Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Cotswold Life




Hello everyone,
   

We just got home last night from a lovely holiday in England. Five years ago we went to England on a bus tour and enjoyed seeing many of the cities and town around England. We did get to see a lot but I always wanted to go back and spend time in the small quaint villages of the Cotswolds so a couple of weeks ago we packed our bags and off we went. We stayed in a few different places but much of our time was spent touring or hiking through the Cotswolds. We loved all the footpaths that took you through the beautiful countryside through hills and vales,by thatched roof cottages and fields of sheep with baby lambs.



       I love all the beautiful stone churches and miles and miles of stone fences.
       The stone from the Cotswolds has a yellow cast to it as you can see from looking at the cottages,shops and churches.
  Some of the cottages have thatched roofs to add to their charm and  most of them have have a lovely little garden as well.
              This was a little village just outside of Chipping Campdon that we walked to on our last day there.
                    Walking back to our little cottage, we passed by through this field of sheep on the footpath.
      I love this beautiful setting.I shot this through the window of the bus as we were going to Bourton on the water.
       I could really enjoy riding horseback through the countryside.

                                        Another thatched roof cottage.
                    The weather was beautiful for the first several days before a cool front moved in again the last few days we were there. It was a late spring in England compared to last year when everything was about four weeks ahead. There were so many different trees in bloom everywhere we went. I love all the hedgerows around the fields with cows,sheep or horses.
        We went to Hidcote garden one beautiful warm sunny day and this little cottage was on the property. I love the interesting doors in all different colours in England.
         Can you tell I am a country girl?
     Andrew thought I took a picture of every sheep in England!
                            A small garden outside an old church.
                                                          So quaint!
                 Another field of sheep along The England Way footpath.Love those rolling hillsides with fields of sheep.
              Such a beautiful setting for a lovely stone cottage. I love how all the cottages have names.

                                                       Love these doorways!

    I hope you enjoyed walking through the Cotswolds with me-charming don't you agree?






Chipping Campden is a beautiful village that we spent five days in ~ in a little thatched roof cottage called Twine Cottage (more on that later).

  On another note,I want to thank all of you who left such nice comments on my last post and on my book give away post and to all who placed an order as well.I was happy to hear from some of you who already received it -thank you so much for your kind words. Tomorrow evening I will draw 2 names from a hat and announce the lucky winners. If you haven't already entered your name you can still do so until tomorrow evening - just click here.
  I have some more photos of England to share with you before moving on. Our garden has really moved ahead in the last couple of weeks so I will soon be inundating you with new photos of it.

Next week we have our first visitors from Japan for this season so I have lots of things to do before they arrive but I am looking forward to it-spring is such a nice time of the year!

Thank you for visiting me.
Carolyn


54 comments:

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

Such charming cottages and lovely country side. I am so glad you had a lovely time. It is nice to get away and see someone elses neck of the woods. Valerie

Rosemary said...

I am pleased that you had a happy and enjoyable holiday in my little corner of the world.

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

Welcome home, Carolyn!

What AWESOME pictures- wow, what a place that time forgot!

I would LOVE to visit there one day.
I don't think I have ever seen anything more charming than what you shared with us today, thank you!

Barbara said...

Dear Carolyn,
wonderful, wonderful pictures!!! Love them!
Hugs,
Barbara

Bernideen said...

What beautiful photos you took on your lovely trip. We never tire of your garden so inundate all you like!

Victorian1885 said...

What a wonderful time you must have had! I love the look of thatched roofs and the countryside is so wonderful. Thank you for sharing your vacation with us.

Wanda

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

You are so good about sharing your getaways with us. The charming cottages with thatched roofs are wonderful. What beautiful country! I received your book that I ordered, and have been enjoying a little bit of it daily.

Egretta Wells blog said...

Hi Carolyn, these photos are so gorgeous! My daughter and our husbands were in the Cotswolds last year and loved it! I have been doing paintings of cottages from there off and on since! Beautiful post!

Linda Carswell said...

Stunning photos, such a beautiful part of the world!

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

What a lovely trip, Carolyn! England is on my list of places to visit ~ some day! Love the cottages. It must have been nice to take your time and explore this area this time around.

ARTESANATO EM GERAL said...

Olá Carolyn,

fico feliz em saber que fez uma ótima viagem. As paisagens são encantadoras. Estava com saudades de suas postagens e ansiosa por novas fotos.

Fique em paz e uma boa semana.

