It’s already Castle Cottage time . . . I know I’m so late!!! But we’ve had tons of visitors💞. . . Ray and Paul were in Dublin for my birthday, Elaine too, and then Elaine came to our house in Galway Bay for a week, then Siobhan joined us, then friends from the Island, Barbara and Annie, then Elizabeth and Mike, so we were running and seeing and eating and being, and I just couldn’t force myself to stay home! So here we go, make-up day, and prettiest new favorite MUSICA we listened to while driving around Cornwall! All for you . . .
Spring has finally sprung here. We’re in the Lake District up in the North of England and just experienced three of the most beautiful days of our trip.
Long walks along Windermere and wild flowers galore . . .
So pretty on the tablecloth I bought in the antique store in Florida (on our way to the ship) for our Picnic in Beatrix Potter’s Garden!
I’ve been saving them since we got to Ireland . . . making a little wildflower book.
This pink delight was a photo I took just yesterday in Grasmere . . . looked up and there it was!
I don’t want you to think I haven’t been thinking of you, I’m a two-fisted photo taker and you are always on my mind! No place to set your camera? No problem just put it on the hedge!
No bird gets by me . . .
And I’ve been capturing all the precious little details that British hotel rooms have to offer . . .
And no pub-fire escapes the clickage of my camera!
Not to mention the antique stores . . .
This saves me from spending too much money and stuffing my suitcases, a photo is like owning something and not taking up space with it!
Luv-lee . . .
But this little silver spoon I had to buy ~ time to take it home! Tiny, slips in easily!
I’m still peeking in people’s windows . . .
And marveling over the simplicity of the old things . . . other new favorite MUSICA, just in cases . . .
But today I want to tell you about the day we crossed Windemere from Bowness . . . we’d come from Ireland the day before, back across the Irish Sea on the ferry, with a night in a Welsh hotel, and this day, last Friday, we’d driven across North Wales and up to the Lake District. (Whew.)
Now we had a very special destination . . . on the other side of the lake . . .
Me, telling Twitter where we are! This is how I look when a big dream is about to happen! (PS you don’t have to join Twitter or Tweet yourself to see the photos I put up, and there are a lot of them since all I need for photos and Twitter is a phone, much faster and easier to do while driving than a blog, fyi).
Driving hill and dale heading for Near Sawrey, hearing on the radio, ABBA is getting back together for next Christmas! (Knew you’d want to know!)
Getting close . . .
And there it is, I would know it anywhere . . . home of Hill Top and Beatrix Potter . . . Eeeek. Have not been here for a while, but never so far from my thoughts.
We could tell by the street signs that we were getting closer . . .
And there it is, Castle Cottage! And I know Mandy is inside waiting for us, and if I could jump for joy in the front seat of the car you know I would. If you are saying, “Mandy? The name is familiar, but I don’t remember . . .”
Or, if you’re new to the blog ~ Let me catch you up. You may not know that Betsy (she’s American and on the left), one of my Beatrix Potter Society American girlfriends, introduced me to Mandy (who is English and on the right with Joe), who just happens to live in Castle Cottage, the house where Beatrix Potter lived with her husband Willie Heelis for thirty years. Last summer Betsy brought Mandy to our house on Martha’s Vineyard for lunch in our garden. Such a lovely time. Beatrix Potter has brought so many nice people into my 
life. Instant something-in-common ~ kindred spirits, aspiration-centered, beauty-based. During our happy conversation I mentioned that we were coming to the Lake District again next year (=this year!), whereupon Mandy invited me for tea at Castle Cottage! 💘Be still my heart. The first and only time Joe and I had been to the Lake District was in 2012 and for only one teeny, rainy week for my first visit to Hill Top, a long time dream, which many of you read about in A Fine Romance. This time, we’d be renting a cottage there for two weeks. So of course I said YES, PLEASE, thrilled at the thought of being so close to the actual place where Beatrix Potter became her real and true self.
During our lunch I told Mandy about the BYO Picnic Basket party we had in 2016 on the lawn at Stourhead… and that I thought I might try to do another one on this next trip ~ and she said, “How about you have it in my garden?” The Castle Cottage garden is what she is saying, and I’m thinking, “Beatrix’s house for my Girlfriends!” I saw Castle Cottage from far away last time we were there, coming from Hill Top and looking across Post Office Meadow with longing. I tried to be calm. Brain doing back 
flips of reorganization sparking with mad thoughts. Waiting for her to change her mind. Even after we toasted on it. But she didn’t and now, we are here, and it is happening, and our Picnic is on Friday! And, in addition, for frosting on the happy-cake, when I told Mandy I had Blog, Facebook, and Twitter Girlfriends who really wished to join us, but for all kinds of reasons, like not having a traveling partner, or not wishing to drive on the wrong side of the road (on the skinniest streets in the history of the world), couldn’t. And she said, “Hey, why don’t I put together a tour?” Eyeballs to heaven. And she did, and I told everyone on social media how they could join, and as of this very moment she is leading thirty-one happy campers through the highlights of the Lake District for ten glorious days, and bringing everyone to our Picnic in Beatrix Potter’s Garden!!! I met them all the day they came in! I know. How can this BE?
