Market Day #3

Just a couple images from today's market ... easter bonnets and fresh joints of lamb.

Compton Verney

We went to Compton Verney, located about 10 miles from Moreton, on March 27 to take in the Fatal Attraction exhibit.

For further details: www.comptonverney.org.uk

The art gallery is a former Grade-1 listed mansion house designed by Robert Adam in the 1760's for the Verney family, who owned the house until 1921.  The house then passed through a succession of owners with various uses including an army research establishment and a film set.   The mansion house and grounds were bought by a foundation in 1993 to transform the mansion and grounds (which were then in a state of decay after decades of neglect) to its present use as an art gallery, opening in 1998.  

Great stroll

great views!  this is just one of the reasons I LOVE England!

Favourite Flowers

Picked up these beautiful lilies at last week's market day;  they have filled the cottage with a sweet scent and brighten the lounge (aka living room).  Flowers like these are definitely what I view as the simple pleasures of life which give so much joy.  Simple = good, very good indeed.

Tudor style

Public building in Moreton; an example of Tudor architecture (the Tudor period being 1485-1603).  Tudor style buildings have 6 distinctive features:

* decorative half-timbering

* steeply pitched roof

* prominent cross gables

* tall, narrow windows

* small window panes

* large chimneys, often topped with decorative chimney pots

Morning at the Allotment

Andy's brother Paul invited us to see his allotment so we headed out early this morning to Coventry. Several people, including Paul, keep chickens on their allotment, mostly laying hens.

Penalty?

Not your usual front gate but one we came across this week on after dinner stroll in Lower Slaughter, a nearby village, about 10 min. drive from our cottage. I drove home from Stow in the Wold. It's the second time I've ventured out on the roads and look forward to the day I will feel comfortable driving in England!

6.5 Mile Walk - Moreton/Bourton on the Hill

Views of Bourton on the Hill captured on our walk today; perfect walking weather, not too warm for climbing hills (14 degrees celsius) with the occasional cool breeze.    

We had to walk a short distance on the main street that runs through the town of Bourton on the Hill We were walking side by side on the sidewalk, Andy on the outside and a car drove by and clipped him on the arm!  No harm done to him, but hitting him resulted in the passenger's rear view mirror being pushed in towards the window!  Good thing it was a moveable rear view mirror or more damage both to the car and Andy would have occurred!  And.. no, the driver just carried on and did not stop to see if Andy was ok!  

New Life in Lower Slaughter

We came across this pastoral scene on our evening walk in the nearby town of Lower Slaughter. Instead of staying in for a cooked meal, we decided to make the most of the remaining day's sunlight and packed a picnic; what a great decision! 

Market Day!

We had been holding off buying any fruit & vegetables because we knew Tuesday is market day in Moreton-in-the-Marsh.  Our wait was well rewarded!  There was a fantastic selection in the market - great produce, meats, cheeses and a vendor stall with a beautiful assortment of olives, feta cheese, nuts, licorice, turkish delight and nuts, imported from Greece.  Who could resist?

Early Morning Walk

Andy and I went for an early morning walk before starting work today, through nearby fields where you can literally walk from one village to another within 3 miles of each other.  Seen in the distance:  the village of Bourton-on-the-Hill. 

Sunday service @ St. David's Church

Andy and I attended the 11 am service at St. David's Church and as luck would have it, attending on the 3rd Sunday of the month meant the music included an orchestra comprised predominantly by young music students.  Walking to and from the church and going for a post-dinner walk through nearby fields, we are becoming more familiar with the town.  I am looking forward to Tuesday, Market Day when vendors set up their open air market stalls to sell anything from fresh fruit and vegetables, household goods, clothing, meats, leather goods, and everything in between!  We have been forewarned by the locals that we should not move our car from its parking spot when it's market day as the market sets up in the "short stay" parking lot and we'd have a hard job finding anywhere to park.  Well noted! 

Little Pinners - our home away from home!

Today we moved from Keresley to Moreton-in-the Marsh, our home away from home until late August, into "Little Pinners", a 400 year old 2 bedroom cottage built from Cotswold stone, and it already feels like home. We are about an hour's drive from Andy's family in Keresley (Coventry).  

As we loaded up the car, Teresa commented that it felt to her like we were heading home to Canada.  I reminded her that was not the case, and we'd be back next Saturday!  

Last day in Keresley

Today is our last day in Keresley; we move to Moreton-in-the-Marsh tomorrow, into a 2 bedroom cottage.  We had hoped to go on a North Warwickshire walk today, starting in Fillongley however the weather did not co-operate.  Instead, we went to Tesco's and did a big grocery shop of staples to bring with us tomorrow when we relocate to our new home.  I took this photo in my mother-in-law's back garden in Keresley, where we have called "home" for the past 2 weeks.   

Shopping with the Twins

I went shopping with Teresa and the twins, Sophie & Chloe, to find Teresa's "mother of the groom" outfit.   While we were shopping, the guys were back home watching Coventry v. Chelsea football match and not too anyone's surprise, the home town favourites lost 2:0 to Chelsea. I have to say, Sophie and Chloe were good little shoppers!   

After finding an outfit for Teresa, we went home and had a BBQ (burgers).  Sarah and Helen joined us.   After dinner Sarah kept the twins amused with various games and they were all willing to pose for the photo shown below.

On the hunt for a home...

Today Andy and I set off to the Cotswolds to see Cosy Cottage, a property for let in Bourton on the Hill.  It was small and quaint, with exposed cotswold stone work and hearth with exposed beams in the ceiling overhead in the front room, a wooden spiral staircase leading to 2 upper floors, first floor with bathroom and 2nd bedroom with 2 twin beds with the master bedroom on the 3rd floor where the bed was centered between the eaves with a little window & padded windowseat overlooking the street.  The kitchen was very compact (tiny), leading out to the back garden which was narrow and long, and tucked into one corner was a small dog house built of costwold stone!  It was very quaint, but was located on a main road where you could hear traffic passing by.  Not entirely ideal, but it was cute.  

We carried on to Moreton in the Marsh and made a few inquiries with property agents there and saw 2 properties, one which would definitely be suitable, the only draw back really was an electric stove (not at all to Andy's liking being the chef that he is) .  We didn't think to ask but suspect parking would be somewhere on a nearby street as it was located behind a shop on the main street, and surprisingly quiet.   We are off to Leamington Spa tomorrow to view some other properties.  

Top photo:  flower shop on the main street in Morton in the Marsh; 2nd photo:  main street in Chipping Campden; 3rd photo:  wellies sitting outside someone's cottage on the main street in Chipping Campden; 4th photo:  "our" car parked just outside of Longborough, near Bourton on the Hill where Andy and I had our lunch, sitting on a park bench overlooking the Eavesham Vale.   

Andy's family birthday celebration

Andy's mom Teresa invited the family out to celebrate Andy's birthday at a chinese restaurant. There were 12 of us in all.  A special " birthday" dessert was presented to Andy, a massive amount of ice cream served with fruit in an ice sculpture, complete with a sparkling candle ... more than enough to serve to all at the table!