Hedgerows & Gardens

SONG - Wildflowers by Tom Petty

Day 7 & 8

On Monday morning we took off from Bath and arrived at Charingworth Manor near Chipping Campden by about 2.  We were going to stop at Castle Combe along the way but we drove right on through as it was so crowded. I think both our car & phones GPS are not ideal as they keep sending us on single tracks with hedgerows! We had lunch in the conservatory restaurant while watching the sheep in the surrounding fields with their new lambs and then headed back to our room to unpack. Mr. B took a proper lie down as he hasn’t been sleeping well at night and I did some reading. 

Tuesday was the day to enjoy some sunshine and an amazing English garden - Hidcote.  I had pulled a parking pass the day before through our Royal Oak (US) National Trust (UK) passes. We had been to Hidcote in 2017 and even though we are 2 weeks earlier in the season, it did not disappoint!

Enjoy the show!

Only one near miss with a strong horn honk and one finger salute - we are counting this as a good day of driving!

Spring Castle

Song -  Wildflowers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

A beautiful spring blooming clematis in the gardens at Sudeley Castle in the Cotswolds.

Hope

Song - Learning to Fly by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

My prayers go out to those affected by the recent tragedy in Las Vegas and the early passing of Tom Petty on Monday, as well as all of those who are trying to move forward after the devastating hurricanes - Harvey, Irma & Maria.

In view of the tension and tragedies, 

I would like to offer some suggestions to bring some harmony back into your life.

A quiet morning.

A walk outdoors.

Reading one of those books sitting on your shelves.

A cup of tea, drunk slowly.

Family.

A good long hug.

Meditation.

Lighting a candle.

Berries, savored.

Stretching

Working in your gardening

A song that gets you feeling

This current moment.

A connection with nature

The light of the dying day.

Fallen leaves.

Warmth.

A bouquet of flowers

Learning something new.

Cleaning out a drawer

Kindness towards a stranger

Time spent with a friend.

Birdsong

Reflecting on life, in a journal.

Laughter

Imagining future possibilities.

Listening to water, river currents, waves

Writing a love note to someone you miss.

Solitude.

Knowing what you love

Morning sunrise

Time to practice sketching.

Sunshine on my face

A dozen sharpened pencils

Puppy breath

Creating something. 

"Each one of us has lived through some devastation, 

some loneliness, some weather superstorm 

or spiritual superstorm, 

when we look at each other we must say, I understand.  

I understand how you feel because I have been there myself.  

We must support each other 

and empathize with each other 

because each of us is more alike than we are unalike."  

--Maya Angelou