Lyveden New Bield

This morning started early. I had flatbreads, tomato soup and cheese scones ready and finished before 9am. By 9:30 we were on the road to visit Lyveden New Bield, a National Trust property in Northamptonshire. So many roads were closed, four to be precise, leading to a mildly stressful drive. Thank goodness I have a good sense of direction. I don't know how I didn't give up and turn home. Luckily it was made up for having driven through picturesque chocolate box landscapes and villages I have read about in history books.

 And then we arrived.
The sky was blue and the clouds were beautiful. This amazing, unfinished Elizabethan manor stands surrounded by grass, with an empty moat. Such hopes and dreams. It was amazing.

After our picnic of flatbread sandwiches (which turned out more like pittas), we wandered around, exploring the orchard and pond. We climbed up the terraces and basked in the spring sunshine, enjoying it whilst it lasted. Louie took photos by hanging my camera from a tree, he is a funny thing.

 It was a stunning day. We did plenty of squelching and hunting for signs of spring. Louie played wizards with a stick he found, shouting 'smelly harbours' at everything (he was trying to say 'expelliarmus' from the HP books/films). I think everyone visiting fell a little bit in love with him and his little quirks!

Once home, we baked a birthday cake, had dinner, baked brownies for pappy long after the sun had gone to sleep and tucked ourselves up on the sofa with a film.
A busy, but wonderful day.