Tuesday, February 10, 2009

What is a Cotswold anyway?

Recently I put on my Facebook status that I was going to the Cotswolds for the weekend with my family. And one of my dear friends asked, "What is a Cotswolds anyway"? One of my bloggy friends commented about how there is a new development called the "Cotswolds" in her town. She found it funny that they would not have picked a more posh British name for it. My friend Sarah says it sounds like a skin rash.  I mention all of that, not to be offensive, but to explain what it really is. 

Now that you are dying to know, here is what I found on the internet to describe it properly. 

"The Cotswolds is a region that covers an area of 790 square miles in the upper part of the southwest region of England and is the country's largest officially designated 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'. Popular with both the English themselves and international visitors (or expats like us) from all over the world, the area is well known for gentle hillsides ('wolds'), outstanding countryside with river valleys, water meadows and beech woods, sleepy ancient limestone villages, historic market towns and for being so 'typically English' where time has stood still for over 300 years."

With all of that said, we just had to take a drive to one of the towns and check it out for ouselves. We rented a cottage for a couple of days and had a magnificent time. Here are too many pictures to tell you about it. :-)

A great wintry scene down the street from our cottage.

Here is Braaten in front of "Rose Cottage" where we stayed.

I took Fletch for a walk and a dog was barking wildly in that house at him. I'm so glad he didn't come out. 

I took this as we were driving. 

Mel was taking Grant for a little ride.

How many people can comfortably fit in an English phone booth? Apparently 6!

We were walking in the town of Stow-on-the-Wold. And you thought Cotswold was an interesting name! 

Austin with his uber snowball.

I really like the architecture and coloring of the buildings.
 
Remember the tiny little deck snowman I posted about? Here's his big brother. 

The sign reads, "The Royalist Hotel - The Oldest English Inn in England". We had lunch there.

Ooooh pretty.

My men were playing Yahtzee. Austin won the game.

The girls were beading bracelets first thing in the morning. 

We love watching "Little House on the Prairie" together. We are currently on Season 6.

The view out our window.

A sunrise from our bedroom window.

Time to go sledding. 


Nice face, Honey.

Wipeout!!

Another successful run.

There's my spunky Melanie.

I love his eyes, though I'm not sure why he looked into the camera like that. 

So there you have it. Our journey into the Cotswolds. Enjoy your weekend everyone. 

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

AWESOME pictures!! Looks like a good time was had by all. We have watched several seasons of Little House we are now into the Waltons!! Happy V-Day! julie l.

Carol said...

Julie,

Please let me know what your blog is so I can check it out unless it's for family only. :-)

Happy V-day to you, too. We'll have to check the Waltons out next.

Anonymous said...

I love your pictures. Looks like it was an amazing trip.

Jammi

Penny said...

What awesome pictures! I gotta say, I didn't know what a cotswold was either, lol.

Anonymous said...

Hey Carol-it's Julie again!! My blog can be found at:
lehman8.blogspot.com
Have a great weekend! julie :)

momstheword said...

Beautiful pictures! We have all the seasons of Little House. My youngest (15) had never seen it so he and his dad are working their way through it. They like Andy Griffith too.

He & Me + 3 said...

We too love little house. Those pictures were awesome and beautiful. I love the phone booth one. So cute. Sounds like a wonderful family time. Yes, your husband has very nice eyes. There is something about light eyes and dark hair...I'm not saying that just because I have it either. LOL

Rachel said...

Beautiful!! Much more quaint than the clearcut mudpile of a neighborhood that they so offensively named the Cotswalds here. :)

And I can only imagine how beautiful it would be in the summertime, with the green rolling hills. . .

Anonymous said...

i'd love to spend the weekend in cotswold... how quaint and gorgeous!

Joyce said...

Great phone booth shot! I love the Cotswolds and especially Stow-on-the-Wold. Looks like you had a fun family trip.

Have a happy day!
Joyce

Anonymous said...

I just love seeing your part of the world! These pictures are SO great!!! Your family is beautiful. Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Debra Kaye said...

Carol,

I brought my hubby over to ask him if he knew any of these areas because he lived in London for awhile. He didn't but certainly recognized the COLD! lol

Your family is beautiful and the pics show the love for each other and the fun you making in your new home. I love that you are watching Little Housed on the Prairie...doesn't get any better than that in my most humble opinion!

Have a blessed Saturday, my friend. Hugs to you!

Anonymous said...

PS ~ Love your new blog look & I LOVE Little House on the Prairie!!!! :)

Tanya said...

It's wild how different everything is across the pond, yet so similar!
Happy V-Day, I'm gonna sign up to follow your blog, I love it.

McCrakensx4 said...

Finally catching up! Looks like a beautful place! Thanks for all of your nice comments! Happy Heart Day! ~Stacey