Summer's End

It's now officially autumn, but the days have felt like summer still.

We have been enjoying the summer weather with visits to gardens and local walks.

One particularly lovely place was Houghton Lodge Gardens.  Such a pretty house in a romantic setting!

The gardens were beautiful.  There was a walled garden with an orchard

and through the gate were more gardens and parkland.

In a field at the end of the garden were three alpacas named Tom, Dick and Harry!

We also went to the flower show at RHS Wisley, where I got lots of ideas for the garden.

After looking at the displays we explored the garden which was hosting the annual sculpture trail.  I particularly loved these two by Jonathan Hateley.

Neptune's Waters

and Release.

Closer to home we have been enjoying the autumn bounty to be found in the hedgerows,

which has included a spot of tree-climbing for the boy.

He recently graduated from BCU with a 2:1, so now we are the proud parents of two BSc with Hons.

All that fruit is being turned into jams, jelly, desserts

and fillings for cakes!

We have had the last of the summer BBQ's for this year as the evenings are now cooler.

Maurice was a little naughty and helped himself to a rib! :)

I carefully guarded my homegrown sweetcorn as this cat will eat anything!!

Ella on the other hand is a good girl. ;)

The garden has still been looking pretty as we head into autumn

and we have lots of chillis in the greenhouse, but the tomatoes are starting to trail off.

We are making the most of these days of Indian Summer.

Trip to Lincoln - The Cathedral

The next morning we breakfasted with a view of the cathedral

 

and then it was time for my husband to go to work, whilst I stayed at the hotel for some coffee and knitting.

My plan was to pop into the shopping centre for a while and then head to the cathedral, which meant going down and then up that hill again!

On the way down I spotted this hole in a door, presumably for the resident cat. :)

That day was the beginning of a heatwave, so a visit into the cool interior of the cathedral was doubly welcome.

I had delayed my visit until late morning so that cathedral library would be open and luckily my husband finished work early and joined me there.  The books on display were amazing, many illuminated, but sadly no photographs were allowed in the library (below is a photograph of a poster outside the library).

  

The cathedral itself is stunning and we spent quite some time admiring the architecture and craftsmanship.

All too soon it was time to leave Lincoln and its majestic cathedral,

but first we fortified ourselves with tea and cake, before the drive home.

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