England's Lake District ~ Land of Beatrix Potter

Earlier this month (before THE WEDDING) I was so excited to go to NW England for a 

Beatrix Potter tour of the Lake District that she loved so very much. We toured several 

farms that Beatrix Potter (she wrote the Peter Rabbit books) bought during her 

lifetime. She bequeathed 15 farms and over 4,000 acres of land to the 

National Trust when she died in 1943, with the stipulation it not be sold. 

I was greeted by Peter Rabbit as I started up the walk to her beloved Hill Top, 

the first home and farm that BP purchased in 1905 in Near Sawrey.  

The entrance to Hill Top! Everything inside Hill Top are kept exactly as Beatrix wanted us to see it

with all of her favorite things and furnishings. Set, just so, by her instructions to the Trust.

Beatrix' straw hat and clogs remain on her chair, as if she just came in from her beloved farm.

Love these silhouettes that are all the rage for collectors today!

The designs on these transferware plates were drawn by her father, Rupert, 

and her brother, Bertram. They were a talented family.

Her treasure room, as she called it, contains many of her collections. This room brought 

me to tears, as I realized she loved her treasures, as much as I love mine.

A collection of Peter Rabbit china and a pace egg that she made for the children

of Sawrey every Easter to use in their egg races.

A doll house like the one BP wrote about in The Tale of Two Bad Mice.

The furnishings, inside the doll house on display, are Beatrix Potter's

own collection and are absolutely fabulous. 

Beatrix' bedroom with the canopy that she embroidered and made herself.

And a walk in her lovely garden that she loved so much.

After spending time in Hill Top and in the National Trust gift shop, we headed to

Castle Cottage her marital home with her husband, Willie Heelis.

  

This is Castle Cottage where they spent their married years and where Beatrix died. We were

so lucky to get a private tour inside because it is not open to the public. What a tour!

The sixteenth century barn at Castle Cottage! It's as good as new. 

We all went to a picnic with Susan Branch (Isn't she darling?) and her 'girlfriends' (us)

from all over the world. It was held on the Castle Cottage pasture.

I got gifties from two lovely ladies, a picnic basket charm and

Hollyhock seeds from a new Dutch friend.

This is my new friend Emily, who was on the tour with her mom Amy. Isn't she darling in this 

Herdwick tweed fascinator? They were both such fun to explore with.

And this is the class picture of a group of fun picnic girlfriends!

I am in the back between the red coats in the middle.

After the picnic lunch, we went to the Tower Banks Arms pub, which is just across the street.

The owners are delightful and welcoming with the best hard cider on draft!

BP drew it for The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck (page 42).

We ended a magical day at Yew Tree Farm, which served for the outside scenes of Hill Top

in the movie Miss Potter (one of my favorites). It is also one of BP's farms.

This is the Yew Tree farm barn. I just love these old, old barns of wood and stone!

I have a lot more share about my trip and will soon in my next blog post.

Hope you enjoyed seeing the places Beatrix Potter called home.

I had the best time there with other BP lovers.

Melin

Fall fun in Vermont!

I just got home from a fabulous girlfriend trip to Vermont and beyond (beyond will be another post). 

I went with Teri and Sue, sister-friends since grade and high school. We stayed in a camp
on Lake Dunmore. I Learned from November's Country Living magazine (page 52)
 that location generally dictates what a 2nd home dwelling is called.
In New England and the Adirondacks, it is a camp. In the West,
South and Midwest, it is called a cabin  and along the coast
 or Great Lakes, it is a cottage (who knew). 

The best part of Vermont is most all the roads are just two lane and they have very few freeway

type roads. Also, we were told, no billboards! Around every bend, it looks just like the
postcards you've seen, Sometimes it is green, sometimes the colors of fall or winter bare.

This video shows some of what we saw. We arrived on Sept 29 and didn't see the leaves we were hoping for but by the end of our visit Oct 7, the colors were gorgeous. Sorry the pics do 
not do  them justice. The dialog is weak too but enjoy the view.

We visited too many small towns to mention but several displayed these darling
"leaf people", especially Brandon, VT, a darling town, south of our Lake.

 A few other sites in Brandon. We had a fabulous lunch at this French cafe and enjoyed
the shops. Met a few fabulous artists.




Here are the three of us in a leaf peeping selfie groupie). Melin, Teri and Sue, besties forever!

 
The farther North and the deeper into the mountains we went, the prettier the colors, especially in Stowe! The
hillsides look like a fall patchwork quilt.

  A few of the sites in Stowe. We arrived late in the day but the colors did not disappoint. They were breathtaking! 

 This is our beautiful Lake Dunmore!

As we said goodbye to Vermont, we had to make one more stop at this darling country store
who had the best homemade fudge with salted caramel and they ship!

 All photos are taken with my iPhone. If you want a fun fall vacation, consider
visiting Vermont. We are so glad we did.
Melin

Susan Branch at Apple Farm

I flew to Los Angeles this spring to spend a glorious week with my 

bestie,  assistant WE buyer-promoter-slave and sister, Linda Howard. 

We spent some time catching up,seeing my extended family, the beach,

 etc, then set out on a girlfriend's adventure to SOL. 

I had really only been through  San Luis Obispo and never stayed.

Our drive up the coast was fun. We stopped and explored (SHOPPED)

 in Arroyo Grande, a small town we both love. We could hardly wait 

to get to the Apple Farm Inn, so we didn't stay long.

I LOVED everything about the Inn, especially the flowers! I tried to do

 what the sign says. I am a rule follower, for the most part. 

The Inn is charming and the staff could not have been more welcoming and fun. 

They greeted us with wine and cookies and more.  Our room was close 

to the reception area...convenient!

They have a wonderful gift shop (more shopping) and tables with decor

 set  up all over the Inn for purchase, plus it was so springy!

The exciting person that brought us here is our beloved Susan Branch!

We could hardly wait to see her, hear her, be near her and talk to her. 

I know it sounds like we could be stalkers but we admire her  work and have all her

  books and just know she loves us as much as we love her (she really does)!

Once we checked in and received our wrist bands, we were invited 

to enjoy delicious treats and lemonade. It was very classy!

We met many like minded women, who are lovers of all things SB (like us).

We chatted and met others who saw her with us in Pasadena too.

It wasn't long before there she was in all her cuteness!

Don't you just love her outfit! 

Linda is just to the left of her left hand in this pic.

She is a true GIRLFRIEND (just like her book) and seemed as excited to

see us as we were to see her. She spoke for a bit then

opened it up for questions from us...FUN!

Here are the three of us in the traditional girlfriend signing pose.

She is so very generous and spends some quality time with each and 

every one of us. Susan is signing a very special Christmas print

of hers that Linda was generous to gift me. I will display it 

every Christmas to remind me of my two dear friends.

She signed our books too in her loving hand.

It was a magical trip from the start to the very end. We antiqued along 

our way home. Ate at many of my favorite restaurants too.

How blessed am I to have these two incredible 

woman that I call FRIEND?

The pictures were taken by me with my iPhone, and the husband's 

of Susan Branch (Joe) & Laura Lindsay.

Wishing you a spring adventure or two!

Melin

xoxo