Catch Up

Heavens where did the last 2 months go! Anyone would think I haven't been anywhere worth blogging!

I certainly have, but by golly it's been busy!

So lots to tell, but generally I think I am going to let the photos speak for themselves.

First was an amazing trip to somewhere I had never been before. Blenheim Palace. Accompanied by a good family friend and master of international espionage, known only as "the manager with a small m".

Being a regular visitor to Blenheim, the manager knew the perfect place to get that amazing first view of the glory that is Blenheim. We approached the gates and then led me with my eyes closed so stand in exactly the right spot. When I opened them, this is what I saw:

Pretty darn fabulous is all I can say.

So we wandered and explored and had a completely wonderful day.

So much to see that I actually went back the next day to explore some more. Their current offer is that if you buy a full day ticket to explore house and grounds, they will, at no extra cost extend it to an annual pass. Such a great deal.

I made the decision not to go inside this trip, there was so much to see outside and the day was gorgeous, so save that for next time.

It truly is an awe inspiring sight and there are miles of grounds to saunter through.

This was the lake on the edge of the grounds after a beautiful woodland walk. It is so easy to get swept up in the idea of a magnificent stately home and completely miss the incredibly beautiful grounds that surround it. Because that is what most people do, I barely met a soul away from the tourist hub that is the Palace tea room!

But a highlight not to miss is the butterfly house. Located in the Pleasure Gardens, a short train ride away from the Palace (I kid you not!).

It took about 20 minutes once inside the butterfly house for my lens to stop steaming up! I don't miss my old bespectacled days before I had laser surgery for that and many other reasons! I clearly remember walking into a warm shop on a cold winters day and being unable to see anything for at least 5 minutes!

Anyway, I digress. Butterflies. Hundreds of them, flying around, it is a beautiful experience, especially when they land on you. That is a special moment.

So much to see at Blenheim and ok it will be full of tourists (I am not a tourist, I am a visiting serious photographer, there is a difference), but if you leave the house and just do the grounds it will be so worth it.

I am going to try to catch up with the blog, but currently exploring other projects. I have just opened up my own Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Maisiebethcrafts 

The idea is to create and then sell some of my creations, in order to keep me out of trouble in the cold and wet winter months when I can't get out! Some treasures on the site already, do go check it out. Go on, you know you want to ;-)

Lessons Learned: When a butterfly lands on your rear end, don't get so excited that you hand your camera to a strange man and ask him to take a photo of your bum! It doesn't tend to go down well!

Diet diary: I knew there was an underlying reason I hadn't blogged recently!