Our Holiday in England-- Part 1

We tend to put a lot of thought and planning into our holidays, so it was most unusual for us to decide in September, that we were going on an overseas holiday in October.

London was our destination and we stayed in a lovely B+B is East Putney, which was very conveniently located for travel to and from the city.  I just loved the sights of London and here are a few of them.

 

 



Liberty Shop in London

 

Cooking paella at the Chelsea Markets

 

 

Yummy chocolate coated strawberries

Hanging baskets with lovely flowers all over the city

 

Guard outside Buckingham Palace

 

An interesting shopfront

 

China town

 

The fresh flowers at Harrods

 



 We did a daytrip to Hampton Court. I was delighted to find a small patchwork shop at the village of Hampton Court. It was the only patchwork shop I found on the whole trip.

 



 Hampton Court

 

 

We left London by train and went to Yorkshire, where we hired a car. We stayed in a B+B just outside of York.  The village was called Linton on Ouse.

 



The Shambles in York. Loved the narrow cobblestoned passage with interesting shops.

 

Halloween was around the corner

 

Bettys Tearooms in York. I went to the original Betty's Tearooms in Harrogate 30 years ago.

 



 We did day trips into the countryside and we visited one of the national Trust places called Fountains Abbey. It is the ruins of an old abbey-- beautifully kept grounds and very interesting ruins.

Fountains Abbey

 

 

 The first sighting of a pheasant for me-- seen in the grounds of Fountains Abbey

 

 

Green fields and old stone walls

 



We drove over the Yorkshire Dales admiring the lovely scenery (which was impossible to photograph). I admired the craftsmanship involved in building the stonewalls  which still stand today.

 

 

The next destination was The Lakes District. We stayed in the best B+B in a small village called Troutbeck ( near Windermere. Would you believe there is another place also called Troutbeck near Penrith).  I hope to return there one day. There are lots of walks and very interesting places to explore--- we need a lot more time there to do them.

 

 

View from  a walk out of Troutbeck. Lake Windermere is in the distance.

 

The colourful fruit platter at breakfast

 

Birdfeeder outside the breakfast room of our B+B in Troutbeck

 

Old stone bridge

 

We caught a ferry at Bowness and crossed Lake Windermere to Far Sawrey.  I went to Beatrix Potter's House, Hill Top Farm, 30 years ago, and I enjoyed it just as much this time round. The house and gardens and surrounding countryside was delightful.





 



 

Hill Top Farm-- Beatrix Potter's house

Robin in Beatrix Potter's garden

 

A Bunny in Beatrix Potter's garden

We went on a walk and found this waterfall.

Waterfall

 

We went on to Derwent water and did a walk along the lake's foreshore. 

Geese on Derwent water

 

 

Wordsworth's garden in Grasmere-- Dove Cottage

 

National Trust building-- Wray Castle

Wild Forget-me-nots

 

 

Pretty hydrangea

 

View from the B+B in Troutbeck.

 

The views of the countryside in Yorkshire and the Lakes District, with the stone walls and woolly sheep with black faces, reminded me of my "Day in the country" cot quilt. I guess I got the inspiration for my quilt on my trip there 30 years ago. I had wanted to capture that scene all these years-- only took me 28 years to do it! I feel inspired to make another quilt with the country scenery-- hopefully in 2014.

 



A Day in the Country-- Cot Quilt

 

 

Woolly sheep with black faces

 

Country scene wall hanging

 

 

 

I will return in 2014 with the second part of our holiday.

 

Wishing each and everyone  a Very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year. May we all continue to find enjoyment and relaxation in our craft.

 

Yvonne