Escape to the country Part II

This was the grandest and most imposing building that I think I've ever visited. Hardwick Hall was certainly built to impress. The sizes of the rooms are incredible both in floor space and height. I think someone must have been expecting Queen Elizabeth the First to visit with her retinue and apparently she never did. The ruins of the previous Hardwick Hall are next to this spectacular building and this would also have been an incredible building and wasn't old or decrepit when Bess of Hardwick decided she wanted a bigger house and created the new Hall. Some people are never satisfied are they? Here is a picture of one of the plaster friezes from the old Hall.

A day or two later we visited Haddon Hall just a few miles from Bakewell. This house is very diffferent to Hardwick and I think that I could be quite cosy and content living here! It's still a very large building but the rooms are smaller and cosier than Hardwick. Of course the owners still live there and properties are always warmer and friendlier for that. Haddon was used as Thornfield in the BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Toby Stephens and more recently as the Boleyn family home in the Other Boleyn Girl with Scarlett Johansen. Have a look and see what you think.




I thought I'd also post some photos of Bakewell and some villages in the area. Some were so sweet and pretty with typically English architecture and gorgeous cottage gardens. Here goes - we'll start with Bakewell.





Now we'll move on to Middleton-by-Youlgreave.



A little further afield is the lovely Hartington with it's proper village green and lovely cottages.


I hope you enjoyed your short tour of the Peak District.

Escape to the Country

This was the scene as we approached our holiday cottage near Bakewell. (Well, ours for the week anyway!). Yes, the sun was shining although there was a cool wind that developed into something much stronger over the weekend. (If you've been over to Lucy's blog at Attic 24 you'll realise just how bad the winds were). One thing we noticed as soon as reached the Derbyshire countryside was the large amount of Hawthorn trees in the area and it was obviously just the right time to catch them in full bloom. As we got nearer to our cottage the roads became narrow lanes and got quieter and quieter until we reached the lane where our little cottage was nestled amongst the trees and meadows.

As we continued down the lane our cottage came into view at last.

And these young ladies were there to greet us. . . . .

and had left us a welcoming gift.

Springtime

I've been busy this week, spending an extra day at work. The extra money will be very nice but it has thrown my routine out of the window. It means that I haven't had any time to prepare anything new for the blog. However, I do have a few garden photographs taken over the last fortnight. The gorgeous weather we had a couple of weeks ago seemed to bring everything into life (not least this gardener who doesn't venture into the garden if it is cold or wet.)Hope you enjoy them.Make sure you you have a good holiday weekend despite the poor weather forecast.

Buttonmania

A while ago I posted a photograph of some buttons that I'd bought in Church Stretton and said that I'd show you what I was going to do with them. Well, here they are - no longer buttons but jewellery.


And in good old Blue Peter tradition - here are some that I made earlier.





I was hoping that someone with a younger, less scrawny neck than mine would model the necklaces but as I couldn't afford a fee I had to model them myself. I must have looked a complete idiot standing in the garden changing necklaces and having my photo taken (which I HATE anyway). At least Rob looked just as silly taking the photos. I'm sorry that the red and black necklace looks blurred but I guess you get the idea of what it looks like.

Gorgeousness

I received these gorgeous GreenGate tins in the post yesterday. I'm already having trouble deciding what is going in which tin. These are my first GreenGate purchase but I daresay they won't be the last. Their designs are so individual and easily recognisable. I have to say (takes a deep breath and hopes everyone won't hate me) but I don't really get the whole Cath Kidston thing. Don't get me wrong - the designs are very pretty - but you can buy very similar products far more cheaply that look just as good. However, GreenGate - well that just seems to light my candle and I have to admit to being a big Emma Bridgewater and Nicholas Mosse fan. Well there we are I'm out of the closet - will anyone ever read my blog again?

Rain, gardens and folk music

This weekend the weather has been mild but wet in the Midlands. However, we weren't going to let the rain spoil the break for us. On Friday we celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary with an evening spent with friends at the local folk club. Our old friend Trevor performed(playing Mandolin and Banjo) with his band 'Nothing to Prove' and their set included traditional folk, music written by the band themselves and even some Seth Lakeman. Despite rain all morning on Sunday we did have a wonderful afternoon visiting the gardens at Morville Hall near Much Wenlock. Morville Hall is owned by the National Trust and at present is split into six dwellings and gardens (the largest of which is open to the public by appointment). However, Morville is really well known for the gardens belonging to the smaller Dower House. The garden was created by a lady called Katherine Swift and her book 'The Morville Hours' telling her story of the gardens is published today and Katherine herself is reading extracts as Book of the Week on Radio 4. (if you've missed it I thoroughly recommend catching up with the story on IPlayer) . Unusually, this weekend all six of the gardens were open to the public, all of them very different in size and style. I hope the photographs give you a flavour of their diversity and character.

No 1 The Gate House



No 2 The Gate House


The Dower House





The Cottage




Morville Hall



South Pavillion

Bishops Castle

I haven't been able to blog for what seems like ages. Yet another virus! So at last the computer is working again and I thought I 'd share some photos with you of Bishops Castle in Shropshire. Although tiny, it has a good range of shops including a clock repairer, an excellent deli and a second hand bookshop that also serves tea and cakes. (What more could any girl want!). It is also incredibly pretty.



We took a clock to be repaired, so in a few weeks time we will have to take another trip there to collect it. What hardship! We returned home via Church Stretton but I'll save pictures for another time, although I thought you might like to see our puchases from both towns.

Rob collects the Observer series of books and I just couldn't resist the old cotton reel. As for the buttons
I'll show you what I do with those in a future post.