A Gentle Walk With Deer

One of the walks that I had to do before winter sets in was the grounds of Burghley House.  Both myself and Mumsy absolutely adore the place in Stamford, Lincolnshire and just wanted to see the autumnal colours in the beautiful English countryside.  The weather was perfect, the colours were inspirational and the company exquisite, just me and mum.    It was quiet, oh so quiet!  Just the sounds of the birds on the lake and above our heads and occasional voices from those who were on a similar walk.  Even the deer were undisturbed by the very few people around them.  We almost walked straight past this magnificent beast who was camouflaged by stony surroundings.

Burghley House is a pure gem in this country.  I could look and drink in the different views for hours and hours and would never tire.  It is the quintessential English manor, unchanged and a perfectly understandable backdrop for films such as Pride and Prejudice along with the famous Burghley Horse Trials.

Even the turrets are magical and your mind starts to wander to classic fairy stories.  Can you imagine Rapunzel letting down her hair from here?

And the prince climbing these golden gates?

The countryside surrounding this house is the memory envoking kind that never disappoints.

And amongst this, the amazing deer either taking it easy...

... or being a bit more curious.

Such beautiful, gentle creatures.

The oak trees carry an appropriate warning as the limbs of these old, aged trees are extremely heavy.

Every twist and turn is full of wonder and life.

It would be so nice to take shelter in this tree on a rainy day.  I could quite happily live there as a wise old owl.

Our walk was slow, unrushed and happy.  Joined along the way by various curious eyes and hoofs as we collected acorns.

Lion Bridge stopped us in our tracks with its stone lions guarding each side.  Regal and showing status to those who had lived at the house over the years.

The view from this bridge is that of a film backdrop.  Can you imagine Mr Darcy emerging from the lake?

The stone of the bridge is so interesting with its different colours and the texture was so comforting.

This ladybird totally agrees with me and sat with us for a while soaking the sun's warmth on a late October day.

On the other side of the bridge the sheep rested before their walk back to cover.

The house enjoying the last remnants of sun for that day.

On the way back to the car we saw a stag resting by the side of the pathway.  The beautiful backdrop of the house was so perfect against the sheer beauty of this beast.

I bit the bullet and thought,  I wonder, would he like some acorns?  He awoke, I quietly and gently approached, stretching out my hand with some delicious acorns.  He was very happy to oblige in a very magical moment and very gently took the acorns.  My heart skipped so happily as he slowly rose to his feet and walked towards me for more.

He walked to mumsy too and played out the most amazing memory, something we had never set out to capture.  I think he was smiling as much as us!

And so, it was time to say goodbye to this beautiful place.  The next time we will see the trees the leaves would have abandoned their mother.

Shall we take one last look at the countryside?  Yes, let's!

We are celebrating a birthday today too!  My baby girl (Miss Teenager) has now turned 14!  How the year's have flown and how she has grown.  So, lots of teenage angst I daresay today, a perfect time for me to pick up the crochet hook once more.  Granny squares are calling me!

I hope those of you who were in the path of the storm last week suffered very little damage.  We didn't get as much bad weather as predicted so are thankful for that.  Can I also say thank you once again for your kind comments regarding hubby.  He is still improving and will find out the full results next week.  He has read your comments too and they have made him truly smile with gratitude.  Thank you.

Also, thank you to my new followers.  I will get round to visiting you too shortly (once the birthday cake has been eaten and cleared away!).  Welcome along.

Have a wonderful week and keep safe with the fireworks this week!

Take care. 

♥ Chel ♥ 

 (Remember that if you want to see a larger version of my photos just click on one and a slide will appear)

 

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Our World Tuesday

Tuesday Around the World

A Host of Daffodils

The days are getting longer, the nights are getting shorter, the birds are singing early in the morning, car headlamps are not on constantly and the blinds are pulled later on in the night...yes SPRING is finally knocking on the door.  You can smell it and feel it.  The air that you breath in doesn't hurt the back of your throat because of the icy cold, instead it is clean, fresh and filled with new scents of the growing surroundings.  The smiles that appear on people's faces as soon as the sun appears through a cloud lifts the heart and mind.  I now hope to give you a smile with this uplifting shot I took today.

