Thistle Cove Farm

Home & Homestead Living

Hello, Goodbye….

by Sandra Bennett
TCF

HA! Bet you might have thought something else, eh? Recently, it was my extreme pleasure to go on a small group tour of the Lake District, UK with Helen Bertram of Whitecroft Traditional Tours. It was, in one word, excellent; to use two words…most excellent. All I had to do was show up and be taken care of; long time blog readers know that for an amazingly rare treat. To say it was a shock, coming home to the lovely cacophonic reception of dogs, cats, horses who ALL wanted me to get back to the job of tending to their needs…I ask you…is there a recovery program available for me? 
But I digress. I’m at the library, again, sigh, and am uploading photos of the trip with the actual travelogue to come later…when internet at home has been restored and, more importantly, when someone teaches me how, using my extremely high tech language here, make smaller my photos. Since the “powers that be” decided Picasa needed to die, I have NO idea how to (high tech verbiage again) make smaller my photos…they are extremely dense and need to be around 350 dpi for upload.
I’ve just learned I can make an appointment with the library high tech geek and see if they’re able to help…please, God, make it so.)
Each day/evening had special delights, each evening we would say, “Best day ever; it can’t get any better!” and then…and then…BETTER! My notes are home so I can’t remember (ducking and running from those women who do remember! sorrrreeeee!) the name of this home but we had dinner here one evening. All our gamboling was done within a 40 mile area, thereabouts, and we still didn’t “see it all”. This man had three black labs, all of them totally sweet and he, the man, was over the moon when we squealed (you know women…), “We’d LOVE to see your dogs!” The pleasure on the man’s face was over the moon happy…people wanted to see, and love on, his canine companions.
Not all photos will be of humans and dogs; some are meant to whet your appetite; the last photo is for Sue, she of Oregon fame.

I haven’t received permission to put names to faces, so you’ll have to enjoy sans names, except for Helen and Betsy, Helen’s cohort in crime tour.

(photographic evidence of Betsy loving on a dog.)

 Helen Bertram, Whitecroft Tours, on right

New Jersey

Our host and Helen, seated at head of table.

Mrs. Heelis and Mrs. T.

Helen and Mrs. T celebrating H’s birthday and the arrival of Mrs. Heelis.

listening to Mrs. Heelis

(I would tell you where…but I’ve forgotten…I do remember this is a private home)

enthralled by Mrs. Heelis
practicing for retirement

and, because people always tell me…”We never see photos of you, Sandra; where are you?” Well folks, here am I.

I took about 1,000 photos and it’ll take time to do the travelogue…especially as I have to come to town to access i-net. Be patient…God willing and the crik don’t rise, it’ll happen.

Ponder this ~ “The world is a book and those who do not travel, read only one page.” 
~ Augustine of Hippo ~

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Comments

  10. Lynne says

    Looks like a wonderful trip
    with host and friends . . .
    Happy for you and your getaway!
    Coming home to "the excited family" who missed you, sounds familiar!
    (I never thought about asking the "librarian and/or library geek" how to do something on the computer. Fabulous idea!).

    Reply

  11. Marsha Splenderosa says

    Well, I hope what the "make smaller the photos" person actually wanted them LARGER !! Because, if larger they would be so much better for ME. What a splendid holiday you've had. So so happy you went. Sending love, darling friend.

    Reply

  13. M.K. says

    I thought you were somewhere in England! Looks absolutely lovely, and I'm so glad you got to go. And I'm wondering … that Mrs. Heelis, is she related to Miss Potter?

    Reply

    • Sandra @ Thistle Cove Farm says

      Mrs. Heelis is B. Potter's married name; Potter is her maiden name. The actress portraying her was excellent; you can see from some photos, we were all enthralled. When the actress was getting ready to leave, she broke into a "Southern drawl" (you know me…when I'm tired the drawl is far more than what's normal for me). Except her "Southern drawl" was Texas twang; I'm guessing she was around when Rene Z. was filming Miss Potter. Which, btw, don't think that went over too well…a Texas Yank portraying one of England's most beloved daughters. I just figure we got them back for Vivien Leigh! ROTFLOL

      Reply

  14. Susan says

    Hi Sandra–looking forward to your photos. Library tech geeks are worth their weight in gold. Probably best tour I have been on, so nice to be taken care of! I am back working at the library and painting closets at home, susan

    Reply

    • Sandra @ Thistle Cove Farm says

      Hi Susan, just as well I'm only finding out now about the library tech geeks…lol. The computer guy was here yesterday and he's stumped…which frightens me a bit…I may well and truly have "done it big" this time! Yep to best tour…no tension, no problems, nothing but GOOD! Since you've experience painting closets…I've a spare bedroom…lol.

      Reply

  15. Lisa Richards says

    I'm grateful to be able to "travel" via the internet. Hopefully, I'll get in some "real" travel before I get too old. Glad you had a bodacious time! Looking forward to the travelogue! 🙂

    Reply

  18. Elizabethd says

    What a lovely change for you to getaway, and in such a beautiful area of our country. My grandson works near Windermere and keeps telling me how wonderful it all is.

    Reply

    • Sandra @ Thistle Cove Farm says

      Oh Elizabeth, from Manchester Airport, I took the train to Windermere Station and we stayed in Lindeth Howe House Hotel at Bowness-on-Windermere. Tell your grandson to give up his bed for you and, when you're able, go there…it's as wonderful as he says!

      Reply

    • Sandra @ Thistle Cove Farm says

      Hi Deborah – it's a wonderful part of the world and, in large part, due to Beatrix Potter's buying, then putting into National Trust, more than 4,000 acres of land. I'm so grateful to Helen, the tour owner/operator, as well as the other women…they all made it fabulous.

      Reply

  21. Dewena says

    The Lake District, how wonderful! I'm so happy that you were able to do this, Sandra. If anyone ever needed to get away from it all to some wonderful land, it was you! I'm so glad they took very good care of you on the tour. That sounds like the way to go.

    We'll hold you to it, more travelogue coming,
    Dewena

    Reply

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