#longmynd

[tinyleavesmusic]

OUT NOW! The forerunner single to my forth-coming album Mynd is available on all platforms: http://linktr.ee/tinyleaves

[wool-and-wanderlust]

Day 9: Katy and I left Sussex around 10 in the morning for the 4 hour drive to Shropshire, where I'll be working on the sheep farms. There was a delay on the motorway because of an accident so we accepted Google's alternate route that saved us 15 minutes, which turned out to be an adventure on its own. We're still not sure where we were, but the roads were so tiny and difficult to drive on! Stopped for lunch and I had a vegetarian English breakfast and one of the best lattes I've ever had. I think I just desperately needed caffeine. Katy had something that neither of us could pronounce, and neither could the restaurant staff. The drive took about an hour longer than expected, but we had a great time listening to each other's music...her music is much cooler than mine :)

When we arrived in Shropshire, we got settled at my godparents' house and had supper. This is the view I'll get to see every morning.

Afterwards, Adrian took us up to see the views from the Longmynd. On the way, we stopped to see one of the farms where I'll be working. He thought the family wasn't home, but they were and they waved us inside. We talked over a cup of tea in their kitchen, and I felt like I had stepped back a little in the past to a time when it was more normal for people to just drop in on each other and say hello. The world needs more of that. They were so kind and now I'm even more excited to work with them and learn about their farm. Some photos from my new commute:

We drove up a beautiful but scary road to the top of the Long Mynd, and I simply can't believe people get to live here. It's one of those places where the beauty is hard to describe because it's not just pretty to look at — you can feel how special it is in your bones.

I wish we had a word for the feeling I had when we were walking around up there. Maybe there is one and I just don't know it yet. It was a kind of peace, and relief, and excitement all at once. This trip has been a long time coming, and it's finally here, and I feel like this is where I'm supposed to be. I am so lucky.

[hippography]

Above: Longmynd. 

Below: Longmynd Commons. 

Olive Tilford Dargan, 1913, The Welsh Pony, Boston.

[cocainenoseandecstasyeyes]

Views over wenlock edge. #views #pretty #beautiful #cool #amazing #landscape #shropshire #england #muchwenlock #wenlockedge #nt #nationaltrust #greenery #plants #trees #clouds #sky #natural #nature #longmynd (at Wenlock Edge) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9zvU9rJtfb/?igshid=wcw1ir3xro1y

[mhickey001]

The #longmynd has high grazing areas and moors covered in purple heather and ferns and yes it’s absolutely gorgeous https://www.instagram.com/p/ChiMjyaDHog/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mariolopezgoicoechea]

The #LongMynd, #Shropshire. #Summer 2022 #Cuban #Immigrant #Londoner https://www.austinmacauley.com/book/cuban-immigrant-and-londoner #visitbritain #visitengland #countryside #photography #VSCO (at Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd NT) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cen6Dw1sYyJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[thomasbombadilius]

Spent the day with @theironbridgebookshop / @megolass__ at @actonscottmuseum and @cardingmillvalleynt getting very close to animals! @discover_shropshire #discovershropshire #actonscotthistoricworkingfarm #longmynd #shropshire https://www.instagram.com/p/CO0_i_sHfodx-7ODuTQEOCDbunql5t7tCEYerQ0/?igshid=i30996rhhqk

[blueskyjunction]

Great route and sweet camping spot... #longmynd #smallbach #shropshire #camping #hiking

[tinyleavesmusic]

I've started a new blog to chart my adventures in sound over the past few years in my local hills. It's been fascinating and continues to be so! For fans of the creative process and music + nature lovers: tinyleavesdotcodotuk.wordpress.com

[fauxscotslass]

7 mile walk today with my Dad over the hilss of the Long Mynd! I'm so happy that I am able to go out and do things like this now. 15 months ago it wouldn't have been an option!! #hillwalking #walkingforfitness #fitfamily #longmynd #weightlossprogress #weightlossjourney #obesetobeast #fattofit

[wool-and-wanderlust]

July 30: Woke up today to the news that someone smashed the wing mirror on my rental car overnight. It was parked on the road, and someone hit it...didn't leave a note, so now I'm left to pay for the damage. Some people...

Was going to run some errands today, but can't really do that without the drivers side mirror, so I went shopping with Cathy instead. Was hoping to get a dress and/or shoes for Brian's daughter's wedding next weekend, but just ended up with a cardigan. Thought I might start on the new farm tomorrow, but it turns out the timing isn't great for that farmer, so I've got the day off tomorrow...time to try to get my car fixed.

