course, the horses.
They were different horses in this field from the previous day. Some of the girls had hoped to have the horses come to recognise them a little if we could come back often enough. They were very patient waiting for the horses to come over, which two of them eventually did. They did enjoy getting to know those two horses for a while, but we decided that a Saturday is definately not the best day to go and visit them - too many children who had no idea how to treat a horse around made it a bit too frustrating for a while, while their parents sat nearby with no idea what was going on. So we'll go back in the week again in future when we can.
Peter was really hungry again before we left, and so I went off from the horses a little way to get him another snack out of my backpack. This horse was immediately at the gate and pawing at the floor though, and he wouldn't take his eyes off me ever after. Maybe he could smell the apple I still had left in the bag?! He kept on trying to nibble at my fingers too, so I guess he could smell some kind of food there.
Peter found another occupation for a little while too...
Back at the carpark, and not wanting to leave - just have to climb a few more places!
2 comments:
I love the pictures!!
Glad to hear Peter never sits still-Alec's the same!! Never a rest for us. :)
those were great pictures. I miss it there all the wild flowers blooming in the spring. I miss that a lot. my kids would love the park not the animals Ella is too afraid. I have tried so many was to help her get cmfortable with them...but she is still scared.
How much longer till your due???
Post a Comment