It's long, but 'Chat 's worth' it!!!

Well my friends,

you know how it is...

...you're going along just fine,

wake up,

get ready,

go to work,

come home,

go to bed.

Wake up,

get ready,

go to work,

come home,

go to bed!

Then before you know it...

a week has passed,

then a week,

a month,

then low and behold...

a whole year!!!

On Sunday I will

become a whole year older

and I

NO LIKEY!!!

What I don't mind is having

lovely friends who make a

special effort to

make birthdays EXTRA special and

go out of their way...

...like 2 and a half hours drive

out of their way,

to meet you at

Chatsworth House

 For a lovely day out together.

My very dear friend Emma from

Em's Shabby Shack

suggested we went out for the day.

So we arranged to meet at Chatsworth.

The sun was shining and there were very few clouds in the sky.

Boys dropped at school,

puppy at Grandma and Grandad's for the day,

and I set off for a little adventure with my

lovely pal.

We arrived a little too early to view the

house and the grounds,

but the shops were open for us to view goodies!

How I didn't end up pennyless I don't know!

(i'm already pennyless, what am I on about?!)

Anyhow, enough of the lovely goods

and in to the house.

Apparently we arrived on a special day,

that room hasn't had the curtains open for over 10 years!

Humph...lazy lot!

I don't fancy doing the washing up,

but loved the coloured glass and

silver candleabras together.

Now with me being an avid chicken keeper and this year,

a breeder for the for the first time.

(well actually, they do much of it themselves!)

I had heard that the Duchess Devonshire

likes her chooks too!

Infact, she breeds Cochins...the same breed that

we hatched in the spring of this year.

So I was pleased to see that she displayed some of the

prizes for her hardwork and, in the unusual style of the house,

things were displayed in, well, not the usual fashion for such places.

You would find the most odd and unusual things

dotted about in amongst the antiques of this house.

Quite eclectic and eccentric.

Off into the beautiful gardens on this gorgeous

Autumn day,

and we spy a couple of those famous

henny-pennys sunbathing,

Fabulous views.

Gardeners, all those many years ago

really had vision and a good eye for what will be

great when everything matures.

I'm so glad they did.

Not sure about all the modern sculptures dotted

about the place though...

I have a very unusual phobia

of statues and large paintings...

Emma must have given off the right vibes yesterday

as it didn't bother me.

Good job eh?

This chap was huge, his eyes

looked like they were about to open any minute.

We agreed that the grounds would be great for the kids!

Lots of little secret places to discover,

with unusual ways of getting to them.

...and, if you're very quiet,

and look about carefully,

you may find a fairy ring.

I think our giggling and non stop chattering

scared them all away.



I wish you all were able to come,

seeing as you are all so very special...

ALL 100 of you!!!

Yes I have made it to the 100 club.

Thanks everyone!

I feel a giveaway coming on...!

Love Claire.

P.S.

Thank you to

my sweet little friend,

Emma.

x