And then, as Mandy had directed, down the narrow back lanes of Near Sawrey to the house we went . . .
As slow as I could make Joe go, very, very slow, please do not hurry, windows down, crunch of gravel, song of blackbird, through the green gate we went . . .
Where we were royally welcomed by Mandy and the fluff ball in her arms, Stanley the pup. I’m done being overwhelmed and tearful with joy here in this pic, I did that as I walked through the green iron gates, and saw it all up close ~ in this photo, I am only just happy.
And here for two delicious hours, looking at the view, at what Beatrix loved so dearly, the rolling hills and undulating stone walls, the sheep and the peacefulness of it all . . . while Mandy explained the garden layout, what she and her husband Bill had done in the seven years they’d lived here, what they’d discovered about what Beatrix left behind, how Mandy had come to know Beatrix Potter through her house and gardens. Verklempt. Silent. Staring. Listening. Soaking.
Some of the hedges and plants were so overgrown, Mandy cut them back to the nubbins, but if you look at the trunks, they are HUGE, and you know they were planted by Beatrix. Another thing I found out. See the first two chimneys on the left? That’s how big the original cottage was when Beatrix bought it. You know how you feel about your home? Well, that’s how she felt about hers. A refuge. The middle window on the bottom was the door. She added on part two, in the middle, with the porch in 1913 ~ so the house was long and flat-ish … and the far right of the house, with the peaked roof, was added in 1923. So this house is totally Beatrix and you can feel it.
Such an adorable little cottage she bought. This Victorian genius, city girl, could have lived anywhere, but, with utmost good taste, stepping over the norms of the times she lived in, honoring her heart’s desire, sensing life is short, she chose a teensy little cottage, far from London in the English Countryside. She never updated it with electricity or running water. Her small, 17th century barn is still exactly the same as it was in her day. And she died there, overlooking the wonderful world she built for herself, in 1942. This was her view . . . and she owned most of it. Of course, what you smell, is fresh cut grass. Cut by the little teeth of sheep . . .
. . . that graze the fields around the house . . . leaping and running little lambs with their patient moms . . .
These are Mandy’s two darling dogs, Stan and Ollie. Father and son. Son LOVES to play!
Mandy took us room-to-room inside the house, telling us about each space, what it is and what it was, about the secret exits Beatrix built so she could be alone when she wanted to be, her grandfather clock, the room she died in, the views she had . . . and she shared Beatrix’s personal photo album . . . this wonderful photo had another little black dog. And that hat. The little pleats. They just don’t make them like they used to.
Here with her dad . . . I love her little linen clothes, see the patterned underskirt and stripped leggings and leather boots, don’t you just want them? The flower at her throat? The buttons and the wide scarf wrapping her waist?
And here, I took a picture of one of Mandy’s photos, of Beatrix in her later years, with her two dogs, ON her porch, in FRONT of her porch . . .
Castle Cottage is wonderful, I’ll show you more pics of the inside later ~ Joe and I are picking up Kellee and Sheri at the train station at 5pm Lake District time (they’re coming in from London), and it would be nice if I wasn’t wearing my jammies! But this darling towel quoting Beatrix’s famous “first words” was hanging in Mandy’s bathroom. So cute, I found a shop that sells them in Grasmere, I got one for me and for when I come home, another to be a giveaway, for YOU!
And then, ahhhhh, time for tea on the porch, milky Earl Grey tea and cake . . . where I made a video for you . . .
XOXO
I promised you I would bring you along . . . what I lack in quantity, blog-post-wise, I try to make up for in quality . . .💞
And a little close-up of deliciousness . . . yum! During tea Mandy told me all the secret surprises of what’s going to happen at Hill Top on the day of the Picnic which I can’t tell you now because then they wouldn’t be secrets, and I told her my surprise . . . that I was contacted by Victoria Magazine and they are sending a photographer to our picnic! Not that there will be any lack of photography going on that day, but now we’ll have a professional doing our “class photo!” I’ll be sure and show you everything, it’s still all in the future, oddly, after it happens, I’ll show you how it went!
I’ll get to see our kindred spirits wearing their name tags, meeting each other in person, from sea to shining sea, and all over, at BeaStock, half a jillion strong.
Stan, the puppy, asleep next to my leg, Ollie on my lap, surveying the goodness. Thanking my lucky stars I bought that little figurine of Jemima Puddleduck all those years ago . . . it’s funny where the little things of your heart can lead you in this mystery of life . . .
With hugs and promises for later, we left Mandy so she could get ready to welcome our Tour Girlfriends . . . and Joe and I walked Beatrix Potter’s walk, into the village for our 6 pm dinner reservation . . .
Look at this adorable building! It’s Tower Bank Arms, the historic pub right next door to Hill Top and just one of the places in the village that Beatrix Potter illustrated for her little bunny books.
As requested, our table by the fire . . .
Then off for our first vision of the cottage we’d rented for our Lake District stay … it’s the downstairs part of the cottage at the end …
We walked the next day and this is it looking back from across the meadow . . .
