Getting that "Christmas Feeling"

We  went to Chatsworth House today.  Located in the heart of England and home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.  It was built in the late 1500's and was all done up for Christmas.  The theme was from Wind in the Willows story books with the main character of Mr. Toad.  The trees were incredible and the gardens were vast.  If you think you have seen this building before than you probably have, it was Mr. Darby's home in the movie Pride and Prejudice (2005).  It was also mentioned in the novel Pride and Prejudice.
It was a great warm up for Christmas.  In less than two weeks I'll be setting up my own tree for the first time in three years.

This is the Crooked Spire which graces the City of Chesterfield.

It was intended to be straight but the wood warped before it was finished.

The front of the house.

Much of the ornamentation is gold leaf, even the gates sparkle.

I was so caught up in the characters that I was overlooking the beautiful art work.

Graham pointed this one out to me, this is the early inspiration to the body works sculptures.

A library/music room for Maureen.

Loved this chandelier.

The Beautiful cascading waterfall.

The back of the house.

The coal tunnel running from a pit to the house.

The maze was too difficult for me today, I quit after 20 min we still had not found our way in.  I couldn't imagine how long it would take to find the way back out.

Even the plastic chairs were classy.

As beautiful as this was it won't compare to home.

Santa Clause is coming to town.

Last week was the official lighting of the streets for Christmas.  It was a bit of a let down after last year and the Coca Cola truck.  I really was not very interested in taking pictures either, I just strolled down the main street and enjoyed the sights (and the smells for a change).
Yesterday I visited Hubbard's Hills in Louth, it was just a park but it was in the centre of town and it was a bit like being in the lake district.  Then we went to the Louth Christmas market which by comparison was nothing like Lincoln's but then neither were the crowds.  I have to say this "Canadian Factor" is something else.  It was spitting when we left Grimsby and sunny but windy when we arrived in Louth.  Not so much as a single drop fell on us the whole morning and the second I got home and sat down there was a torrential rain storm. LOL it's good to be Canadian.
Less than three weeks today and I will be home for Christmas.  I can't wait to decorate my own tree and do all the traditional stuff that make it truly Christmas to me.  We've already planned a gingerbread house decorating contest for the day after I get back.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Every flavour of liquorice possible.

On the way back we stopped at a train museum.