What a wonderful time we had in North Yorkshire.
But first things first - a new frock!
I couldn't resist.
It came from one of my favourite Sheffield vintage sellers, Marie, at The Queen's Drawers.
1970s cotton sundress - vintage shop Vintedge
Sandals - Ebay
Belt and bangles - charity shopped
Red painted bangle - gift from dearest Tania
I'll be linking to Jane's Shiny T Tuesday on the allotted day, using this photo.
I have more to say about this, but it can wait - I know, such a tease!
And of course I'll be at the usual party over at beautiful Patti's for Visible Monday.
So - suitably visibly attired, the kids and I caught the train to Thirsk on Friday.
And when we got there, we headed to Newby Hall.
We explored the outdoor sculpture exhibition.
Plenty of organic shapes and tactile textures...
...and fauna...
...and human figures.
Gorgeous textures, created and natural.
Don't these trees look as though they could be Ents?
Beautiful house, and stunning gardens, the borders were glorious.
Soooo many bees!
And lest you think we inflicted art and horticulture on the poor little beasties instead of letting them play...
... here's the evidence to the contrary!
They loved the adventure playground and the swingboats.
And back at Patsy's, there was plenty of this...
... and this!
Top l-r:
crazy face
angry face
happy face
thoughtful/intelligent face.
Hams, the lot of them.
These are the views from the house.
And these are the neighbours.
It's beautiful there.
Snapshots of Thirsk.
We've known each other over 20 years, and we're rather like an old married couple, plenty of bickering and disagreeing, but huge amounts of love and laughter.
Strong women rock!
xxxxxx
45 comments:
Ooh, what amazing sculptures! I love them all.
Gorgeous new frock!
adorable dresses!
Oh Curtise I do love so many of your dresses........but I have to say very very loudly THIS IS MY FAVOURITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eeeeekkkkkk it's brilliant..........ok ok I have calmed down enough to comment on all the perfect beauty you have shown.
The sculptures are amazing and what a truly wonderful garden.
The kids look so happy on summer holidays.
Love v
Your kids always make me smile, and I love all the wondrous things you do together. Mys sister was here today with her two girls who are also vibrant and funny and smart. Good moms, I say!! And love your above the knee dress too - thanks for sharing with Visible Monday xoxox
A new frock! SQUEE!!! It's divoon, darl! Love it!
Digging that outdoor sculpture exhibition, they do some great stuff there! Hard pressed to say which is my favourite...
Hams indeed!! I wonder where they get that from........?! Hamming it up is one of my favourite things to do; I suspect I;d fit in well with those kids!
Hurrah for grand times...and what a strange name Thirsk is!
Love you! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Such a fun day. Such great photos. Such wonderful dresses. Ents for sure. And thank you once again for planting an earworm in my head. Now when my son tells me to stop singing I will say it's Curtise's fault.... Lost in their overcoats, waiting for the sunset....
Love the mirror human. I so freaky looking.
What's not to like about a polka dot dress?
Love the new dress - a shorty! Lookin' good, wench!
Looks like a good time was had by all in Thirsk, and with that weather I'm not surprised! What a gorgeous place and such entertaining gardens. I love the shadow pictures best!
Yep I'm loving your new frock. Red, cotton, polkadots....perfection! You look gorgeous! And what beautiful pics of your weekend....cows, kids & countryside. Sounds perfect! Xx
That red dress looks so comfortable. The sculptures are fantastic and the photo's are lovely. It looks such a beautiful place to live.
I love your new dress, I know you love your maxis but you've got a great pair of legs Curtise so it's good to show them off, your holiday maxi is lovely too, I bought a charity shop top with a similar pattern and it seems to work with everything, though I wore it yesterday and my friend took some photos which make me realise it's a bit more see through than I thought! Firsk looks beautiful, love the old Ritz cinema and the horse made from branches or driftwood, I'm not sure how to describe it, but it's amazing, and the mirror man, it's weird seeing you in him. Looks like you managed to dodge the rain too and have a fantastic holiday. xx
excellent day out, the sculptures are so fab and your dress is pretty - there are lots of bees this year, thank goodness, I do love em x
Oh I LOVE that red poka dot frock - you look fabulous and it looks like you had a great trip. I love all those sculptures. Oh and about the tarot - don't worry I'm not taking it too seriously, but it was a fun girls night out. Also zammerly is from the Philippines, perhaps that's why she was wearing a coat inside, still not used to our Wellington weather? :)
great photos curtise, love the shadows ones, hilarious.
