Rococo Gardens and Snowdrops for the last day of February.

So today the weather forcast was for 10 degrees and sunshine, so I decided to head off to a beautiful garden only 20 minutes from home called Rococo Gardens in Painswick.

On my way, as I was early I stopped of at an amazing view point and took this picture overlooking May Hill and the town of Gloucester in the dip.  On a clear day you can see all the way to the Black Mountains in mid Wales.

This is the view of the kitchen garden along with a selection of beehives, I bet the honey tastes delicious!

This building is called Eagle House, they are unsure whether it was because you have an Eagle's view over the land, or because they actually housed an Eagle in there!

This building is appropriately named the "Red House"

I love this grand pegoda at the top of the garden which has a small pond at the base of it.

Dotted around the grounds were amazing sculptures so intricately carved.

Then we have this carving of a magical castle in the branch of a tree, isn't it just brilliant!

I love the reflection in the Swan Pond 

Then we have the main reason most people come here, especially at this time of year to see the spectacle which is the flowers.

I loved this tree, they had cut off what every it was that was growing up the trunk, but it just looks so gnarled and perfect for Jack and Beanstalk! 

Apparently the snowdrops were on their way out now, but to me they still gave an incredible show.

This was the view overlooking the Vale of Stroud just so tranquil.

Tewkesbury before Storm Eunice

So on Thursday I left work early and had a drive to a lovely local town to me, Tewkesbury. 

I have been coming here off and on for year's I love the Abbey and walking across "The Ham" (big field) to get to the other side and see the river seven in all it's glory. 

Friday was forecast winds of up to 70mph so I definitely picked the right day for a visit. 

These pictures where taken a place called Lower Lode. The building on the left in the top picture is owned by Cheltenham Ladies College and they keep rowing boots in it. 

In the summer sometimes I come and sit on the little jetty and you can dip your feet in the river, not today though as you can't see the jetty! 

Isn't the Abbey just the most beautiful building. It was originally built in 1102 so is over 900 years old!! 

The bridge across the river normal has a waterfall down but the water level was high enough that it could not be seen. 

I love the cottages here, I used them as inspiration for a second year degree project I designed for a jumper which I wrote about back in April 2018 Blog post

I have a "thing" for clouds and wow with the onset of a storm there definitely was clouds today!! 

I walked across the field as the other side has a perfect spot to just sit and enjoy nature. 

The house in the top picture always fascinates me as to "what's it like inside? does it ever get flooded? what stunning views they must have of the river everyday. 

Again here normally you get to enjoy the sound of a small waterfall but the river was high and flowing quickly. 

On my way back I spotted these amazing Fungi growing on a tree stump. 

I just loved the incredible soft texture of the buds coming out for spring.  There is one thing guaranteed with nature, the glorious new shots of new life in spring. 

Finally when almost back at the car I spotted this door, now isn't it just brilliant! 

Age 54!

My birthday was celebrated away in Stan at a camp site in North Devon. 

It has two streams running either side and this beautiful house as you enter the site with a waterwheel and Gemma Puddle Ducks!!

For the first time we set up the awning and as it is called a "driveaway" we did just that and it stayed up!

So much easier as you can leave fold up chairs and bits in it and just take Stan off on an adventure.

The first stop was Barnstaple as Lidl sent me a notification that I had a birthday cookie I could redeem! I also realised I had £10 free voucher too. So using the store locator found a near by one and off we went to buy treats and a matt for stepping on between the van and the awning.

One of the meals we wanted out was fish and chips so my birthday meal was classic Cod, Sausage, Chips and mug of Tea!  But these where no ordinary chips, oh my goodness they were delicious. Apparently a Yorkshire way of cooking that made them orange on the outside, but so fluffy inside.

From Barnstaple we then headed over to Lynton, a lovely picturesque drive and some incredibly windy roads!

The town has some lovely gift shops l, but I wanted to do a walk first which never done even though I must have visited here about half a dozen times!

The walk is through woods and owned by the National Trust called Watersmeet.

There are two paths, one that runs by the river and the other that goes through the woods, they both end up at the same place, the Trust Cafe! 

So we headed on the river path as I just love the sound of the water.  On route we came across a painted pebble which we will relocate somewhere else for the next person to find. 

The path was quite steep in places certainly got the heart going! 

We then after about an hour of walking with taking pictures ended up at the Café. 

Was a real treat to have not just one but two Robin's come to say hello! 

On the walk back we came across this log full of coins, I wonder how old some of them are? 

I love the seeing the river running through the town and the row of houses are so picturesque, sadly most are now holiday let's though. 

We then headed down to the front where the tide was in. 

Along the path is a great statue aswell which I love. 

The drive back over Exmoor was stunning, just huge expanses of moorland and sky. 

So there we are, now into the next year of life, let's see what adventures happen next!!