Staying safe and sane through lockdown

Like millions of other Brits over the past twelve months the Senior Partner and I have been following the strict lockdown rules/guidelines for staying safe. When we run errands we always wear a mask, sometimes more than one, always use the hand sanitisers provided and wash our hands when we get back home.

Since M'selle Fleur passed away in February our daily exercise routines have changed slightly but we still enjoy our walks in the local park, after all a change of scenery does you good, right.

We have also been enjoying visits to the Gardens of Chatsworth House, home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, as we live nearby travel restrictions don't apply.

Restrictions are now lifting, next month there'll be even fewer and we're planning on taking a tour of the House in May, so looking forward to that.

Joining Angie @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf 

for Mosaic Monday, once again.

See, life is getting better all the time!

Jewels of the Peak District National Park

This week we enjoyed a visit from one of the SP's cousins and her husband whom I had never met before and he hadn't seen for about 45 years.
They reside in Scotland and came down to Lancashire, in their moho, to visit her parents before crossing into Derbyshire to visit us.
After so many years there was a lot of catching up to do, reliving of childhood memories of time spent together and a renewed interest in the family's ancestry to compare notes on.
A box was unearthed and out came masses of old family photographs, birth, death and marriage certificates, all curated and handed down by my mother in law, to be copied and shared with other family members living around the UK.

Many stories were exchanged, (I certainly learned a lot about my in laws) there was much laughter and of course a few tears too.

We enjoyed visiting the gardens at Chatsworth together and they brought back a beautiful Chatsworth rose for our courtyard garden as a reminder of a lovely visit.

Yesterday the SP and I drove over to medieval Haddon Hall, a former residence of the Dukes of Rutland and now the home of the current Duke's brother, for the Early Summer Mercatum artisan market.
Despite a few spits and spots of rain and gloomy grey skies we enjoyed strolling through the grounds (like Chatsworth Haddon Hall itself is not yet open to the public following Covid - 19 guidelines) admiring the many varied crafts for sale.
Displaying a variety of skills we discovered wood turners and carpenters, photographers, soft furnishers, jewellers, cake makers, gin makers and organic veg sellers.

an amazing topiary in the gardeners garden
it's a hog!

A vintage yellow upcycled Citroen van and a very posh, state of the art, street food truck situated beneath the towering walls of the Hall were offering tasty artisanal food and beverages and soon had socially distanced queues (lines) of early morning visitors and exhibitors.

As a keen photographer myself I couldn’t resist bringing home some samples of the work of two artists that I met at the Mercatum, Phil Sprosson and Emma Clinton.

Highland Cow
by
Phil Sproson who lives and works in
the Peak District National Park

Sweet Peas in a jar notecards
by
Emma F Clinton
Fine Art Photography and Haiku Poetry

Linking once again to Mosaic Monday.
 # 90 this week!
Go Angie!
@ Letting go of the Bay Leaf

Chatsworth revisited and other news

I missed Mosaic Monday last week because of a prior engagement namely my birthday, one of those with a nought on the end.

We celebrated quietly at home, just me the Senior Partner and M'selle Fleur our beautiful German Shepherd.
There was cake, champagne, flowers and a delicious supper of poached salmon and assorted salads for two, delivered by our local Sticky Fig delicatessen.

My lovely sister and her family gifted me a "Friends of Chatsworth" annual pass for two and the very next day we headed to Chatsworth Estate, which is only a five minute drive from our home, to take a  walk with Fleur through the gardens there.

The Victorian Rock Garden

The gravity fed Emperor Fountain and Canal Pond

The gardens are spread over 105 acres, far too much to see on one visit so we contented ourselves with walking through the Sensory, Cottage and Kitchen Gardens before wandering over to the base of the 300 year old Cascade water feature.
Here we stopped to take in the amazing view of Lancelot "Capability" Brown's magnificent landscaped grounds which surround the House and Garden.

The Victorian Rock Garden

The Display Glasshouse

The SP and Fleur enjoy a quiet moment in the Sensory Garden

A stunning view of the Capability Brown landscape 

The 300 year old Cascade water feature
was not open when we visited

Strolling through the Victorian Rock Garden with it's amazing rock formations and beautiful plants sent my camera into overdrive.

The Victorian Rock Garden

After the Rock Garden came the Maze which like the Glasshouses is currently still closed to the public, we'll save that for next time hopefully.

The Cottage Garden

The Victorian Rock Garden

Chatsworth House is not yet allowing visitors and the shops and restaurants in the Orangery and Stables are still closed but hopefully it won't be long before we'll be enjoying them as well.
In the meantime we'll content ourselves with frequent walks through the grounds, gardens and glasshouses because really how could we ever tire of those views?

Linking to Mosaic Monday # 86 

with Angie @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf.