"…as nearly perfect a little place as I ever lived in"

I'm whisking you away to a place with special ties, a place where my grandmother and I visited most every year, The English Lake District.

If you share a love of Beatrix Potter as I do, I have a treat in store.....
Courtesy of Britain's ITV3 television program 'Living the Dream' we are treated to an incredible visit inside Yew Tree Farmhouse, home of Beatrix Potter.


The life of Beatrix Potter is a fascinating story in itself, one that has a lot to offer children particularly as an insight into the constraints and expectations of women in the Victorian Era. Ahead of her time she defied convention to become not only one of the great storytellers and artists of her age but also a landowner, farmer and conservationist .

(Helen) Beatrix Potter (1866-1943)

Yew Tree Farm with its distinctive ‘spinning gallery’ is in the beautiful Lake District, in a stunning picturesque setting it is ideally located for all Lakeland activities.

 

The Farm House was built in 1693 and is one of the most photographed farms in the North. Yew tree was owned by Beatrix Potter in the 1930s and is still home to many of her furnishings, Yew Tree farm featured as ‘Hill Top’ in the movie ‘Miss Potter’ starring Rene Zellweger.

 

Beatrix called the Lake District in England her beloved home. She owned several farms in the local area, Yew Tree Farmhouse being her favorite. Yew Tree Farmhouse is partly of 17th Century date or earlier, with a new end added in 1743.

 

This date, and the initials of the then owner, George Walker, are cut in the ironwork of the front door. The farm gets its name from the yew tree, some 700 years old when it blew down in 1896.

"…as nearly perfect a little place as I ever lived in, and such nice old-fashioned people in the village." -Beatrix Potter

Video credit: yewtreefarm1/ITV3

Red Sky At Night

                                                         A peaceful sunset this evening. 

                                        Cooler temps, after a warm and breezy Autumn day.

                                                         Peace.....such a lovely thought.

Barnyard Folly

When your artsy-daughter feels the need to add more barnyard friends to her menagerie.

Barnwood creations.

 

Seasons Changing

Over the last couple of days, the remains of hurricane Delta has taken away our sunshine.

The dark clouds linger overhead, making for dark and dreary days. If I didn't know the difference I would think we were in the depths of winter, even the house has taken on a different hue.

The days are noticeably shorter,  dark by 7:00pm now, the wild turkeys lead their flocks to the nightly roost late afternoon, and the last of the hummingbirds are leaving for their winter homes.

Orange pumpkins and Chrysanthemums are replacing summer blooms, now fading fast.

 

 

Missing You

How I miss this beautiful face, it would have been his kitty-birthday today.

Happy Birthday in the land of the Rainbow Bridge, to my precious boy, you are missed beyond words.

💔

Rain-Filled

Our day is dark and rain-filled, the looming remnants of Hurricane Delta .

It's hard to imagine the destruction a fierce storm unleashes on the coastline, when inland, it's remains fall softly to the parched ground, a welcomed sign of relief.

The house-painters worked on the outside of our home yesterday, not the best timing with a hurricane looming in the Gulf, but we've been on the waiting list for quite some time now.

Beggars can't be choosers.

 

Ode To Autumn

 

There is a subtle change in the air.
Cool mist-filled mornings, and daytime temperatures are seasonably pleasant. 

Trees are slowly changing from greens to oranges and browns,  Autumn has unmistakably arrived.

 

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells."

~ John Keats

'Til They're Clean And Sparkly

 

The most beautiful of late September days today. Cooler temperatures and mild breezes.

I've spent the majority of the time cleaning away Summer's dirt and grime, 

Windows are washed, and porches swept, late afternoon I baked two loaves of banana nut bread, one to keep, and one to send home with my visiting granddaughter.

A simple day, to be savored.

And The Rains Came

Deluged with rain today, bucket loads of the stuff, the town creek has flooded, and water is standing everywhere.
The flowers look bedraggled, water-logged in fact.
This picture of the Autumn Joy Sedum was taken mid-week, it's finally in bloom, and turning a delicious shade of crimson.
Autumn is just around the corner.

Summer's Bounty

Enjoying a taste of the last Summer strawberries.

I'm freezing the remainder, to indulge in, on a cold Winter's day.

Topped with a dollop of clotted cream, or maybe use them to make a  lovely batch of strawberry scones.

Accompanied by a nice pot of tea.

*grin*