Bank Holiday Weekend

This Easter, it turned out that both Dan and I were off Friday through to Tuesday. What luck! So beating the holiday hoards, we did our visiting the day everyone went back to work. The morning was spent at Wightwick Manor and then we picked up our wedding rings on the way to our final consultation with our wedding planners in the evening. 

Arriving at gone half past 3 was nice, it let us see how busy Calke would be on a half term week (like the day that we will be married) and it was still as peaceful and beautiful as our quiet midweek day trips. We had a short walk around the gardens before we dashed back to the restaurant for our tasting. I went to the bird hide (again) whilst we waited and the boys played on the park.

Wightwick Manor

A rainy trip out to tick off another from our National Trust Bucket List. Wightwick Manor, a Victorian mansion nestled in the outskirts of Wolverhampton. Our day was long and busy, and Wightwick was just the beginning. We travelled through what felt like most of the West Midlands but ended up in sunny Derbyshire. A left over easter egg hunt gave us something to do whilst the house was closed up for the day and we enjoyed delicious mushroom soup in the café before setting off on our travels once again.
A sunny day and a big picnic will be our next visit, its a promise!

Hebden Bridge

We spent the beginning of our Easter Weekend up in the North West, heading to Manchester on Good Friday to see Brand New at the Academy. Whilst up visiting the family, we enjoyed a gorgeous drive through the countryside to Hebden Bridge, a little town in West Yorkshire.
An eco lovers haven, every other shop was organic, we even nipped to see The Clean Green Nappy Machine but it was closed for the holiday. We ate in a little cafe and visited a 1940's themed cafe for tea and cake.
What a beautiful day out. 

This Week

Tuesday:

Chilling in Anna's back garden, making the most of the beautiful weather. Featuring Easter themed crafts and picnic.

Wednesday:

 The day we chased down an ice cream man in our socks. We played with the water in the garden and baked the most adorable mini loaves.

Friday:

A trip to Burnley for the weekend. Playing with Grandpa's pool table, chatting to the neighbours and playing in the park. Not to mention the rallye sandwiches. 

Fosse Meadows

This morning we were up and out nice and early. We visited the Palmers Garden Centre at Ullesthorpe for a little wander, stopping off for breakfast in the café. In honour of our regular soup Wednesday, Louie and I visited the PB Fruit and Veg stall which had moved from Woodlands to Ullesthorpe. We loaded a basket full of veggies, lots of mushrooms for Mushroom Stroganoff, sweet peppers for roasted red pepper and tomato soup and Louie insisted we buy Pappy an avocado. Before heading off on our travels, we nipped into the tardis like antique shop and found a gorgeous little stoneware jug that will look delightful filled with a fresh posy of flowers. 

Then we went to Fosse Meadows Nature Reserve for a walk in the blissful sunshine.

Topsy Turvey

A broken fridge, walks in the evening instead of the morning, Pappy on the continent for work. This week has been pretty unusual. We spent our days cleaning, waiting in for the new fridge and doing lots of drawing (it's a dinosaur on the easel!).

I'm looking forward to next week hopefully being a little more calm!

Evening Stroll

You might remember last years post about British Summer Time, and lo and behold, we are having the same problem this year, bed time is tricky. After being stuck at home all day waiting for a new fridge freezer to be delivered (ours went bang, or rather buzz...) we decided to go for a walk, a long walk around Bradgate Park.

 We must have walked miles, up to Old John, down to the stream, back up to climb the rocks. Eventually the sun turned golden and began to hide between the trees.

 We walked and walked and walked, until the small boy was getting sleepy. He stayed awake all the way home, climbed straight into bed and went straight to sleep.

It worked!!