Sunday 10 April 2011

Lakeland Postcards

Hello! As you can see - I'm back! Back from a really lovely week in such beautiful countryside, and more daffodils than I have ever seen before...We had sunny walks almost every day (will show you the rain pix too!)..
This was our sweet little cottage, near Ambleside, down a long windy lane with a farm gate at the end that you had to open and close to go in and out....you could go for lovely walks straight from the cottage...
These are four pictures I took at Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's house, where we've been many times over the years. I love to see the garden too. The vegetable patch looked pretty, the flower garden still quite bare but in the summer it's filled with blooms....there is a sheep pen too, and this little lamb was my favourite of all the (many) lambs I photographed this week, with its perfect little lamby face and pink ears....
 Beatrix Potter has always interested me, first because I loved her books, especially the illustrations, then because I found her journals and letters interesting to read and re read, and then because I discovered it was thanks to her that so much of the Lake District was protected from developers - she bought up lots of land and farms and bequeathed it all to the National Trust when she died...I can see why she chose to live at Near Sawrey - it's such a pretty, picturesque spot. We had a lovely sunny walk there after visitng Hill Top.
Now I have to be honest...this was the Lake District so it DID rain...for two days...and here are some rainy pictures, first the cloud and mist rolling in off the fells, then the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop with rain swilling down on it, and then a view of the dark cloudy rainy sky...and the final one of puddles...yes, plenty of puddles everywhere...muddy boots plodding down the lanes, wellies splashing through puddles...
Apart from wet walks, you can always stay out of the rain for a while and read, or knit...I finished off the blue cardi while I was away, and here it is having the buttons sewn on..the quilt is the one that came with us on this trip - this one doesn't have a very pretty name, it's just the Floating Four Patch Quilt....
Or you can go to a tea room out of the rain - mmm we always enjoy doing that, in fact we go when it's not raining too. This is our very favourite place for afternoon tea, Jumping Jenny at Brantwood, Coniston. It has wonderful food and a lovely location looking over Coniston Water - well worth a visit.... we specially like going there in the autumn, when there is mist and wood smoke and it's sooo atmospheric...
Some treats to bring home for the family...we had lots of Kendal Mint Cake this week, it completely took over from the mini eggs for me...the Grasmere Gingerbread is famous and legendary with a secret recipe and I must say I've never tasted any like it any where else...
                                                        Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
                                                       Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

A little bit of Wordsworth there which I thought of when I saw the daffys at Ullswater Lake, I like those lines more than the more famous ones now....

So, now I'm home again and lots of things to do, including some new Christmas designs (yes really) and lots of lovely blogs to catch up with reading! Thanks so much for your sweet comments on my last post and kind wishes for my little break. I do feel refreshed and will be back with another post very soon. Have a wonderful week, with sunshine, spring blossoms and happy days. xxxxx

29 comments:

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Lovely to have you back Helen!
What a lovely trip, I've never been to the Lake District but as a big fan of Beatrix Potter I would so love to visit there.
Your photos are lovely including the ones with the 'angry' skies!
You have a beautiful new mohair cardigan now too.
There you are you're just back from a spring break and straight into Christmas. :)
Vivienne x

Jenny said...

Looks like you had a wonderful week away, what a lovely cottage you stayed in. Glad the sun came out for most of it, though it wouldn't have been the Lake District without a bit of rain would it! xxx
p.s that little lamb is just the sweetest thing, so cute!

Crafts @ Home said...

After nearly 20years, I think its time to pay the Lake district another visit! I do remember the rain though.... However those lambs are simply gorgeous, and the tea rooms look scrummy as well! and of course if it rains it's a good excuse to sit and sew!
Anyway, good to have you back again :)
Sue Xx

Ali said...

Aah another lovely post we spent some time in Keswick last year and climbed Cat Bells the area you have been to looks gorgeous think I need to visit there if not just for the gingerbread - it looks devine xx (Looking forward to seeing your makes xx)

Jane said...

Welcome back Helen, it looks like you had a wonderful restful break. Your photos are lovely and capture the sunshine and the rain which is always part of this island of ours. I confess I have still never visited the Lake District...it needs to go on our list of places to go..!We also LOVE afternoon tea and never need an excuse to stop anywhere!
Jane x

Teje Karjalainen said...

Dear Helen, that was a dram trip! I would love to have that kind of holidays! Thank you for sharing all these lovely photos and your thoughts from your journey!
Have a lovely week at home! xxx Teje

Teresa Kasner said...

Oh Helen, you're living my dreams. I descend from English people and have never been there and just LOVE Beatrix Potter! I got her whole boxed set to read to my grandchildren, then a book about her, then the best.. that wonderful movie "Miss Potter". Lucky you!!

