Friday, September 19, 2014

18 Sept, Thursday: Moreton, Bourton and Burford

Actually that is not the order of our day--it was Moreton in Marsh, Burford and then Bourton on the Water, but I like the way it sounded. Moreton is the nearest sizable village to our friends Di and Brian and we went there first to have coffee at a favorite shop with irresistible sweets. Took these pictures of sheep cupcakes.
There was also a sign near the pond warning the motorists not to run over the ducks.
A lot of still very lush flower baskets along the street,
and this is just one building that is centuries old, dating from 1668.
A sign listing "Undermentioned Tolls."
I also found the car I want--a sporty version of a Mini Cooper!

On to Burford where we saw this lovely kitty watching the stream.
There was a beautiful little nursery along the way, also.
This is not as much a tourist town as many in the Cotswolds and had so many interesting and very old buildings.
  This is the Tolsey where wool merchants in medieval times paid their taxes.
Walked along the high street, up the hill, and had lunch.
Then along a beautiful old residential area, Sheep Street.

Hal found a vintage Mini Cooper.
We went back to St. John's ( a "wool church"), which was originally built from 1175 to 1500 (over 300 years to build) then refurbished starting in 1870's. Even the very recent headstones in the churchyard dated back to the 1850's.



So much history! The attached school had separate doors for girls and boys.
On to Bourton on the Water--big tourist destination, and very scenic.

Had our afternoon ice cream and found a Mini Cooper topiary!

Ended our day with a yummy meal at The Fox pub in Lower Oddington--could only find a sign for Upper Oddington, however.

And to close for the day, I quote a sign I saw in a shop window in Bourton, "Anything that makes you giggle, smile or laugh--buy it or marry it." Agreed :-)

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Thursday, Sept. 18: The Slaughters

Sounds worse than it is...there is the village of Upper Slaughter and the village of Lower Slaughter (LS)...according to Brian's research, Slaughter comes from the Old English word "slohtre" which means "muddy place!" Off for sightseeing with Di and Brian. The countryside is really so beautiful and the villages inevitably picturesque. I missed getting to take a picture of the village sign for Lower Oddington but got one of neighboring Upper Oddington!
We stopped first for coffee at Brian and Di's favorite coffee shop in Stow on the Wold and then had a walk 'round. Here are some pictures from Stow including a cute looking tea shop,
the sign over Brian and Di's preferred meat source,
a slightly crooked house,
a very ancient stone cross,

"England's oldest inn,"
and a beautiful church (St. Edwards) dating from the 15th C.

Then on to LS for a really nice lunch at "The Slaughters" restaurant and hotel

where I finally found my "ploughman's lunch"--a really elegant one that I share with Brian: smoked salmon, prosciutto, pickle (chutney), cheddar slabs, bread, shredded beet, ham, smoked mackerel, pate, pork pie, and salad--YUM! Then we wandered along the river in this quiet village

to an ice cream shop for dessert.
I caught a picture of Miu cuddled with his lamb in the laundry room.
  He has gotten used to our presence. Ra is seen only breakfast and dinner :-)

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Tuesday, Sept. 16: Chastleton Leaze

We are having a wonderful relaxing visit with friends Di and Brian Gowers in their beautiful home, Chastleton Leaze. We had a leisurely breakfast, sorted out some laundry--part of which is now hanging on the line outside to dry! Got a tour of Di's veg and flower garden with Miu helping out.

Once everyone was cleaned up, we went for a long ramble through the old village of Chastleton, past Chastleton House which was closed today but will be open for tourists tomorrow.

Along the way we saw the neighborhood training stable exercising the race horses,
some fabulous thatched roofs,
a dovecote,
beautiful countryside,
a goose on a gate post,
a restored community bake-house for the old village of Chastleton,
baled hay,
lovely English gardens,
and walked through lots of sheep pastures.
Here are views of the front and back of Chastleton Leaze,

the hanging baskets outside the old stable,
a bit of the back garden,
and Di and Miu having a cuddle.