Featured English Blog

For the last month or so I've had a "Featured English Blog" link on the right side of my blog. I hope some of you have clicked on it and actually visited the featured blog, but if not please do!

This latest one is called Cotswold Peeps and is about Gretel's rambles through the Cotswold countryside via footpaths and lanes. She shares beautiful photos of villages, fields, woods, and churches with a little local knowledge and history thrown in.

Her most recent post has a bit about hedge laying. I'll bet you had no idea all those English hedgerows have different styles dependant on their purpose. And did you know they would grown into a line of trees if not cut and "laid" over now and then? Thankfully, the UK is seeing a resurgence in their construction, because the UK just wouldn't be the UK without hedges.

So if you enjoy hedgerows and wildlife, mushrooms and wildflowers, quaint villages and old churches, checker board fields and honey colored stone, this is definitely the place to visit.

Mince Pies Revisited

Pippajo asked what was in mincemeat, so I did a little research. Originally mincemeat did indeed have meat in it, and many traditional recipes still include suet. But nowadays it's mainly fruits, peels, spices, and nuts. With a little brandy.

The label on the Robertson's that I bought includes fruits, peel, and (surprisingly) palm oil and sunflower oil, making it ok for vegetarians. It was nice, but I jazzed it up by adding more apples, nuts, and brandy. If you are interested, this site has a nice summary of mince pie history.

I think it would be nice sometime to make my own from scratch, but you have to make it well in advance and let it age, so for now I'm happy with the Robertson's. And the Lord of the Manor was certainly happy with it. Even though he had never tasted it before, he proclaimed it wonderful. Could it be his Scottish genes rising up to assert themselves?

The Overdue Project

I have been wanting to make this project for ever so long and I finally did it this weekend! Yippee!

You remember the old curtains from Teen2's bedroom, don't you? One was all rat chewed so I threw it away. (It was her pet rat, not some nasty vermin.) I used one for an ironing board cover, and the last two I am using for this project.

Can you tell what it is yet?

It's a pennant/banner thingie. (Will one of my UK readers please tell me what you call these things?) I see them in blogs and my magazines all the time and they just shout SUMMERTIME IN ENGLAND to me so I had to make one. Now when I go camping or on a picnic I can glam it up a bit.

I immediately ran out and hung it on the clothesline to get a good photo. And I am loving it. It's just perfect: pink, flowery, happy and totally summery. Now, where's the Pimms?

added later:

Thank you Sue for identifying my project! It's called bunting. I googled it and found this FUN site. Not about bunting, but charming artwork. I especially love the beach babes. Check it out.

Exciting Post

Just look what was found on the porch today. It's so much fun to receive something in the post, isn't it? And look, it's from the UK! I wonder what it could be?

OH! MY! GOSH! It's Cath Kidston bags!!! From my friend Debbie. Wasn't that sweet of her? I will now be the chicest shopper in town. Thank you, thank you, thank you Debbie.

I'm so excited I think I'll run to the market right now. Cheerio!

Delightful Tablecloth

Will you look at this beautiful table cloth my MIL got for me? Does she know me or what? Well, actually, she gave me a gift card for my birthday and this is what I chose, but I'll remember it as the tablecloth she gave me. Anyway, I luuuuuuvvv the colors and the flowers. It looks like it could come from Cath Kidston, but of course we don't have her shops out here in the sticks of California. I'm sure no one in California even know who she is, or understands her style. Everyone here is into the Italian/Mediterranean thing right now. Or maybe the Pottery Barn look. Certainly not the English cottage look. But I digress.

We took it on our picnic Sunday. I thought it was cute even in the back of the car!

But it really set the stage there under the mulberry tree. We felt so sophisticated and British with our pretty new tablecloth. Does anyone else have a new favorite tablecloth?

P.S. I walked again today: 40 minutes/2.5 miles

Elderflower Cordial

It's been hot, hot, hot here lately. I'm looking out on my fried roses right now wondering what happened to spring. Usually it doesn't get this hot until July, but I hear we have some cooler weather headed our way. Thank goodness!

This heat reminds me of the summer of 2006 when we were in Cornwall and Devon. They were suffering through a hot spell and their gardens were wilted just like mine is now. One day after visiting Eden Center and sweating our way through the bio domes, I returned to the cousins' home "wrung out". Dear Ann knew just what I needed: an elderflower cordial. I'd never even heard of one, but I took her advice and it was wonderful.

