Sunday 3 April 2011

Over the Border

I am an extremely lucky mummy. Our two little men have worked so hard making cards and chocolates and this morning I was treated to a full family breakfast in bed with flowers and, inevitably, the cat too.

Nothing beats a handmade card using every felt tip pen possible does there?
Sunny skies greeted us when we finally got up and our plans for lunch at home with Grandma were quickly changed for a jaunt over the hills, (Grandma too) which I'm all in favour of when the skies are blue and filled with dramatic clouds. So we headed to one of favourite villages, a few short miles away over the border into Derbyshire.
I know Spring is in the air because we always find ourselves here when things start to grow again for a mess around in the playground, a delicious ice cream and a peer into the beautiful village pond (in case you don't like amphibians be warned - froggy picture to follow!)

Mothering Sunday smells of daffodils and primroses to me and there were glorious displays on the Green, at the school and even in the pub garden.,
I would love to open the door of this cottage and stay awhile.
The pond was full to the brim of frogs and toads and we spent a fun hour looking for spawn to bring home and watch mature. Then we will bring the little froglets back here, home again.
It was a perfect April day, a bit too chilly for our picnic but spells of warm sunshine chased the odd shower away and the light was magical.
Back home our delayed roast was all the more delicious and we're all full of fresh air; heads filled with glorious spring scenery. Giddy lambs and excited boys, nodding daffodils, oddles of frogspawn and views to dream about. What more could a mum ask for today?
First flowers from my garden this Spring, for my lovely mum who's away working in Macedonia this weekend. See you soon Mum. XxXxXx

Edited for Sally - The village in this post is Monyash, near Bakewell in Derbyshire. Very pretty and the pub serves great food. Youlgreave is close by and a slightly larger village with perhaps a few more places to stay. Lovely walks and scenery. Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall are not far away and well worth a visit. During May and June the Well Dressing season takes place too. Hope that helps and you have a lovely holiday!

41 comments:

Nic said...

What lovely photos - looks like you've had a fab day :)

Trixie@ the vintage bothy said...

What a lovely day for you all. Lovely photos.
T x

salty pebble said...

happy mumma's eve hehe ;0)x
love the photographs sooo pretty where you live...i love the stone walls where i am in devon next to the newly shooting spring flowers, so pretty. you must have had a lovely walk about. i was thinking my blog posting looked like a florist shop- i do love flowers.
Your boys made you smashing cards bless them- what a joy it is to be a mum xxxx

Nata per sognare said...

Mother's Day in Italy is May 10.
Your Mother's Day was great,
your trip very interesting
who have visited the village is extraordinary.
Angela

Unknown said...

Why oh why have i never been to Derbyshire, looks so beautiful! Hand made cards are so lovely and treasures to keep. x

Kimberly said...

All so lovely! Wee bit jealous, but my first daffodil did bloom yesterday and the frogs are going nuts at night here.

andamento said...

Beautiful photographs, lovely to visit as ever.

Abbie said...

Your photos are beautful!! How cute are those mothers day cards :) homemade cards are the best

Please may I? said...

Happy mothers day

Looks like your boys spoilt you. Love the cards, they are the best type to get.

The photos are beautiful.

X x

home made gorgeous said...

What a lovely post! You really do live in a beautiful part of the world, it must be so nice to be exposed to these views every day...The handmade Mothers Day cards are adorable and very creative! Sarah x

Christals Creations said...

what a glorious day. I couldn't find my camera this morning and I missed the pics of our day out but it was lovley to be out and about with the boys and to see the oldest running along the seafront on our trip out.

Claire said...

Hey Steph a lovely post, beautiful pics and those Daffodils.........

Sounds like you had the perfect day and the lovely cards your boys made are sooooo special.

Hope you have a great week too,

Claire :)

Margarida said...

