Day Out

The winter has been so bad we've been going stir crazy. The sun on Sunday made us want a trip out so we set off and crossed the border into Yorkshire. An hour later we were here. Bolton Abbey

I'd been past a long time ago but never actually stopped, and it was well worth the trip. For anyone who doesn't know, it seems to be an outpost of the Chatsworth estate and is a Village based around the abbey and some ruins and a lot of walking areas. It looked so mellow in the afternoon winter light.

You have to pay £7 to park but that allows you to park your car at any of the three car parks.
We stopped at The Cavendish pavilion for a snack.
There were HUNDREDS of people and dogs there, but it didn't feel crowded.

There are lots of places to walk , some don't allow dogs but others do.
The river runs through the woods and fields, its very pretty.
Gnarly roots.

Gnarly woman

(When people get old they are deemed less beautiful to look at, but building become more romantic and beautiful with age. Just a sudden thought)
Around the edges of the Abbey are the ruined bits, some date back to the 12th century.

Just in front of the Abbey are the 'stepping stones' across the river. Can you see them?

No we couldn't either! They were under the water and the sign said they'd been partly washed away. Hetty didn't care.

Some more views and inspiration.

From Iron work

to stone carvings

and Victorian wall paintings

And some unexpected dogs!

Hetty didn't see them, they were high up on the front of the Abbey.

All around the estate there are plenty of tearooms and this was the path leading out from one of them.
Pretty holly bushes and wallflowers for later blossoming.

Around every corner a lovely scene.

Happy day. It would have been perfect if Hetty was a better traveller. (Don't ask)
Back at home, Hetty's Hippo has his beady eye on a big white sack.

Its my new consignment from Wingham wools, all ready to make some lovely felt in my On line course. I have a gorgeous array of colours and I can't wait to get it going. I've got quite a goodly number of students but there's room for a few more!

Last weeks heart brooches were well received by the gallery. I have one or two left and I've listed some new ones in my etsy shop. I just wanted to share this one. Its big. But don't you think it looks like a 'fishy' thing?

Here it is with its chums for scale.

I had a little note from 'Moo' to let me know there's a 25% off sale. I said I'd mention it. I absolutely love their beautiful business cards, greetings cards and mini cards. They are amazing quality, so if you need some nice business cards at a decent price, go to MOO. You can have as many different pictures on the front as you like, uploaded from your own pictures, and they are a great way to get your work noticed. I had these lovely greetings cards made from my own photographs last year.