We are so fortunate here to be able to go for long long walks across many terrains without ever getting in the car. England has a wonderful public right of way system where you can cross fields and farms quite freely. It's exquisite. One day, not too long ago, we left our little cottage on foot, walked down a lane past a stream, through many fields filled with sheep and cows and up over the moor... when suddenly... we saw this...
You don't have to go to Scotland to see Highland Cattle. These big guys are bred to be able to live in windy, misty rugged places and don't mind eating plants that other animals turn their noses up at. And they are enormous. Animals who live on the moors are a bit wilder than most, indeed, there are wild ponies up here. 
They are also very curious and came up for a closer look at us which scared the crap out of me. 
I love these pictures where you can barely see the trees through the mist into the deep dark woods. Very spooky. I creep myself out big time when I'm walking by myself. Remember that scene from Anne of Green Gables when she's walking through the woods by herself and a crow cries and she freaks out? I have lived that, no joke.
This is gorse, which is a type of evergreen shrub. It's said to bloom in the kissing season--which of course is all of the time. It's dang prickly, but I love it. And in the spring time it smells like coconut, weird I know!
