Tuesday 13 October 2020

It's Been A While

Archie seems to have had one problem after another with his little legs just lately, he developed a limp which he recovered from only to start limping on another leg. I don't think it's anything serious, he was seen by a vet who didn't think it was anything serious either. He's often had limps throughout his life and they seem to improve with rest so I think he must be prone to pulling a muscle or something.

We always take care how far we walk him when he's limping. He can walk the limp off but we don't want to do any further damage so we take him on very short walks for a while so that he gets plenty of rest, it seems to do the trick. This does mean that it's been a while since we've visited Lotherton so we thought we'd remedy that on Sunday.

It was a nice day, we had blue skies nearly all day but there were times when rain threatened though it never came. It wasn't too cold either, though I did finally succumb, I wore my winter coat for the first time this year.

Autumn is in full swing with the trees putting on a colourful show, they seem to be hanging on to most of their leaves for now.

We're a bit late for conkers, the seed cases are strewn on the ground with the shiny brown seeds already gone, picked up by little hands and taken home no doubt.

I haven't seen Lotherton so busy for a long time. I wonder if people were just taking advantage of the fine day, or whether they were making sure to have fun whilst they could with further coronavirus restrictions in the offing. The majority of people were sensible and stepped aside as they passed others but as always, there's always the odd ones who are rude and walk two or three abreast and won't let others pass safely. It does annoy me.

The orchard has been relieved of its fruit. There are lots of different apple trees growing at Lotherton, some very old varieties, and visitors are invited to pick the apples on a set day in September and the fruit you pick can be purchased, I think it was 10p per apple when we last attended the event a few years ago.

It was nice to get out, what with Archie not having long walks and us not travelling any distance because of coronavirus rules, it seems I've been cooped up indoors for too long. I have to admit that autumn isn't my favourite time of year with summer now gone and winter to look forward to, spring seems a long time away. I don't mind the dry days though, especially when the sun's shining and the sky is blue, it's the dull grey days which tend to get me down.

There's always the beautiful colours of autumn to cheer me up though, just look at this leaf litter, so vibrant.

Lotherton is home to a herd of red deer which were introduced back in the 1980s and have bred successfully ever since.

We stopped for a while to watch them.

There's some magnificent stags too but we didn't catch sight of them on this occasion.

Lotherton is currently gearing up for their Spooky Skeletons Trail which will run over half term, covering Halloween. A few of the exhibits have already been set up.

As you can see, Archie was rather nonplussed at the sight of the skeleton dog.

I'm glad we got out for a walk when we did as it poured down yesterday, and although today has started off sunny, it's forecast rain again later and I'm a bit of a fair weather walker.

26 comments:

  1. I do love all your photos, especially the socially distanced skeletons! Poor Archie, hope he doesn't get any more limps.

    I'm a fair weather walker too, which scares me a bit as I'm going to have to walk Betty myself twice a day for 6 weeks come rain or shine (or gales even, perish the thought) when husband is on crutches for 6 weeks!

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  2. Winter is going to be harder this year with restrictions, our garden was our saviour in the summer months. Dry days we walk to our local water edge.

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  3. It's always lovely to see Archie. He makes me smile every time I see him. I do hope his legs don't bother him too much! Like you, I enjoy the dry days of autumn but the grey, rainy, windy and cold ones I definitely don't enjoy!

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  4. We had a walk this morning while it was fine. Pouring down now.As we are now confined to Flintshire we are discovering new walks closer to home.I like level walks which is bit difficult here in North Wales!The walk this morning was along the old railway line through a wood with dappled sunshine.Lovely.
    Hope Archie is better soon.Barbara

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  5. It looks like a lovely place to visit Jo, I love the skeletons I bet it looks amazing when it's all set up. I'm a fair weather walker like you although I'll take it further I'm a fair weather no wind walker I don't mind a gentle breeze but hate it when it's blustery.xx

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  6. Nice post and pictures. Sorry to read about Archie and his little legs.
    I agree about people not letting others pass safely, and about dull grey days both of which we could do without.
    Take care. xx

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  7. Archie is very cute, I do wish they could talk at times so we know when there is a problem. What a great idea about the apples. Ive been on the lookout for conkers as my sister is making things with them but can't finmd them anywhere.