July 31: Called the car rental place today to tell them I needed to report some damage, and the first thing the guy said was "Right — what have you done?" I'm sure he assumed the young-ish American woman who can't drive a standard would damage the car, but SHOCKINGLY it wasn't me. 🙄 Anyway, they told me I could just pop the mirror back in place since it's shattered but still in the frame, and I can drive it like that until I return the car. So I decided to go on another shoe shopping hunt. Went to a nearby town and finally had success. Then went grocery shopping and made tea. Seems like the new farm this week isn't working out quite yet, so I'm back to the original farm tomorrow. I guess I shouldn't have said such a dramatic goodbye already!

August 1: The fields at Brian's and Tom's farm needed rolling, so that's what I focused on today. They needed to roll the fields to press any stones back into the ground so that the stones don't damage the machine that bales the silage. So I had a quick refresher on how to drive the tractor, and then went for it! The perfectionist in me was annoyed because it took me a very long time to get the lines straight without any gaps between them, but I eventually got there. I was listening to the radio while driving, and when a certain song came on the radio I had to make this video. Then in the afternoon, we did some sheep work. I got to drive the quad bike around the field gathering the sheep which is one of my favorite things, and then we sprayed them with Dysect (which treats blowfly strike and prevents lice and ticks). It was nice being back on the farm...

August 2: Back on the original farm again today for more field rolling. I really shouldn't have said goodbye yet 😅 I got promoted to doing 2 fields instead of one today, so had my work cut out for me. I felt more confident in the tractor which meant I could drive a bit faster, so I was able to cover a lot more ground. My only bad moment was when I had to drive the tractor around a tree, and I thought the branches would just flexibly go *whoosh* around the tractor, but they hit it with more of a *thunk*. 😳 One of the big side mirrors got pushed in, so I tried to get out of the tractor to reposition it, but it had actually been pushed in so far that it trapped me inside the tractor. I was totally stuck and had to decide whether to call for help or climb out the back window of the tractor. I climbed out the back, fixed the mirror, and got back in! I also noticed the mirror on the other side needed adjusting, so I went to fix that one but realized the metal arm holding the mirror was actually broken😩 Wasn't sure if I'd done it or not, but figured I should probably let someone know. Had such a pit in my stomach about telling them! Thankfully, they told me it was already like that...phew. After lunch, I helped put up a small marquee for this weekend's wedding. We went inside for a drink in the afternoon, and when we came back outside less than an hour later, it had blown down and broken :( So they will have to hire a new one for the wedding. Such a sad moment! Should be leaving the farm for real now, as tomorrow I really do start at the new farm...Here's a video I made of my last few weeks with the Longmynd Commoners.

[flightmonkeyuk]

Had some lovely flying yesterday evening at #longmynd. Very relaxing float arond on my @airdesignparagliders Rise 4, and what a view too! #thermalmonkey #flightmonkey #paragliding #parapente #weloveparagliding #shropshire #shropshirehills #shropshirelife #sunsetflight #gingliders #airdesigngliders #airdesign #thatview #thatviewtho #paraworld #paraglideuk #soaring #thatsky #paraglidinglife #paraglidinglove #paraglidingworld #paraglidingpilot #freeflight #borntofly #flywithme #amazingview #gleitschirm #flyinghigh #crickhowellparagliding @crickhowellparagliding @gingliders (at Long Mynd) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEYy8KPHNrz/?igshid=1jon2c8ll4atq

[wildloveyoga]

It’s time for us to go on another adventure, two days in what looks like rain! Very excited to embrace the elements and climb Glyer Fach and visit waterfalls and get as many miles in. Hurrah for adventure! What’s your next adventure? I want to hear all about it.🌲 #wildloveyoga #yogalove #yogalife #yogainspiration #trekking #adventure #longmynd #hiking #barefoot #walkingmeditation #backpacking #explore #ecolife #naturelovers https://www.instagram.com/p/CENM4jAJ9ql/?igshid=1nbuetitmpv35

[mhickey001]

#ponies on the #longmynd in the #shropshirehills (at Long Mynd) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChiLr7lDR0L/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[h-dyer]

Someone enjoyed his third trig this week and his first night wild camping (and only 2nd night ever in a tent)! Not the most exciting view of cloud but I don't think you'd loose me in them! #wildcamp #shropshire #lucylocketloves #trigpoint #longmynd (at Long Mynd) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ZI66anZIC/?igshid=16tquhwaa7jzt

[thomasbombadilius]

Took a little detour to see the wild horses on The Long Mynd with @megolass__ / @theironbridgebookshop and @teabooksandtazmyn #longmynd #wildhorses #ntcardingmillvalley https://www.instagram.com/p/CFmDsQBHGY9t050d2ykMwTEpon-ob77KRKlWmc0/?igshid=4mjwt7qt3t3h