Monday, May 24, 2010

Ambleside, Charlotte Mason's Grave & Beatrix Potter

Guess what! We stumbled onto Charlotte Mason's grave yesterday - just across the park from our hotel. It is in a cemetery behind a church - and we were walking through there on our way to the lake. I was wandering around taking photos of Celtic crosses and then Ron said - "Oh, here is Charlotte Mason's grave." There was a sign or we would've never seen it. I just about came out of my skin I was so excited. I don't think he really even knew who she was. I knew there was a curriculum online called Ambleside curriculum based on her principles, but I didn't put 2 & 2 together that she was from here. My heart was beating out of my chest for like almost an hour. Who knew I would get so excited. She is truly one of the foundational stones of my homeschooling philosophy and helped to shape my children's lives. What an unexpected treasure!
We also went to Beatrix Potter's house today - it was so cool. Many of her illustrations in her books were drawn directly from scenes in her house or around her gardens and the village there. We got to see lots of her original watercolors for her books. They were tiny, just like in the books. We were able to wander around the rooms that have been restored and furnished to look like it did when she lived there. It was just a joy to see all the places that she wrote about and to learn more about her life. She was truly an amazing woman. Oh, and I think I saw Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail. I don't know where Peter had got off to.
Beatrix Potter's House
Lovely Wisteria just outside the Garden Gate
Gate into the Garden - Where's Peter?
Walk up to the House - lovely garden...
Flopsie, Mopsie, & Cottontail?

4 comments:

LemonyRenee' said...

How very lovely. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Amanda said...

Oh my...your photos are enchanting! I would so love to visit there someday! Thank you so much for taking the time to post the link for me! It's lovely to meet another Potter fan too!
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda

Unknown said...

How wonderful! We will be travelling in England in September & I was looking at literary travel plans. Saw BP house and realized it was just out of Ambleside and googled CM + BP and OT your post! How wonderful. I really do hope to make it this far north now. Tanks for your post and your phots.

Kindest regards,
Amber (Australia)

Unknown said...

Sorry, "got" not OT. And "photos". Bit excited ;)