A Quick Catch up

 Hello again!
Once again B1 and B2 have had an amazingly busy few weeks. Things have stepped up a notch at work, it's now Summer Holidays in all the schools. This means lots of families and long 'sunny' days. Its busy up here, but in the most part enjoyable. We had a Beer Festival recently, showcasing local beers. It was fun, but again busy. B2 even dressed up as a Penguin to advertise 'Tactical Nuclear Penguin' a local beer with 32% ABV. (That's strong) At 50 pounds per bottle, it safe to say not something one drinks every day. Ha ha.

 The Queens Head, is the pub on one of our recent pub walks. Easily one of our favourites so far. The walk itself was amazing with ever changing views, like the one above and the one at the bottom of the blog. The weather was fantastic, sun shining, green fields and blue skies, reminding us what's so special about an English summer.

 The main street of the village here, was also the main road between Roman Forts all those many years ago. We find that sort of history amazing, that it can all actually be seen and identified as thousands of years old.
But back to the pub, the food was amazing B1 had a lamb shank, with an unusual cream sauce and didn't need to eat for the rest of the day. We sat for hours on the patio in the sun, just enjoying the ambiance. This made for a interesting walk home, but sun kissed and happy we made it some time in the early evening.

 Since our first week in the Lakes we have been trying to visit Levens Hall and Gardens (you might remember from one of our earliest blogs). But as its still a family home its only open on certain days. Yes you read right, a family home. Many of the manor houses we visit in the area are. Opening houses like this to the public is one way the families can afford to remain and up keep such beautiful homes.
But finally one of our days off fell on an open day.

 Levens Hall has one of the oldest remaining Topiary Gardens, and one of the first in the UK. The design is still much as it was four hundred years ago, with an army of gardeners tending to it each year.
The Hall was also lent to a group of nuns during the war years, as a home for orphans and child evacuees from the big cities. Its history like this that makes each house unique.

 The large expansive gardens at Levens Hall had an amazing Kitchen Garden and flower beds. A gorgeous pond full of lilies and a willow maze to get lost in.

 The gardens gave us both and great chance to practice our Macro Photography.  It was a lot of fun.

Its views like this that keep us in the Lakes. There is always so much more to discover!

Until next time, B1 and B2