Aren't they just perfect?  The sun made it's long awaited appearance a few times this week, albeit rather briefly.  I popped over to the Cathedral and whilst walking through, all of a sudden, the sun made an appearance and for a brief moment each stained glass window in turn down the nave shone it's colours to fill the dark, grey interior with warmth and beauty.  It literally stopped me in my tracks, making me absorb this memory.  Isn't it amazing what a brief few seconds of time can do to you.  (Now, I should explain, on Friday I revisited the Cathedral and had my camera ready, and managed to take some wonderful shots.  I started loading them last night and for some unexplained reason my camera card decided to 'die' and I lost every single one of them!  One word...disappointed!).  

Today me and Miss Teenager went into Spalding to get a couple of bits and pieces but were struck by the sun being out again.  We went to Springfields but couldn't resist taking a look around the gardens.  So, want to see some more daffodils? Oh alright then!

A few more?

How about some blossom to break up the wonderful yellow?

A bit more pink?

Now how about some purple?

 The sun wasn't beating down, but it certainly made itself felt.

When we walked through the woods, the sun coming through the skeletons of the trees made me long for the  leaves to clothe them, not long now me dears!

The lakes were surrounded with vegetation.  I just loved these bulrushes waving in the light breeze.

and look, our first sighting of a honey bee this year!

This hellebore was just simply beautiful.

and even more blossom...

Aconites...

and primulas...

The life belt was standing redundant and abandoned by visitors making their ways to see colour once more.

Even the ducks had smiles on their faces!!...

And so, it was goodbye to Springfields...

and onto Spalding town centre...

We watched the people fishing for a while, again taking advantage of this wonderful weather.

And then grabbed a gorgeous, yummy sandwich to eat at Ayscoughfee Hall.

This place has beautiful gardens and an ancient tall yew hedge (which were planted in the early eighteenth century).  Just look at the gnarled twists and turns of these trees.  Mr and Miss Teenager are still nervous about going through these on their own as they think witches live in the tops of the branches! (a tale I told them a few years ago...that stuck!)

 The lake was so beautiful to look at while we ate.

Along with the newness of the plants that are filling my world at the moment, I have some wonderful news...we have a new addition to the family!  My youngest cousin gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl. So pleased and happy for her and can't wait to take a trip to Northumberland to visit them all.  This lovely news made me think that the newness of a baby, the beauty of the soil, plants and trees coming back to life again with an abundance of shoots, bulbs and blossom, it just feels so 'right' doesn't it?

Thank you for your continued support on my blog, it's lovely to see new faces following along with my ramblings and gives me a chance to find blogs that I may not have seen before, and in turn follow back.  It's funny how many miles distance us all but we all have similar lives, anxieties, interests and patience.  We are often in different seasons but we can look forward to the next season by following each other to see what we can do to our own patch in the months ahead.  The information out there is astounding, and all tried and tested by people who are actually doing it!  So thank you again, you have made me a very happy, bouncy bunny!!  (notice Easter references there!).

Have a wonderful week everyone.  I've got a treat for you next week as I am off to my home city of LONDON on Thursday for lunch at Lambeth Palace!  Yes, Flo (my camera) will not be leaving my side!

Take care.

 This week I am sharing with:

A Favorite Thing

Serenity Saturday
Pink Saturday
Sunny Simple Sundays Link Party
Weekly Top Shot
The Home Acre Hop
You're Gonna Love it Tuesday
Linky Love Wednesday

The Wonders of Blogging

Very early last year I came across a blog and thought to myself, what a fantastic idea, somewhere to write my thoughts, my loves, keep a record of where I have been and what I have seen.  Then wrote my first ever post in June.  There were no comments and very little traffic but I wasn't doing it for 'mega results', I just thought that even if one person popped over to take a look then I would be so happy.  Gradually I got to grips with blogging, URL codes, HTML, how to position icons, tidy up the page etc etc.  Then, slowly, some kind followers appeared (Mrs Blacks This and That, and Bronwyn at Queen B Creative Me being my first) I joined Twitter and again I gained followers.  I suddenly felt I wasn't on my own, I was communicating with wonderful 'penpals' who had the same interests as me, some with family's similar to mine, all so lovely and encouraging with their comments.  I started joining Link up parties and reading blogs I would not have found before.  So thank you, thank you, thank you to you all who have taken time to read my day to day ramblings, followed and left such encouraging comments.


The icing on the cake came today, I have been nominated by the wonderful Plain Jane for the Liebster Award (a bit of an explanation of what this is about is here).  I have been enjoying Jane's blog so much and to read her lovely comment on my blog today has really humbled me. Please pay her a visit to her inspirational blog.


The rules are that I answer 11 questions set by Jane, give 11 random facts about myself and also to nominate 9 more wonderful bloggers.

