A grand day out!

Morning all - hope your weekend has got off to a great start. After not blogging for a while, I am now going to write an epic post!  So sit down, grab a coffee and a biscuit and join me for the ride!

Well...a day off work, the sun is shining (at least for a bit) I had the company of a lovely friend, kids safely at school, so, what should one do?

Hit the road for a crafty-themed road trip methinks!  Here we are whizzing past Haddon Hall in Derbyshire (closed at the mo, but have promised ourselves a day out there in the summer).

First stop:

Heirs and Graces in Darley Dale.  Oh my, I dont think I have ever seen so much fabric together in one place, it was mind boggling...

A lovely simple stained glass window - the shop is in an old chapel building:

Managed to have self-control and limited myself to these lovely goodies:

The white flecks are actively silver sparkles, this fabric is going to be used for some hearts with a night-sky theme...

And some lovely buttons, again for heart projects:

Back on the road again, next stop Bakewell:

I love Bakewell at any time of year - always plenty of feathered friends to see..

And lovely little alley ways full of intriguing shops (and a Narnia-style lampost!)...



After some serious browsing around the shops, buying birthday pressies for a very special young lady, we were somewhat peckish so when we saw this cafe window how could we resist popping in?

The food was superb...

Very veggie friendly!

And when in Bakewell you have to have a Bakewell Pudding dont you?  But we also are millionaires shortbread adicts...so bought both and shared them!  What restraint I hear you cry...

Aside from the food being super, the customer service was exceptional, rarely have I been to a cafe and made to feel as if my friend and I were the only customers (and it was packed) nothing was too much trouble, and yet the service didnt feel obtrusive...all in all a lovely experience, we will definitely be calling there again!

Back on the road, next stop - Rowsley to visit Caudwell Mill

A lovely old mill with a craft centre, cafe, glass artist and more...

Im sure it was very dark and satanic (to quote from "Jerusalem") in its day...

But now a place where you can buy lovely things like these..



And meet more cheeky feathered friends...

All in all a fantasically super day out with a fantastically super friend!  Thanks again so much http://blog.suepops.co.uk/ for being my roadtrip partner in crime!

Must go now, it is a special birthday in the moostruck house - it's my lads 17th birthday!

Thanks for staying with me for this very long post - I think you deserve another cuppa!

love, Helenxxx