Celebrations
It's been another busy week here with many celebrations....
Last weekend my niece got married and we travelled to Herefordshire, to a lovely informal country wedding, held in a beautiful location.
The day was filled with joy and happiness and it was good to spend some time together as a family.
This fantastic cake was made by the groom's mother and they also had an amazing cake with very tasty selections of cheese. The bouquet and flowers were also all done by the bride, my sister and the groom's mother. They had all attended flower arranging courses and the results were stunning.
On the way home we stopped at Symonds Yat to see this view, something that has been on my wish list. The Peregrine falcons and their young were still there, but sadly we could not see them with the telescopes.
Tuesday was another proud moment as our daughter graduated from Portsmouth University. The three years she has spent there have flown by and she worked so hard to achieve a good result. Her boyfriend and my son's girlfriend have also graduated this week from other universities too.
The fields have been turning colour from green to gold. The farmers have been working hard to bring in the corn before the thunderstorms appeared. It looked so colourful on the way to work that we came back for a walk in the evening to enjoy the view and also capture it. The sea and the Isle of Portland is in the far distance.
The colours and flowers in the garden have changed too ....
The vintage collection of sweet peas I bought from Sarah Raven have been so lovely.
When my husband retired in March one of his leaving gifts was Afternoon Tea at Summer Lodge, Evershot. It has taken us a while to use it but to enjoy a leisurely tea in such beautiful surroundings was just what we needed after a hectic week.
The food was delicious, the sandwiches included cucumber, smoked salmon, egg, and cheese and tomato. There was also gooseberry fool, scones and cream and a great selection of cakes - yum! It's just as well we skipped lunch!
Afterwards a walk around the gardens and then the village was equally delightful. My husband's Dorset ancestors originate from this area too. They would never have believed that a future relative would be taking tea in one of the manor houses!
We have started to clear out things with our attempt to move and down-size. It is always good to find good homes for treasured items. We put some water colour paintings of one of our favourite artists on eBay. We were so pleased when they were bought and the purchaser turned out to be the original artist! He and his wife came to collect them. He told us that back in the 1980's he was so popular that he never kept any of his paintings. The two we sold were very special to him as they were pictures of their previous home. Meeting him and his wife made our day and something we never imagined would happen when we put them up for sale. We still have 3 other paintings of his that we are keeping!The house move has had it's troubles this week too. I am so sorry but I am struggling to get around to leaving many comments. Thank you as always for popping up and leaving me your comments, sorry for this lengthy post!
Sarah x
I W A N T
ReplyDeleteto go to England.
Hands down, I must go there, for you Sarah, you show us the most lush and traditional places that are preserved with such beauty. That river running through the valley; I have seen this in the movie, Shadowlands, a special place that C.S. Lewis dreamed of as a child.
Lovely celebrations of life. Anita
What a marvellous week!! The wedding looked just beautiful with the stunning flowers and cakes! Then afternoon tea!! Now don't you start complaining your clothes have shrunk!!! We won't be listening!!!!!!! Lovely photos of the Dorset countryside. Can't come down for a couple of weeks, some helpful soul reversed into the back of my car in West Bay (and then drove off!!) so car-less for a week or so!!! Don't envy you the de-cluttering!!! X
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the damage to your car. I don't how they could drive off like that! How frustrating that your trips to Dorset have been curtailed for the moment. Hope it is soon back on the road. