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Category Archives: England

A little touch up

04 Monday Jan 2016

Posted by pat in Art, England, Gardens, paintings, sketching, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Sissinghurst, sunflowers

Sometimes you just have to go back and fix a few things.

I don’t often change a piece of art once I have deemed it “finished”.  Even if it stays on the walls in my own home, I usually leave it alone.  Once I let it go, it’s done.

But rarely, I will see something that from the beginning has stuck with me as just not quite there.  It has to nag at me for a while, but finally, possibly years later, I will pick up the chalk or paint brush and do a bit of editing.  Sometimes I will ruin it for good, but then again…

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Recently I was allowed to revisit “White Garden”, a favorite painting of mine that I did after a visit to Sissinghurst, a National Trust garden in Kent, England.  At the very end of painting the scene, when I wasn’t quite sure it was finished, I added a figure walking down the path.  A vision of Vita Sackville-West, the poet and gardening writer who created the garden in the 1930s.

White Garden

But it always caught my attention when I looked at the work, and over the years I realized she detracted from the real star…the magical white garden.  So this month, I removed her.  There is a hint of white where she was. Just part of the garden.  I am very pleased with the result. Your full attention is once again on the magnificent roses and garden beyond.

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Sometimes a tweak is more subtle.  I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was bothering me or if anything was really bothering me enough to try a change. It was more a lack of energy than anything else.

Sunflower IV

A few hours later, a bit of work, and some additional strokes of conte, and it was much more agreeable to me. I’m not even sure why.

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It became more complex and layered and could join the other drawings in the series with pride. Sunflowers in a field.

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For now, I am happy with them.

Poppies

29 Tuesday Jul 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, London, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

≈ 3 Comments

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Blood-Swept Lands and Seas of Red, Tower of London. Poppies, World War I

There is an incredible art installation going in at the dry moat of The Tower of London to commemorate the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 and the allied victims who fell in that global conflict.

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The ceramic artist who conceived the project is Paul Cummins, and the title of the piece is “Blood-Swept Lands and Seas of Red”.

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More than 800,000 ceramic poppies will be placed by over 8,000 volunteers from across the UK over the next three months with a formal beginning August 5th. The last of the ceramic blooms will be symbolically placed in the field on November 11, Armistice Day.

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The flowers will have a life even after the exhibition at The Tower. The poppies are actually being sold to the public with proceeds going to six service charities in the United Kingdom, including the Royal British Legion.

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The field of poppies will grow over the remainder of the summer and autumn and become massive–888,246 to be exact.  So many lives commemorated in such a visual way.

Blenheim Palace

26 Saturday Apr 2014

Posted by pat in Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, History, Travel

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Blenheim Palace, Cotswolds, Woodstock

As we were leaving the Cotswolds this past summer we decided to take a detour and see Blenheim Palace, Winston Churchill’s childhood home and a magnificent estate outside of Oxford.

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Home of the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace is the birthplace of Winston Churchill.

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He lived here in his youth with his grandmother, and although his cousin inherited the estate, he always said he had fond memories of the palace.

The room in Blenheim where Winston was born.

The room in Blenheim where Winston was born.

Blenheim Palace was a gift from Queen Anne and a grateful nation to John Churchill following his famous victory at the battle of Blenheim in 1704.

The entry foyer to Blenheim Palace.

The entry foyer to Blenheim Palace.

Just 8 miles from Oxford, in the town of Woodstock, Blenheim is magnificent.

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We were able to visit (and photograph!) the State Rooms filled with enchanting treasures from the last 300 years.

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One of the most amazing pieces of art for me, was the portrait of the family by John Singer Sergeant.  Can you just imagine.

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The dining room had magnificent examples trompe l’oeil.

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The Long Library was crowned with a huge organ at the end of the room.

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And just outside the main building is the chapel.

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The parkland design of over 2,000 acres was landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown in the 1760s, and although not one of the most dramatic I have seen in England, it certainly was tranquil.

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It switched between the very formal…

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and the rustic natural.

