April already, how did that happen so quickly? We went to Bakewell last week. They have a great market there, something that the city of Derby has been lacking for almost 40 years! Anyway, once we'd spent some time there we moved on to take in the views from here....

....it was a gorgeous day, and it was so quiet up there. It was quite hazy and so I couldn't get a good shot of Chatsworth from up here, but the view was still wonderful....

.....I even caught this little chap doing some "rock climbing"....

... The weather forecast for the Easter weekend doesn't sound too good. But then Bank holiday weather isn't usually very good, but, it's no good complaining about something which you can't change....

...so we'll be making ths most of it, whatever the weather!

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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.......

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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!!

Values

Over the last few years many things have changed, for all of us I suppose. The hours we work, the things we buy, (or don't buy) the holidays we take.
I was born in the 50's, 1956 to be exact (why worry about how old you are, it's only a number!) and brought up on this lovely stuff...

...it tasted much better than what's on offer today!
Toys were simple...

..if bought, but I was fortunate enough to have parents who loved making things, and so many of my toys were handmade by my mother or father. My dad made me a rocking horse when I was small, and it stood in our tiny bedroom for a long time after I was too big to use it. He also made a dolls house and all the furniture and fittings and my mum made the dolls, their clothes and all the soft furnishings.
I can remember him coming home from work on a Friday evening with this...

.....and he had quite a collection,they were used many times. My mum had this book (amongst many)...

....which I still have, and from time to time still use.
Luxuries were few and far between, but I do remember my mum taking delivery of one of these...

....it was so noisy. I dreaded Mondays!
The first home sewing machine was one of these...

....and I quickly learnt how to make things for my dollies and myself.
My mum and dad always told us that if you can make it yourself, do it.
they were great at recycling and looking at things with a " different eye" making something out of nothing.
We never ate shop bought bread, pies, cakes, they were always homemade. Curtains, bedcovers, most clothes, were made. I was taught to knit when I was four, and have never really stopped!
My dad made furniture, toys, he even made a garden shed for our tiny garden. I think I was lucky that I did grow up in a practical household.
This is why I am who I am. I have friends, even some family members who think nothing of "splashing the cash" on some item that I wouldn't even consider buying. They just spend without even thinking, then wonder where their money has gone because they have no idea what they've spent it on.
They are far too busy to even contemplate on even trying to make something for themselves.
I was asked the other day about a throw I'd made ( pictures are on my handmade blog) and was told "Oh I just don't have the time to do anything like that, I just buy things when I want them"! This came from someone who has no hobbies as such, and feels that making things is boring!
To me, my time is just as valuable as my money. I've never been one to sit for hours in front of the telly, I have to be doing something productive. Besides, there isn't much worth watching on the telly! It's not just the fact that you've saved money by " doing it yourself" it's the fact that no matter how small the project is, you have used your precious time to make it, it's going to last a long time, and most of all it's the sense of acheivement and satisfaction you have of knowing it's all your work. If I see something I like in a shop window, book or wherever, I will try to recreate something similar. I don't try to copy, as I prefer to put my own "stamp" on things.
Today we all need to know exactly where our money goes, but it's vital to know where your time goes, because that is precious too and just as valuable!

Sunday Sunshine

Blue sky.....

......pink wellies.....

......rosy cheeks....

....and little brother watching..

...Sunday funday!!

Forward thinking and a family gathering.

All this cold and snowy weather of late has got me thinking about the forthcoming spring. I'm really looking forward to longer days. In fact, even now it's nice not to put the lights on until after 5pm.
Mind you we've had some lovely sunsets of late....

...and some blue skies....

...but I'm so looking forward to spring!
We are reorganising our front garden and are looking for some new roses. So I've been perusing my David Austin roses book...

..a gift from Mick last year. I've been looking at this...

...I can almost smell the beautiful fragrance...

...the photographs are just wonderful, and there is so much information to read....

...in fact this book is full of so much information that it sends the mind racing, from gardening to craft projects. After all inspiration comes from everywhere!
In the meantime we've had a lovely family gathering...

...it doesn't happen as often as we'd like. Carolines' husband is away on business overseas and she and the two children are staying with us. So this was a great opportunity to get Andy and Lyn and their children here too. A chance of a family group photo (almost everyone) for a change.
So whilst there's young children in the house, there's not much going on except playtime!!