Such a scenic treat

July 28, 2011

Such a scenic treat

So - today then...

Today was a sort of impulse – and impulse we have wanted to have for a couple of years though.

We talked yesterday about going to Stourhead. We love Stourhead as it has some lovely walks and beautiful scenery. The weather was set to be good so when Nij left for Speedway last night that was what we thought we were doing today. Then there was the internet LOL. Surfing last night I was looking for National Trust properties we still wanted to visit (we do enjoy our membership though do feel sometimes it makes us old people!) and came upon Stowe Gardens. We had wanted to visit a couple of years ago and it was always on our ‘to do’ list. Now it has moved to our ‘to do again’ list.

We set off early and made our favourite detour to Newbury. Whenever we travel to Oxford or the Midlands to see family we detour via Newbury to a retail park where there are stores we like to shop in and a Starbucks. Oh yes, I am afraid even days out revolve around that magical frapuccino. Two fraps a blouse and a cute pair of shoes later and we were back on the road.

Stowe was beautiful. It is quite hard to get your head round how the miles of parkland and gardens belonged to one family. How they has so much land and so much money that they could build all of these temples and follies and grottos. And how amazing that it is a school and what it much be like to be at that school. One of the temples, for example, is a music room for the school. It’s a different world.

The weather was perfect and the sun came out at just the right time. We walked a long way, covering all of the paths possible. We saved the famous Palladian bridge to almost the last and the sun was in the perfect angle and a group of Canada geese and a swan appeared as if on cue to pose for us.

We had taken a picnic and sat on the steps of this temple to eat it. Another great lunch venue.

I haven’t even looked at all of the photos yet and these are un altered and may be better when they are adjusted.

I took them all with the new camera and am quite pleased with the results. I did try out the macro and am pleased with it. No idea what this plant is mind you. Nigel hasn’t downloaded his yet so I may add more later.

It was a great day out … who needs to go away on a holiday when there is this much beauty close enough to home to come back to our own bed and to not have to put the cats into the cattery.

I have another page to share from Dawn’s new Backyard fun kit. I really recommend this kit as it has so many great things, especially all the torn papers.

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