Saturday, May 31, 2014
Our travel trailer at an RV site at McKinney Falls SP in Austin TX
Chuck brought his inversion table to stretch out his back each morning. It works so well for him that he is now traveling with it when we go RVing!
Kathy at the lower falls at McKinney Falls State Park
This concludes my first ever blog. Thanks to my adorable daughter Julia for encouraging me to do this. I was just going to share a few pics on Instagram but she gave me the confidence to go for the blog! It really is easy to do and I would encourage everyone to try it!
And of course I missed my adorable husband Chuck
May 29, 30 & 31 at McKinney Falls State Park in Austin TX
Dominique and Eve at Sydney's birthday party
I didn't mean for it to look like a neon palm tree is growing from Dom's head!
Leaving the Cotswolds behind
I must confess.....I did not take this picture as I never found the perfect image to capture the full beauty of the Cotswolds. Actually this one is missing the brilliant color of the rape fields and the dotting of sheep on the hillside. So even a stock photograph from the net can't capture the full marvel of the area. In closing....the Cotswolds are a hilly countryside area of England northwest of London found between Gloucester, Bath, Oxford and Stratford. It is one of England's favoured destinations. I will miss it all.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
These are metal chain swags on her leggings.
Beth so wanted to untangle the chain but decided maybe that was not a good idea!
We met this charming young lady at the boat dock on the Sissinghurst estate
Juli asked her if we may photograph her as we were quite intrigued with her leggings. See detail on next photo
This structure near the entrance of Sissinghurst sports a series of oasts
These oasts or oast houses are conical kilns used for drying hops, malt or tobacco.
The tower at Sissinghurst.
Vita Sackville-West lived in the tower. When she and her husband were married in 1912 each of them knew they were gay but neither told the other.
The view of the gardens from the top of the tower was spectacular - a 78 spiral staircase climb.
Sissinghurst Castle was our last beautiful manor and gardens owned by the National Land Trust of England.
Purchased by wife & husband,Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson in 1932 to create a beautiful showplace and create incredible gardens. Sissinghurst actually began life as a Saxon pig farm and within a few years had become a small moated manor house. The home was leased by the government during the Seven Years War (1756-1763) and used as a prison camp for 3000 captured French sailors who almost destroyed the house.
A pond and gardens around Batesman's house owned by Kipling
Kipling is well known for writing the "Just So Stories" for children such as "How the Whale Got his Throat", "How the Camel Got His Hump" and "The Elephant's Child". He also wrote "Jungle Book" in 1894.
Rudyard Kipling's poem "The Glory of the Garden"
The prose are beautiful. Expand the image so that you may enjoy this beautiful poem.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Friday May 15 - Rudyard Kipling was 36 yrs old when he came to Batesman's Estate in the year1902.
By this time he was the most famous writer in the English speaking world. He was earning £5,000 a year at a time when a secretary night have an annual salary of £80.
Wed May 14 - departing Uplands House
Saying goodbye to our host Graham and his New Zealand friend as they prepare for a bike ride and gliding trip to Morocco. We picked up the New Zealand phrase "fluffy ducks" from Bill. All is good if it is fluffy ducks!
Lady Poppy Cooksey at Uplands House
Pouring tea upon our arrival Saturday May 10. We stayed at this charming B & B for 4 nights absorbing the warm English hospitality.
Last night at the Swan Hotel in Bibury
The painted tiles were salvaged from old buildings. What a beautiful quilt they made!
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Lacock Abbey
Built as a resident for contemplative study for 25 nuns. Usually a nun was a young girls that had passed marrying age and the father would send her to the convent to take vows. The family was of considerable wealth as the father would give a dowry usually in the form of land to the Abbey.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Thursday May 15 - Lacock Abbey
In 1232 it was founded as an Augustinian convent for 25 Catholic nuns. From 1536-1541 religious houses and assets were seized by King Henry VIII called the Dissolution of the monasteries. The nuns were evicted and the building sold. Sir William Sharington purchased the structure in 1540.
Wednesday May 14 - Arlington Row
After checking into the Swan Hotel we visited this National Trust site down the road a piece. These iconic cottages were originally monastic wool barns in th 1200s. In the 17th century they were converted into weavers' homes. They are now individual homes and are the oldest residences in England. As one resident told us....there is a long waiting list and one must have "a background" to be considered a tenant.
Wednesday May 14 - checking into the Swan Hotel in Bibury for 2 nights
Historic hotel on the Coln stream across the street. Only 22 rooms with a beautiful outdoor patio and a salon.
The mascot of the hotel
Momma and Papa swan with their seven flappers. Factoid....a female swan is called a pen and a male swan is called a cob.
Dudley's new wheels - appropriate for a president wouldn't you say?
Dudley has been chauffeuring the 5 of us gals around the countryside.
Inside Snowshill Manor
Sorry couldn't use a flash inside. You're not seeing double vision. Antique baby carriages
Snowshill Manor view
What's missing is the chrome yellow rape growing in the fields and the sheep dotting the Kodachrome green pastures.
Wednesday May 14 - Snowshill Manor and Garden is a Cotswold manor house packed with random stuff collected by Charles Wade
The building was an Abbey until 1539 when it was confiscated by King Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries. It was purchased by Charles Wade, an architect in 1919. Mr. wade lived in the small priest house out back as his treasures filled the house.
Friday, May 16, 2014
Whichford Pottery
Can you believe this was thrown on the potter's wheel? It is not poured into a mold!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)