Explorations around Leekbrook!

Due to large amounts of rain last week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday), to the point we could not go exploring our local countryside we tried to make up for it today!We were waiting, or rather I (mummy), was waiting for an important phone call this morning, whilst I was interacting on the telephone, EJ enjoyed time with her play-doh, she hasn't played with it for ages and so we got it out this morning, she happily played with it on an upturned Twister game play mat.

Then a few snacks in the bag off we went exploring....
I had totally intended to take EJ to the other park at St Edwards Park (housing estate up the road from where we live) but somebody has blocked the way between the Churnet Valley rail track at Leekbrook Junction and the woods, but I would not be won over by this blockage, somebody else had seemingly had a go at getting through before us, and flattened/broken down the barbwire and post, so I carefully lifted EJ over the barb wire, stepped through it carefully myself and off we went, through the lovely wooded area, one of my favourite walking paths of Leekbrook.
We walked joyfully through the wood, having little stops to take in the beautiful nature around us, here is ej posing for me in the woods...

A little further up is field access for cows, a gate and a shipping where cattle/sheep can graze and eat and be sheltered. EJ loves climbing gates so I just had to capture her doing so...

She got down graciously and I snapped a few macro shots of flowers before we headed off for the playgrounds on St Edwards Park, during munching snacks and playing, she really enjoyed herself and played with sticks with a fellow 3 year old. Another little girl, Olivia, is going to All Saints nursery school in September, yet she will be in afternoons it seems unlike EJ who will be in mornings.

Here is EJ happily playing with a stick in the woods before we even got to the park.
I had asked her to sit and pose on the log and she made some strange expressions so I decided this was my favourite shot.
EJ loves this little park, I can sit and watch her just go around and around the play things happily on her own, two slides, climbing and other little activities all around it. I just fancied editing this photo and making it selective colour as she just wouldnt swing like a monkey at the top of the slide for me.
"Talk to the hand 'cus the face aint listening" kind of attitude here me thinks, I asked her to swing on the bar at the top of the slide (which she normally casually does in a teasing way every time she goes on these slides) but she wouldnt do it and turned around to press the big buttons on these two coloured horns.
EJ loves ponys, most girls do apparently, yet we know she definately does! This one doesn't bite or eat lots of food, EJ just climbs on all by herself and rocks away.
I edited this into antique format, Always a lollipop kind of girl and here she is sitting on her favourite little pony toy in the local park.