Woodland flower

Took this photo on our walk last evening using the macro setting.  I'm very pleased with the result!  

Lilacs!

A sure sign of spring ... picked these lilacs on our walk last evening in Guiting Power.  A nice bit of colour to brighten the kitchen as well as filling the kitchen with their sweet scent.   Simple = good, very good indeed.

Bluebells in bloom!

Bluebells, sometimes called 'Wild Hyacinths', are normally found growing in wooded areas throughout the U.K. The bluebells in flower, carpeting the woodlands seems to be a very British spectacle for nowhere else in the world do they grow in such abundance. We took a walk this evening in search of the bluebells and found them in the Guiting Power woods. For further information on bluebells in England, click this link:

http://www.cotonmanor.co.uk/bluebells.php

Greek Temple in Segesta

Visited this Greek Temple on April 23rd which was built as as a result of the Greek colonization of Sicily.  The Segesta temple is one of the best preserved temples in the world.  The Doric styled temple was built before 430 B.C.  and measures just over 60 meters long and 26 meters wide, built upon 4 steps with a total of 36 Doric columns, 14 columns on each side and six columns across the front and back.

  

Toretta di Pepoli

This is the "Toretta di Pepoli", located just below  Castello di Venere in Erice,  built by Count Agostino Pepoli between 1872 and 1880.   There is no public access to the Toretta and from our vantage point, we couldn't really determine how in the world it would be accessed!  

Erice, day 2

Sunshine on day 2!!    I am standing in front of Chiesa Matrice di Erice, constructed in 1314 using stones from the ancient Temple of Venus that once stood here.  We walked the stairs to the top of the bell tower (a portion of which can be seen in the left hand side of this photo) to stunning views overlooking the town of Erice and the port of Trapani and the Egadi Islands.

First day in Erice, Silicy

We left sunny England early Wed. morning (Apr 22) and were greeted with rain 3 hours later upon our arrival in Sicily.   After becoming completely drenched running to our rental car at the airport, we headed off to find our accommodation in Erice, a walled medieval town perched some 2,500 feet above the coastal city of Trapani.   

The day we arrived, the streets were filled with mist/fog as seen in these photographs. Whenever we walked pass this one particular street, we would see this dog, regally sitting and observing the activities on the street below from this rooftop balcony.  We were not alone; many people stopped to take his photo and I think he rather enjoyed all the attention!!  

Market Day - Plants for Sale

Every Tuesday (Market Day) our neighbour, an ardent gardener, sets out starter plants in the front of his house for sale.  People passing by are directed to put "money through letter box please".   How quaint!

Crown Chimneys

Who can resist exploring an architectural salvage shop? Following the industrial revolution, these antique crown chimneys became all the rage. Hardworking Victorians were proud of their homes and valued anything they thought would enhance them. When chimney pots were found to cut down on draughts, as well as being esthetically pleasing, the result was a proliferation of designs in chimney pots. At the height of production, there were over 500 designs. Names include: The Bishop, the Long Knight, The Horned-CrownTop, and the Lady Broughton to name a few. They were made from clay and fired at high temperatures to withstand heat going up and cold and sleet coming down. These historical pots come in all shapes and sizes that once graced the UK skyscape, and are often purchased now as a garden accessory.

Allotment Layout

Created this scrapbook layout tonight which I will be donating to the "shop" at the London Road Allotment Association.

Danny, up close & personal

Walking through the fields tonight, after some encouragement, Danny approached this horse. I think he was surprised how accepting the horse was to be pet by him.

5 mile walk with Danny

My nephew Danny is on school break and came to stay with us for a few days.  We went on a 5 mile walk tonight from Bourton-on-the-Hill to Longsborough and back, walking a different route than we had walked before. Andy took this photo high on a hill where you can see Danny and I in the lower right hand corner and views of Bourton-on-the Hill in the background. 

You don't see this everyday!

This is the first time I've ever seen a dog herding ducks!

Happy Easter!

Spent Friday and Saturday night in Coventry. Andy and I went out for dinner Friday night at an Indian Restaurant and were treated to a bit of drama when a customer stumbled into a display case holding a huge horse statute, knocking it over, shattering it to bits. There was much ado as the poor guy and his partner tried to come to terms with how they were going to settle up for the breakage. I couldn't help but feel for the guy - obviously it was an accident, and management took the position that he had to pay for it. It was hard to tell if he had had a few, and was feeling a bit tipsy when he stumbled into it.

Saturday morning we went to the garden allotments (where I took this photo from Ivan's garden). We had a bbq to celebrate my sister-in-law Helen's birthday, played a chaotic game of Wizard with Mark, Danny, Ryan, Charlotte, Sarah, Andy, the youngest player, won! Charlotte and her friend Lauren went with us to Church on Sunday morning after which we headed back to Moreton!

Full Moon over Moreton

Captured this photo of the full moon on our walk home from the pub last night ... and in case you're wondering: yes, I pretty much take my camera with me everywhere I go!!

Spending time @ "Our Local"

Adapting to English culture @ the local pub, enjoying a game of crib!

