...And Far Away

We woke up to gray skies Friday morning--the day of Susan Branch's Picnic. . . .

Over the Hills. . .

We'd arrived in Near Sawrey late in the morning, toured Beatrix Potter's Hill Top after having lunch at our inn, Tower Bank Arms, and now were eager to head out on our first "ramble."  But first we must get fortified with Cream Tea at Sawrey House Hotel just down the lane. . . .

Beatrix Potter - Hill Top Farm

♫Perfect Day♫

The first sentence in a story is like a gate because it will either draw the reader in or send them away.  I hope to draw you into Beatrix Potter's world just a little bit through this post and future ones about our time in the Lake District.  If you've read anything of Beatrix's life you will know she grew up in London but she grew deeper, more her true self, in the Lake District. 

The white gate below was the original entrance to Hill Top Farm--Beatrix Potter's beloved country retreat.   She purchased Hill Top after her fiancée Norman Warne, died suddenly, a month after their engagement in 1905.  The green gate to the right leads to the garden of Tower Bank Arms where we were staying.  We'd just arrived in Near Sawrey earlier that day, Thursday. . . .

Near Sawrey - Tower Bank Arms

♫Cobblestone Village♫

It was just a 7-minute drive in the van/bus from the ferry to Near Sawrey.  We disembarked in front of Tower Bank Arms* where we were staying.  Tower Bank Arms started as an Ale House in the 1600s.  Beatrix Potter featured it in "The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck".  . . .

*Just a note:  Photos are not necessarily taken at the time they are inserted into the story.

First Morning - Storrs Gate House

♫Morning Has Broken♫

Morning had broken and look at that sky!  We'd slept soundly and were now enjoying our first cup of coffee in our room overlooking the garden. . . .

Dreams Can Come True

♫A Hard Day's Night♫

In February 1964, when I was 13 and in love with the Beatles, going to England was what I dreamed of.  I adopted a British accent mingled with my Southern and Mid-western accent, grew my hair long with bangs, straightened it with an iron (yes, a real iron--those were the days before flat irons made just for the hair!), and saw "A Hard Day's Night" at least a half a dozen times.  Fast forward to 2012 when I "followed" Susan Branch to England on Twitter.  She wrote about the trip in her book, "A Fine Romance - Falling in love with the English Countryside," stirring up that long ago desire to go to England.

Then last summer Susan invited us all to attend her Bring-Your-Own Picnic Basket in May 2018 at Castle Cottage, the home of Beatrix Potter in Near Sawrey.  This is just what I needed--two women who have inspired me coming together to spur me on to fulfill that lifelong dream.  My husband and I decided this would be our gift to each other to celebrate our upcoming 50th anniversary in February 2019.  We'd met and fell in love through our love of the music of the Beatles.  It was only fitting we should celebrate immersed in all things British.

We arrived at Heathrow airport in London the morning of the 9th. . . .

Susan Branch Picnic at Castle Cottage

♫Perfect Day♫

I'd come to England to attend Susan Branch's Bring-Your-Own Picnic Basket event which was to be held on the grounds of Castle Cottage, Beatrix Potter's home from 1913 to 1943.  Ken and I were staying at the Tower Bank Arms just across the way from Castle Cottage.  Here is the view from our window that morning. . . .

Castle Cottage is the white cottage in the distance on the right