your dress is lovely as a hot summer and your waist so teeny tiny!
it looks like the kiddles are having a ball on their six week holiday xxx
Love the new dress. It shows off your lovely legs! I went to Newby Hall as a kid in the 70's and all I remember is the adventure playground. I dunno if they had any of those sculptures then but if they did, they weren't on my radar! Your pics are lovely. Especially the converse shot! xxxx
You are the best tourist board Curtise - I always immediately want to head off to wherever it is you're writing about. Surprising how our paths run parallel-ish too: we stopped off at Northallerton on our way up to Tynemouth at the weekend. Vicky x
Such a pretty dress! And the blue bird sculpture is wonderful! I like the ram too. The ent trees look as though they are about to break into song, hehe. Isn't it lovely to see so many bees, the lavender around here is smothered in bees which is a lovely sight to see xxx
Adore the new frock darling, it's oh so summer cool! Old friends who still/despite love us after 20 years are rare as I prefer my steaks and appreciated like rain in an endless drought. I'm happy you two have each other! Her house looks lovely and don't the kids look to be having the best of times!
I love the sculpture garden especially you in front of mirror man, I love the look of that and think my back yard needs one. You are such a good blogger always linking up and participating. I just hang back and watch;). The net trees yes I had to look it up but you were right because I did think they looked as though they would move at any minute.
Have a lovely week honey!
Xxxxxxxxoooooooo
You wicked mother dragging those poor kids to such refined places! I love the arty shot with you in the middle of the sculpture and Seldom Seen admiring the horse! Newby Hall looks spectacular and so'd Thirsk. The Ritz looks a cracking little cinema, a little gem in a sea of crap multiplexes. The UK is gorgeous when the sun shines.
The red frock is a beauty and I love seeing you and Patsy together, you can tell you've been friends forever.
Don't keep us in suspense, tell us more! Love you! xxxx
What is this magic? The mirror dude in the paddock with YOU inside really made me sit up and think about what I was looking at! It's simply the best sculpture/installation I have seen in a very long time and the sight of your reflection in it strangely makes me feel safer and at home. I wonder ... does that mean I feel threatened by mirror dude in the paddock? Tell the artist if you ever meet her/him, that a sleep-deprived, deranged woman in Brisbane thinks she's hallucinating. Back to reasonably normal matters, I'm stunned at your incredible red frock with the deep frill ... I make no secret of the fact that I have a THING for deep frills. Oh and the frock makes an appearance in Mirror Dude (proper nouns necessary now) ... spooky. The kids. My god they've grown so much since you started blogging (18months?) and I'm relieved to learn they weren't too traumatised by the cultural lesson ;). But what did they make of MD? I wonder ... and I adore you my dear. xoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxo
Your new frock is a 70's sensation and you look divine in it Curtise.
What a fab day out Newby Hall is, the LB's seem to be having fun amongst the sculpture. I would have enjoyed the gardens myself, what fantastic delphinium (obvs no slugs there!) and cosmos borders. Thirsk looks lovely too, what a quaint old cinema, a shame there aren't more like this.
It's always lovely to catch up with really old friends, the ones that know all your faults but still like you anyway!
Didn't Human League sing about Mirror Man?
x
It's about time we saw your gorgeous gams again! That is such a cute dress - excellent addition to your wardrobe.
The sculpture garden is sooo cool. Looks like you had a wonderful day with the young'uns and your good friend. Strong women DO rock!
Beautiful new frock. Would it be wrong of me to say it looks like one I have? This one: http://thefashionablebureaucrat.blogspot.ca/2013/06/tardy.html
And strong women do rock!
Fabulous sculptures!
That new frock looks made for you! It suits you so well. I LOVE the pic of you in the human mirror sculpture!
The sculpture garden is fantastic!! You are giving me a vacation in Britain through your pictures!!
Love both outfits but i must say the red one is HOT!!
I love the new dress and all the sculptures, kids, cows and happy faces!! Thirsk seems such a lovely place, perfect for a summer holyday in the U.K.!
Strong women and friendships always rule!