Lauriane

sunnyskiesandsweettea said...

I have always wanted to go to England, and maybe stay in a thatched roof cottage... if I never get to go, your pictures brought me closer.

Blessings,
Amy Jo

Rosemary and Thyme said...

Oh, what a magical place. How wonderful for you. Your pictures are just beautiful. Thank you for bringing us along Carolyn.

Down Blueberry Lane said...

Charming indeed!! So nice you could get away before your busy time begins. Thank you so much for sharing with us. I think I'd be taking lots of sheep pictures too, beautiful beautiful!! -Susie

Debra@CommonGround said...

oh, I'm in heaven. If I could take a trip anywhere, it would be England!

Unknown said...

I am drooling over your pictures. My dream holiday spot... I want to retire in the Cotswold's... the Mr. wants the Mediterranean. Sigh.
Thanks for the walking tour :-)
Warms my heart.
Hugs, Gee

Linda said...

Hey, Carolyn!
So glad to hear that you and Andrew are finally tucked in at home again and enjoyed your adventure! We have been thinking of you here. I'm glad you got my message while on holiday!
Your photos are wicked - that's a really good thing! haha Spring in England looks lovely. The thatched cottages remind me of something from The Hobbit! They are magical! And, I LOVE the pics of all the sheep. Midge's mom, Ethel, loved sheep, too. Every time I see one, I think of her and comment how she would have loved to have seen them, especially the black-faced sheep. They are so beautiful! Midge's mom came with us to PEI one summer and we shared a farm vacation - that was many years ago. I even started a Pinterest board named "Beautiful Sheep for Ethel". lol Tell me, now - how do the personalities of the sheep compare to those of PEI? haha Are they as congenial? lol
It has been busy here, some health issues, too, but I do have some beautiful news to share shortly! I look forward to more lovely pics of the Cotswolds. :-))) Enjoy your day tomorrow and hope you manage to rest up after your trip before you get ready for your Japanese visitors. It's good to go but good to be home, too. Every bird likes their own nest the best...
Hugs to you and Andrew,
Linda at Beautiful Ideas

Pamela Gordon said...

Oh Carolyn, you are so fortunate to be able to take a tour like this. What gorgeous photos you took of your trip to The Cotswolds. Every photo is so pretty. Thanks for sharing them with us. I'll look forward to seeing the next ones and also those of your gardens in the coming days. You are a busy lady right now. Blessings, Pam

Barbara - My Island Bistro Kitchen said...

Gorgeous photos, Carolyn. Beautiful area, the Cotswolds.

Susan said...

Oh Carolyn. That looks like much more than a charming place. It's just enchanting.

Your photos are truly spectacular. (I see another book in the offing.....Scenes of England!)

Soooooo lovely. Just breathtaking.

So glad you got to go away. Susan

norhanim md zain said...

awesome...enjoy the photo..:o)

Heirloom treasures said...

Oh how this all reminds me of my childhood growing up in England. I so enjoyed the tour. xx

shabby schweiz said...

Hey Carolyn
Was für traumhafte Bilder - da zu wohnen wäre ein Traum!!

Liebe Grüsse aus der Schweiz

Marianne

Unknown said...

Hello Carolyn!
Thank you for these lovely pictures, they are wonderful!
Hace a nice day!
Greats, Claudia

My Cozy Corner said...

Hi Carolyn,
What a beautiful trip. England is truly amazing. I love to see all the greenery. Well gardening in California is in full swing and it's such a joy to watch all plants bloom.
xo
Betty @ My Cozy Corner

Petra said...

Ohh Carolyn I can see you had have a beautiful time in England lovely pictures. And have a great time with your visitors. Greetings Petra.

http://jackieinsurrey.blogspot.co.uk/ said...

Morning Carolyn, thank you for taking such wonderful photographs of a beautiful part of my home country. We love to visit the Cotswolds although here in Surrey and Hampshire we have some beautiful houses too.You went home at the right time, last night there was strong winds and lots of rain!!On your next visit you should book ( a bit pricey and need to book well in advance) to go to Highgrove, Prince Charles home in the country, you will love his garden and also book early so you can visit Highclere Castle
(Downton Abbey)
I am looking forward to seeing where else you went, although I know you went to London.
Welcome home and I hope the weather is good with you there so you can spend some time in the garden getting ready for your visitors.
Jackie in Surrey, UK.

Sanna - My Blueberry House said...