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We actually could see the first touches of autumn sneaking in to England on this early September morning.

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All in all, a very English day.

Leaving Blenheim.

Leaving Blenheim. All photos by me.

 

The Cotswolds and Burford

13 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by pat in England, Travel

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Burford, Cotswolds, The Lamb

On a rainy English Monday afternoon last summer, we made our way in to Burford.

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It is a classic Cotswold town less than an hour from Oxford. The golden buildings with the rolling hills filled with sheep in the background are a dead giveaway…this is tea and scone country.

IMG_9892It was grey and dreary and we had our umbrella up, but it was still crowded with tourists.  This is what most visiting Americans want to see…their ideal of what a quaint English town should look like.

IMG_9911The shop windows didn’t disappoint, and can put a smile on your face of the cloudiest days.

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knickknacks and sweeties…just what the doctor ordered.

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Back to the rainy High Street, it was time to head to the hotel for check in.

IMG_9896We were staying at The Lamb Inn, on Sheep Street.  How cute is that?

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The Lamb Inn in Burford

The original building was probably associated with the priory back in the early 15th century, perhaps as a Dormy House for visitors in medieval times. Finally it became an inn around the mid 1600s when Burford was a flourishing market town with a strong coaching trade.IMG_9903

The steep stairs, and low head room are a clue to its age. The garden shows off the beautiful stone work.

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We have stayed with this group of hotels before…classic character buildings beautifully modernized.

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The Lamb was no exception.

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The decor was stunning.

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And the art throughout the inn and our room was charming and whimsical.

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Finally the sun came out, and it was time to make another pass through town.

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The pubs were open for business.

IMG_9919Each pub was draped with flowers. The flowers and gardens almost make all the rain and grey skies worth it.  There was a profusion of signs trying to attract business.

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Down a side street was the local church and school.  It all was very serene.

IMG_9926We finally decided on dinner in the pub at our own hotel, The Lamb.  I felt too guilty to order lamb from the menu with this little soul looking down on me.  I think it is a fish night.

The pub at The Lamb.

The pub at The Lamb. All photos by me.

 

 

Hare and Hounds

28 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by pat in England, Travel, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Cotswolds, Hare & Hounds, Tetbury

When we come to the Cotswolds, we often stay in Broadway at The Broadway Hotel.  This past year we stayed near Tetbury, and found a sister hotel of The Broadway — The Hare and Hounds.  We’ve always been pleased with this small chain, and the H&H didn’t disappoint.

IMG_8991It’s quite large, and has an adjoining wing that housed our room, and the Jack Hare pub.

IMG_8993These Cotswold properties have a reputation for taking classic historic properties with character and doing the interiors with a contemporary flair based on a local theme…

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…here, obviously, hares and hounds.

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The pub and bar and the more formal dining room were delightfully filled with the creatures. Plus we had one of the best breakfasts of the trip for me…salmon and scrambled eggs, lots of tea, toast and fruit)

IMG_8998One of my favorite things about these inns is the display of original art and prints throughout the hotel…from the restaurants to the hallways to the rooms and baths.

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IMG_8979Even the older prints look modern in this setting.

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A few of my absolute favorites in this inn were in our room…

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The hares on the walls were wonderful and full of character.

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Even in the bathroom there was a fanciful piece of art…

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You have to love a place that loves art and color so much.

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The perfect place to stay before our garden tour of Highgrove.

 

 

 

Walmer Castle, Deal

21 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by pat in England, Gardens, History, Travel, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

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Walmer Castle

While the boys in Ramsgate were out to sea racing their hearts out this past summer, a friend and I drove down the coast just south of Deal in Kent. I thought it was the perfect place to recall on these last days of winter.

Dramatic skies, but perfect touring weather. Photo by me.

Dramatic skies, but perfect touring weather. Photo by me.

It was a short drive from Ramsgate, and after a short stroll on the pebble beach…

The beach across the road from Walmer Castle. Photo by me.

The beach across the road from Walmer Castle. Photo by me.

… we found the castle.  It was a bit of a strange tour.