You take my breath away with such wonderful pictures. I wish I could be there with you to enjoy that nice village and landscapes. What a nice deserved day you had. Love.

notmassproduced said...

lovely artwork on the cards and gorgeous spring photos too.

Joanne said...

Happy Mothering Day!
So glad you were spoiled!
Perfect Post!
Exquisite pics!
Thanks for the peek!
Joanne

Jacquie said...

Gorgeous pics , love the village and lambs in the fields.
Your boys cards are so sweet and the posy from your garden is perfect .
Jacquie x

GardenOfDaisies said...

I want to live THERE!!!

Lyckligs-Cozy-Cottage said...

Wonderful pictures, real country living!
Many greetings
Gisela

Pipany said...

I loved this pst steph (she said as though she doesn't usually!)> Gorgeous pictures. Derbyshire is a county I have yet to visit, but I am determined to get there one day. Just lovely x

Ruth said...

What a lovely day and what lovely photos Steph - the countryside round you is gorgeous! I love the Peak District - pretty villages combined with stunning moorland - just about my favourite combo!

Anonymous said...

what a beautiful day you all the village looks gorgous
xx fee

The Fairy Glade said...

Beautiful pictures as always, looks like you had a wonderful day. Nothing beats a home made card, I keep all mine in a keepsake box, memories in the making. Have a lovely week. Dev x
p.s. I am having a little geiveaway if you are interested.

...Nina Nixon... said...

Gorgeous pictures Step - a truly wonderful weekend...and well deserved.

Nina xxx

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the lovely pics and happy Mother's Day. Really loved the picture of the cottage. So quaint, so picturesque, so beautiful. Jean

Barri-Jayne said...

Your photographs are amazing! I love the frogs.

Glad you had a lovely Mothers Day.
x

caravanartist said...

What a lovely post and what stunning scenery! Glad you had a good Mother's day.

Heather L. said...

You are so blessed to have such gorgeous scenery and quaint villages to visit!!! Sometimes my soul longs so much to see something like that....but alas, it's only possibly in memory or online at the moment. Glad you had a special day!

Juliab said...

Beautiful photos. Sounds like you had a perfect day. x

Madelief said...

Hi Steph,

Your mother's day sounds perfect. What a beautiful walk you made! Thank you for taking us on along and showing us the beauty of the English countryside :-)!

Lieve groet, Madelief

Jill said...

What a lovely mothers day, nothing better than our English Countryside, love the homemade cards definitely the best, I have kept all my sons home made cards and still love to look at them.
Jillxx

Anja said...

It's sounds like a perfect family day! Gorgeous photos, the country side looks beautiful1

Claire said...

your photos are great X

Anonymous said...

Lovely post.
Beautiful photos.

Bess at Fixing My Thoughts said...

What breathtaking scenery and photos! I just heave a deep sigh of satisfaction when I see such lovely images of England. Sounds like your Mother's Day couldn't have been sweeter! Bess

blueberry hill said...

Lovely photos and fab cards to treasure. Macedonia sounds very exciting for your mum too. Annie

Stitchfork said...

Family, flowers, beautiful countryside...sighing and smiling over your gorgeous photos!
Cathy

Unknown said...

The village that you visited in Derbyshire looks just the kind of place I was hoping to holiday in this year. Would you mind posting the location as I don't see it in either of those posts. Thank you.

Emma Herian said...

OMG, Just reading this post thinking, ''im sure Ive been there?'' so I had a look up on the local website and there were the pics of the Smithy Cafe! I took my boys up to see my sister who lives in Stone and we went for a day trip to Bakewell, stopping off in Monyash! Such a beautiful drive, loved it!
Thanks for the memory jog!
Emx

Lulu said...

wow, such lovely pics..

Teacup Moments said...

these photos are just fabulous! everything looks lovely. what a way to spend mother's day!

Carole said...

Wonderful blog - so atmospheric and deeply appreciative of life and the lovely part of the world in which you live. Thanks for sharing it all with us.