Weekend explorations...................

The bank holiday weekend weather proved typically unpredictable, cold wind and rain with intermittent sunshine. As we have orders to complete our excursions were close to home. Having spotted ducklings with the duck families on the pond up the road, we braved the icy wind and went to pay them a visit. Most of the adult ducks were sleeping in the sun and the only mother duck we spotted was busy herding her offspring into a garden out of view. I did enjoy my walk 'tho and took lots of pictures of the beautiful scenery around this village.

This exquisite tree is directly across the road from our house in a well tended and obviously much loved garden. 

We took a different route home and discovered lots of wooden bridges along the route, there is a lot of water around here! I could not resist taking a picture of the bluebells which are now popping up all over, have spotted carpets of bluebells under the trees.

and of course this amazing tulip caught my eye, something to paint in the future when I have some spare time ....................

The lychgate is at the side entrance to the church with this avenue of bright green trees. A pretty church but no gargoyles to capture my attention

The Hilton Maze is one of only eight surviving turf mazes in England.  According to the inscription on the monument in the middle it was cut in 1660 to commemorate the restoration of Charles II to the throne. Apparently the origin of mazes is uncertain but it has been suggested that they were used as a sort of mini pilgrimage to be traversed on one's knees as a penance - alternatively they were used in a rite to cast out the devil who could only move in straight lines.

My final picture is of an ancient oak tree. I have a strong affinity to trees and could not resist this one, don't know what our new neighbours thought about my standing touching it reverently.
Today we went to a boot market held in the next small town, as the weather was rather miserable and we arrived a little late, some of the sellers were packing up and leaving. We did manage to have a quick look around 'tho. I found a very pretty vintage brooch with lucite flowers which I will take apart and re-use but nothing else that was of much interest. It is granny's old sewing goodies that I look out for but there are markets each weekend now so perhaps we will be lucky
The bears are slowly reaching completion and we have both been working until the small hours. Almost done then have more orders to work on so we will be busy for some weeks to come.

The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another.  ~James Matthew Barrie