Stourhead

With only a few weeks before we leave for our annual trip to my beloved England,

 it's high time to make a start with the two Blog posts

 - I promised myself to write - of our trip last year.

One of them is about our wonderful visit to the beautiful estate Stourhead, 

 of which you can read more about its origins here.

 This was our first view when we entered this 'living work of art'.

Inspired by the work of 16th-century architect Palladio,

 this five-arched stone bridge was built in 1762.

 Although ornamental, the bridge was intended to look practical. 

It was designed to create an illusion that a river flows through the village and under the bridge.

Being there at Summer time there was so much variety of flowers.

Although we were there in high season, it seemed like it was just us and the birds.

The beautiful Temple of Apollo , nowadays often used as wedding venue.

The beautiful Pantheon across the lake designed by Henri Flitcroft
modelled by the original in Rome.

And its indoors.

The cascade was added in 1766 as a decorative way to carry surplus water
 from the main lake down to the lower pond in Turner’s Paddock.

In the distance the Temple of Flora, dedicated to the Roman goddess of flowers and spring.
 This temple was the first garden building erected by Henry Hoare II between 1744 and 1746.
 Over the doorway the Latin inscription reads ‘Keep away, anyone profane, keep away’.
 Henry asks you to enter his garden in the right spirit.

The Gothic Cottage, affectionately called the Watch Cottage, was Alda's
favourite place to write.

We had a lovely picnic at this spot, accompanied by all kind of wildlife.

Next stop was a visit to the impressive Family Home

The library with a gorgeous view through the window seat.

All around the house there were such friendly volunteers who happily told us the

 (family) story of the former residents, especially about the family room.

There was a lot of entertaining (as a lovely lady volunteer told us) in this room.

 Especially for the injured soldiers who returned from the war.

 The former residents had a soft spot regarding them because of their only son

 who died during the First World War.

Apart from all other art a lovely painting of Stonehenge

We concluded our day here with a visit to the walled garden of the house.

To have a greenhouse like this.

Serious shed envy.

My first ever photographed swallow.

It was such a lovely step back in time. Although it's quite some time ago,

 it brought back wonderful memories and can't wait to make some more.

Next post will be about Monk's House, much smaller but just as beautiful.

Hope you will join me again!

Anita

~xo~

A trip down memory lane ....

About two weeks ago we went together with my two sisters and their husbands on a four-day trip to Luxembourg 

Not just an ordinary trip, but one down memory lane.

When we were kids we went for a couple of years on holiday to the little village Beaufort , and now again one of the villages planned to visit. 

Now our parents are no longer with us it seems our bond only became stronger.

While you sometimes hear that families fall apart when the parents pass away, with us it's certainly not the case.

I think that as we - by circumstances - haven't lived as a real family that long, our close relationship and the few precious family memories is something to be treasured.

A collage of some pictures from our childhood holidays showing our - I now think - very cool transport, and the visitors during that years including my dear gran ... 

So not long after our mum died last May we planned our first holiday as adult sisters together!

We booked three rooms next to each other in a family hotel near the historic town Clervaux .

When we arrived two weeks ago and went up to our room this was our view ...

After unpacking our suitcase we went exploring the little town and its environment. After a walk and late lunch we walked to the end of the town towards the abbey. Not really knowing if we went the right direction we asked a resident who directed us further into the forest.

What happened next during our walk through the woods made me really feel the presence of my parents, as if they guided us on our journey.

Because out of the blue there was this - for us not really common in a until then completely silent forest - magical moment ....

After first thought we might have misunderstood the good man, the sound of the bells and this view through the trees made it clear that we were well on our way ....

And there it was the Benedictine Abbey Clervaux ....

And all the beauty around it ....

Surrounded by the scent of blossom ....

And such a wonderful new experience, walking together in nature ....

The next day we went to the capital Luxembourg ....

A beautiful historic city with so much flowers and greenery ....

This is the view from above to the lower situated park ....

A park designed by the landscape architect Edouard Andre as an English garden filled with all sorts of flower beds ....

There were all kind of rhododendrons but I especially liked this one ....

Because the park is much lower as the city there's no noise at all, only birdsong ...

We also admired the view from the promontory in the north-eastern corner
of Luxembourg's old historical district ....

And especially this fabulous located veggie plot ....

And still - in many ways - flowers everywhere ....

On our last day we visited the campsite where we stayed during our childhood holidays and
saw that little had changed.
Everything still so very lush and green, only much larger trees in the adjacent forest ....

I was determined to light a candle in the village church but unfortunately it was closed. So sorry that I couldn't go inside the church ....

My father was known for his rather vivid imagination and loved to take people fooled. All those years ago he made us believe that - in the castle just outside the village - lived a clown. He meant the character of a - in our youth very popular - television series. And of course we believed him and were always on the look for "Pipo de Clown" when we visited this beautiful castle  ....

My dad would be so very pleased to know his joke is still such a living reminder ....

Our next stop was the tourist town Echternach where we payed a visit to the beautiful abbey....

and lighted a candle ....

Our last stop on our trip down memory lane had to be the beautiful Mullertal also known
as little Switzerland ....

Where the waterfall seemed much smaller than I remembered as a child. But still impressive though as nature never fails to do ....

I think my mum and dad must have had a very satisfied sight from above , seeing how their daughters memorised their childhood together.
One thing is for sure, this was our first but certainly not our last trip together. New memories will be made and I know two people who will make that very happy ....


Anita
~xo~