The Sweetness of Doing Nothing

 SONG - Dreams (Thunder Only Happens When It’s Raining) by Fleetwood Mac cover by Lanie Gardener 

Day 15 - Tues. May 14

Woke to rain and more rain so we spent the day catching up with emails and relaxing. 

And taking photos of boats coming and going from the pier outside of our window. 

Honesty, it was a lazy day where Mr. B didn’t need to drive and I didn’t have to do much walking. 

The rain finally let up around 5 pm so we walked over to The Wateredge Inn for dinner. A bright pub right on the water.

And a view of a castle (which my phone camera didn’t pick up too well)

We walked down to the water’s edge and a swan swam up to us looking for something to eat. 

Walking back to our inn, the sun was setting. 

A Beautiful evening

And tomorrow we have timed tickets for a boat cruise on Lake Coniston & a visit to Beatrix Potters home!

A Bit of Alice

 SONG - Ode to Joy by Beethoven performed by Flash Mob

Day 14 - Mon. May 13

Zipping up the M6 to the Lake District only stopping for supplies in Preston and a garden at Leven’s Hall.  Oh no you say, NOT another garden…..well this one was different! 

Come along with me while I take you to the oldest topiary garden in the world!

Doesn’t it feel a little like Alice in Wonderland with everything a little off & wobbly?

And the topiaries are only a portion of the garden  

They have under plantings of annuals, an orchard, bee boxes, vegetable gardens, rose garden, fountains, greenhouses and a croquet field.  And they have the first ha-ha. Look that one up if you like! And no that’s not Mr. B!

Oh yes they also have an Elizabethan Manor house that I couldn’t take photos in as the family still lives there.  The Peel tower was built in the 1200’s.  You can see interior photos here - LEVENS HALL

Had lunch in their outside dining area.  They also have a bakery and a gift shop named The Potting Shed  

We are now tucked into our hotel on Lake Windermere in the pouring rain for the next 5 days.  Time to get creative on things to do while we are here.

Hope to see you tomorrow!

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing” 

 — Alfred Wainwright 

Flowers For Mother’s Day

 SONG - Mother & Child Reunion by Paul Simon

We are traveling through the Midland’s today on our way from the Cotswolds to Over Peover (between Liverpool and Manchester). Just so you can get an idea of where the “Midlands” are located - it’s kind of in the middle of England and above is our driving map for the day. Our first stop was David Austin’s Roses in Albrighton.

We were about 2 weeks too early to catch the first and biggest flush of roses blooming but I was so happy to be here with enough roses blooming to make my heart content.

Everyone was having fun on Mother’s Day!

This beautiful boy called out to us just as we were leaving the garden and I had to go back to take a few photos!

As I wasn’t able to be with my children or grandsons today, it gave me great pleasure to enjoy this beautiful flower garden.  I have been a fan of David Austin roses for over 20 years and have a sizable number of them growing in my garden at home! We had a quick nibble of cake & scones in their tea room and then we were off to our second stop - The Iron Bridge. 

And that’s me on the bridge just right of center

The Iron Bridge is the world’s first iron bridge which was completed in 1779 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.  You can read more about it here….

THE IRON BRIDGE

Now on to our abode for the evening - The Dog in Over Peover (yes that is the towns name and it is pronounced “Peever”) which I found online after trying to break up our long drive from the Cotswolds to the Lake District.  It was only a few miles off of the M6 which was whisking us North.  We pulled into their parking lot and noticed lots of people dining & drinking outside wearing shorts & sundresses. We got out of our car and Mr. B said he felt a drop of rain.  Within 2 seconds there was a downpour with everyone running giggling & screaming, running for cover.  Mr. B grabbed an umbrella and I jumped back into the car!

Rivers began flowing across the parking lot and I’m in flip flops.  As soon as it slowed down, we decided to make a run for it.  It’s times like this that I wish I had packed lighter, much lighter - well this and stairs!

We had a cozy room upstairs with a lovely meadow view and a proper Sunday roast for dinner.  We were happy campers.

Wait until you see where we head tomorrow!

“The stinking hedgerows are blooming dear” 

- Jeanette to Jim who detests driving in hedgerows 

A Day in Lower Slaughter

SONG - Take it Easy by The Eagles

 Day 12 - Sat. May 11

Mr. B is not feeling well so I did some laundry and went on a walk about. I can’t drive over here but I had a lovely walk around Lower Slaughter. 

 

Unfortunately my knee wasn’t up to hoofing it on up to Upper Slaughter. I loved watching the horse in the stream, the water wheel & mill, houses, flowers etc.  Came back to hotel grounds & ordered lunch since I didn’t have breakfast.  Sancerre wine & cheese burger & thick cut chips with perfect weather outside. Children and dogs playing in the grass and people of all languages conversing. Mr. B came down for awhile as he was feeling better and joined me for a nibble  

We went back to our room to relax.  It was so hot in our upstairs room that I put on a damp top because I had to get cooled off. Andy &Ashley & the Kids FaceTimed us.  Great to see them!  Sat on the patio with Mr. B &  checked mail, took photos, people watching, etc. Busy day here. A lot of young families & newborns & doggies.  Had dinner at the Inns pub and it was great! I’m waiting to go outside to see the northern lights! (*note: it’s tomorrow and I never made it outside last night as it was overcast - but I hope you got to see them wherever you are!)

XO