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The actual castle was built during the reign of Henry the VIII. But the interiors had all been renovated to suit a more modern Duke of Wellington who entertained Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother when he held the post of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports for 23 years.

The centuries old castle. Photo by me.

The centuries old castle. Photo by me.

We found it rather dark and gloomy and quickly retreated to the more inviting gardens.

Walmer Gardens. Photo by me.

Walmer Gardens. Photo by me.

The artichokes attracted a constant flotilla of bees. Photo by me.

The artichokes attracted a constant flotilla of bees. Photo by me.

The kitchen garden as we see it now, dates back to 1725, although it is likely that fruit and vegetables have been grown there for at least three hundred years when it was a garrison.

The kitchen garden was a favorite. Photo by me

The kitchen garden was a favorite. Photo by me

Onions all lined up in a row. Photo by me.

Onions all lined up in a row. Photo by me.

It was the perfect day to explore a garden.

Runner beans in the garden. Photo by me.

Runner beans in the garden. Photo by me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sissinghurst Gardens 2013

25 Saturday Jan 2014

Posted by pat in England, Gardens, Travel

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Kent, Sissinghurst Castle

My inaugural post on this blog was about Sissinghurst Castle Gardens.  I visited there a few years ago, and after a visit this past summer, it remains one of my favorite gardens in England. I thought with the east coast blanketed by snow and frigid temperatures this week, it was the perfect time to visit an English garden, and Sissinghurst deserved a second post.

The library at Sissinghurst with Vita's portrait over the fireplace. Photo by me.

The library at Sissinghurst with Vita’s portrait over the fireplace. Photo by me.

Vita Sackville-West, the renowned poet and writer, and her husband Harold Nicolson, diplomat and author, began the transformation of the house and gardens in the 1930s.

photo by me

photo by me

It was a labour of love.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Harold was the architect, and Vita orchestrated the romance of the garden.

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Both partners input shows very well in the well-organized garden rooms overwhelmed by color and shape and magnificent blooms. It takes an army of gardeners to manage it all.

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The gardens are famous for Vita’s White Garden, which she wrote about in her diaries.

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It is thought to be the first truly planned out white garden, and it is one my favorite “rooms”.  I would love to see it in the moonlight at its most dramatic.

An entry into the white garden. Photo by me.

An entry into the white garden. Photo by me.

You are able to go up in the tower on winding stone steps, past Vita’s study, to the very top for magnificent views.

The tower from the White Garden. Photo by me

The tower from the White Garden. Photo by me

And along the way, are clips of poems and writings of both Harold and Vita about the planning and transformation of the garden. It was very inspirational and creative.

At the top of the tower. Photo of me by a friend.

At the top of the tower. Photo of me by my dear friend.

And the views from the rooftop were incredible.

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IMG_8709The orchard, from above and a more intimate view…

IMG_8710IMG_8701Because the walls hold the warmth in, there is a great variety of plants familiar to those who garden in the southern locations of the U.S.

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We walked for hours, and although much seemed familiar, there were always new surprises.

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Even with a stop for lunch in the garden at the coffee shop, and a gift shop/ice cream break, it was hours spent in the actual garden rooms.

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This is one of the first years I remember seeing sprinklers moved around many of the gardens.  It was a dry, warm summer in England by their standards.

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The herb room was one of my favorites, with well-marked plants revealing the actual appearance of these famous herbs that we often only see dried in spice jars.

The center of the herb garden. Photo by me

The center of the herb garden. Photo by me

I love Sissinghurst.  Would love to visit it in every season.

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Morgan Motors in Great Malvern

17 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by pat in England, Travel, Uncategorized

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Tags

cars, Malvern UK, Morgan, sports car

After driving through the Cotswolds’ countryside last summer at the end of our British holiday, we had a night booked in a hotel near Tewkesbury.  As we took our exit from the motorway, My Beloved Brit noticed a sign for Great Malvern. “That’s where Morgans are made!” he excitedly exclaimed.  I saw a day trip in our future.

