Spring is just around the corner

Ok so a bit optomistic but you know you are travelling in the right direction when the national collection of snowdrops ar in show at Colsbourne Park

 In spite of the forecast the weather was crisp and sunny, great walking weather.

the lake was smooth as a millpond

Even the on-site parish church was alive with bell ringing.

 


To continue snowdrop weekend Sunday we went to Newark Park with its wonderful country walks.

An oddity on the old hunting lodge is this dragon, recently found in the cellar and restored in London before being hoisted to the roof as a weather vein. A fellow rambler from Newport advised us that it could not be a Welsh dragon as it has four legs??

 Soon be Daffodile time :) 

A Valentines Weekend

The weekend before Valentines Marilyn and I went to see the snowdrops at the Rococo gardens and went for a walk around the local village of Painswick and I remembered a bistro advertising Valentines meals - Cardynham House. Chose here for the evening meal, lovely atmosphere, run by a lovely Spanish couple who couldn't be more attentive, and wonderful food (we went for the full three courses :-p )

Sunday was a crisp north wind but beautiful blue sky. Went to Newark Park for more snowdrops n daffodils - even the cherry blossom is out, mild winter so far! Loadsa people there but its a big place with lots of walks so it could handle it.

There are a number of (muddy) walks through woods on the estate and around the small lake.

The gardens also contain a number of follies, nooks n crannies

Early form of selfie :)

Was it something in the tea??

Lakeside Lodge

We didn't find the house one of the Trusts finest but it did have a few points of interest

an early chamber pot!

an early bed chamber

wall to wall porcelain cabinet

but wonderful views from the windows