Allotment Layout

Created this scrapbook layout tonight which I will be donating to the "shop" at the London Road Allotment Association.

Danny, up close & personal

Walking through the fields tonight, after some encouragement, Danny approached this horse. I think he was surprised how accepting the horse was to be pet by him.

5 mile walk with Danny

My nephew Danny is on school break and came to stay with us for a few days.  We went on a 5 mile walk tonight from Bourton-on-the-Hill to Longsborough and back, walking a different route than we had walked before. Andy took this photo high on a hill where you can see Danny and I in the lower right hand corner and views of Bourton-on-the Hill in the background. 

You don't see this everyday!

This is the first time I've ever seen a dog herding ducks!

Happy Easter!

Spent Friday and Saturday night in Coventry. Andy and I went out for dinner Friday night at an Indian Restaurant and were treated to a bit of drama when a customer stumbled into a display case holding a huge horse statute, knocking it over, shattering it to bits. There was much ado as the poor guy and his partner tried to come to terms with how they were going to settle up for the breakage. I couldn't help but feel for the guy - obviously it was an accident, and management took the position that he had to pay for it. It was hard to tell if he had had a few, and was feeling a bit tipsy when he stumbled into it.

Saturday morning we went to the garden allotments (where I took this photo from Ivan's garden). We had a bbq to celebrate my sister-in-law Helen's birthday, played a chaotic game of Wizard with Mark, Danny, Ryan, Charlotte, Sarah, Andy, the youngest player, won! Charlotte and her friend Lauren went with us to Church on Sunday morning after which we headed back to Moreton!

Full Moon over Moreton

Captured this photo of the full moon on our walk home from the pub last night ... and in case you're wondering: yes, I pretty much take my camera with me everywhere I go!!

Spending time @ "Our Local"

Adapting to English culture @ the local pub, enjoying a game of crib!

Morning Greeting

Our walk this morning took us by the "Old Farm" and this horse, who was looking for a little attention.

Magazine Dress

Came across this "designers"dress on display in a shopping square in Stow-in-the-Wold, made entirely from pages of a fashion magazine.  (If you look closely, my reflection taking this photo was caught in the shop window.) 

Love this!

Found this being displayed in the window shop of a local antique dealer located across the street and would love to bring it home with me however given the cost, it'll be staying behind! The woodblock panel is created from individual wooden printers type last used commercially some 60 or 70 years ago.

Wyck Rissington

Despite the forecast for rain this weekend, we enjoyed a glorious sunshine filled weekend!  So much so, that I was sunburned on Saturday after spending a few hours at the allotment in Coventry.  On Sunday afternoon, after a challenging time to find the small village of Wyck Rissington, we set off on a 4 mile circular walk.  The directions for this walk were very poor, and simply incorrect in a number of instances.  For example, instructions to climb a stile, where in fact there was a gate, walk diagonally left, when in fact you walked was straight on, walk along the road (actually a busy 2 lane highway) a "short little distance"  was really 3/4 of a mile and walking on a highway where the allowable speed is 50 miles/80 km per hour with virtually no verge/shoulder.  Walking single filed on the white painted line with a number of cars whizzing by, thoughts I might meet my master passed through my mind several times. Needless to say, my steps quickened - I couldn't wait to get off that road!   I despised every inch and every minute spent walking on that highway.  Finally, to our great relief, the bridle path appeared and we resumed our walk through pastures and meadowlands, returning to where we had parked the car, in front of the church in Wyck Rissington, pictured above.

Simply Beautiful

Walking through Longsborough we came upon this pleasant view of a stepped waterfall upon exiting a narrow wooded path on our 4 mile circle route. This photo attempts to capture the green, lush, immaculately groomed grounds, but it is a poor substitute for the original.

photos from the entire walk available by clicking "4 mile walk" link at:
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=731310279&k=33GY33U53VWMZFGFPK5XR

Ivy covered door

Abandoned door at an forgotten garden allotment site at the London Road Allotments, in Coventry.  Coming from the prairies, I marvel at how easily "all things green" grow here in England and how much work it is to maintain a tidy garden! 

I have enjoyed spending time at the allotments, leaving the hustle and bustle of busy city streets behind, entering a place where time slows down, people smile and stop to chat.  I have had delightful interactions with the gardeners, learning much through their stories; I love seeing the stages of transformation from derelict sites to immaculate show piece gardens, walking down freshly mowed lanes, viewing the orderly rows of gardens on either side,  each allotment telling its own story, an expression of each allotment member's unique personality.   

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!