Thursday 24 April 2014

Temple Newsam On Good Friday

As I mentioned in my last post, we didn't do very much over the Easter bank holiday for one reason or another. As we knew we'd got lots on, Mick and I got up early on Good Friday, left the teenagers in bed, and headed off to Temple Newsam so we'd at least done one nice thing over the weekend.

I thought that the rhododendrons might be in flower, but looking back at previous posts on my blog, Temple Newsam Rhododendron Walk is at its best during May and early June. There's lots of fat buds just waiting to burst open though.


Some buds are already opening.


We did manage to find some rhododendrons which are already putting on a show.




There was some beautiful blossom on the trees too.


We sat on a bench for a while enjoying the view.


Daisies are carpeting the lawns.


It was a lovely morning, the sun was shining and there were plenty of people about. The farm was very busy, lots of children jostling to see the animals. We didn't go in to the farm but lots of animals can be seen from the park. Look how the sun catches the feathers on this cockerel, isn't it beautiful?


This goat was keeping its eye on Archie.


Last time we went to Temple Newsam, there were Tamworth and Middle White pigs. This time they'd been replaced by these, which I believe are Saddlebacks.



Archie found a friend. This is Alfie, a Wirehaired Dachshund, he was so cute.


He was very fond of Archie and wouldn't follow his owners when they called him. As you can see, Archie was more interested in watching the goats through the railings.


This little trip out was a lovely start to the bank holiday weekend, though we'll have to return in the next few weeks to see the rhododendrons in all their glory. It's a wonderful sight and well worth a visit if you're in the area.


30 comments:

  1. Love your photo of Archie and his new found friend. Even if Archie has found something more interesting to look at. I love Rhoddies in bloom. It's usually about May - June that they are in bloom in the Fens.

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    1. Alfie was such a cute little dog, he was very taken with Archie. The rhododendrons are only just getting going here, they have a fabulous display in Temple Newsam when they're all in flower, definitely worth visiting in May and June.

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  2. Looks like it was the ideal way to start the Easter weekend. Flighty xx

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    1. It was a lovely start to the weekend, it's just a shame that the rest of the weekend was so busy doing other things.

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  3. Lovely photos, so nice to see the flowers unfurling and giving such a good show. Archie's little friend reminds me of our little wirehaired dachshund we had as kids. We are coming over early May so I am looking forward to catching some blooms.

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    1. This little dachshund was so lovely but Archie got bored of him quite quickly, I could have brought him home with us though, he was so cute. I hope the weather's good for you when you come over, I shall look forward to hearing your plans.

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  4. This was such a fun view .
    Glad Archie found a friend to hang out with ~ always lovely to share good times with a friend .
    Perhaps why I love blogging so much .
    Thanks for the share , friend !

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    1. That's a lovely way to look at things. I think everything's so much nicer when you've got a friend to share with.

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  5. What a lovely place to visit. I love the photo of Archie with his new buddy. :) The rhododendrons are beautiful, I've never grown one but I've always liked them.

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    1. I grew up within walking distance of Temple Newsam, and now, we're only a five minute car ride away, so it's a very familiar place. I've never grown rhododendrons either but I enjoy seeing them, they're such beautiful, blousy flowers.

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  6. What a pleasant start to the weekend! I hope there was time for a mug of coffee in their lovely tearoom?

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    1. No time to visit tearooms I'm afraid, we'd got too much to do over the weekend. I was lucky to find time for a walk.

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  7. Seeing Archie always makes me smile. I love that he's not paying any attention to his new freind! :oD

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    1. Archie will do what he wants to do and no one can tell him otherwise. He certainly knows his own mind.

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  8. What a lovely day out with all that blossom and new growth. We took the boys to Temple Newsam Farm in 1991, but it was closed at the time so maybe I'll be able to pop in next time we are over (wishing so hard). Love Archie and his friend! Take care.

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    1. It makes such a difference when the sun's shining, it all looked fabulous with the rhododendrons coming in to bloom and the blossom hanging from the trees. It's quite a while since we've been in to the farm, but you can see lots of animals from the park anyway.

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  9. Lovely pictures of the flowers. I too am in a house that last week was filled with the radio and constant chatting on the phones .My eldest mostly lives with her boyfriend and my youngest has gone back to uni. It makes me feel incredibly lonely at first, but give me a week and Ill find something to do.
    Hope you have a lovey weekend

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    1. I think a house has such a different feel when it's filled with people and noise. I love having all my family round me, but I'm always thankful for a little peace and quiet too.

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  10. A lovely early morning walk. It's great that you are so close enough to Temple Newsam that you can 'mark the seasons'. I look forward to seeing the rhododendrons in full bloom! Jx

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    1. Temple Newsam is somewhere I've visited right the way through my life, it's such a familiar place. I even went to school just outside the gates and we often ran cross country around Temple Newsam woods in our games lesson or went sledging around the athletics track when it snowed.

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  11. Hi there, just catching up. Well done to Daniel for his savings, sounds as though he is very good with his finances! Your photos of all of the lovely flowers above are beautiful, and I love the pics of Archie with his new found little friend - too cute!! Hope that you have a good weekend. xx

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    1. Daniel's always been good with his finances since he was a little boy, he'd always save his pocket money rather than spend it until he'd saved up enough money for something he wanted. A good life lesson really, I don't want either of them getting in to debt. Archie's little friend was cute, he was totally smitten with Archie.

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  12. Love your photos and that looks like a great place to visit. I have a photo of a cockerel on my Facebook page almost identical to yours - they are beautifully coloured and I had to take a picture, like you did! xCathy

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    1. We're so lucky having such a lovely place nearby to visit. Cockerels have such beautiful colours which are especially noticable when the sun's shining on them.

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  13. Archie and Alfie sound like quite a good double act! Never seen a wirehaired breed of that dog before, he looks very sweet. Hope Archie enjoyed his trip out as much as you. Those blue skies look so nice, especially after a bit of a hit and miss weekend.
    Lisa x

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    1. They looked like a double act too, Alfie chasing after Archie and Archie turning his back on him when he'd had enough. It was a gorgeous day and there were lots of people there making the most of the bank holiday weekend as well as the good weather.

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  14. Great pictures, its amazing what is popping out! We went for a walk last night and little flowers carpeting grassy river sides look just lovely. Even bluebells, isn't that a bit early?

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    1. We went in to the local woods last night to look at the bluebells, I think they're usually out around this time. It was a gorgeous evening so we made the most of it.

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  15. Was Archie allowed in the farm area?

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    1. Dogs aren't allowed in the farm, but you can see some of the animals through railings in the park. The pigs are on the right hand side at the top of the main drive which leads to the house and goats, chickens, and sometimes donkeys, can be seen from the cobbled pathway between the childrens playground and the main parkland where the rhododendron walk begins.

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