I had to have a walk on Shillingstone Hill and Bonsley this weekend because I guessed the bluebells would be at their best. I had seen them flowering at the top of Milton Abbas when I drove home from work and I knew I would have to make time to see them.

I took Lucy with me I thought it may be too far for Ellis the labrador and Kim can only go for short walks until she is a bit more grown up. We walked across Okeford Hill and skirted round the back of Bonsley Common and the bluebells and all the new growth was stunning. The lime green of the unfurling beech leaves complemented the bluebells. We were very lucky as the weather was stormy and we were expecting rain but it didn’t come on until we were crossing the large field to Shillingtone Hill and we both got soaked. The annoying thing was that when we reached Okeford Fitzpaine driving back down the hill it was bone dry and we had no rain at home and both Lucy and I returned looking like drowned rats!

What a week it has been so cold with easterly winds and its been a case of rush out for a walk and back in doors for warmth. I must be getting old! Spring seems to be happening but I don’t seem to have got out there to enjoy it.

Rod said he had spotted a couple of Swallows on the telephone wires in our back garden but I had to wait until Saturday to see them myself. They are coming in slowly and today as we crossed the River Stour at Hayward’s Bridge there were quite a number flying low over the surface of the river, catching flies I suppose.

We seem to have been extremely busy with little Kim which hasn’t given me much chance to get out and about taking the other two dogs for a longer walk than usual. She gets us up very early and then she is on the go for most of the day. I wish I had that much energy!

So on Monday with a bright afternoon, although there was a threat of showers. I loaded up my camera on my back and decided to do a circular walk down to Shillingstone and back to Child Okeford, about 3 miles.

The walk takes in the fields down to the river Stour and then along the old Somerset & Dorset railway line, which is now part of the North Dorset Trailway and the old station at Shillingstone which is being restored by enthusiasts. You can see progress of their work every time you walk by. The station commands waht I think are stunning views of the Stour and Hambledon Hill.

From the old railway line we took the footpath down to the river and across the Haines/Wilson footbridge and across the fields to the back of Melways Lane to Child Okeford. A pleasant walk and it didn’t rain and there were a few photo opportunities with the lovely clouds and of course Hambledon Hill.

Saturday turned out to be a nice day, sunny although a little blustery and clear with promise of snow for the next day. I took myself off for a walk up Hambledon Hill on my own without the dogs as there are still sheep roaming the slopes. They have been there all winter and should be moving soon as they graze the cattle on there during the summer and autumn. It helps the ecology of the the hill apparently. While the sheep are there I don’t take the dogs up there as I would have to have them on their leads and it’s not fun for any of us. Hopefully they will move them shortly.

I took my camera and used my wide-angle lens for the first time on the hill which was enjoyable, getting a different view then from my usual lens. I am going to get a polariser filter for this lens soon as I’m sure it will help with the skies and clouds. I managed to take a number of pictures although I was nearly blown away when I got to the top of the hill and boy was it cold! But I enjoyed myself for an hour or so and came back with a few acceptable photos, some of which are on my flickr pages

We’ve had Kim now for two weeks and it seems forever! No she hasn’t been that bad but you forget, or we certainly did, how demanding pups can be. Having to go outside what seems like every half hour trying to housetrain her is quite a chore particularly with the weather we have had recently. I can think of better things to do than be outside in the back garden at 10.30 at night in the pouring rain waiting for the pup to have a wee!

Well Ellis and Lucy are now coming to terms with the monster in our midst. Ellis tolerates her most of the time although she is a little too boistrous for him some of the time. Lucy looked depressed for a number of days when we brought Kim home but this week she was out in the garden with her and invited her to play! Now they race round the garden playing for ages and if one squeaks they back off. Lucy sorts her out though if she gets too much which is good it puts her in her place for a while; but then she still comes back for more!

Kim has grown in the two weeks she has been here and her ears are flopping all ways, I call it her ‘bad ear day’ occassionaly one stands up but it soon flops again but it all adds to her charm. We are making the most of her puppyhood and I am taking lots of pictures on the way otherwise we will turn round and she will be fully grown.