I Can't Hold My Likker, said Robyn

OK, so you don't freak out over that title, I'm going to explain it first. :)  Last nite when we got to the hotel after seeing the play, there was a bottle of champagne waiting in our room with a "Happy Birthday from the staff at the Noel Arms" note on it.  I guess I must have told the lady at the desk the day we checked in that it was my birthday trip.  Anyway, I figured, they were nice enough to give it to me, I might as well try some.  I've tried it before and didn't like it, but this time we had CHOCOLATE to go with it, so I happily guzzled (not really) one glass.  By the time I was halfway through the second my head started spinning.  I've heard the phrase, "It went straight to my head,"  and for me, it's true! Craig was disappointed.  I didn't get snuggly, or giggly, I just got plain mean.  I think I smacked him once.  I felt like if I moved I was going to fall off the planet.  SO, no more of the bubbly for me, ever.  It doesn't even taste good.

 

 ANYWAY, here's how we spent our day.  We spent the morning driving around to little market towns.  Every town had some kind of market going on in their town hall.  A flea market, two antiques markets, a fibre market (knitting, weaving, yarn) and I saw a sign for a farmer's market. We had fun going to the small towns and shopping around, enjoying the scenery and the sites.  The lady who told us about the fibre market in Chipping Norton said there was a lady in the town called the "Yarn Bomb".  She knits little symbols and ties them on doorknobs and light posts on special days to spread cheer.  Like she does hearts at Valentines, shamrocks for St. Patricks and poppies for Armistice Day.  Isn't that fun!  The lady said, "No one knows who she is, but I DO!"  After our morning adventures we went back to Chipping Camden and changed clothes and tried to get on the internet again, (GRRRR!).  Then we drove to Stratford-Upon-Avon to see As You Like It.  We walked in the park, saw the church where Shakespeare is buried, shopped a little, picked up our tickets and sat on a bench by the Avon to eat supper.  The play was ok.  I've seen it 4 times now and loved it every time but this one.  They sleazed it up too much.  Disappointing, but there were enough good parts to make it simply ok.
    
THIS was one of my favorite things of the day.  In Stow-in-the-Wold, we searched out St. Edwards church, a stone Norman church built between the 11th and 15th centuries.  It was so beautiful!  My favorite thing was the back door.  It it built with two live yew trees on either side of the door.  SO cool.

 This one's going in a frame!

 This stone carving was commissioned for the millennium for the church.  A delightful little old man, named Clyde Bekket, who we met in the church, said they had a contest to see what would be commissioned.  He said wood and tapestry was suggested but in the end stone was chosen because there was less of a chance that someone would nick it (meaning steal it).  He told us all about the church and we learned a lot from him.  I asked a lady who was fixing the flowers if it was all right if I took pictures and she said yes and would I pop something in the box.  Which means would I put some money in the collection box.  Which I did. :)

 This was taken in Bourton-on-the-Water.  This overlooks a little stream, only a foot or so deep.  They play a traditional soccer game in the water at the end of every summer.

 Bourton-on-the-Water.

 My new obsession is....SHEEP!  They are everywhere and so adorable and it is spring and so there are lambs galore.  Oh my goodness.  I want sheep.

 The Cotswold sheep.  They are very fluffy and have long, skinny legs.

 This is my new friend, Liz.  We pulled off the road to go to her pottery shop, which is in the back of her house.  She was so fun to talk to.  She let me take pictures of her sheep after I left. :) (pics following)

 To get to Liz's shop, you follow the red arrows around her house.  You have to duck under the washing line to get there.  I love the English.  No homeowners associations here!!!!!

 One of Liz's baby sheep.   OOOOOO, I want this one.

 I love the black faced sheep, too. I think these are Sussex sheep.

 Door at the church where Shakespeare is buried.

 In the Stratford park.

 Ellie's boat!  We ate dinner on the bench that is half in the picture on the left side.

 Love my Ellie!