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“Sharp Showers Possible in the North” says the BBC

Good thing we aren’t in the north! I just love that they say “sharp showers!” The first thing you see when you get up in the morning, if you turn on the TV is the time — which was 5:01 this morning (sleeping in) and then, LG (a brand name I guess), then the words “Life is Good” come up. What a nice thing to wake up to!!

Yesterday we took our first walk. Headed between those buildings (about a block from our apartment) toward the church you can see in the back. Behind every small town in England are fields and fields, private farms that allow public walkways and there are a jillion winding grassy (muddy) paths, through gates and over fences, criss-crossing this country that have been used forever and ever.

Through the churchyard we went . . .

Can you imagine building this in 1180? They did! Read Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follet) if you’d like to hear about it! Fascinating fun book!

Past the Vicarage we went …. although I have never met a Vicar (in person) and it was tempting to go up this driveway. If you’d like to “meet” a Vicar (the only way I have), read any Barbara Pym book, which you would like Vicar or no Vicar.

But we kept going, hitting the outskirts of town, walking past the train station. Bluebells are everywhere, they are almost a weed here, isn’t that just the luckiest thing?

And so here we go . . . just a little bit green . . . due to all the sharp showers they’ve had around here. There were tons of wildflowers . . . the air is perfumed with deep grass smell, Queen Anne’s Lace (called Cow Parsley here), bluebells, buttercups, and daisies.

Joe going through a “Kissing Gate” . . . the fences and gates keep the lambs and cows inside, allows the people go through . . . kissing is supposed to take place over the fence! My BFF Rachel is here, she stayed the night with us, she is British and she says it is so. So it must be so. “Any excuse to snatch a kiss,” she says.

Over the river and through the woods, there are rushing little streams everywhere, and little old bridges that span them . . . It’s amazing all this nice infrastructure for walking enjoyment!

Across the fields, I spotted my new favorite house in England (there will very likely be at least one of these a day!). What must it be like to wake up to the birds every day in this house? The Wood Pigeons that peep “My-toe-hurts-Betty.” (Say this singingish, in a high Queen-Elizabeth-voice with a little slurring, for perfect pigeon noise.)

Up and over hills, it was so beautiful out there . . . and this is what we will be doing, day after day, the entire time we are here.

Time to go back to town, back through the old graveyard we go . . .

Because it was time to go meet our dear friend Rachel at the White Lion Pub for Sunday Roast — they have a special Sunday dinner in English pubs, roast beef or roast Pork, or roast chicken with Yorkshire Pudding, Mashed Potatoes and all the trimmings.

It was the perfect day, our long walk through history, a lovely late lunch, and as shadows get longer, we’re heading “home” for a long evening of talking, knitting, and getting a refresher course from Rachel on what things mean, how things work, why this and why that. She is our invaluable friend and brilliant interpreter of all things English. Today we’re off to gardens, along the narrow dodgy roads; is everyone ready? Fresh batteries in the camera? Bring your raincoat, those sharp showers may sneak up on us! Here we go! XOXO

Our First Full Day in Jolly Old England

Right now, I’m sitting at a large oak table (already set up with watercolors, pens, brushes, paper and glue sticks) in the apartment we rented in Kent, England in the sweet little town of Tenterden.

Like a little theme music? Oh yes . . . From my chair, across the wooden floor of this light-filled “lounge” (what we in America would call the living room) is a wall of windows with French doors in the middle and a little balcony outside. We got here last night, after careening across the country via narrow, hedge-row lined roads, past brick and white-painted houses, churches, flower-laden trees, and lamb-spotted fields; we are now safely ensconced on the second story, above the High Street (sort of like our Main Street). From my chair I can see out the windows, spottily, through trees still in the midst of leafing out, a wonderful old house and a large monument in a wide green lawn across the street.

It feels like I’m in a tree house! Isn’t this pretty? The wind is blowing the leaves, it’s just beautiful! And I feel almost back to “normal!” Yesterday was kind of like the first day on the ship, but instead of trying to get “sea legs,” we needed to get our land legs back — we were still rocking when we went to sleep!

We stopped on the way to Tenterden, to wander around a bit and stretch our legs, had lunch at the Royal Oak Pub there (it had an organ, a wall of books, videos, and games, and a sun porch overlooking the garden, among other things, a little home away from home) just across the street from an amazing Roman wall built in the 2nd century! We had the most delicious fish and chips there; a thick coating of deep fried goodness over tender fresh fish and a big bowl of freshly made tartar sauce and CHIPS (french fries)!

Had to take a photo of this house surrounded in bluebells; you can see it’s just in front of that same Roman wall, across the street from the pub, with a path and a gate that was calling my name. We didn’t follow that path, because we know they are everywhere in this beautiful country; we will have lots of chances! And we wanted to get “home.”

We stopped at the grocery store when we got into town, before we found our rental; knowing we would want to make it feel more homey — we bought the little necessities of life, flowers, milk for tea, apples, a big chicken, some vegetables and laundry soap.

Of course we travel with little reminders of home, this is a kitty felted by Kellee; can’t travel without a kitty!! Hardly takes up any space and doesn’t make a peep!

This gives you a little more of the picture of the lounge. And this morning, I feel great! Not swaying anymore! Joe is still asleep, I have tea of course, in my William and Kate mug. It’s 12 degrees celcius which I had to look up. The way you find out what that means in a way you can understand (fahrenheit), you have to multiply the number by 9, divide by 5, and add 32!!!! Then you discover it’s almost 54 degrees! Blue skies above, chirping of birds, mooing of cows, and whir of washing machine in the kitchen — just like home (except for the cows)! There’s a Laura Ashley store in this town, I found out last night (yay), and our favorite market, Waitrose (where I will find the thing I love, “Breakfast Milk”)! I don’t know what else is here, but we’re going to find out! And we’re going to take you with us!

Plus, before I go, I thought you might like to see what we were seeing and doing while you were watching the ship go under the Verrazano Bridge leaving New York on the Queen Mary II. Finally! I can send video again! Wasn’t that just thrilling???

XOXOXOXOXOX

The New York Police Department was with us (in boats and low-flying helicopters) until we hit the open sea; I thought the juxtaposition between the violins and the machine gun, the soft lights of my favorite knitting spot on the ship, The Chart Room, the falling light on the gray water and massive bridge was very interesting. I was so excited at that moment I was running around with the camera like a crazy lady. It was wonderful. I just loved hearing how you were watching too, the magic of the computer and the internet!

And this is the view this morning from the kitchen sink…. are we in heaven girls? Yes, I do believe we are!!! Just to remind you, we have a Quest, to fulfill our dreams for the next seven weeks, maybe enough to last a lifetime; to fill our inspiration cup by wandering through old churchyards and gardens, stone cottages, castles, country house hotels, past timeless hedgerows, under ancient horsechestnut trees, and over hillsides of wild bluebells, fields of wildflowers and baby lambs, tea rooms, pubs, flea markets, bookstalls, ancient oak trees, and country villages, on our way to visit Beatrix Potter’s house in the Lake District …. having the tinkle of little shop bells be our main music of the day! With the camera in hand at all times! Here we go!

Happy Mother’s Day Girlfriends!!! ♥