Things that catch your eye

A few weeks ago we visited Calke Abbey, a National Trust property which is in the village of Ticknall in Derbyshire.

  I think this was probably our third visit since it first opened to the public and I'm sure I've taken you here before in posts on this blog so this time I'm going to highlight some of the things that caught my eye during our visit.

 I'm always drawn to simple flower displays which can be found throughout the house - the one above was in the ladies' loos - pretty wild flowers in a jam jar looked lovely against the dusty red brick of the window.

 One side of the stables had been made into an education/learning room for children and grown ups too.  We had a lovely chat with the lady who runs the enterprise and were able to handle some of the exhibits she had on display there.  I loved the dress above.

 Across the passageway in the other stables the iron work decorations caught my eye.

 As did the lead pipes on the outside of the main building.

 Above is a hatchment from the church in the grounds.

 Inside the hall, which as you know has in many places been left just as it was found by the NT when they took it over in the 1980s.  Above a simple bowl of delphiniums.

 I loved the little owl - there were two of them on a mantelpiece

 Also the character above - not sure if he is a policeman or a fireman but I loved the plump, dumpling cheeks on his face.

 I also loved this pig covered in clover or shamrock leaves in a windowsill at the top of the staircase.

 Many of the upper rooms are just a vast jumble of things laid out to catch the eye.  Here I was captivated by the little pink house with people outside.

The kitchens were full of things to catch the eye.  Many items left just as they were found.  It was hard to decide which photos to use.

We actually went into the hall after we had visited the gardens and church.  There was a special display in the gardens. 

The walled kitchen garden had been transformed into a Garden of Imagination

 There were lots of knitted, crocheted and pom-pom characters, mainly birds and insects amongst the branches of trees and in the greenhouses.

 Another little owl!

 Caterpillars galore

 Biggins Bug Bothy

 Not sure if this was a bee, wasp or hornet!  I prefer bees to wasps or hornets.

 There were also loads of scarecrows attending what looked like a union meeting

Plus plenty of deck chairs to sit in and enjoy the heat of the day.

Which way to go?

The gardener's tunnel was fun

and the church was cool and inviting under the trees.

but then my eye was attracted to these beautiful creatures grazing in the meadow next to the garden.  We spent ages watching them.