Hugs from Oregon, USA -- Teresa :-)

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Hi Helen, Lovely to have you back. Looks like you had a marvelous time. Your photos are so grand. I love where you stayed, so much character and charm. That is truly the sweetest little lamb. We have sheep down the road from us and I count them everyday to make sure they are all there. I have my favorite and it has a pink nose and ears. Most of them have dark features. I hope you have a good week, it is hard to get back to the swing of things I think after a vacation. Take care, xoRobin❤

Naturally Carol said...

It's nice to know that Queensland isn't the only place where it rains a lot! Lovely to have you back bright and bushy tailed and rearing to go again! Thank you for sharing your pics with us..lambs and puddles..some of my favourite things.

Kate said...

Sounds like a lovely trip. I love the Lake District - it's fabulous even when it's raining.

Bee Lady said...

Oh thank you for sharing your trip with us. I love Beatrix Potter. I recognized the house before you said who's it was and I've never even been there. What a beautiful area it must be. Your quilt is absolutely beautiful.

Cindy Bee

Mia said...

Welcome back, Helen!

Thank you so much for sharing, it seems you had lovely time despite of the rain :) Have a happy, sunny and creative new week (and Christmas-designs, oh my!)!

Yours,
Mia

Helen said...

Glad you had such a lovely time,
gorgeous photos,
Love Helen x

salty pebble said...

hill top farm- oh my i sooo love beatrix potter- my idol...she is just the most amazing, imaginitive illustrater of all time x
i love the cottage you stayed in WOWZA!!!!!! i love the scenery , your beautiful piccys- i will sit here all for another hour gazing in sheer beauty!
what a dream of a holiday you lucky lucky lady ;0)xxxx

salty pebble said...

mint kendal cake- oh my i love that, when we used to travel up north my dad would always us little ones that x yum x

sylviesgarden said...

Its great to have you back. Your pics are all so lovely, the Kendal Mint Cake one made my mouth water.
I'm so glad you had a good time. Thanks for sharing with us.
x

Anonymous said...

Hello Helen,
I am so glad you enjoyed your week in the Lake District despite the rain, I know Jumping Jenny's very well and so agree, the food is scrummy.

Can't believe you just mentioned the C word!

I have put you on my blogroll I hope that is ok.

Coco Rose Diaries said...

Hello Helen!

What beautiful photos! Sounds like you had a fabulous time too! I have never been and would so love to go. Many of my family have been and say it is wonderful.

Thank you for sharing these lovely photos with us!

Enjoy your christmas projects!!!!!!

Have a super day!

love Vanessa xxxx

Simone said...

Your break looks absolutely idyllic - even with the rain! I bet you feel refreshed and inspired from being around such wonderful countryside. x

Frances said...

Helen, this was a lovely reminder of a place that I would love to visit during springtime.

Must make a note. 2012, 2013, or some spring! Your photos are so lovely. I do have a Grasmere gingerbread recipe from a book called A Proper Tea, by Joanna Isles. It's delicious and easy to do ... wonder if it really is The One.

Cheers!

Pipany said...

Good to see you back Helen. The Lake District is so beautiful and you have captured the essence of my perfect holiday here. Looking forward to seeing your new designs x

gillyflower said...

Thankyou for sharing all those lovely pictures of the Lake District - even in the rain it is such a beautiful place to be.
Sounds and looks like you had a wonderful break, and still you managed to be busy knitting and sewing!
The cardi is looking lovely, and I love the pretty soft colours in the quilt!
Can't believe you have to working on the dreaded C word things already!!!
Hope you feel refreshed!
Gill xx

harmony and rosie said...

Great to hear you had a super time, rain and shine. Did you have any sticky toffee pudding in Ullswater, I gather that's where it originates ..
Kate x

moonstruckcreations said...

Lovely photos Helen, good to hear that you had such a great time!

Its a long time since i visited the Lakes in the springtime, we usually used to go late summer/early autumn. Thats a magical time there too, but very different to the fresh spring days.

Helenxx

Anonymous said...

Looks lovely, rain and all.

...Nina Nixon... said...

I love sploshing around in muddy puddles - it makes the rain all the more worth while.

Beautiful pictures and have a wonderful week,

Nina xxx

do you mind if i knit said...

GORGEOUS photos Helen, really gorgeous. So sorry you had bad weather, we were very fortunate in that we only had one day of rain. I think we might have photographed the same lamb at B P's Hill Top! So lovely to see the same spots we visited a few days later than you. The Lake District is just gorgeous isn't it! I was wondering, the cottage you stayed in, can it be rented? It looks so lovely. Thank you for this really lovely reminder of the lake District. Love Vanessa xxx

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

Helen this made me so happy.
The road sign especially, and the pictues of Hilltop and yes the Gingerbread shop~ Your accommidation was charming. I have never been rained upon like I was in Ambleside, but it didn't dampen my spirits of the Lakes one tiny bit!
xx
julie

Unknown said...

Have just found this post. You have directed me t some places I have yet to visit - thank you. Jackie x