It was a rainy day today, so not many pictures. We drove to Beatrix Potter's beloved Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey first thing this morning. We found it with no trouble and so were there well before the ticket office was open and wandered down a footpath toward Far Sawrey. Beautiful pastoral scene on a soggy morning.
This is the only picture I took of the actual house that she bought with the proceeds of her first book (you were not allowed to take pictures inside).
One thing I found remarkable is that the sides of the small porch are single sheets of slate, as are the two pieces of the little roof. It was built in the mid-1600's and she bought it in 1905 and added on a bit in 1906. She only stayed there on weekends before she was married, as it just wasn't done for single young women to come and live someplace by themselves. After she married and moved into a large house across the road, she used this house as her office and work space. Per her will, it has been kept as it was--to look as if she had just stepped out for a short walk and missed her guests. All her collections of furniture, china, bits and pieces from the natural world were still there as were examples of her letters with the lovely pen and ink drawings she often included. This picture of the small vegetable garden out front looks a lot like those drawn in some of her books.
I couldn't resist taking a picture of the flowers in front of this Near Sawrey guest house.
We drove back to Hawkshead and did a bit of shopping and had a cup of tea while it poured rain. The drive between Ambleside and Near Sawrey / Hawkshead was nerve racking as the roads are very narrow and edged with stone walls, leaving no room for error.
We drove to Windermere and had a light lunch, did some grocery shopping and returned to the apartment. Went around Ambleside checking out the numerous outdoor clothing shops (must have been 8 or 9), looking for a replacement for Hal's white hiking shirt, with no success. Stopped by the Bridge House, ostensibly the "smallest house in England,"
which is built over the Stock Ghyll (stream) that runs through town. This is the lower floor (1 room with a stove)
and the upper floor,
and a view out the upper floor window.
Hal is taking a nap and we will just stay in and watch a video tonight. Better weather is promised for tomorrow.
We drove back to Hawkshead and did a bit of shopping and had a cup of tea while it poured rain. The drive between Ambleside and Near Sawrey / Hawkshead was nerve racking as the roads are very narrow and edged with stone walls, leaving no room for error.
We drove to Windermere and had a light lunch, did some grocery shopping and returned to the apartment. Went around Ambleside checking out the numerous outdoor clothing shops (must have been 8 or 9), looking for a replacement for Hal's white hiking shirt, with no success. Stopped by the Bridge House, ostensibly the "smallest house in England,"
