ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 12TH OF 2025

 Morning all, I hope I find you well on this Friday morning time to clock the silver linings, positive moments and all the things that make life what it is 

So last Friday was Friends day at Chatsworth (one of the reasons I was late last week) that meant that for those of us that are members, we got chance to see the house before its official opening on Saturday and added to that we could take a guest, so I took my sister Melanie and we had a grand day out. 

My favourite view on the way there looking down the valley towards Chesterfield

As always there is a 'theme' to the house this year, most of it centres around flowers, this is in the painted hall

I loved this bronze mirror in the grotto area, so much detail in the same

The foxglove at the top of the first staircase

This amazing dress

and then we got chatting to one of the brilliant guides in this room.  It isn't a room I've ever particularly enjoyed, the main fireplace is adorned with wooden carvings of lots of game birds caught on a shoot - I just don't understand why you would want them in their dead state however the light in the room was amazing and really picked out the ceiling painting, of which the grey lady cutting the thread of life with one of the fates looked a little out of place.  Apparently this is Mrs Hackett the housekeeper immortalised in a rather uncomplimentary way on the ceiling by the painter who was quite simply not a fan.  It did make us laugh, every other character is stylised but she is most definitely a real person.

I liked this piece of art, squares of actual leaves that have been pinned and left to decay, all shrinking and distorting at different rates. 

The dining table looks very modern, in fact the house has a new feel to it with it now being overseen by Lord and Lady Burlington rather than the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire who have now retired. 

I liked this imprinted artwork, although hubby wasn't a fan

This piece made of buttons was unusual. 

We said goodbye to the sleeping lion and headed out through the shop 

We bought lunch of pasty and tea (when we needed to re-mortgage the house with the cost). 

Then wandered the gardens 

and got a shot of the house

It was a lovely day out and had a real spring like feel to it which was great. 

On Saturday my sister came over and we had an art journaling session, I did lots of background pages as I was a little lost in what I was doing if truth be told.

My sister kept trying to use colour but all her pages ended up black which made us laugh.

and this was one of my finished pages which I really enjoyed

Then in the evening we went to see Dracula in Barnsley.  It wasn't a musical and was one of the longest plays we've been to, even giving Shakespeare a run for his money. 

It provided a lot of laughter afterwards when we reflected on the play, but was a grand night out. 

Sunday and me and my sister went to do a spring wreath class together, this time it was a living wreath class.

This was the basket of goodies before we started. 

Selfie with my little sister

then the wreath we made

we had such a lovely afternoon chatting and creating, definitely good for the soul.

Monday arrived and work as normal and before I knew it were were on Wednesday evening and another theatre trip to see A Streetcar Named Desire at the Crucible in Sheffield. 

It isn't a film (or play) that I know and was incredibly well done, but wow what a sad story. 

We came home and reflected on it, probably not one I'd be in a rush to see again, if you know the story you will know what I mean but I was glad we went. 

Thursday and a busy doing day around the house having a good fettle and enjoying the spring sunshine, definitely good for the soul. 

I hope you've had a grand week. 

Hugs