Thursday 14 May 2009

a truly wonderful time.....

they have left us.......

my parents visit was a time of great love, laughter and tears...

many, many hugs, many, many beers and many, many tears over lost lambs and water leaks....

it will take a few posts to show some of the highlights and tales of the low but today i shall start with royalty....

the start of the week was cold, wet and very windy, so on the first warm sunny day i took my wonderful mama to the Castle of Mey - the Highland home that was the most favourite place of the Queen Mother
we had spent most of the day puppy gazing and sheep watching so only had time for a quick lunch of the most delicious homemade soup and scone and then a tour of the garden and Rare Breeds animal centre.......


this is the view from the car park....

to hear and smell the sea on a sunny day is wonderful...




the house is breathtakingly beautiful and the stone looked more than a little pink!

i have no real interest in the Royal family but i will visit again and take a tour of the house



the garden is not huge and is completely surrounded by the most amazing stone wall which helps to keep out the harsh winds that come off the sea



the greenhouse is one that i can only imagine owning in my dreams..... roomy, white wood and so pretty..... we filled the honesty box with our coins and took away two gorgeous bunches of rhubarb
they had a few plants for sale but could have had so much more - perhaps it is still too early in the season?



the long pathways made you feel as if you were inside a maze, peeping around each corner to find fruit cages, immaculately kept beds, and plants just waiting to push forth through the soil and shine.....



the garden added to its magic by having a few well placed gates....





i have a thing for gates and doors in gardens and am planning a few of my own.....

there is something special about placing your hand on a door latch to a garden and not knowing what is behind.....


the animal center is situated a short walk away and if i am honest was a little disappointing - far too staged with animals in cages that were too small just so the public could see them up close, and the most unhappy and lonely donkey....
mmmm - a place i will not visit again.




but all in all a lovely afternoon spent with my mama - time spent together is so very, very precious...
.....and all finished off with a peek in to the smallest gift shop i have ever seen and an ice cream - yummy x

next post i will share all the thrifty goodness that i have scored - i swear that my mama is like a thrifting good luck charm :)

t x

8 comments:

mollycupcakes said...

They are some of the most amazing photos of the bluest sky honey.
And the castle looks wonderful.
What a fabulous day you had and to share it with your mamma, makes it even more lovely.
Yummy, soups, ice-creams and teas as well what more could you ask for lol
Looking forward to hearing all about the thrifty things.

Lots of love,
Catherine x

Vintage to Victorian said...

So glad you had such a wonderful time. Looking forward to more photos and tales of the visit!
Sue x

trash said...

Animals in small cages - this is why I am highly resistant to zoos as well :-(

Pipany said...

I love gates and doors in walls too Tracy. Lovely pictures and glad you ahd a good time with your parents.

P.K said...

lovely photos, never heard of this castle. i like the garden wall and doorways.

Unknown said...

What a wonderful looking place.

nimblejacks said...

wow look at those blue skies can you send some to Wales to replace the gloomy grey ones here? my mum (aka Mutti) is coming to stay next weekend yay! Not so yay the mad house clean before she arrives:D

julie said...

perfect day spent with mum, and icecream lucky girls

love jules xx