Hidcote

I am very lucky to live very near a very big variety of National Trust properties within the Cotswolds 

This weekend I took myself off to Hidcote. It is a glorious drive to get there and has been featured a few times on BBC Gardener's World.

I have over the years visited the garden several times, but this I think was my favourite in terms of the garden's and the variety. 

I hope you enjoy my images. 

 

Obviously knitting came too! 

Thanks for viewing. 

 

Sewing and cake!

I have like many been a follower of Attic24's blog for many years and have now had the privilege of visiting Skipton and Yarndale many times, which was initially started by Lucy.

Anyhow I digress! In Lucy's latest posts she writes how their are fewer and fewer blog writers.  To me now society just wants a quick fix of images or visual stimulation and not spend time reading and enjoying what people write.  But I write my blog as a way of writing my thoughts and sharing my activities.

It's been an interesting week for sure.  Last weekend I went with my Son and his partner to Just Fabrics an amazing material shop to make my first project bag. 

Then on Friday I was treated to an amazing cake for having been at my day job for 19 years!! 

I could not believe thinking back how much has happened. My Son was only 3 when I started, I've since been married, divorced and had Cancer.  

But through everything I've always had the incredible support of my Son who is my role model, Mum who is such a determined and strong willed lady and a few close friends. 

One of my next challenges set by my Son is to be able to run 5k together and I'm determined to do it. 

Who inspires you? 

My Garden

I love my garden, it is years in the making with plants and ornaments from so many places.

I thought it would be lovely to record it so I can look back and see it grow, literally! 

It used to be grass but is now all patio with a small border around the edge which has a mixture of bushes and bulbs which are a surprise each year they come up. 

The house is in an estate and unfortunately over looked from every angle.  So my aim is to have plants that will grow many feet tall and enclose the garden so it's hugging you when you sit outside. 

I was walking home one day and this lovely plant stand was out on the street.  So I knocked on the owners door and she'd left it out for the scrap man as she didn't want to re paint it.  I love it as it is. 

The welcome signed was a £3 bargain from a holiday last year, it's such a happy sign. 

The Singer stand was free years ago was being got rid of at my old work premises. 

The teapot was a gift from a fellow knitting friend. 

The pallet was free from Howden's who are opposite where I work, which I painted. 

The Sara sign was a birthday gift many years ago. 

The Campervan planted which is very heavy was another birthday gift. 

The Frog bird table I bought last year from a garden centre near Blenheim Palace. 

This bird table my lovely Mum kindly gifted me and is often used. 

This elaborate brick was from a salvage yard in South Molton, Devon. 

This lizard was from Malvern flower show many years ago. 

The pretty ironwork was from Lidl and the wooden heart from North Wales. 

This planter used to be a water butt that was cut down. 

The lovely plague is from my last holiday abroad in Bulgaria in 2017!

This lady statue is older than my Son so about 24 years old. 

The ironwork magazine wrack was a car boot find. 

For me my garden is about creating not only colour and plants but memories and is very precious to me. 

Keeping it local for Easter Sunday

I had a shocked today while out walking.  I have lived in my current home for 21 year's having left my parents home age 21 and lived in Cheltenham for 35 year's!

I have never fully settled here.  For me the town has everything I need and it is very handy for getting to many places for day trips and going on holiday.  

But it doesn't have a "community feel" like places like Skipton and Hay on Wye have when I have visited.

That being said I am very lucky to live in my lovely home and today instead of getting in my van I decided to stay local and had a lovely five mile walk with my trusty companion Luna.

Initially it looks like she wouldn't want to move!  But she loves her trips out

Something I really miss about living in the Cotswolds is being able to get to the coast, as it's a minimum of an hour plus drive.  So my walk by the River Chelt has to do. 

I do love to see people's gardens some are so pretty. 

On this particular walk I pass the first ever place I rented a room when leaving home, a very grand house.

There is the sweetest thatch cottage within feet of this property which is currently for sale, perfect if you have a spare £300k +

I headed out on a country road where you have the backdrop of Cleeve Hill and the company of many birds singing.

So all in all a nice relaxed way to just chill and enjoy my day. 

I hope you have all had a lovely day too. 

Easter Saturday in Wiltshire

So as to make the most of the nice four day weekend, today I headed to Wiltshire.

Starting with The Courts Garden.  Set in a lovely town of Holt.

I lovely entrance with the house. 

I love how their are so many places you can get second hand books now. 

The beauty of Spring so many pretty flowers

Nice place to sit and knit. 

The garden's are so pretty, but not very big so doesn't take too long to walk around

Then I decided to drive home via Malmesbury as I'd heard about the town, so thought would be lovely to visit. 

There is a lovely Abbey which is very impressive standing on the hill. 

This amazing car drove past and I just had to take a picture. 

I'm not religious, but every time I have the opportunity to light a candle to remeber my Dad I always do.