And the view from our driveway . . . Baaaaa! And SO MUCH MORE . . . but I have to go. Before I can even tell you about the Milkman . . . I’ll have to come back, maybe tomorrow, early, maybe before you’ve gone to bed tonight, due to time difference, but while Joe and Kellee and Sheri are sleeping, I think you should hear about the Milkman!
Also…Mother’s Day . . . Just around the corner! Don’t forget this delicious cake!
The new cups are still going out, although I believe the Mother’s Day cups have all been sent by now . . . they went first! The rest are on the way . . . hope you’ve been getting them! I’ll tell Kellee and Sheri hello for you!
Ahhhhh. At last!
Excitement! Butterflies galore! Thinking of you as you put your love into every detail. Sending hugs and good dreams to you from this awesome island to your OTHER awesome island of Britain! 😘🇬🇧💕
Oh, this is so wonderful! I’m with you in spirit and looking forward to all your adventures in Beatrix Potter’s world.
I can’t believe it!!!! I love Victoria magazine!! Never dreamed two of my favourite things would do a collaboration!!! Susan Branch AND Victoria!! It just keeps getting better and better!! Can you hear my delighted screeching all the way from Canada?!!! Not sure my heart can take this… it may burst!!! ❤️
Feel exactly the same way!
I’m from Canada, too and I always wished that Victoria Magazine would make Susan their Artist in Residence. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Enjoy your Beatrix Potter picnic. Hugs, Elaine
We talked about it at one time . . . I think it would be wonderful too! I think requests from their readers could make it happen!
Every year I look to see who has been chosen as Writer in Residence hoping it will be Susan!!! ❤️❤️ She would be a fantastic addition!! Best idea ever!
I spoke with Victoria about that a couple of years ago, but then I think everyone got busy and it went away . . . always good when Victoria-loving Girlfriends mention it to them, they listen to you better than they do to me!
Oh my, so happy I checked in with you before my walk (not quite the same as yours!)! L O V E all your photos, comments, music, everything, thank you so much for sharing with us! Blessings & hugs, Joan
It looks so wonderful – all of it! But, I miss you and want you to come back here to your blog and everyday life. Ha! Enjoy, dear Susan!
Soon enough! Time out for quirky life for a bit, but I shall return!
Oh Susan, what a perfect blog you just sent. I loved every word.
Yes, my Mother’s Day and English Countryside cups arrived yesterday,
Monday, here in Michigan. They are beautiful –prettier than your photos
of them really. I have loved all your travel accounts and have mapped your
progress and travel on my atlas map! What an adventure. Thank you so much
for sharing. I will be with you and everyone in spirit this Friday at the picnic.
Hugs, Connie Castle
My photos never do them justice, but I try! I’m so happy you like them! Love to you at “Castle Cottage!”
I had an inspiration in the middle of the night. Would you consider writing a book that is a daily inspiration. 364 days of your art and quotes. Could be from your books and blogs or new thoughts. That would make me, and I am sure many other girlfriends, very happy. Thank you so much for taking us along. It is in my daily thoughts.
Hi Susan: Loved this blog and all the photos. Yes, the Mother’s Day and
English Countryside cups arrived yesterday, Monday, here in Michigan. I love
them. They are more beautiful than your photos of them. And I am so enjoying
your photos and stories of your travels so far. Have mapped out your journey
and travels through Wales, Ireland and now England in my atlas. Thank you so
much for sharing with us. What a joy to follow you around. I will be with you
in spirit at the picnic this Friday. Thank you again for taking us all along.
Connie Castle
Lovely! Wish I was there. Thanks for keeping in touch, Susan! xo
Such a joy. You made my day. Thanks! Annette
Ahhhhh, thank you Dear Lady, for this piece of Heaven. Unhappy thoughts have little chance against a Susan B. post. I know you must be amazed at how beautifully this BP Picnic has worked out. A bit of serendipity in your meeting Mandy, and a bit of the Magic of you.
Our train trip to Chicago was exciting. Met nice people, as I did in New Orleans. Could you please tell me if your sleeper was on the bottom level or the top level of the car? A week in Chicago with a good chunk of the family was laughter and more laughter.
Thank you for somehow finding the time to write this lovely blog as well as all the Tweets.
Mucho love,
Debbie in Tampa for about 2 more weeks. Maine, my heaven on Earth, here we come!!!!
Ours is usually downstairs in the Family Bedroom… it’s a little bit larger, though the bathroom is down the hall and communal, still the shower is MUCH bigger there. Time for Maine again! Hooray!
Eeeeeeee! Can one have an overload of joy? I think I just came close with your Tweet of the lambs being herded!!! Even doing my fists bumping together from the “Wallace and Grommet” claymation English movie of a few yrs ago. When something especially wonderful happens to Mr. Tom and to me, we look at each other and do the W-G Bump. Other folks look at each other and roll their eyes.
Debbie in Tampa….again
Ha ha ha! xoxo
Thank you for this! How wonderfully exciting!…Know that here…across the pond…one heart aches to be there…but it is not to be!!!