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The only way I knew the Morgan is from NCIS, the tv crime drama.  Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, the character played by David McCallum, has a Morgan…a classic British car, with a great history of style…which the character restored himself.

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MBB called the Morgan headquarters, and found out we could get on a factory tour the next morning.

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Driving the back roads through the Malverns, which are lovely rolling hills, we found the sign for the showroom on the backside of the town of Great Malvern.

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When we entered the Visitors Center, it was jammed. Many of the visitors were from Norway and had brought their Morgans to the factory as part of an annual rally.

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The guided tour was long (2 hours), but MBB was in heaven.

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I must admit, seeing a car built by hand and not on a mechanized assembly line was quite a treat.

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It is one of the oldest sports car companies in the world, and although they have modernized somewhat, the tradition of handwork is still strong.

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The factory had back orders on the books for the next four months.

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But even greater than that, they have an apprentice program where youth are brought in for four years.  They go to college for classes one day a week.  The other four days are at the factory learning to be craftsmen. Hopefully they work up through the ranks learning new skills and become seasoned car builders.

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This is the part of the British education system that I think we could learn from.  Trades are still an option in the school system.

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There were very few women on the lot except in the offices, and stitching the upholstery.  That is traditional too, it seems.

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But it is a tight-knit group and as our tour ended we saw groups of workers sitting on the floor or out in picnic kiosks having their lunch, often bread and apples and cheese, and most likely talking about the weekend soccer match.

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The whole operation is so very British.

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We were able to see cars being made start to finish.

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From the first frame,

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to the upholstery and finishing

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and the last paint job.

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A very interesting day.

 

IWM Duxford

30 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by pat in England, History, Travel, Uncategorized

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Duxford, Imperial War Museum, IWM

Our very first week in England this past summer, on our way south from Cambridge, we noticed a sign on the motorway next to an airfield for the Imperial War Museums, Duxford. My Beloved Brit was familiar with the airfield and museums, but had never been. Even though it was raining, we decided to pop in for a little lunch and a look around.

Big planes and little planes and everything in between. Photo by me.

Big planes and little planes and everything in between. Photo by me.

Of course MBB was in heaven.  All these planes and miles of British history in one spot. There are acres and acres of airplane hangers filled with exhibitions.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

It was fun to explore British aviation history in building after building located at the actual site of the famous British WWI and WWII airfield. There are over two hundred aircraft as well as tanks, military vehicles and boats. I think my favorite building was the Battle of Britain exhibition.  It brought that part of history alive.

The famous Memphis Belle. Photo by me

The famous Memphis Belle. Photo by me

And another astonishing piece of “history”…The Concord, which I remember seeing taking off from Dulles Airport near Washington DC many years ago.

The famous Concord. Photo by me

The famous Concord. Photo by me

It looks so small now and dated, but amazing that it went from England to the U.S. in 2 hours and 56 minutes in 1974.  Sounds like heaven after the 8 1/2 hour flight we had just had a few days earlier.

The cockpit of the Concord. Photo by me.

The cockpit of the Concord. Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me.

All in all, a fascinating day. Wishing everyone safe travels after the Thanksgiving Holiday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cornish Footpath

23 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by pat in Cornwall, Travel, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Charlestown, foot paths

Early one morning this past summer, I woke up and had a lovely breakfast in the pub downstairs from our room at The Rashleigh Arms.

Our pub with rooms, The Rashleigh, where we stay in Cornwall.

Our pub with rooms, The Rashleigh, where we stay in Cornwall.

I decided it was time to walk off some of this toast and marmalade, so as My Beloved Brit went upstairs to shower and get ready for the day, I headed towards the nearest footpath at the end of the village of Charlestown in Cornwall.

The bottom of the town near the sea, where the footpath up the cliff begins. Photos by me.

The bottom of the town near the sea, where the footpath up the cliff begins. Photos by me.

It was time for a climb.

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I thought this week was the perfect time to share these pretty pictures.

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Back down again.  Another splendid UK footpath.

I am thankful for these splendid walks through the English countryside.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

 

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