Weekend Away

A few weeks ago the family - eight of us in total -went to the Cotswolds - to celebrate wedding anniversaries and birthdays for us all - a beautiful part of our country - we stayed in the Teachers House in   Great Wolford - close to Moreton on Marsh and Stow on the Wold -the house was  a dream and full of character at every turn.

 We had never been to that area before and now will definitely return --  click on the pic to read the signpost names

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our house for the weekend was the Teachers House - secreted away in a tiny

village Great Wolford  quite close to the church - with footpaths winding in between the picture book houses and gardens -

 

 

 

 

Wonderful old houses built with Cotswold stone - with fantastic gardens

 

 

 

 

 

 

I loved this old barn so much that I have used it in my header as well !! our room overlooked it and we watched the swallows darting to and fro early morning so relaxing

 

 

 

The weekend flew by amidst barbecues - meals out and family stuff a lovely wind down and a time to remember - we moved on from the Cotswolds and spent some time in Oxford calling at Hidcote gardens on the way ( another blog I think!) - on the way home we stopped off at Burford for a wander round - another chocolate box village if you know the saying - its claim to fame is that it is the gateway to the Cotswolds and it really is a charming little village sitting on the side of a hill - if you ever get in that area it is certainly a place to stopover- amazing shops and tea shops I am posting pics of the delicatessen

 

click on for a better view

 

 

I found it fascinating. -wishing you all a very good week - Jane

PS -I am linking also to our World Tuesday today

 

 

 

 

Six Words Friday

Yesterday

- Today

Nature makes a move

linking to Six Words Friday - enjoy your day - Jane UK

My Walk - My World

Today I am posting a few pics  to share with you - my walk in the park - I think it is very beautiful -

the varied and stunning scenery in my world here in Shropshire has inspired authors and poets alike -

The leaves were all shades of green

- the wild flowers and shrubs  blossomed at every turn -

birds sang and squirrels chased back and too -

forgive me if I ramble on -

but I felt  privileged to gaze on the beauty of nature - before dropping back into lifes reality.

I am linking today to Our World Tuesday  -  click on the pics for a  better look  - Best Wishes - Jane

Weekend Reflections at Slimbridge

This last weekend gone we   visited  http://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge/ Slimbridge - the Malvern Flower Show - and we called on friends that we had not caught up with for a number of years - lovely time.

Slimbridge is a WWT  Wetland Centre   I have added the link - so many wonderful birds and so my Weekend Reflections are from Slimbridge and the Flamingoes - click on the pictures for a better look -   enjoy your weekend - Jane

Reflections at Portmeirion

Recently we spent some time close to Portmerion in North Wales and so I am linking to Weekend Reflections and posting my Reflection pic - pictures taken on a walk through the shrubberies and woods of Portmerion -

 

 for a better look - click on the pics to enlarge - and for more Portmerion pics take a quick look at my previous blog   -

 

Have a good weekend - Jane

Wales at Easter

Wild Flowers -

Steam Trains

and Mountains - Wales had shed its winter shroud of mists - turbulent storms and heavy snow and we saw a glimpse of a gentler Wales

- silence only broken by bird song  and the calling of sheep and lambs in the fields and of course the movement of steam trains up the valley.

We spent the week - us two - two teenage grandsons and two dogs - chilling out - the crew we have stayed in this house before - fantastic views (for us ) WiFi for the younger ones - playing on gadgets way into the night and getting up late - us getting up early  catching the sunrise

 and walking the dogs - seeing the countryside waking up.

We took a trip on the Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway which is a fabulous trip

- steaming through the Welsh Mountains and a visit to Portmeirion Village

- renowned for its fabulous pottery and incredible architecture. The grounds are extensive - us two returned in the evening

to walk up into the woods

and view the age old shrubs and trees - some hundred years old and more- rhododendrons

and camellias towered to the sky -we also saw evidence of the recent terrible storms - Portmerion lost total 98 trees,

 Returning home and taking a walk out at our local park

and strolling around its walled kitchen garden and admiring the flowers

and veggies - as we approached the old brick buildings suddenly a swallow swooped past - the first one for me this year - what a wonderful surprise - of course as they say over here in the UK "one swallow does not make a summer" but it did it for me ! enjoy your week - Jane x

Somewhere in Shropshire

Hello - thought you might like to come with me on the dog walk today - quite a nice day - a little misty - still plenty of puddles in the fields but even so very refreshing and good for the soul.

I haven't taken this route for a while - and was amazed how the crop had grown - the last time I came down here this crop was showing as quite small plants - today the plants were shoulder high with me and I guess in a few weeks they  will tower above - it is oil seed rape (I think) - the pollen from the flowerheads can be quite powerful- but the colour  is so bright.

The dogs were excited lots of new smells and new pathways -  the field had long stretches of walkway from one end to the other - made by the farmer and his tractors while cultivating the crop - so we were able to extend our walk to and fro.

I stood and looked across the fields to the hills beyond  - on the horizon the hills of Wales

This old tree stretches out to the sky - that brings thoughts to me of a favourite tree up on Lyth Hill that I visit from time to time and give it a hug I know I can feel the vibrations from deep in its trunk

Not many people about today down here - maybe they don't like the pollen from the rape - perhaps I will regret strolling through the field 

 

 The hedgerows were covered in white blackthorn blossom - one of my favourites -  encouraging a few bees to stray from their flight path -  but alas no butterflies perhaps it is a bit to early

 Dogs were a bit muddy and so was I when we reached home - so it was time to get the dogs scrubbed up on the decking - yes a refreshing walk  - bye