- Stella's 5th Birthday Party with Family

Derwentwater Arms, Calver, Derbyshire - on their website: "Traditional, family-run pub dating back to 1708 and serving global comfort food and real ales" - attached is the proof that it truly is a family friendly pub/restaurant. This (early) evening, Stella (in the unicorn dressing gown) with her Dad David and Cousin Rory at the bar. Happy 5th Birthday Stella! xx

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Stocking Farm, Calver - our Ezra's book/diary

Stocking Farm, Calver - our Ezra's book/diary. This is as far as we get on our Tuesday and Thursday walks with our little prince. The kissing gate on the right of the drawing is in the top 3 of Ez's favourite gates. It's quite difficult to prise his fingers off the woodwork - we usually have to drag him away! We wonder if he would stay there all day opening and closing the gate if he had the opportunity (it does make a nice "bang" when it shuts).

Ez's diary/book - concrete chickens

Calver Sough Nurseries - the koi carp pool is surround by various products. These were concrete (I think) chickens. Ezra loves to watch the fish sticking their heads above the water expecting to be fed. Some have human like features to their faces, some are golden, some have red and white patches and they all look pretty and tasty!

The Bridge Inn, Curbar..... Ezra's diary/book

The Bridge Inn, Curbar - just over the frontier with Calver (the River Derwent). This is where Ezra starts yawning and we often turn back to Palmers Café. There's also a very interesting pavement gully (shown in the foreground) with chevron shaped gratings which Ezra loves to use as a trampoline. 

Ezra's diary - sketching re-starts

Our Ezra's fascinated by tractors (or "actors" as he says). This one which I think is rented out by Froggatt Edge Garage did a U-ey outside the garage on the very busy A625. Nice manoeuvre!

More from our Ezra's Diary

Just beyond the underpass and what should we see but a man from Derbyshire County Council up a tree cutting it down (from the top) with a chain saw. It was alongside the old bridge across the River Derwent. Free 20 minutes entertainment! 

Ez's diary again

Now the Art Show submission season is over I have time to devote to our grandson Ezra's diary again. To cross the busy A623 at Calver between Chesterfield and Manchester we use the underpass (above). It's concrete wall to wall and floor to ceiling like an echo chamber so I can demonstrate my yodelling expertise to Ezra. I think he's impressed. He's in the No 2 pram with Grannie in control. That's Hulleys of Baslow bus crossing the underpass so it must be 10.45 - 15 minutes to coffee time!

Ez's diary - walking with Gramps again

This time walking up Lowside Calver during the hot weather last week. Even closer to the pub!

Ez's diary - walking with Gramps

That's me and our Ezra walking down High Street Calver in the general direction of the pub. 18 years time he'll be taller than me (and I'll be 88ish!)

Muse Cottage and Apple Tree Cottage on Main Street in Calver

More from our Ezra's diary. Muse Cottage and Apple Tree Cottage on Main Street in Calver. There are some trout lazing about in a crystal clear brook just the other side of that low stone wall at the front of the drawing - I think they're family pets The water gushes out from the spring less than 100 metres up the road and looks good enough to drink (depending on what the fish are doing in it of course).

All Saints Church Curbar

This Church is just over the frontier between Calver and Curbar (ie. the River Derwent) 

 

Derwentwater Arms Calver

More from our 13 month old grandson's illustrated diary. Ezra's local - we've already taken him out with us twice to this pub for an evening meal. Wonder if we'll still be around when he's 18 - very much doubt it! On our morning stroll with him we pass this view on the way back from our coffee at Palmer's Café.

Returning to Calver Village in colour

Watercolour added

Returning to Calver Village

Returning to Calver Village from the Curbar side off Kingsgate (the A623) onto Main Street...... the pen sketch. Ezra's asleep by this stage and we're on the way to Palmer's Café for our mid morning cappuccino and sausage roll/toasted teacake. That's G A Shepherd the bespoke tailor's shop straight ahead.

Doug's dog Spike

More from our travels around Calver with our grandson Ezra. We usually stop (when the weather's okay) to say hello to the old gentleman Spike. He's Doug's dog. Doug used to be landlord of the local Derwentwater Arms and they live on the corner of High Street and Lowside. Ezra likes Spike and likes pointing at him! 

Calver stone-with-a-hole

On our jaunts around Calver I keep seeing this beautifully re-furbished house on Main Street with a strange stone-with-a-hole built into the gable facing the road. Is it a megalithic sun-worshiper's sextant or perhaps a Roman carsie (they did a lot for us in the Derbyshire Lead Mines)... I wonder. Anyway, thought I'd draw it.

Downtown Calver - the Village Center

The Centre of Calver Village at the confluence of High Street, Main Street and Sough Lane. Our Ezra was unusually grumpy this morning - he napped for 2 hours so he must have been over-tired... bless. Gave me a bit more time to do the pen sketchette on the left., put the watercolour on at home. He made it to his nursery.

North from Palmers Cafe CALVER

Our Ezra had a bit of an eye problem (can't spell the medical word - if I could I would have become a Doctor!) so he couldn't attend his nursery today. Instead we attended Palmer's Café while he had his morning nap outside. Can recommend their sausage rolls. Rushed this sketchette off after my cappuccino - he didn't sleep for long.  

Roadworks at Calver crossroads

Today's sketch from coffee time at Palmers Café - the roadworks at Calver crossroads.... nightmare! Give it a miss for the next few days. Our Ezra slept through - good lad.

Inside Palmer's Cafe Calver

View inside Palmer's Café - it did get busy at one stage. We were at our usual corner table - coffee, crossword and sketchette.