The Fun of Fossil Hunting!

 

Today we made our way to the "Jurassic Coast" to try our hands at fossil hunting!

The skies were blue...perfect beach weather

 

 

 

 

and the beach was fairly quiet.

 

 

We took hammers and protective goggles with us and the Teens eagerly started hammering away!

 

Teen One, as you might guess, tapped very gently, whilst Teen Two bashed away!

 

 

Hubby of course gave very deliberate strokes and the stones broke open fairly easily for him

 

 

 

Being novice fossil hunters we didn't really know what stones to look for, but a friendly fellow fossil hunter gave us some tips and we soon collected quite a discard pile!

 

 

 

Clearly its a hobby that one needs patience for, but I guess we did quite well to find at least two fossils, although we don't yet know what they are. Some further gently exploration is needed at home.

 

 

 

 

The views from Charmouth Beach were lovely and both Teens found the whole experience quite addictive. Teen Two was convinced the carrier bag of  "crystals" he had saved from his hammering, were going to make his fortune! We have persuaded him they will make lovely garden decorations!

 

 

 

A little further down the coast is the beautiful remains of Corfe Castle.  The village is also charming, but we were too tired to do any exploring today, it is on our "to do" list for another time.

 

 

 

 

Especially for a certain family member we had a Happy Meal for lunch, so he can add three to his Minion count!

 

The Charm, Crafts and Cobbles of Clovelly

 

 

Our excursion today was to one of England's  most unique villages ,Clovelly.

It is privately owned and has remained in the hands of only three families for centuries.

 

 

As you approach the village, the views are magnificent

 

 

 

The tiny lanes, quaint cottages and cobbled streets really do tell the tale of another world

 

 

We had blue skies to enjoy the white washed cottages and cheery bunting everywhere

 

 

 

The view looking up from the harbour was equally as lovely

 

 

Each house is unique

 

 

 

 

 

and some have had famous historical figures live there

 

 

 

Charles Kinglsey wrote the delightful book The Water Babies

 

 

Something I really appreciated seeing, was the value that was put on the Scriptures in those by gone days...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I particularly liked this cross stitch titled "Character of Christ"

 

 

The current home dwellers ( none are independently owned) take great care decorating the outside, with many beautiful floral displays...these ones made me smile!

 

 

 

 

 

After a tiring walk down and then part way back up the steep hill it was time for some lunch, I appreciated the sense of humour at the tea shop we chose!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hubby and the Teens chose a sausage baguette

 

 

 

 

for me it was a naughty but oh so delicious cream tea...with the best home made scones ( warmed of course) I have tasted in ages..I went and told them so as well!

 

 

Teen Two was treated to this humongous hot chocolate!

 

 

 

Something else I really appreciated was the knitting and crochet work everywhere!

 

These Clovellians really have a sense of humour!

 

 

 

Yarn bombing is always a hit with me!

 

 

 

Even the harbour wall was decorated with hand knitted bunting!

 

 

 

 

The Fishermans Cottage had a hand knitted fisherman!

 

 

Even the cobbles and famous donkeys were re-created in yarn

 

 

How's this for a beautiful mermaid... all knitted!

 

 

 

 

 This RNLI display was all knitted

 

 

 

And how about this for a pair of knitting needles and ball of yarn!

 

 

 

Even the plants

 had pom pom accessories!

 

 

 

Teen Two saw a sign for "Make your own Pot" and decided to take on the challenge. For only £3 it was a very affordable bit of fun

 

 

 

 

I will display it with pride when we get home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This living display of local silk worms was fascinating and hubby bought a cocoon for 50p which he will use for a children's talk at Sunday school one day.

 

 

The ancient craft of rag rug making was alive and well, with a lady giving demonstrations throughout the day.

 

 

 

 For only a pound I was able to buy a little kit to have a go myself.

Anyone interested in having a go can buy one online from Deborah

 

 

Clovelly is completely motor vehicle free. All supplies/goods are transported via sledges, which all most homeowners have stored outside their homes

 

Years gone by the donkeys did the hard work, they now only take children for rides

 

 

 

The cobbled lanes were hand built, using cobbles from the harbour....

 

 

...however they proved too much for my flip flops ( yes it was silly to wear them today!)

and one of the straps snapped off. It was impossible to walk like that, but Teen One came to the rescue and took her hair bobble out for me to wear! Not sure the craze will catch on though!

 

All in all it was a very interesting day and we would thoroughly recommend a visit. We were initially a little taken aback at the £18 entry to the village for a family ticket, but feel it was well worth it.