Chastleton House and Stow on the Wold

It was cold, windy and raining again this morning.  We were actually staying nearby and visiting one of the National Trust houses.  So we had a leisurely breakfast, checked emails and complained about Google Photos works or doesn't, straightened up and put laundry away we did last night.

By the time we showered and got ready it was noon.  We didn't have any trouble finding this place and didn't even know until we got there that it didn't open until 1 PM....well done us again!  It was a long winding road in that was very muddy since it had been raining but when we pulled into the parking area, the rain had stopped.  It was quite the hike in a meadow in front of the house where there was a muddy pathway that led down the hill to the house.  The trip back to the car was not going to be as easy as the one coming down.   It made Kay happy though because there were sheep and more lambies and this time we were in the meadow with them!  The sun came out while we were standing there taking photos of the lambs and I started walking to the gate.  This huge mother and her lamb were following me and Kay got the giggles about it.  I was a bit apprehensive as I didn't know if sheep bite.  When I got to the gate they just ran off.  It is really fun to watch them as the babies hop, kick and jump all over the place and when they are nursing they wag their tails really fast.

Chastleton House has a long history but most recently was inhabited by the widow of the last owner who lived in the house for 40 years until she died in 1991.  Apparently after her husband died some 15 years earlier, she was lonely and started taking in cats.  She had twenty when she passed away.  After seeing this place Kay and I said we can't imagine anyone living in that house alone.  It was quite creepy and apparently was in such bad repair when the National Trust took it over, they weren't sure they could save it.  While we were in there it poured rain again and the gardens were closed because it was so soggy out there.  When we went to leave the sun was out again.  The walk back up the hill to the car was every bit as bad as I thought going down...yikes.  I made it though and was proud.  When we reached the car it started to rain again and rained all the way to our next stop.

When we got to Stow on the Wold it had stopped raining long enough for us to go get some lunch.  Today we had fish and chips and because we were so late eating lunch we ate it instead of taking photos so you will just have to visualize.  We went to a couple shops as Kay was looking for a birthday card.  We found this shop that had the funniest cards.  Kay and I were laughing and then this other couple came back there and was reading them and they were laughing...it was very funny.  Then we went next door to the Post Office/Card Shop/Sundry store....two windows for Post Office and the other window for sundries or everything else.  Interesting.  Anyway by this time it was almost 5 and we needed to stop at the grocery store to pick up a few things so we headed out again.  We stopped at Budgens in Morton on Marsh which is a regular grocery but in a very busy area.

We are home and Kay went to walk while I did pictures and wrote the blog and here we are...another day done!