Ran out yesterday morning before tea! I know, unheard of…but then look at what I found. The meadow, fields, pines and hedgerows have been touched by Jack Frost. Everything has taken on a lovely, spiky malevolence.
I love it.
I do! 
Near and far…the Cotswold countryside and the Weekly Photo Challenge from WordPress
September 7, 2012 By 10 Comments
There’s something magical about the English countryside. One sees it in old master’s paintings in museums, on the covers of chocolate boxes and fancy vacation brochures, but I can tell you that it really is that bucolic in places. Out of the cities and towns, between the villages, the only things which have changed from centuries ago are the farm vehicles and the power lines. (Both of which can be judiciously avoided or Photoshopped out) When I get back to Vancouver, I have it in mind to paint a few large canvases of this Englishness.
Photographed for WordPress Weekly Photoshop Challenge.
Come see one of my most favorite places. The Burford Garden Centre
September 2, 2012 By 3 Comments
It’s a garden centre, a cafe with the yummiest lunches, a gourmet foods shop, a home decorating centre, a children’s fantasy shop, a speciality book store and an antiques shop all in one.
If you’re an avid plants woman/man, want a lovely place for lunch with friends, need that truffle oil from France for tonight’s risotto, want to buy a three tiered tutu in bright fuchsia for your little princess this is the greatest place to spend some time.
All the displays are so lovely to look at and dream about.
Look at this one.
These cast iron twine spools…I mean…you have to have twine in the garden, right?
This is a fruit store for all the apples from your orchard.
The roses are actually grown so you can see their habit before you decide on the perfect one.
How about this! A Gypsy caravan as a play house/place to nap/have tea.
Wow, locally grown and hand spun linen goods. Who does that these days? I want to spin and weave linens.
Loads of vintage plates/cups/jugs…anything you like, for a song. I love to mix and match, don’t you?
Can you believe the patina of this table and benches? This would be so wonderful in a breakfast room.
And, of course, a fair amount of that beautiful English Laura Ashley type layering. Very Shabby Chic.
Can’t wait to go back.
More ten mile project fun…Minster Lovell Hall
August 25, 2012 By 2 Comments
Just down from Burford, on the beautiful Windrush river, on the edge of Wychwood forest is this incredible 15th C relic.
I love it here.
It was a great, grand hall and the main residence of the Lovell family, (isn’t that a lovely name…Lovell). King Richard III was a family friend and stayed in the minster for visits.
The minster was a U shape, with a central great hall, enormous fireplaces, staircases, turrets and stone archways.
Here is R walking thru the main hall to show the scale.
This is the great hall. Can you just imagine tapestries, roaring fires, musicians, ladies in wimples, emboidered gowns and jewels. Actually, a beautiful jewel was found here and is on display at the Ashmolean in Oxford.
When it was investigated by archeologists, a skeleton was found in the basement!
The footprint is still here. So is the dovecote and the church.
Minster Lovell Hall…the best place to daydream.
Within the ten miles…Burford!
August 24, 2012 By 4 Comments
You gotta love Burford, the ideal Cotswold town. Burh = fortified town and Ford = river crossing. Could there be any other town where Uther Pendragon, King Arthur’s father, gave a golden dragon as a standard? Bet it was a real dragon, bet it breathed fire.
In this lovely, lovely town 15th and 16thC buildings function as homes, shops, hotels and pubs.
So let’s go.
Let’s park up beside this warm stone wall.
Let’s follow the small road to the High street. It’s summer crazy with people.
The High street is full of lovely shops.
And little alleys with shops.
Look at this mix of 15th to 17thC buildings.
The shops give way to cottages and homes.
Many with large archway entrances for horses and carriages, now handy for cars.
The town ends, and we stop at the Windrush River. But now we get to go up the other side!
