Monday, April 29, 2019

Brilliant

Lacock Abbey.
I had to watch my time while there. I spent at least an hour just wandering around the estate. Hubby had to remind me there was more to see inside!

I loved just being still and thinking about what life was like to live there.
Did the owners take the time to breathe in the fresh air? Did they count all the sheep? Did the bleating get annoying? 
I thought they were cute! I can see where the saying 'counting sheep' can finally make one sleepy. On this particular day, there were a lot to count!
 Lets head inside.
I love books. This cupboard was near the entrance. I would have made friends with the nuns straight away!
 You might recognize the Abbey in some familiar film scenes.
Harry Potter and also Pride and Prejudice have been filmed here. I just read the Abbey was closed for some days this past month due to filming. I wonder when we will see the Abbey in pictures again?
Hubby told me this was in a Harry Potter movie. I wouldn't know.  I've never seen any of the movies. GASP! I know. Hard to believe. An anglophile that hasn't seen Harry Potter. I'll see them. Eventually. It's just not my favorite genre. (You can close your mouth now!!)

Doors and stairways fascinated me while on holiday in England. Where do they lead?
Who knows. But just like life, you'll never know if you don't open the door and take the next step.   

 

Monday, April 22, 2019

Invention

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

The above photo shows the English rose climbing an outside wall at Lacock Abbey.

While in Lacock, I learned quite a bit about photos.

Did you know...
That's right. The birthplace of photography in Britain.
Where would we be today without photography? It's a loaded question. 
I think he's a genius! Google him!

I'm quite certain those who lived in this era would be completely flabbergasted as to how far we have come when it comes to taking photographs. Just look what they started!







Monday, April 15, 2019

Start of the day

As I sit here sipping my English breakfast tea this morning , I wondered if you know what breakfast is like over there across the pond.
I have plenty of breakfast photos, and so I bring you breakfast at the Red Lion in Lacock, UK.

 With our tummies full, we are off to wandering around the village. 

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Repeat

April showers bring May flowers. Isn't that how the saying goes?

There are showers here. Just not rain. It's snowing. Again. Did I mention it's the middle of April?

The winds have picked up here in these parts. Twigs and branches have littered our yard. Hubby is out snow blowing the driveway. 
It's cold. It's blustery.
Like a small child with hands on her hips, a scowl on her face and a stomp of a foot, I demand,  "Stop snowing. Enough already. I want spring. Right now."
  

Monday, April 8, 2019

Idyllic village

Have you been to Lacock? Heard of it? If you haven't, I've got you covered. I took plenty of photos in this lovely village. Enough for you to feel like you've been!
Of course when we arrived, we first wanted to see where we would be spending our evenings.
Okay. Twist my arm. If I have to stay here...SO DREAMY!
Such a fun part of going on holiday. First views of places you have never been. The stuff of dreams.
I spent the first hours in Lacock with my mouth gaped open. I couldn't believe the charm of this idyllic village.
I mean...look at this place! 
Such loveliness.
 

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Dazzled

Right when I walked into the flower show, I knew I was in a happy place!
The colors. The smells. Simply brilliant.
No explanations needed.
Enjoy the wonder.
Teapots! I was giddy!
Daffodils. Nature's teacups!
I love tea parties!
Yes, they are real. No fake flowers in the whole bunch. Amazing. 

Monday, April 1, 2019

Exercise was worth it

Sometimes I wonder what we are thinking when we put an itinerary together for our holidays.
This day in particular, we did a lot. I mean, we should have just spent the entire day in Chawton visiting all things Jane Austen. That would have been more than enough. But no, I never want to miss a thing!

We decided months before we left that we must climb the steps at Salisbury Cathedral.
After all, it was on our way to our next destination.

With minutes to spare, we made it in time for our 3:00 tour. And remember, we were driving (on the wrong side of the road-wink wink.)
We snapped a few pictures and met up with our tour group.
This was our tour guide. She was amazing. Never got tired once. She does this tour at least twice a day. I mean this in the nicest way possible. She is no spring chicken! She is older than us, but wow-she is in great shape. She climbed those steps like nobody's business. There are 332 steps to the top. She easily ascended every one.
Every step brought us magnificent views of the cathedral.
A few facts: The Cathedral was built in 38 years using 60,000 tons of stone, 2800 tons of oak and
                      420 tons of lead. This wood is tudor.
Again, we climbed 332 steps. My calves got a work out!
The spire is Britain's tallest and weighs 6500 tons. That's alot!
We were WAY up there!
Bird's eye view from the top.
I love the English countryside.
About halfway up, I peered out a small window. Look what I spotted. A Mini! Same color as mine!

The Cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren.
The foundation was started in 1220 and finished in 1258.
I remember the guide pointing out a pillar to us while we walked through the roof area. She asked us to notice the intricacy of it. "Not many will see it, but you can see by the way it is carved that the maker did it for the glory of God."
I found that very profound.

I was thinking about how we climbed all those steps.  It was work, but the view from the top was worth the effort.  Kind of like marriage. It's work. But worth every hard step. We had to keep that perspective because driving in the UK tended to test those views!