Love xxxxxx
Bloody gorgeous dress!! I love the pattern and the touch of bright blue with the red. Thirsk looks absolutely wonderful. The gardens are a dream, sort of place I'd want to drift around in a floaty dress, sniffing flowers. Looks like you were kept busy, but still had loads of fun. Where you stayed looks utterly divine, great neighbours, bit nosy. xxxxxxx
Beautiful dress! And how lovely to enjoy the time with your family, looks like you had a great time, the house is a beaut. I could live there quite easily and those sculptures. Love em xxx
I love your dress, i love your hair, i adore your kids and love your country!
So fecking beautiful!
While vacationing in Cuba told Mr D we should plan a trip to Paris and London and maybe i could see you girls one of those days!
Hugs
Ariane
Looks like a fun time and what a fun polka dress
Great colors
Brett
What a pretty red polka dot dress! There is something eternally cheering about colourful polka dots! Northern Yorkshire looks gorgeous - love the flowers!
What a lovely frock and a fabulous day out. You've probably guessed by now, but hubby and I are planning a move to North or West Yorkshire. We have about a dozen possible towns, including Thirsk but don't quite know where we will end up. Xx
You're always taking your children on wonderful excursions and thankfully sharing the adventures with us. Love the 'swoosh' and color of your new vintage frock. And the maxi glamour that accompanied you on the meet-up with your dear and beautiful friend.
I was looking for Ms Clementine to show her royal drawers on the trampoline, hm?
Awesome new frock. Just love it. And such a saucy pose!
Your kids crack me up. And thanks for that welcome dose of textures and ART. Beautiful.
Love the new red polka dot stunning! The sculpture garden is fantastic - so many lovely pieces.
And your kids look happiness filled - just the way it should be!
SNAAAAP! I have an almost identical dress, it's my new favourite so I have been wearing it loads. They do feel lovely on, don't they with that nice neckline and the swingy hemline.
Thirsk looks wonderful and where your friend lives looks heavenly, no wonder you are having pangs coming back. Love all the shots of the kiddywinkles having fun. Especially perfect because they can entertain themselves and then the grown ups get time to bicker in peace :D Only kidding, bet you had the best laugh together, it certainly looks like it.
Newby hall, those gardens, blooming lovely. Welcome back Curtise! xxxxxxx
hurrah for red dresses, we've never enough of them!!, you look gorgeous wearing your pretty short dress!, love that polka dot motif!
Such an amazing sculpture exhibition, the place, the textures, the trees, everything is so evocative!!
besos & funny pics!
Can't wait to hear more about he red dress... you look 15 in it. Or 20, max, maybe. Very, very cool dress.
What a lovely way to document a life, Curtise. What memories you have of your friends and families ... and your travels ... so glad you record and share them with us.
I love a sculpture garden ... there's nothing like a hands-on experience to get what's often the best "viewing" experience.
Yes. Ents!
When I was a young woman, I managed the old theatre in our town ...The Ritz ... looks about the same size as well!
Lovely post, (as usual) so thanks for all.
Hi Lovely, thought it was about time I dropped in again instead of dropping off the face of the earth. You look gorgeous I LOVE YOUR NEW DRESS its lush wish I had seen it first. Looks like such a gorgeous place those sculptures look amazing I love the willow deer so gentle. Keep enjoying the holidays and having fun with your lovey children, dee xxx
Sounds like you had a fantastic time in the North. That dress is great. I love the polka dots and the ruffle along the bottom. The mirror sculpture shaped like a person is fabulous.
I loved the description of your friendship, just how it should be! It looked like a fun trip :-)
That new dress is a beauty, good to see you getting your legs out xxx
You look lovely in red, it really suits you! Thank you for taking us on a mini vacation with you! I would loved to have roamed the garden with all of you!
There were some really amazing pieces, love it when art get out of the white room!
And, that is my favorite kind of pork-hammy kids, looking like they are having a blast-love it!
And preach it Sista-Stong Women Rock as do Strong Friendships-so glad you are/have both!!!:)
What a beautiful post, love all the photos with the kids and the garden sculptures. I like the ents too :) Wouldn't it be great if they actually existed?
The dress is really cute, lovely combination of cheerful colours and it looks great on you too!
Bit behind here, but have soooo enjoyed this post.
Having read the 'sexy' post before it this is the one that drew me to comment!
But, yeah, you look flippin', dare I type it?, sexy, but I'd still want to read your posts even if there were no pictures, so I guess it's your mind and outlook on life that draws me in, not what you look like!
(But I DO like your photos too!)
Z xx
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