T Stands I’m Late to the Party

 Hi everyone. I hope you've had a great couple of weeks since I've last joined in for T over at Bleubeard's and Elizabeth's blog.

I was away last week for a couple of days with my friend Jo (also referred to as my walking friend), so I missed the napkin reveal. I wanted to share mine today so when they finally get mailed you can see what I included.

Last Monday through Wednesday my friend and I went to the southern end of the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts. It's a very pretty area, and we visited  lots of places with art, gardens and nature.

One place we visited was Ashintully Gardens and Ruin in Tyringham. The gardens were more of a green formal area with not much blooming, and not even as green as they could be with the drought that much of New England has. The brook that ran through them was dry. I bet in spring it is a gorgeous spot.

We did take a nice woodland walk though, up the hill to the ruins of a mansion that once stood .

Here's a photo  I found online of the mansion as it was before it burned  to the ground in April of 1952.

Now there is a lot of crumbling foundation.

And also those 4 impressive columns.

The house must have had a beautiful view when it stood on the hill. The view is still very pretty. I bet the forest was kept trimmed back when the house was there.

It was a beautiful afternoon for a woodland walk, not too hot or humid. Here's what we saw on the way down as the trail made a big loop. I think the way we walked back to the gardens had been the original road up to the house. 

We did the loop in the map above, and then we took a side trail (many of the trails were mowed down paths of field grass). This side trail took us up on a little knoll that overlooked the gardens in one direction and this view below in the other. 

We sat on the grass and relaxed in the shade. It was a nice way to end our visit to the garden.

And since it is Tuesday and time for a T Day drink over at Bleubeard's and Elizabeth's blog,

and since I  am also celebrating (a little late) for last week's napkin reveal, 

let me share both my and my friend's drink we had before dinner after  afternoon at Ashintully Gardens and Ruin.

Sangria for me and a blueberry margarita for my friend. 

Cheers!

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful week ahead.