But, I will wait (patiently??!) for when you share the whole great adventure!!!
Blessings!! And may the weather be GLORIOUS on Friday for the picnic!!!
While we are having our own adventure in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, I am enjoying your adventure a world away. No matter where we are, the new people, new landscapes, new foods, new experiences tell us why we travel away from our homes, no matter how cozy and wonderful our homes are.
It is heaven! Glorious country and to walk where Beatrix walked! How Grand! This post is a true gift and labor of love. I, too, cried just watching the video feeling as I was there too. Thank you thank you thank you! What a dream!
Well said Diane! It’s a dream!
Wonderful wonderful!! Soooo glad the sun was shining when you arrived at castle cottage. I’m so excited for you, I can feel your excitement through the pages!
Can’t wait to see how the picnic goes!
Love Gill North Devon xx
My goodness, I cannot imagine walking through those green gates to get to Castle Cottage. I was crying just reading your post. It was wonderful. I felt as if I was almost there. Please be sure to thank Mandy for allowing us girlfriends the pleasure of being there via your pictures. I cannot wait to see your post after the picnic and what a surprise that an article may appear in Victoria magazine. How exciting!!!
SO glad to have another blog! Thank you for the “trip”. Love it!
Thanks for taking me along!! Love looking at all the pictures, just lovely.
Hi to England and you two intrepid travelers,
It is a gorgeous Spring day here in the Midwest with catbirds warbling and cherry trees blossoming. We even have bees this year, visiting anything blooming. But my heart is divided; part of it is with you in Britain, and it is happy and also longing for the smell of the place. Thank you for the wonderful ‘trip’, your photos and words are making this person feel the bliss of the place.
Just have to say,
Love, Jeanne of Iowa
Be still my heart. All I can say now is, thank you. (teary eyed)…
Oh, Susan! If your next book is as magical as this blog post, I will be in heaven. The music you chose, the video you shared, the bleating of the lambs…all perfect. How wonderful that Victoria magazine will photograph your picnic! Victoria has been a favorite magazine for many years. Kelee & Sheri are so lucky to be sharing this adventure. Give them hugs from all the Girlfriends. My Mother’s Day mug came last week and I adoringly use it every morning. Enjoy every minute of your adventure. Please know that I am enjoying every blog, tweet, photo, video. Thank you. Thank you. 💖
Happy happy happy to hear from you Peggy, I’m so happy everyone is enjoying this along with us!! xoxoxo
What a wonderful post. The photos are so great, I can see myself there.
Enjoy the picnic and the rest of your visit.
What a treasure, Susan…enjoy the picnic!
All I’m going to say is “you are blessed!!”. nuff said !!
Nuff indeed, and I just shake my head in amazement of it all, eyes to heaven, Thank you!
How exciting to get to comment!. I’ve been checking several times a day for your post. I know you are taking many pictures and writing fast and furiously for your new book. But I’m glad your sharing some with us along the way too! What an exciting time your having, and staying right there on Beatrice Potters land. Way too fantastic!
My heart, my heart! I absolutely just got homesick for Near Sawrey and the Lake District just looking at your photos. I think about our England ‘birthday’ trip that we took last August almost every day and pine to go back. We were on that same ferry going across Lake Windemere too, and sometimes I watch the live cam! Love your cottage! We stayed at the Sawrey House Hotel right around the corner from Hill Top and could see Esthwaite Water from our room. Reading your post and seeing your photos is like taking another wonderful trip to one of the most delightful and beautiful places on the face of the Earth! Thanks for taking us all with you!! Wish I was there too! 🙂 Enjoy–and keep posting! I am looking forward to drinking from my new English Countryside cup when it comes! 🙂
Dear Susan: Once again you have brought to your Girl Friends the magic of England, Ireland and Wales with beautiful scenery for us to savor the sights and sounds of very ancient places with so many stories to tell. And I am so glad to hear of you being able to be up close and personal with Beatrice Potter, a dream come true. Also bringing the picnic to your friends so they too can enjoy the feeling of being so close to a woman who was such an inspiration in all her achievements. Thank you for all you bring to us who also is an inspiration to so many.
I feel so lucky the internet was invented to bring us all together!
Susan,
Thank you for taking us along to Castle Cottage. How I envy those going to the picnic! Be sure to say hello to Peter for me if you see him in the garden!
The other day I read these words of Beatrix Potter about herself: “I do not remember a time when I did not try to invent pictures and make fairy-tales-amongst the wildflowers, the animals, trees and mosses and fungi-all the thousand common objects of the country side… and the strength that comes from the hills.”
From the strength of the hills around Castle Cottage, I believe you are inventing pictures for us all to see, making us believe in Beatrix Potter’s fairy-tales.
Thank you again for sharing your life and your blog with all of us. You always make me feel that I am there with you! I can’t wait for your next book about all this. Can I pre-order now?
Susan – It is so lovely to follow you on this English journey through your blog. As a lifelong Beatrix Potter lover (my 8 month old daughter’s nursery is decorated in Beatrix Potter!) your post made my day. The last time I visited Tower Bank Arms my husband and I had pints of good beer while reading the little Beatrix Potter books on the shelf by the door. Did you do this too? How fun! Enjoy your trip!
