Wednesday, July 29, 2015

England, Day Six, Part Two





After touring Townend we were really hungry and decided to go down to Annie's Clock for lunch.  It was only a little ways from Townend and still in the beautiful Troutbeck Valley!

Annie's Clock is a charming place.  If you look up on the hill there are sheep grazing.  The whole area is beyond lovely.







Let's go inside and have a bite to eat.  Look out this window--isn't it beautiful!




Here is Grayden's bacon and brie sandwich and couscous salad.  I took a bite and it was yummy.  Notice their bacon is more like Canadian bacon.  If you see streaky bacon on the menu it is like American bacon.




This is my quiche and couscous salad.  It was delicious!




We shared our lunch at the table with three other people as Annie's Clock was very popular.  They were delightful folks on holiday from Cambridge.  While eating they told us they were hiking the Troutbeck Paths.  I would so love to do that!  They also recommended an open garden nearby that we shouldn't miss.  So after eating we made our way to Holehird Garden. 

To all of my American friends this is what we passed on the way to Holehird.




Soon we arrive at Holehird Garden.  The garden is home to the Lakeland Horticulture Society.  It is totally run by members and is maintained by them.  




We strolled into the walled garden.  The tulips were blooming so beautifully.









The azaleas were in full bloom.  Across from the gardens is the manor house that was gifted to the people of Windermere.  The home was designed by J.S. Crowther, architect of the Manchester Cathedral in 1865.  The Groves family lived in the home from 1897 to 1945, then gave it to the community.  The original gardens are by Thomas Mawson. 




We were so happy to have met friends at Annie's Clock that sent us to Holehird Garden.






We needed to leave Holehird and head back "home."  What a wonderfully peace filled day!




Oh dear England, you have taken my heart! ♥







29 comments:

  1. Hi Martha Ellen! Love your photos...and it's so good to see my country through another's eyes...it gives a whole new perspective! We were staying in Windermere at the very beginning of June? Perhaps our paths crossed? Lovely thought! Have a great day x

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    1. Hi Dear Rachel, it's so nice to see you here! We were in the Lake District May 17-24 and then we travelled south for three more days before sailing home out of Southampton. Perhaps our paths did cross on one of your roads---I thought of you while we were in your beautiful country, sweetie! Your dear country has captured my heart! xo ♥

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  2. Oh, Dear Martha Ellen ~~~ you are spoiling us!
    Yes, you have nailed the bacon! British bacon is just sooo good and comes with so many different cures. It is one of the things that could turn me back to eating meat again. Oh, a Bacon Butty ~~~ just oozing bacon fat into the buttered bread ~~~ sighs ~~~
    As you know, I'm not one who aspires to live in a grand mansion, I am a cottage girl, but I could just see me in that house on the Holehird Garden estate. Just the perfect setting for a G&T on the lawn, or tea and crumpets in the library!
    Our Mail Van comes rattling past our drive every day, except Sunday!
    Looking forward to another visit to Merry Old England ~~~ Deb xoxo

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    1. Dear Deb, I'm so happy and teary eyed to be sharing our trip with you, dear one. We felt like spoiled little children enjoying our times on holiday. Everything is just so charming in Great Britain!
      Yes, it would be so lovely to all come together at your estate at Holehird Garden. We would have a grand old time, sweetie. xoxo ♥

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  3. Oh my goodness, Martha Ellen! Your photos are all so beautiful! Wish I could stop for tea at Annie's Clock! Love seeing the bunting hanging in the window. Holehird Garden is gorgeous! Thank you for sharing all the beauty and magic of England with us. XOXO

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    1. Oh Rosinda, you would have loved Annie's Clock. It's the perfect place in the perfect setting to meet and have tea or lunch. Bunting was hanging in most tearooms we visited in England--so inviting and charming. The garden at Holehird was a lovely surprise for us as we didn't know about it. There's so much to see there. I want to go back! xoxo ♥

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  4. That was a very nice tip about the garden! The food does look wonderful. Is the town named Annie's Clock? What a great name! Couldn't help but notice the dent in the mail truck...that is what comes from driving on the wrong side of the road. ; >

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    1. Vee, the food at Annie's Clock was yummy. Annie's Clock is the name of the tearoom/cafe and is located just a block or so from Townend in Troutbeck Valley. We noticed the dent also!! We were corrected about being on the wrong side of the road--they say they drive on the CORRECT side of the road--oh well, I guess it's what you get used to! ♥

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  5. Another beautiful day you had. Lunch looks lovely, we have a post van come to our little village.
    Fondly Michelle

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    1. Hi Michelle, your Royal Mail Post Van is charming to me! In fact just about everything in England is charming. ♥

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  6. I can see why England has taken your heart. How charming that you shared a table and gained some insight to a new place to visit. I love the photo of the window looking out of the tea room--just one I would have taken! I continue to enjoy your journey!