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  8. Glad you were able to get outside. Looks like a fabulous place to walk.

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  9. Does Archie have problems with his joints. When Tivvy was older we gave her Yumove which certainly improved her mobility.

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    1. Archie was getting a bit stiff getting up so we have started him on Yumove, though I don't think the limps are anything to do with his joints. He seems able to walk his limps off, which suggests it's something muscular. He seems fine again now.

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  10. Poor old Archie with his limp but he looks up for a walk nonetheless. Lotherton is looking great, really Autumny now with all those pretty colours and it's good to get out while you can.

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  11. Glad you were able to get out and enjoy the day. We have an older dog who cannot walk as far or as fast as he used to, so we don't walk as much either. Mostly because I hate to see his sad face when we leave and he can't go with us!

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  12. Hope Archie's limps don't get any worse. He doesn't get a prickle in his paw? Good to see you take a walk at Lotherton & reminds me of our day there last year. When you mentioned your feelings about the grey days, I sometimes realise that we are so alike in that. Maybe it's a Virgo thing.(giggle). Take care, stay safe & huggles.

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    1. No, it's not his paw, it's his leg which he can't put any weight on. He's able to walk it off though so I think it may be muscular.

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  13. Looks Like a lovely place for a walk. It annoys me too when people don't make an effort to keep a distance, you would have thought it would be a force of habit by now. I prefer going for a walk now it's cooler, I don't mind walking in the rain, as long as it's not windy too, hate the wind.
    I hope Archie is doing ok now.

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  14. Poor Archie, I hope he soon manages to walk off his limp. This looks like a lovely walk, I love the deer and the skeleton dog :)

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  15. I know all too well about the concern we have for our fur babies! If they could only talk and tell us all about it!💖

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  16. Oh, poor Archie. I hope this gorgeous walk revived him.
    Amalia
    xo

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  17. I wonder if halloween events will even still happen with lockdown restrictions? I'm really feeling for UK family - their restrictions compared to ours don't seem as harsh. We went into total lockdown - no shops, no family, no pubs, nothing really and not leaving suburb for 8 or so weeks. The UK really ahs me worried! I do love autumn.

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  18. I am sorry to hear that Archie has been limping but glad to hear that it is always short lived. Your walk at Lotherton look so lovely, the Autumn colours are beautiful this year.

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  19. I hope Archie is feeling better by now. It sounds like a muscle strain, although wouldn't it be so much easier if they could let us know what is wrong.
    Lotherton is looking as lovely as always, especially the leaf litter. The leaves have fallen thick and fast here this week, and many of the trees are almost bare already.
    Like you, I am a fair weather walker, so I'm hoping it will be fine this weekend. X

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  20. OH, I love fall but Iam in a fear of winter mode here lately. I don't know why because we got through summer on our lake paddle boarding far from others, and we cycled and we gardened a lot. And we will continue to be outside even if it is cold. And oh it will be cold. Your Lotherton is beautiful and love the deer addition. I may have to save something for cloudy day treats only!

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  21. I love to see the leaves changing in autumn. Your conkers must be earlier than ours... My niece & I collected 120 from the tree on our street corner just last weekend.

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  22. Such a lovely post, I have enjoyed seeing all of your photographs. The deer were lovely and that one with the socially distanced skeletons made me smile.

    Autumn is one of my favourite seasons, I just love seeing the different colours, and being child-like and kicking the fallen leaves :)

    I was sorry to read about Archie's limp, hope he continues to improve.

    As it's Saturday as I type this, enjoy your weekend.

    All the best Jan

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  23. Ahhhh, poor Archie, good that he can walk the limp off. I had a Jack who used to develop a sudden limp, every time I took him to the vet it would go and he'd walk fine. Years later it turned out that his knee was popping out and would just right itself. A problem common in Jacks. What a lovely walk, loved the autumn colour and those beautiful deer. The skeletons had me smiling, especially the dog one and Archie.xxx

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  24. I do enjoy returning to Lotherton via your blog.
    I’m the same with grey days, they just seem so utterly pointless.
    I had to laugh at your final photo, Archie really isn’t bothered at all is he?
    xx

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