Rose
I wrote in my diary in there and Joe read his map, and we had pear cider which is almost beer! All wonderful!
So delighted to see a new post today! What a wonderful time you’re having! I received my Mother’s Day mug at the end of last week and it was definitely worth the wait. Now I want ALL the mugs! Can’t wait to read all about the picnic!
Dear Sue,
Thank you for this gorgeous dream of Spring in one of the most perfect Spring spots in the world. Once again, thanks for making your dream trip our trip too. I’ll be thinking of all of you on Friday and waiting for the pictures. Have a wonderful time.
Lillian xoxoxo
What a lovely post! I am getting excited about the picnic. Think I will hard boil some eggs and make egg salad sandwiches and get some frosted brownies and have my picnic right here. I’ll invite my sister.
Oh my goodness! I’m afraid if I ever made it there, I wouldn’t be able to leave! What an absolutely beautiful view! You are truly blessed and living the dream without a doubt. I’m very thankful that you include your girlfriends.
Love to you and Joe! Stay safe.
Debby
Dearest Susan,
I am so excited to meet you again on Friday! This week!! Eek!
Ken and I are travelling up to stay nearby tomorrow!!! Best get packing! And it’s a Doggit friendly hotel, so the buoyos will be fine and dandy whilst we are at the picnic!
We have had a bit of a heat wave here in Cambridgeshire and most of Britain…but it’s starting to cook down…hope it’s sunny on Friday especially!
Photos are beautiful and I’ve enjoyed catching up with you as I haven’t seen Twitter and am not on Facebook!
Am looking forward to seeing Ollie and Stan…so adorable! Also Joe, Rach and Paul if they are coming and Kellee and Sherri! How much fun to meet them all?!
Keeping fingins crossed for good weather this week 🤗😸🍰🍉🍎🥂
Love to you and the Lake District!
Karen
Cambridgeshire
UK 🇬🇧
Rachel and Paul can’t come, for some very good reasons, we will miss them! But we shall have the pleasure of their company again soon. See you soon, both doggies are adorable, but that little Stan is a case and a half. I just want to hold him the whole time!
Have a wonderful time for us Karen…so very sorry to miss the picnic this time, Stourhead was amazing and I think this one may be even better!
Missing you Ray, but we will see you soon!
Girl Friends, I will be joining you virtually. Susan, thank you so much for bringing such joy and light into all our worlds. This picnic will seem like a dream to me. Can’t wait to see everyone’s photos. I will be stalking Twitter!
The pics are wonderful and much appreciated. Thank you for sharing.
Sam
Oh my goodness … it’s here … it’s time! LOVE LOVE LOVE all your posts so far, but this one with the *A*N*T*I*C*I*P*A*T*I*O*N* of Friday’s picnic AT Castle Cottage … a dream come true!!! You know we would be there in a heartbeat, especially since this is a milestone birthday year (which I got to share with Queen Elizabeth and Nat’l Tea Day – of course!), but alas, Friday is also Michael’s (the one with the camera following you around at our home in Prescott) graduation from college – YAY!!! Wishing you and Joe a dream come true day and a marvelous, magical picnic at the enchanted cottage! You have a gift for gathering. Sending love & gratefulness from AZ 🙂
Thank you dear . . . we will miss you, but have no doubt you will be with us in spirit! Congratulations to Michael and to YOU!
Oh, Susan, your wonder and delight comes right through your blog to
us. What a joy for you to immerse yourself in Beatrix’s world. Thanks for sharing. Happy Picnic Day. Can’t wait for my next issue of Victoria to see the pictures.
I imagine they won’t be in the next issue as these magazines plan so far in advance, but I will try and let you know when it’s coming!
Everything looks wonderful–we were at Hiiltop in 2008 & I remember looking across the road & being amazed that this part of the world looked as it were frozen in time!! Absolutely charming! Have a wonderful time, Susan—it seems like a dream.
Wow! loved the blog…you are Blessed! Enjoy every moment in your journey,
So glad you bought the silver spoon!!! Got the email that my cups are on the way!! Can’t wait! Love, love, love you!!! xoxoxo!!!
Had to take it back home!
hi Susan, received three of the four cups I’d ordered yesterday; love, love, love them, especially the English countryside; I am a true Anglophile such as yourself! You and Joe are having a glorious trip and I love your comments and photographs! Safe travels and I’m looking forward to sharing all your adventures while you are across the pond! Do remember to tell us all about the Royal Wedding; show us any towns or villages that are decorated! Cheers!
Lynn Hamilton,
Rochester, NY, USA
I won’t forget! That’s all they talk about here these days, the wedding. I know just where we’ll be and I’ll do my best to chronicle it! (My invitation seems to be lost in the mail, but I will do my best!)
thank you, thank you, thank you 🙂
Well Mandy is like an angel..look what she made come true for you:)
The world would be so much more wonderful with more people like her:)
No wonder Beatrix fell in love w/ that countryside..
