Walking at dawn........

I sensed, on my first evening, after unpacking and wandering through the beautiful house, that early mornings would be calling to me......................come out into the fresh sea air, breathe in the salty scent of home, relive childhood on the shore, smell perfumed flowers, and sigh while climbing up through sloping bluebell woods.

First to awake, I seemed to be roused each morning by hefty pigeons and often magpies, who cooed from the balustrade. On the south coast of England, daylight comes very early in Spring, filling the room with watery sunlight, reminding one to enjoy the quietness of the dawn before early showers or clouds roll in across the English Channel. I quietly left the house.

Climbing up from the garden..................................

.............................I was soon above the bay. The scene across the water, often seen cast in gold when I've visited in Autumn when sunrise comes later, was silvered like a vintage photo plate. The glitter of the water back lit the tropical foliage which thrives in the mild climate of Devon.

Clambering to the top past ancient trees, their trunks gnarled and mossy, plants such as tiny dandelions, competed with tall cow parsley and a myriad of shade loving green plants.

The pathway, mostly softly mulched, had ancient steps in steep places making the climb easier.

Looking down as the trees thinned I could see across the Channel toward France. Several ships were at anchor, tankers apparently awaiting the price of oil to rise........even paradise has its modern touch.

Arriving at the top of the cliff, the Sweet Chestnut trees were brilliant in their new Spring green and I took time to sit and view the lovely valley below

More walks, drives and fabulous scenery to share with you later.

Many thanks to all who've left such generous comments during my trip....I love to share the beauty of England, my homeland, with you.

No Place Like Home.....but where is it?

Departing London's Heathrow Airport ~ goodbye my lovely homeland.

Between leaving England Sunday morning and arriving in the USA Sunday afternoon...............
...........there were two blissful weeks among acres of green and gold............

...........a huge ocean and hidden bays of blue water.

There were stunning countryscapes dressed for Spring, decorated by a million newborn babes.

I've captured England's "green and pleasant land" especially for you................one thousand six hundred images!! Be patient, I'm jet lagged.

The East Coast came into view ~ I am home again.

Meadfoot Morning

Another early morning walk along the beach below the

house where I'm staying.

Amazing flowers, some I've never seen before, especially that very tall one!



Still there, my favorite bench to view the bay.

Our schedule here has been extremely hectic, but in a good way. We've been to so many wonderful places and I will definitely have a lot of photos to share with you when I return.

Dartmoor Life

Just too much to be seeing and enjoying at one time! Riding across Devon in a mini-bus with ten others on daily expeditions, is raucous, hilarious, and often downright crazy. We all get along great though and are seeing the Westcountry in her bright green Spring glory.

Must have aaahhed over thousands of newborn lambs............the rolling hills are covered with them........................

................a stop at a miniature horse farm included a falconry display with this wise owl also.

The rooster, as usual, strutted his stuff and his beautiful colors.

In the 'nursery' several day old foals snuggled close to their mothers.

We are so busy but I'll try to post again soon. Off shortly on another day trip - luckily the weather is glorious.

Early Morning Glories

My first early morning hike had me creeping from the sleeping house, along a winding garden path up into the surrounding wooded hillside. The bay was a silver shimmer in the watery light of dawn. Yesterday the group staying at The Dell grew to eight ~ tonight we will be eleven. The quintessential British house party comprising of Brits, Americans and a Canadian. A lovely group who are 'mucking in' to make each day fun altho' full of kitchen messes, inabilities to figure out the idiosyncrasies of English washers and dryers, and blowing a fuse causing the chandeliers to die................requiring a visit from a guy with a ladder and a Cockney accent.

As I climbed upward through swathes of bluebells, wild onion with their white blooms, pink campions, and banks of trailing ivy, rabbits ran ahead and huge black crows cawed in the tall trees.

There were several old benches along the trail, not particularly comfortable for resting on, but the mossy seats and iron frames made great pics!

Arriving a little breathless at the top of the cliff, I looked back and could see the water far below glinting through huge chestnut trees. This sign caught my eye........yes, it definitely was very private, and very beautiful!

The road along the top had some amazing properties including a huge home built as a replica of a castle. Crenelated turrets, a huge portcullis entry gate topped with a Tudor rose, and iron railings decorated with fleurs de lys ~ perhaps the combined home of Brits and French!!!

In England, flowers pop up everywhere, even peeking through gaps in walls.

This walk was exhilarating ~ today I was to lead some of the group on this magical trek however heavy rain this morning had us hanging out in the conservatory.

Safe Harbour

Arrived safely and am settled in the lovely house above the bay named The Dell. It has secret gardens, flowering shrubs I've never seen before, and perhaps a ghost!This is the view from our bedroom window. This morning, our first, we awoke to rain. The sea was gray but the shrimp boats were already casting nets by 8 AM. Later the sun broke through and the day was cool and fair. The Dell is lovely. A listed Regency house full of antique furniture, chandeliers, embroidered tapestries, bronze statuary, Aubusson rugs...........also modern marble tiled showers with plentiful hot water and a Jacuzzi tub. The Victorian conservatory, dripping with pink and orange bougainvillea, is decorated with an amazing group of ancient birdcages. Slate terraces with urns beckon and entice you to little hidden pathways leading down to the beach and up to the coastal walk.

I'll post again soon.......................about thatched cottages, primroses and Devonshire cream teas!

Cheerio.............

Almost time to go. The trip across the pond tomorrow night will take me to the green, green grass of home once again. Thank you so much for all your recent good wishes for my trip, you were all so kind to take time to comment so generously. I've been fighting Spring allergies big time this week, feeling lousy, croaky voice from such a sore throat, painful to swallow, lethargic, had to limit computer time as I've really been dragging.............and there's still much to do before I fly away!

I hope to keep in touch while away so check in during the next two weeks ~ hopefully I'll manage a post or two and show you what's happening in Devon, England's beautiful Southwest county on the English Channel.