Morning Greeting

Our walk this morning took us by the "Old Farm" and this horse, who was looking for a little attention.

Magazine Dress

Came across this "designers"dress on display in a shopping square in Stow-in-the-Wold, made entirely from pages of a fashion magazine.  (If you look closely, my reflection taking this photo was caught in the shop window.) 

Love this!

Found this being displayed in the window shop of a local antique dealer located across the street and would love to bring it home with me however given the cost, it'll be staying behind! The woodblock panel is created from individual wooden printers type last used commercially some 60 or 70 years ago.

Wyck Rissington

Despite the forecast for rain this weekend, we enjoyed a glorious sunshine filled weekend!  So much so, that I was sunburned on Saturday after spending a few hours at the allotment in Coventry.  On Sunday afternoon, after a challenging time to find the small village of Wyck Rissington, we set off on a 4 mile circular walk.  The directions for this walk were very poor, and simply incorrect in a number of instances.  For example, instructions to climb a stile, where in fact there was a gate, walk diagonally left, when in fact you walked was straight on, walk along the road (actually a busy 2 lane highway) a "short little distance"  was really 3/4 of a mile and walking on a highway where the allowable speed is 50 miles/80 km per hour with virtually no verge/shoulder.  Walking single filed on the white painted line with a number of cars whizzing by, thoughts I might meet my master passed through my mind several times. Needless to say, my steps quickened - I couldn't wait to get off that road!   I despised every inch and every minute spent walking on that highway.  Finally, to our great relief, the bridle path appeared and we resumed our walk through pastures and meadowlands, returning to where we had parked the car, in front of the church in Wyck Rissington, pictured above.

Simply Beautiful

Walking through Longsborough we came upon this pleasant view of a stepped waterfall upon exiting a narrow wooded path on our 4 mile circle route. This photo attempts to capture the green, lush, immaculately groomed grounds, but it is a poor substitute for the original.

photos from the entire walk available by clicking "4 mile walk" link at:
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=731310279&k=33GY33U53VWMZFGFPK5XR

Ivy covered door

Abandoned door at an forgotten garden allotment site at the London Road Allotments, in Coventry.  Coming from the prairies, I marvel at how easily "all things green" grow here in England and how much work it is to maintain a tidy garden! 

I have enjoyed spending time at the allotments, leaving the hustle and bustle of busy city streets behind, entering a place where time slows down, people smile and stop to chat.  I have had delightful interactions with the gardeners, learning much through their stories; I love seeing the stages of transformation from derelict sites to immaculate show piece gardens, walking down freshly mowed lanes, viewing the orderly rows of gardens on either side,  each allotment telling its own story, an expression of each allotment member's unique personality.   

Market Day #3

Just a couple images from today's market ... easter bonnets and fresh joints of lamb.

Compton Verney

We went to Compton Verney, located about 10 miles from Moreton, on March 27 to take in the Fatal Attraction exhibit.

For further details: www.comptonverney.org.uk

The art gallery is a former Grade-1 listed mansion house designed by Robert Adam in the 1760's for the Verney family, who owned the house until 1921.  The house then passed through a succession of owners with various uses including an army research establishment and a film set.   The mansion house and grounds were bought by a foundation in 1993 to transform the mansion and grounds (which were then in a state of decay after decades of neglect) to its present use as an art gallery, opening in 1998.  

Great stroll

great views!  this is just one of the reasons I LOVE England!

Favourite Flowers

Picked up these beautiful lilies at last week's market day;  they have filled the cottage with a sweet scent and brighten the lounge (aka living room).  Flowers like these are definitely what I view as the simple pleasures of life which give so much joy.  Simple = good, very good indeed.

Tudor style

Public building in Moreton; an example of Tudor architecture (the Tudor period being 1485-1603).  Tudor style buildings have 6 distinctive features:

* decorative half-timbering

* steeply pitched roof

* prominent cross gables

* tall, narrow windows

* small window panes

* large chimneys, often topped with decorative chimney pots

Morning at the Allotment

Andy's brother Paul invited us to see his allotment so we headed out early this morning to Coventry. Several people, including Paul, keep chickens on their allotment, mostly laying hens.

Penalty?

Not your usual front gate but one we came across this week on after dinner stroll in Lower Slaughter, a nearby village, about 10 min. drive from our cottage. I drove home from Stow in the Wold. It's the second time I've ventured out on the roads and look forward to the day I will feel comfortable driving in England!

6.5 Mile Walk - Moreton/Bourton on the Hill

Views of Bourton on the Hill captured on our walk today; perfect walking weather, not too warm for climbing hills (14 degrees celsius) with the occasional cool breeze.    

We had to walk a short distance on the main street that runs through the town of Bourton on the Hill We were walking side by side on the sidewalk, Andy on the outside and a car drove by and clipped him on the arm!  No harm done to him, but hitting him resulted in the passenger's rear view mirror being pushed in towards the window!  Good thing it was a moveable rear view mirror or more damage both to the car and Andy would have occurred!  And.. no, the driver just carried on and did not stop to see if Andy was ok!