So after cutting all that wood the other day, I found my treasured bottle that Ann had given me and had one. It was just as wonderful as I'd remembered. Cold and refreshing on the top, slightly sweet in the middle, and deliciously tasty and aromatic at the end. "Ideal to quench the thirst after a hard day's work." Thanks Ann, and Chuck too. Now if I can just find an online source, I'll be a happy little woodcutter.

Heading Home

Our trusty Yaris did indeed take us over the river and through the woods to cousin James' house. He lives in a charming little town in Dartmoor National Park. We explored the town and especially enjoyed shopping at Webber & Sons and James Bowden & Son where I purchased my Wellies. They say if these shops don't have it, it can't be had! Quality produce was readily available and one day a week the fish monger brings her mobile fish shop to the Market Square. I think I could live here quite comfortably.

One day we drove to Dartmouth and Dittisham. We decided to take the ferry to Greenway House, so I dutifully rang the bell.......

and the "ferry" arrived........

and off we went to visit another garden. It covers acres and we walked every path. Good exercise I thought. I could have visited even more, but the Lord of the Manor can only do about 10 gardens per week and then he says, "Enough!"

When we got home, James' wife was making red current jam on her Aga. I wanted to drool all over it (the Aga, not the jam), but I restrained myself. Too bad Agas are so heavy... and expensive... and hot. I'd love to have one. Isn't this just the cutest photo of Elizabeth and her puppy Maggie? Their house was newer, but charming, and it had things like an endless roller towel, an airing rack, a stable door (Dutch door) in the utility room, and a crunchy gravel drive. And Elizabeth said things like, "Would you like some chokie bikkies?" and "How killing!" (I'll translate for my American audience: Would you like some chocolate cookies? and That's hilarious!)

Again we said our Thank Yous and Goodbyes and headed towards Heathrow, going through the town of Tintinhull. Look at this beautiful building. I love the color of the stone and tried to capture it when we plastered our house.

After lunch we....Oh! Look! Another garden!....visited Tintinhull House Garden. I liked this garden best of all the ones we visited.

We spent quite a bit of time here examining every part of the garden and talking with the head gardener. After studying it in my gardening books for years, it was a real treat to see it in person. Everything was just perfect and so, well, um, British. Look at the size of this fabulous wisteria covering the shop.

And now it was time to leave this magical land and step back into our real world with its jobs and kids and hustle and bustle. We left reluctantly but sure in the knowledge that the door is always open should we ever return.

Dartmoor Animal Park

Much as we enjoyed our visit at the cousin's cob cottage, it was time to move on and so we said our goodbyes and headed towards Dartmoor National Park where another cousin lived. All 234,000 acres of the park are owned by someone, but the park guarantees legal access for the public. So the folks who own the land go about their business of raising sheep, the public enjoys walking amongst the tors, the wild horses wander anywhere they want, the sheep sleep on the roadway, and somehow(!) they all exist in relative harmony. You can go on your own tour of the park or learn more about it here. www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk

This is the medieval Clapper Bridge.

At one point we got a little confused so the Lord of the Manor stopped to ask a local for directions, but just like in St. Ives, we couldn't understand a word he said!

The wild ponies were everywhere and being protected, are free from molestation. Tarmac or moor makes no difference to them. They do whatever needs doing wherever they are. The cars simply stop and wait for them to pass. Or get out and visit with them as we did.

The sheep, being of value, are more tightly controlled. Whilst heading home one afternoon we had to pull over and wait for this to pass. The farmer told us they needed to continue to use the roads to move the sheep between pastures or their rights to do so would be taken away. He further told us he had to have the sheep shorn, even though it was financially a loss, because it was so hot lately.

The sheep calmly walked past me and made their way down the lane and around a corner. A common occurrence here, but very unique for us.

And tomorrow.......... Over the river and through the woods to Cousin James's house we go.

the West End

I know you're probably tired of this trip to England, but I have a little more to tell. Ok, maybe a lot more to tell. Ok, lots and lots...I could ramble on forever, but I promise to tie this up by Friday. I hope.