Today I stenciled and older shabby fence here w/ your stencils Susan:)
“We must do something to make the world more beautiful”~Ms.Rumphius
You are all doing this!
Loving following you along this ethereal trip:)
I can imagine the feelings you are feeling during this trip♥
A Fairy Tale..for the Fairy Tale girl:)
Oooh..Friday..it will be heavenly ..I wannabethere.
And Betsy:) She started the whole thing..in a way♥
Loved the wee video:)
Mandy, huge generous heart, that’s what she has!
Oh thank you thank you thank you a thousand times over, dear Susan, for sharing this glorious, bucolic time with us!
It is such a dear gift that I can nearly smell the fragrance of the English countryside, especially Beatrix’es countryside…while I’m in concrete, cement, expensive to the pocket, but empty for the soul: Las Vegas for training.
Yes, a thousand thank yous! God loves the sweet lambkins and their green pastures, and you, and me, too!
Yes, soul feeding is essential isn’t it? xoxoxo
It is so delightful to go traveling with you. It’s as if I can hear the gravel crunch under the tires or smell the sweet flowers. Such a delight to the senses of my imagination. And to think, I don’t even have a passport and yet get to enjoy your travels.
Wonderful Spring tidings!! So fun to read!
Gosh Susan that was just simply amazing*** You are having the best time and every single thing is so beautiful*** I love it all. Almost makes me feel like I am on that trip too 🙂
have fun Susan
deezie
Thank you so much for the blog post. Everything looks absolutely, positively fantabulous! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!
I was just thinking of you today, hoping a blog would be on the way soon. And look what happened, we heard from you, a wonderful blog. Feel like I am there with you. Thank you so much fir including us.
This whole post was just glorious, heavenly!!! Thank you Susan, it’s almost like being there with you!
Thank you, thank you !
I can’t contain my excitement! We have been having a blissful week in and all around Hawkshead, after dreaming and planning since – well – since your invitation all those months ago. I think I’ve located our picnic “rug” but the rest of our accoutrements will be pretty basic since we travel with carry on bags (unlike those lucky ocean-going travelers ; ) Thank you for planting the seed – this is a magical place. See you soon!
Ours will be basic too, whatever we can find in this rental to bring things in, plus some stuffed eggs and cucumber sandwiches sound like all I would want! I do think everyone should see if they can scout out some chairs. Because it may be wet on the ground …
I don’t think we will be able to manage chairs, but the milkman sells trash bags for 18p each so we’ll be able to put them under and keep things dry
No rain! What a miracle!
Hi Susan,
Beautiful post!!! You have such a special way of taking us there. Such darling homes and pubs. The landscape is just breathtaking and those baby lambs OMG! Girlfriends enjoy the picnic.
Love,
Gail
Oh my! Makes me teary to see all this. What a memory you are making
Would so love to see it all in person, but this will have to do.
Thank you for sharing.
Be still my heart!!!
Wow! That was loverly! Thanks so much. Please keep sharing.
Susan
How absolutely enchanting!! As always, THANK YOU, Susan, for bringing us along 🙂
All Luv-lee
Oh, what fun!!! For some reason the image of the silver spoon did not come through. Please post it again sometime. I have always tried not to covet…but I am truly coveting your experiences!!! Have fun!
I see that it finally did come through, but thank you for letting me know when these things happen!
Dear Susan,
What a wonderful trip you are having! Just wondering why Beatrix Potter’s home is not part of the National Trust?
It is, the Trust owns it, and they let Mandy live there, she pays rent, and takes care of it. But it’s her home.
Oh my, rolling hills and wildflowers and sheep “baas” and antique shops and fireplaces and a picnic – how will you ever come back down to earth? I have my name tag ready for Friday. My students will be asking why I am wearing a lamb – fun!
Hi Susan,
What a wonderful time you’re having! I’m enjoying your blogs, and I was excited right along with you as you had your private tour of Beatrix Potter’s farm-you lucky girl! Thank you so much for always taking your girlfriends with you. I’m so looking forward to the next book; maybe I’ll reread the first three again while I’m waiting! Have a wonderful picnic on Friday!
Now the spoon image has come through.
Beautiful! What a fun life experience you are having.
Oh my gosh, I can’t type…I’m too teary eyed right now! To be in the presence of our beloved Beatrix’s home, where she sat and walked, what she planted and looked at. What a dream come true!
It was amazing, and we’re here for many more days, so I will get to go back!!!! Making memories until the very last moment we have to drive away.
What a delightful interlude you’ve provided! Many, many thanks!! Alice
Wonderful! So exciting, it’s almost like we’re there with you! Oh, wouldn’t that be fantastic? But alas, we’ll have to sip our tea from this side of the pond. Enjoy!
Oh my goodness – all the scenery is so soft and sweet. Enjoy every minute.
Oh, Susan, this is all so wonderful! The picture of you with Mandy at Castle Cottage, taken after you’d cried your happy tears, looked so familiar…..and then I remembered. The look of joy on your face is exactly like it is in the picture of you taken at Gladys Taber’s beloved Stillmeadow the first time you saw it in person. Pure, undiluted joy! I’ll be thinking of you and all the girlfriends (and I’m sure several guy friends) at the picnic on Saturday. We’ll be heading to WV to spend the week with my mom. Hugs to all!
