Sunday at Sudbury

We paid a visit to Sudbury last Sunday. We wouldn't normally visit National Trust places at the weekends as they're so busy, but we were in the area and thought we'd stop by. This was our first visit for just over a year.

...On this visit it wasn't our intention to go into the hall, we just wanted to go to the Museum of Childhood and to look around the grounds and take a few nature shots.
The museum is forever changing and is always worth a visit. They offer so much to visitors and there is always a packed programme of events.
If you want to take a look the link is here

There are new exhibitions for this year,and it's wonderful to see all these things in one place, even toys which you may still have yourself, (like Thunderbirds Tracy Island). But for me it's not about the massed produced toys it's about the handmade, homemade toys. If you should pay a visit, take a good look at the Betty Cadbury collection, these toys and games date from the 4th to the 20st century. See if you can spot the handmade snake, made from old postage stamps, made in the 18th century.
Here's a bit more information on the Betty Cadbury collection.
I did take a few pictures, it was a lovely day...

.....just a gentle breeze....

.....I hope there are lots more days like this to come this spring...

It really does give you a spring in your step!

From the Attic!

Here's the first selection from Grandmothers Attic!

Why not pop over and take a look!

Monday mystery tour

Yesterday hubby had a day off. We had already decided that we were going to go out for the day, but weren't sure where. So with walking boots and cameras in the boot of the car we headed for the great blue yonder. Well it was a glorious blue sky!
Our first stop was here.....

..it's been a year since we were at Dovedale. It was lovely and quiet,the best time to come, when everyone is at work!
The air was so fresh, a little chilly, but gorgeous...

....the sheep were people watching....

...it was so quiet and lovely..

On this occasion we didn't walk all the way to Milldale as we had other plans, so on the way back to the car....

.....I took a couple more shots of the magnificent scenery...

......some of these shots will make wonderful scrapbook pages.
We headed off and stopped here..

Hartington. It's a beautiful village....

.....we went to see if the "Pot" shop was open. We are in need of some terracotta pots for the garden, but it wasn't open today. Never mind we will just have to make a return visit, no worries!
It was very quiet...

...the spring flowers were all bursting into bloom...

....the cheese shop is open....

...I love cheese, much more than chocolate!!
Anyway it was time for a bite to eat and today we had our lunch here....

..... todays lunch was:- beef hotpot with spotted dick and custard to follow, Mick had syrup sponge. It was delicious, all home made and the service was wonderful, but it always is! Do stop off and try it if you are ever in the area!
After lunch we headed for Buxton. It's been a while since we were here too. Very quiet here also. The last time we were here the Pavillion indoor garden was closed, but today it was open. Just take a look...

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.....it's beautiful!
I also had time to take a few shots of the beautiful gardens too, and the bandstand..

....I always wish I could step back in time, to see what it was like a hundred years ago....

...then it was a look around the shops, a cup of tea at the chocolate shop and a nice drive home.
Today it's back to normality, and housework. Here's to the next trip out!!