Back to Basics ~ The Garden

The clock counts off the hours. Days of languishing in a foreign land soon become memories. It's back to the familiar schedule, the usual daily chores loom ever present.

The garden grew...did it ever! Pollen continued to quietly pile in the corners dusting everything with yellow. Empty feeders kept the birds at bay, how wonderful when they return within minutes of being refilled. The baby wrens had 'flown the coop' leaving their tidy nest in the kitchen window box..........which now needs replanting with Summer flowers. Summer is on the way. Soon the heat will become oppressive, but for now the mornings are still cool and garden chores are pleasant. The beauty is somewhat blowzy, overgrown, untidy, but gorgeous in a secret garden way. Pruning and trimming will be the order of the day. Old clothes, hair tucked into a hat, soft cotton gloves, and bug repellent at the ready.........those dastardly mosquitoes are back.

Sun is shining, robins chirping, flowering Jasmin perfumes the air.

I'm off to play in the dirt!!!!

All images from the May garden.

Stunning Merlewood House

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Built in 1840, this Grade II listed Victorian 'Gentleman's residence' is elegant, spacious and beautifully equipped, offering comfort and peace in all its en-suite bedrooms.....................words so true from the Merlewood House brochure.

If you've ever stayed in B&B's, especially in Europe, you may have been disappointed at times. I've hit some really awful ones over the years, dingy, grubby, even creepy. Finding this beautiful place to stay in my home town - remember I no longer have a family house there - was a bonus this trip.

Wendy, a fabulous hostess and most interesting woman, made our three night stay at the end of our visit, elegant and comfortable and we became immediate friends. (Later I'll share the beautiful historic gardens she drove us to on our last day in Devon).

Wendy (left) and I became instant friends.

Needless to say, Wendy's home, dripping with chandeliers - you know I LOVE chandeliers and crystals - beautiful furnishings, fabrics and wallcoverings, spoke to me as I entered through the welcoming Gothic front door and passed through into the stunning dining room. This was a true home away from home................one I knew I would enjoy for its beauty and cleanliness, perfumed candles..........................

..................and DH for the "Full English" breakfast Wendy cooked in her great kitchen and placed before him on the elegant table set with a fabulous collection of Portmerion china and accessories....................well actually he enjoyed her company for more than her cooking skills, he feels she's HIS new friend too!

Upstairs, Wendy let us choose from three beautifully appointed spacious en-suite bedrooms. Besides the most comfortable bed, we had a great bathroom with large walk-in shower, towel warmer, terry robes, and windows that opened on to the garden allowing bracing morning fresh air.
Laura Ashley silk drapes and wallpaper.......and yet another glittering chandelier made the bedroom lovely...and the view into the Spring garden was pleasant.

As if all the loveliness of this Bed & Breakfast wasn't enough, there's more.

Wendy heads a full service Training Consultancy and in her treatment room does Reflexology and other relaxing and pampering treatments. If you've never had Reflexology performed on your poor old, tired, and well traveled feet, you have missed out on an hour of perfection while listening to soothing music and breathing in subtle scented air. Both DH and I had a session and thoroughly recommend it.

Merlewood House is a hidden jewel in my home town (Torquay, Devon). If you are fortunate enough to visit this seaside resort, or have friends who may be looking for a truly lovely place to stay during a trip, I highly recommend Wendy's beautiful B&B..........like me, you will not be disappointed.

www.merlewoodhouse.co.uk

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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.