So Coco, keep the seat warm, I may be a while...

Here goes, grab yourself a drink and a cup cake (my daughter said that!) and I hope you enjoy.

Questions from Jane:
1. If you could only have two courses of a three course meal which ones would they be?
This would have to be the main and the dessert.  Mainly because the main usually has more flavours and the dessert, well, obvious really!
2. Choose three words to sum you up.
Creative, conscientious, witty (in the words of my Mum and daughter - along with a few others which I won't put down!)
3. Which film last made you cry?
Ghost, it always gets me!
4. What animal would you most like to be and why?
A cat.  Independent, loyal, loving and warm.
5. Is there a smell that take you back to your childhood?
Don't laugh, Jeyes Fluid.  When we lived in London they used to clean the drains with this.  I instantly think of concrete every time I smell this!
6. What would your Desert Island disc be?
Beautiful Day by U2.  Absolutely LOVE this track.
7. Where do you most like to be?
Standing at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, looking forward to walking around the Maritime Museum and Observatory.  (Me and my late Grandad's favourite places)
8. Potatoes - chipped, mashed or roasted?
Chipped (from the chippy - preferably London chips, you can get no better...I'm now salivating!)
9. What quality do you most admire in others?
I adore people who are unique and refuse to change to fit in.  These wonderful people are the happiest and inspirational people I know.
10. Sky Dive or Bungee Jump?
Neither, I do not do heights.  I found this out when wanting to be a female firefighter!!
11. What words of wisdom would you pass on to others?
In the words of the P!nk song 'You've got to get up and try, try, try'.

11 Random Facts About Myself:
1. I love Carry On films and will happily watch them ALL day.  Carry on Screaming is a classic.  What is even better is that my kids are laughing along too.
2. Never, ever, let me near a paper shredder.  I shredded a coat once when just coming into work and opening the blinds, don't ask, incredibly embarrassing, even more so as I was so hysterical that I couldn't get the words out to explain what I had done.
3. I have the usual phobias such as spiders, clowns, and squeezing cotton wool(?!), but my main one is...drum roll...Belly Buttons!!  Enough said!
4. I have the ugliest feet in the world (no I'm not attaching a picture as my bunions are throbbing due to the rain outside)
5. When I was pregnant with both Miss Teenager and Mr Teenager I had a huge craving for Rennies.  So much so that hubby knew when Miss Teenager was on the cards, as I was chomping away on the Rennies before the pregnancy test.
6. I walked across a hospital car park wearing my skirt inside out!  (I was working for one of the Directors at the time!
7. I like saying 'D' in Klingon (I'm not a Trekky though).
8. I find the words 'Moist', 'Plinth' and 'Gusset' very very funny!
9. I absolutely loathe hot weather.  Flies, smelly people, not being able to breathe.  :o(
10. I love Only Fools and Horses.
11. My nose was broken by my Dad when I was 9.  We were playing cowboys and indians with my two brothers and I was tied to a stool.  The dog (a very large Alsation) brushed against the stool and I went forward with only my nose to stop me.  My Dad lifted me to see the damage, and dropped me again as he can't stand the sight of blood.  A very interesting chat happened before the ambulance came to say not to say to the nurses that my Dad had tied me to a chair!!  We laugh now!

The Questions for my Nominees are:
1. What's your favourite month of the year and why?
2. What is the most embarrassing moment of your life?
3. What made you start blogging?
4. What makes you laugh and why?
5. What is the weirdest thing you have eaten?
6. What was your least favourite Christmas present and why?
7. What is your favourite film?
8. What first name would you have preferred to have been called?
9. When gardening, gloves on or gloves off?
10. What is your favourite ice cream flavour?
11. Sunday lunch, roast potatoes or mashed potatoes?

And the Oscar goes to...sorry, My Nominees are:

Queen B Creative Me
Playing with my Camera
Annies Little Plot
Liefselse
Grow our Own
A Woman of the Soil
Fabric Paper Thread
Beatrice Euphemie
AnjiKrafts

Well, that took some doing!  It was snowing a bit earlier but now it is dark outside and we have about an inch that has fallen.  Remember my post earlier this week and it was springlike here, well here we are back in the depths of winter once again.  Before and after (after being taken this morning - now more snow!), what a week!

So now Coco, budge up and let me carry on with my nice warm blanket, that tea looks cold!

Have a great weekend everyone and I hope you have enjoyed a little look at my random facts.

Take care.