Sunday, February 25, 2007

Sunday in The Lake District

I wandered lonely as a Cloud
That floats on high o'er Vales and Hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:-
A poet could not but be gay
In such a jocund company:
I gazed-and gazed-but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude,
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the Daffodils


Written by William Wordsworth after an inspirational walk with his friend in April 1802. The poem wasn't published until 1807 and the above is a revised version that was published in 1815.

Today as I walked through the Lake District, there were green daffodil spikes everywhere. I suppose in April, they'll be at their peak. I often think of this poem when I go for a walk in Cumbria's Lake District. It was beautiful today. There wasn't a breath of wind so the lakes were like mirrors.


One of a pair of Mute Swans.

It was difficult for me to take lots of photos. Polly has never been more bouncy. She is shattered now. She slept all the way back north. While we were walking it was a job to get her to be still long enough for the camera to focus. I must say that I didn't complain too much when she was pulling on her lead. I had a sort of Staffie assisted ascent up this hill. Going down the rocky paths later, she had to behave herself and not pull.


Here are some of the other Staffordshire Bull Terriers that were on the walk today. ALL the dogs had a great time. Don't they all have beautiful faces?


This young girl was Polly's pal today on the walk. Sadly, I've forgotten her name. Her owners were darling too.

This is Ben. We met Ben last year and he has lost a lot of weight. The wideness he has now is all muscle, believe me!

Jake. He's a pretty boy, isn't he?

Betty and Bradley. Betty is the smaller of the two, a real pint sized Staffie.


Last but by no means least is Rocky. What a low clearance he has. He was in front of us for a portion of the walk. I hope Rocky's feelings aren't hurt, but walking behind him is very comical.

11 comments:

Xtreme English said...

gorgeous photos of the lakes.

Jay said...

What a wonderful time that must have been. All those dogs out having such fun!

Dogbait said...

I must admit I'm not a dog lover but I've never met a Staffie that's not friendly. I wish they were all like that.

bob mullen said...

loverly spot Coniston ehh

J-Funk said...

what beautiful doggies! Sounds like a wonderful day.

Anonymous said...

Hi Peggy

Great to see you again today.

Don't worry about the trousers, they aren't that dirty. Not as dirty as my trainers anyway after I got out of the car to take a similar photo of the swans and stepped into a large puddle of mud. Lets just say they are no longer white!!

See you soon.

Andrea
x

Kell said...

I would love to go to the Lake District. And to go and spend time with all the dogs? Now that would be a good day.

The dogs are so cute. They are so undeserving of their bad rep.

Joe said...

Beautiful. It looks warm and snow-free. Is that the way February is there?

gawilli said...

Their faces are beautiful. Sounds like a good day for everyone.

Anonymous said...

One of the few poems I recognise by the first two words ;)
Our English teacher made us memorise it when we were 14 and didn't understand a word of what it said. Those were the days!
Great photos of the lakes

Shammickite said...

Ah.. daffodils... one of my favourite flowers. I planted 50 of them last October, and I can't wait to see if they'll come up!