Housework Monday

No, not really, the weather was too nice to be indoors. So we went up to Chatsworth, to see how they're goetting on with the renovation project.
As you can see from the photo, the work is progressing nicely....

.... We had lunch in the restaurant and then browsed the garden and gift shops.
I have noticed that the shops are forever changing now, since the new Duke and Duchess took the reigns. Many people I know weren't happy and felt that "Chatsworth wasn't the same" as it was. Well it was bound to change, after all how many of us do things exactly as our parents did them?
Things have to move with the times, we don't always like it, but that's life. I think that it's really changing for the better. The garden shop now offers a wider range of products, and not all are expensive. The gift shop really has changed with a greater selection of gifts, books games clothes and jewellery, which is ever changing.
The courtyard has an even bigger seating area, and now had an outdoor eatery.
Yesterday the Duke and Duchess were in the shop discussing the items and talking with the visitors. This very often happens, as it did with the late Duke and the Dowager Duchess.
We then went for a walk along the river....

....it was really quiet along here, but so lovely.
Before we moved on to Castleton we stopped at the shop for an ice cream.....

.....they never scrimp on the servings, as you can see!
We then went on to Castleton.....

....the home of the Blue John mines. There are lovely places to eat (The Nag's Head being our favourite, great meals) and lots of gift shops and a couple of jewellers who specialise in Blue John.
We walked down to the Three Roofs tea shop for a pot of tea....

....you can see Winnats Pass
in the distance. We'll take a drive up there so you can see the view.

....once we've had our tea!
There are quite a few caverns here, one being called The Devils Arse strange name I know, but worth a visit! We went a couple of years ago.
There is also Speedwell cavern..,

...but lets take a drive up the pass....

...the view from outside Speedwell Cavern looking towards Castleton.

...now we'll go through the pass and then look out from the top....

....not great pictures I know, but I think you can get the idea!
This is the view from the top....

well worth it!!!
Now we'll drive back down.....

...and now we'rew back outside Speedwell Cavern and the view is just stunning.....

I do hope you enjoyed our trip. I'm hoping there will another one, very soon!

The scarecrow trail

Here are my pictures of the scarecrow trail last Sunday, at Ticknall. I din't get them all but after the pictures you will find a link which will tell you who won, and more pictures of the ones I missed.

....there were so many....

....lots of different themes......

......lots of colour....

.....some very funny.....

.....I am definately going to make a mini scarecrow for our garden....

....so I now have to gather my "supplies" together.
You will find this link
will show you lots more of the scarecrows, including the Royal family and ET, ones which I sadly missed. Enjoy!

Is it me....

I don't know what it is, but many of the people I know, rarely spend time in their gardens unless it is bathed in wall to wall sunshine. Me, well I love to be in the garden as much as possible.
So, today the weather has been warm, cloudy with a slight breeze, and whilst I could have chosen to do housework, I decided to take myself out into the garden.
I made myself a mug of tea, cut myself a piece of cake ( which I made yesterday) and along with my sewing, went into the garden.
It was lovely listening to the birds, watching them to and fro amongst the flowers along with the butterflies and other insects. I got slightly sidetracked and went for my camera (always trying to get a good shot or two of whatever visits) but I did get some sewing done.....

......I'm sewing up the items which I've made to go into my Folksy shop...

..........since we returned from Dorset I've been catching up with my knitting projects. I've been making more summer items.....

....and I've been doing some favourites too.
But I did eat my cake, before any garden visitors decided to try it...

.....I still have quite a bit of making up to do, but hopefully they'll be in the shop for Thursday.
Did I get any housework done? Yes, but there's always plenty of that to do.
I still have some garden projects to do this week. I'm just hoping that the rain the weathermen have forecasted holds out until I've done them all. If not, I shall have to change my plans.
I also have to edit the pictures which I took of the Scarecrow trail on Sunday in Ticknall. We didn't do all the trail as we were only passing through on our way to Hidcote Manor Gardens, I still managed to get some great shots though. I will share them with you next time.
But for now, I have ironing to do. Happy days!

Mabel

Mabel, a photo by Shabby Tiger on Flickr.

I thought I'd show you a picture I took a few weeks ago at Caughton Court. A National Trust property in Warwickshire.
There seems to be quite a lot of scarecrows about this year, and each one I see has it's own " personality"
This one I've named Mabel, what a nice trim waist she has!
Although our garden isn't big enough for a full size scarecrow, I am tempted to make a miniature version.
There are quite a few open garden days coming up in our area soon, also there are a couple of scarecrow trails in surrounding villages. I shall be taking more pictures, to see what people come up with. Imagination and fun, two things which are always on my agenda!

Postcards from the seaside

Wish you were here.......

Garden delight!

From early morning it was blue sky today. So instead of doing all the mundane housework, ( I'll catch up tomorrow, honest!) we went the short trip to Calke Abbey. The gardens always look different no matter when you go, so this is how it looked today.....

.....the deer were taking it easy under the trees, but in the background you can just make out Foremark reservoir, see how low the water level is?
These deer have such good hearing, I was being so quiet, but he still heard my camera.....

...... Our sweet peas are just beginning to flower, but look at this sheltered border.....

....they are beautiful, and the scent is divine.....

....We weren't able to visit the physic garden today as when we arrived it had just been closed to the public due to swarms of bees. Apparently they had two swarms which were acting quite frenzied. One of the gardeners told us that they had "captured" two swarms and closed the hives, and the closure of the physic garden was because of any frenzied bees.
I know nothing of bee keeping, but it all seemed in hand. So we shall go back in a couple of weeks' time. That's the beauty of living so close!
Anyway, this is how the border in the formal garden looks today...

....everything looks glorious, the roses smelt gorgeous, there were so many. It's a good year for roses this year!
......

....the main beds in the centre have been planted with dahlias, they should be stunning when in bloom. You can just make out the avaiaries in the background. They are now clear of all the birds and will not be used as aviaries in the near future. I wonder what happened to the silver pheasant who used to reside there? I shall have to ask next time we go.
The " plant theatre is filled with geraniums, ( pelargoniums)....

.... so many lovely colours.....

.......

.........

... walking back these caught my eye.....

....nature offers us so much.