Welcome home Carolyn,

I love love love English countryside and the Cotswolds especially. I can´t stop watching a British TV-serie called "Escape to the Country" just to be able to see all the beautiful cottages and the landscape surrounding them, haha!

Have a nice day,
Sanna

Kirsti said...

Thank you very much!
I enjoyed very much! It was to me inportant. I get power.

Larry said...

This is really special indeed and meets every aspect of the beauty of the English countryside that fills my imagination! Thanks for sharing! Larry

mariondee-designs said...

Hi Carolyn, you're a woman after my own heart! I loved all your pics and would love to visit the cotswolds one day. (more likely in my dreams ha ha!) Can't wait to see where you stayed.. take care, Maryann

Alessandra said...

Wow and wow!!! Those cottages are just gorgeous and the places are fairy!!!!
Kisses
Alessandra

gabraj said...

Bajkowe zdjęcia.
Pozdrawiam.
Gabi

Anonymous said...

The tour of Costwolds was more than pleasant, it was magic.
Thank you to share these beautiful moments.

Miriam said...

Glad you had such a lovely time and so pleased it was sunny for you when you went to Hidcote :-)

Was worried about you when the weather changed for the worst here and hoping it wasn't spoiling your enjoyment.

Lovely pictures as always. xx

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

What a charming and magical place to visit, Carolyn! I love all the thatched roof cottages and the sheep. Your pictures just whisked me away across the ocean. Nice to have you home again.

Blessings,
Sandi

Unknown said...

Hello Carolyn, that are so beautiful
pictures. England is a lovely Country with these nice Cottages.
I hope, that I also can visit them one day.
It is not so far from our home.
Greetings
Olga from
hansundgrete-shop.blogspot.com

Reginas Cottage said...

hello caroly,
thanks for the lovely photos from the cotswold.I love the pretty cottages and the garden too.
have a nice day,
regina

Maggie Ann said...

Carolyn, that was such a treat! Thank you.....it is all like a fairy tale. It reminds me of Jane Eyre too.

Lorrie said...

These are such lovely photos. I hope to visit England someday and the Cotswolds are definitely on my list. The stone really has a yellow cast - more than I'd imagined from reading about it. Charming, charming buildings. Thanks for the little tour of England.

Sveta said...

Thank you!! Beautiful photos!! Fabulous cottages!! Always happy to read Your blog!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Hello Carolyn
My book was here in less than 2 weeks and it was like sitting down with Victoria magazine with a cup of tea.
You did a really good job of selecting the photos.
The tour around England on this post was most enjoyable and I always photograph animals too, rarely people. I look forward to seeing the cottage you stayed in. Would you move to one of those small villages?
Judith

Mari said...

Carolyn, I have always wanted to visit England! I just love the history they have there ;) oh my and the cottages are soooo beautiful and so romantic, love how green it all looks ;)
Who wonderful for you to see such gorgeous sights,

Hugs~
Mari

Janice said...

Welcome back Carolyn! Your pictures are lovely. You must be so excited to see what has popped up in your garden too.
Take care, Janice

All Things Chic 2 said...

HI Carolyn'
THe pics of your trip are "AMAZING"...
Happy you made it home safe...
Sounds great for the book signing & the hours are great...
Blessings Lori ~

My Little Home and Garden said...

Carolyn, it looks like it was an idyllic trip. For various reasons, the scenes tuck at my heart.
-Karen

Julie said...

Ahhh England and France. Two more places I am dying to visit. The thatched roofs are so gorgeous. J

Unknown said...
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Art and Sand said...

England is one of my favorite places. I would love a vacation in the Cotswolds.

Custom Comforts said...

Beautiful photos. Makes me wish I was there with you. I can only imagine how lovely it all was. Thank you so very much for sharing your photos with us - each and every one is exquisite.
Cindy

Unknown said...
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Katy Noelle said...

"Charming" is the very word that I was thinking of as I looked at your beautiful pictures of the Cotswolds! Lucky, lucky you!! =) It's been a dream of mine to take a walking tour of the Cotswolds and to visit the gardens, there - some favorites of mine that I've read of time and again in books and magazines- Hidcote garden being one of them!!

Joy! =)

xo

One Shabby Old House said...

You captured it! Every picture was just magical.

Andi's English Attic said...

So glad you had a lovely time over here. It's a lovely part of the world.
I've been away from blogs for a little while and missed the giveaway :( but I will be checking out your book. xx