Feeling extremely lucky at this very moment! Thank you Shannon!
What a time I’m living in! Followed to the last minute to takeoff, my daughter Nancy’s flight to Paris with friends for two weeks, Now a new blog from Beatrix’s house and land. So grateful to be able to see all this from my little laptop screen. AND thank you for Joshua Bell, such beautiful background music. So great that Kelley and Sherry are coming for the picnic fun. AND WOW, Victoria magazine is going to be there. Fantastic! I have a subscription and love it. I will be having a consultation with Rose Marcus up in BC Canada about upcoming Uranus return on Thursday. This is what can happen if you live to 84 🙂 And so far so good I think. Everyone HAVE A GOOD TIME!
Let me know about that Sylvia! Thank you!
Wow ❤️ Love how you describe all the little details Susan, so we feel as if we are right there with you!!! I count myself lucky to be one of your armchair traveling companions, along for the lovely adventure. Might just have to make another cup of tea and reread your post, thank you so much for sharing.
I am also in the Lake District, all the way from Texas! See you Friday. I can’t wait!
Wonderful! See you then Sheila!
Everything is so beautiful!!!
Ooops, Kellee and Sheri that is.
Tasting your Mother’s Day cake with my imagination while hearing the lambs bray. What a wonderful peaceful day. Such beauty in Beatriz’s garden. Glad you didn’t fall backwards while capturing this for us. You have captured her magic and brought it to us. ♥️ Thank you for sharing. 🌷🌹 as the gardens and wildflowers boom!
Thank you for the beautiful pictures, so glad you shared this lovely countryside, just wow!
Oh! What perfect days!
Thank you for taking us with you. I so enjoy seeing things through your eyes. I may never get there but feel I’ve been because of you!
Many thanks for the beautiful video of Castle Cottage and the countryside….a tiny bit like being there. Really enjoying being part of your journey! =^..^=
Hi Susan,
I am so excited to see that you took a photo of The Tower Bank Arms in Near Sawry. My daughter and I stayed at Buckle Yeat house next to it on one of our trips to England. We had dinner at the pub. We so loved the quaintness of it all. Every pub has the locals and their dogs. I can’t thank you enough for sharing your wonderful photos and videos as you travel the beautiful countryside. I appreciate the time you take out of your day to share them with us. I want to get on a plane and fly back there today. It is such a special place. Warmest wishes to you and Joe.
Oh I am there! I truly feel I am there! Thank you dearest Susan~
Hi Susan…what a wonderful blog to share ur trip…so beautiful!!! Take care…have fun and Happy belated birthday!! Loretta/ Calif.
Susan,
It sounds like a fantastic trip! I’m so happy for you and Joe! Enjoy every minute and thanks for brining us along.
Martha
Oh Me! Oh My! Joyous tears I cry! (oofah that was awful)
Lovely Musica…Darling Friends…wee sweet lambs with their mommas
Ireland…Wales…Ferries…Paths…Pubs…Lake Windermere
And of course our very own FairyTale Girl who eons ago made that teeny tiny decision to bring home a wee figurine of Jemima Puddleduck that would one day lead to Betsy who brought along Mandy who lives at Beatrix Potter’s very own Castle Cottage Garden and as Destiny would have it the Perfect The Only Place to have the 2018 BeaStock Picnic…coincidence…Nay!…It’s truly magic! Serendipity! We are beside ourselves with Enchantment.
That video of Mandy & Joe…sweetness personified…and those photos of Beatrix herself!
Her clothes are so darling…she’s so darling…and you can see her Spirit coming through. I love how in that one her Daddy has his arm around her waist. So sweet.
But Wait! You say…More surprises to Come! Be Still My Heart! And No Way! Victoria Magazine for the Photo Shoot! Can It get much more Dream Come True! All those Friends coming from near and far.
Though I will be joining in the Celebrations from our dear Rose Creek Farm here in East Texas…already have my picnic lunch menu chosen…ingredients purchased…outfit & hat selected…Name Tag printed & ready…quilt has been washed & line dryed in the Spring Sunshine. I will be up & ready by 6am Texas time. With my very own photographer…the Hubs…Jesse his own self.
So until then Sweet Sue…See y’all Friday!
Love you Kat Girl. XOXOXOXOX Need photos of your outfit on Twitter Please!
Absomalutely! Looking forward to ‘seeing’ everyone!
Hugs & Kisses & squeals of Joy!
Thank you for sharing all this. I feel I’m getting to enjoy the trip, all from the comfort of my little “square” on the sofa. 🙂
Another magical trip vicariosly. So thoughtful of you to take me along. I absorbed
Every precious moment. Thank you with all my heart.
June Emmert
Juniejoyce@comcast.net
I am thankful, overwhelmed with happy feelings in enjoyment of your delightful sharing. So blessed with your blog, your photos, your stories. Thank you, thank you.