While in Cornwall we visited a place called Eden Center. In 1994 someone got the idea to transform an old clay pit into a diverse microcosm of the world's plants. The pit was terraced, Biomes were constructed, and plants and animals were introduced. It is an amazing feat of engineering and vision, and rather space-age looking, but inside it's pure nature with a Warm Temperate Biome and a Humid Tropics Biome. It's a wonderful learning center, but also a venue for public events.

We spent quite a bit of time here sweating our way through all the Biomes and when we got outside it was just as hot! Truly unseasonable weather for England.

We also drove down to Falmouth that day to see the famous Falmouth cutters. Many years ago when we were cruising, we read books by a couple who cruised around the world on a Falmouth cutter they built. The black boat in the photo looks a little like their boat.

The next day we drove to St. Ives. What a beautiful setting. The ocean is so blue and the harbour so picturesque. And the tourists are so thick, but the natives speech is thicker! For example:

While trying to find parking we asked an attendant if he could direct us to the closest car park that might have space. Honest, I'm not making this up....He said, "Go uh thi way ta tha hrow-ry club an.." I interrupted and asked, "the Rotary Club?" He said, "ya, tha hrow-ry club and ..." I interrupted again, "did you say Rotary Club?" and finally in exasperation he said, "Oin tryin to tell yu Luv! Go uh thi way ta tha hrow-ry club and you ca par thare." I still could not understand him at all! But we went off in the direction he had pointed and at the top of the hill we found...the...RUGBY club. Hilarious laughter ensued, but we did find a parking space. With his heavy accent it seemed to us that he was swallowing his words or speaking only from the back of his throat, or not using his tongue at all, because very few consonants made their way out! Now when I interrupt the Lord of the Manor, he says in his best Cornish accent, "Oin tryin to tell yu Luv..."

Added later: I found this great clip of a Cornish accent. Give it a listen.

While in St. Ives we visited the Tate Art Museum, the local museum, the Oldest House, this old arch, and the harbour.

Then we drove to St. Michael's Mount. The tide was out so we were able to walk across the causeway. We made the strenuous hike up to the top and toured the castle too. It was a fascinating place.


Thanks for putting up with yet another post about England. Tomorrow we'll dodge horses and sheep on our way through Dartmoor National Park and we'll visit another garden and more relatives. I bet you're saying Yipee! right about now.

Into the Fold

We arrived at the gate at tea time as instructed. The house and gardens were hidden behind the typical walls and hedges. Suddenly we lost our bottle; we'd never met these people and we were to stay with them for three days! But then the dogs started barking and we were found out, so in we went to meet the cousins.

And they were brilliant. Tea and biscuits were produced and we all sat in the back garden to get acquainted. Alec is the Lord of the Manor's third cousin once removed (I think). Alec's grandfather stayed in the UK, and LOM's great grandfather immigrated to California in the 1880s. Alec is retired from the Navy, but they are still busy busy. Not only do they manage this little farm with sheep, a horse, chickens, ducks and eight dogs, but they are active with local politics, the church, shooting, dog breeding and a lobster hatchery. Alec mows the lawns and Ann tends the borders. One day we helped Ann pick gooseberries and later she made jam. We were amazed at their energy.

Some parts of their cottage date back 600 years. Our bedroom was in this oldest part where the cob walls are 3' thick. Other parts were only 500 and 100 years old. In the kitchen a Rayburn perked away heating the water. In the winter it's delightfully cosy, but that July it was extremely hot so we ate all our meals outdoors.

Although we had stayed in B&Bs and were somewhat familiar with English domestic arrangements, actually staying in a relative's home was a different story. I'm not saying all English homes are like this, but they had 5 dogs in the house, three dogs outdoors, clutter everywhere, a conservatory, lots of books, well loved furnishings, baked tomatoes for breakfast, tea at 4, wellies by the garden door, pudding after dinner, telly in the evening, and the latest copy of Country Illustrated in our bedroom. The doors were never locked, the kettle was always ready, eggs were gathered, dogs were walked, minks were cursed, meals were enjoyed, and ideas were shared. I was in Heaven!

Every morning we'd share a typical breakfast of cereal, fruit, tomatoes, eggs, bacon, toast and tea. Then we'd be off on some excursion; Eden Center, Falmouth, or St. Ives. We'd be back for tea at 4, a quick clean up, then cocktails at 6, dinner at 7, telly at 9, bed at 10.

Our three day visit passed quickly and too soon it was time to go. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and I'll never forget that time we actually lived in a 600 year old cottage in the English countryside.