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    1. Dotsie, I love to take photos out of windows. I find myself longing to be in England again while writing about our visit. Well, who knows maybe one day! Thanks for coming along. ♥

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  7. Martha Ellen, I'm with you on the views out the window--and from outside to in also! I think windows frame everything so beautifully and you've captured it! How is the house used now? It's lovely--I could live there, too. :-)

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    1. The manor home at Holehird Garden has had many uses since being given to the community, Cathy. It has been a home for the disabled and currently is used as a nursing home. I did not know that until I did some research recently. ♥

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  8. Annie's Clock looks positively delightful!! What a perfect place to have lunch! I love the name, the clock on the outside, the chalkboard greeting, the pennant strung across the window...and, of course, the food looks luscious. Yes, perfect.

    And how lovely that your table mates clued you in on Holehird Garden! You found many treasures in England!

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  9. Oh, Martha Ellen! So much charm around every corner! Annie's Clock looks like my 'cup of tea.' The view as you walked up just took my breath away! Meeting other travelers is one of my favorite parts of visiting Europe. Sharing a table certainly has its benefits! Holehird was a gorgeous surprise! I dream of seeing the old stone walls in England one day! I just love traveling together, Martha Ellen!! Many thanks!!
    ♡ Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes

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    1. Dawn, I feel like a broken record about my feelings for England. We were just in love with all the beauty and charm. Thank you for sharing my feelings, dear one. It was so nice to meet such lovely folks and take their suggestion to visit Holehird. I can't wait for you to visit this magical country! I'm so happy to have you with us! xoxo

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  10. Beautiful photos, Martha Ellen! I have to say, you obviously love England for all the same reasons I do. The first photo of the stone building, the hillside with sheep, all the way through to the last photo of the narrow road with the stone wall. Be still my heart. It calls to me, and I long to go back to northern England. I still find it difficult to understand why anyone leaves there to move to the U.S.

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    1. Judy, I hope to visit some of the sites you have visited in England! I think it will take many more visits to see it all. Thank you for sharing my adventure. xoxo

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  11. Sure brings back great memories of our trip! XOXO

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  12. I too would have picked the quiche and couscous, yum. Tulips blooming in August, that seems so strange. Just look at all those chimney pots on the last building, fabulous! I am in love with England's natural beauty and the marvelous architecture even more that ever because of your photos. I am seriously putting together a plan in my mind...now if I can just talk my husband into it.....

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    1. Jeri, we were in England in May. Alas, I am home now and have been sharing our time there as time permits on my blog. It was an amazing journey for us! You must get your husband on board with your plans! England is so lovely and has just taken my heart! I want to return one day! ♥

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  13. Oops, brain freeze...of course you were there in May!

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  14. Hello, I noticed you on Nana Diana's blog. I thought I 'd comment on this post because these pictures are so wonderful from England. The flowers are so vibrant with color, and the food looks yummy. My daughters visited England a few years ago and had the best time. Me and my daughters also have a blog, and we would love it if you would visit us and follow. I would certainly come back and follow you as well. It's nice to meet new friends, and you really do have a charming blog. I hope to hear from you, and have a sweet day.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Hi Sheri, It's so nice to meet you! I just took a look at your beautiful blog. I see you've been to France recently---I know you had a wonderful time. I loved France---we've been a couple times and just adore it! Paris--be still my heart---it's a wonderful city, so full of charm and sophistication. I'd love to follow you and get to know you better! ♥

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  15. Thank you for following us, Martha Ellen, and I just followed you back. My daughters are the ones who just went to France, and Jess hopped on over to Paris for a couple of days. I would love to visit there myself.....maybe someday. That's great that you have already seen this beautiful city. The girls said that it changed their lives.

    Have a lovely evening.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Thank you, Sheri. It's so nice to meet kindred spirits. It's the best part of blogging! ♥

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