Alice K
How lovely to see all those places again through your eyes!
It has many many years ago we where there for our holidays.
Have a good laugh with all the girls on the picnic on Friday.
Hope to hear soon more details of your visit to the Lake District.
Cheers,Trudy from the Netherlands
Oh dear girl, I have been worried that you were not getting any down-time but it seems I was wrong. We love, love, love all that you show us and share with us but please take a little time to just BE. But not too much because we need you to show and share!! 😉
I’m doing that Patti, it would be no fun without quiet time to sit the entire event on top of. Foundation!
Thankyou so much for sharing this with us, I’m so excited to see inside castle cottage 😃 I have wanted to visit there for so long. To think I was there only a few weeks ago and we stayed at the tower bank arms and had our first evening meal sitting at the very same table that you did by the fire. I took a picture of it pretty much identical to yours 😊 the food is amazing in there isn’t it 😋 enjoy every minute of your stay in the Lake District and I look forward to your next post xxx
When we were here last time, in 2012, we couldn’t get in the Tower Bank Arms, it was always crowded. This time we planned ahead and made reservations! We’re taking Kellee and Sheri there too!
Yes you have to book way in advance even just to eat 😉 the food is so good isn’t it 😋 we ate there three nights in a row and had breakfast and couldn’t fault any of it 😃 I look forward to your next posts 😘
Dear Susan… I’ve had a dream to go to the Lake District. I was near there once, in Blackpool and Manchester, but was not able to take the time and go see where Beatrix Potter lived. I’ve always wanted to go back and now you have taken me. Loving your letters to us, your beautiful scenic photographs, the pictures of Beatrix, the lambs, the fields and trees, and so much more. It gives me great joy and happiness to read your blog. All the things I love! So happy you and Joe are having a delightful time! 💕🏡🐇🌷🐑
I enjoyed every minute. Thank you for the tour of Beatrix’s home and grounds. I have them all in a book but more fun looking from your lens. Sadly, I never got there on my trips to England but took in Jane Austin’s home which was wonderful too. Thank you, Susan, for bringing us along. It makes me want to go back to England one more time.
Om my goodness, this blog brought on a lake full of joyful tears. Thank you for bringing us up to date on your journey. I can smell the lamb mowed grass, I can hear the birds chirping, I can feel the sweet air gently caressing my face. The explosion of new growth and the hundred shades of green between the ancient rock walls are such a wonderful background for my own dreams of someday…ahh. I am so glad to know that Sheri and Kellee are there, sharing this part of your adventure with you. They are so delightful and helpful and diligent and hard working. It will be a treat for them to meet the receivers of safely and beautifully packaged items from your shop. It’s also great to see how at home you and Joe are in your travels. The longer you are on the road, the more relaxed you seem. Maybe it is just that you have gotten used to drives on the wrong side of the road, and those oh so narrow stretches between tall and now blooming hedges. I say wallow in the joy of being right where you are this very moment. Bless you for this opportunity to see so much of my dreams in such a personal way. I’m looking forward to the milkman story and the picnic on Friday. Until then, know that you are in my heart and prayers.
Your post was such a wonderful thing to come home to after a day at work. I relished every word as I sat and ate my supper. I can hardly wait for Friday and I am not even attending!
Susan, as usual, your blogs bring us into your world like we are there with you! It’s such a warm and comforting feeling just reading!I’ve been in the general areas you are in. The green fields and sheep, lambs. It’s so relaxing just to look at your pictures! Thank you so much for sharing! Looking forward to the next blog. Hope you continue to have a fabulous time on your adventures!
There is just so much loveliness to see beyond the sea. I’m “one of these days” dreaming as I read your post. When I think of the walks with my mother holding my hand… down the hill, over the railroad tracks, through town, and then back up the hill to the little white library building between the hardware store and the Baptist church…. to walk in and see the rows of books, pick a tiny book with a dark grayish blue cover with white lettering and an illustrated rabbit inscribed on it, and reach over the dutch-door counter (that I was much too short to see over) so that the librarian could “check it out” to me…. to hold that book in my small hands and remember how it fit so nicely because it was small, too…. to see those wonderful watercolor illustrations of that mischievous bunny and his exploits and be oh-so-terrified of Mr. McGregor…. but then know Peter would find his mommy and she would make chamomile tea and all would be well at the end… well, it is one of my favorite memories of childhood. This not only caused me to fall in love with Beatrix Potter’s stories and artwork (how wonderful that there were a number of them to “check out” from the library, so that I could get acquainted with a different character each visit), but it also caused me to fall in love with libraries and books in general… all because Beatrix Potter loved children and loved writing them letters with stories and illustrations.
I so wish I could be there for the picnic, but I am so glad someone will be there taking photos! Best wishes for a beautiful day at Castle Cottage with friends!!
Beautiful memory, so filled with inspiration! xoxoxo Thank you Christi!
All so wonderful. And Victoria Magazine 😱 oh my. It keeps getting better. Thank you 💕
I loved this. I have a tiny Beatrix Potter collection in my “library”. I sit and dream of the day I can visit her porch. Thank you for this. We loved it.