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| It was a great pleasure for us to spend time with our fabulous church family on a weekend break at Ashburnham Place in East Sussex. |
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| The grounds are amazing; full of nostalgic signs of the past. I loved this doorway to an old service area for the walled garden. |
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| Looking back the other way through the same doorway. |
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| We enjoyed spending time with old friends or getting to know others in our congregation that we knew less well. We attended excellent meetings and meal times together and also quiet times, with relaxing strolls around the extensive grounds. |
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| This impressive glasshouse is being restored - a delightful plae to simply sit and relax. |
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| There were many echoes of past activity. The kitchen garden would have required a large workforce in its hayday. |
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| But many things have now fallen into a rather beautiful decay. |
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| These Dahlias looked so 'at home' here and added to the lovely air of nostalgia. |
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| "Dad, you should see the pumpkin over here; it's this big!" |
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| A string of enormous onions hanging in a shed accompanied by some old cart wheels plus a few late Swallows nests. |
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| Couldn't resist a watercolour doodle. The weather was heavy and damp but with a warm light that added to the wistful atmosphere. |
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| But the best thing was being able to share our faith with so many warm friends in such a supeb setting. |
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| No prizes for guessing that the grounds were designed by the genius that was - Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. |
Une promenade extraordinaire au gré de vos merveilleuses photos... J'ai beaucoup aime la serre qui me semble être un endroit extraordinaire pour peindre... Le jardin aussi me plaît beaucoup avec ses fleurs et son parterre de potirons...
ReplyDeleteUn lieu rempli de sérénité.
Gros bisous à vous.
Thank you Martine-Alison - yes the greenhouse was a very lovely space and definitely would make the most amazing art studio or gallery. I think Leo would love to fly about in there too!!
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ReplyDeleteExcelentes fotografías de vuestra excursión parroquial. El entorno me recordaba al descrito en algunas novelas de Jane Austen o Anthony Trollope. Me encantan los matices dorados de tu acuarela. Por otra parte, la fe cristiana se comparte en todas partes de manera parecida. Esta primavera pasada tuvimos un encuentro parroquial parecido al vuestro, pero en un entorno menos bonito y con más calor. Juegos para niños, charla para adultos, misa multitudinaria y almuerzo general. Comimos debajo de una palmera para evitar el sol.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo para todos, Jerry.
P.S.: el comentario borrado de Sonia es este mismo. Me equivoqué y lo coloqué en su blog.
Thanks Francesc. Thomas' college at Treloar in Hampshire was very near to both Jane Austin's house and Gilbert White's and they both have lovely kitchen gardens that we enjoyed visiting on a number of occasions. Accidentally commenting as 'Sonia' made me laugh as I did a very similar thing recently. Without realising, I put a picture up on Karen's facebook page of blackberries I'd picked to make some wine - it got her a lot of 'likes'!
DeleteI forgot to say too that we also intended to share 'misa multitudinaria' outside but we would have needed to shelter under Palm Trees to avoid the rain!
DeleteThank you for the beautiful photos from your lovely country, where my family and I enjoyed so many tours.
ReplyDeleteAase Lind Art - I'm glad you enjoyed looking at the pictures and that it brought back good memories.
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous show of photos that as you said ooze charm and nostalgia of the past. Beautiful little watercolor...there is indeed some inspiration here :-) Have a nice day.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jane - You are right there was endless inspiration there and I wish we could have stayed longer.
DeleteDear Jerry, be walking with you, look at these pictures speak for themselves, read your words ... it's always a sweet emotion.
ReplyDeleteI feel close to you and your family, and feelings of love and solidarity that surround the lives of people of good will in every nation. I thank God for everything and also for the network that gives us this chance!
Rita, that is such a lovely thing to say. Yes one of the best things about sharing our blogs is that it breaks down barriers and borders such that we can find like-minded friends anywhere in the world.
DeleteHi Jerry, Ashburnham place is lovely, my wife and I did a thing called the xmas pudding dash!! there last november, the grounds looked gorgeous although i was a bit too out of breath admire there true beauty, you do it well with your pictures though and i love the water colour.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alan. The Christmas pudding dash sounds far too energetic for me!
DeleteHola Jerry. Ha sido un fin de semana muy entrañable el que habéis vivido. Las fotos son muy bonitas y la acuarela me gusta, espero ver alguna más en el futuro. Acabo de leer el comentario que te ha escrito Francesc :) Un abrazo. Sonia.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sonia, I'll try to do a few more pictures. Actually, I've been painting today but in acrylics - a sample design for a customer giving two options they might want on their harp. I might put it up to see which one other people prefer.
DeleteThat looks like a lovely place, and there's nothing like good fellowship, is there? Love the shot of the pumpkin patch and your delightful watercolor.
ReplyDeleteThanks Connie - it a a taste of heaven!
DeleteWhat a lovely place Jerry. It looked and sounded like you had a wonderful, relaxing stay with like minded people....and sunshine too!! The Dahlias are beautiful. I love the watercolour...Oh, to be able to 'doodle' like that!! :-)
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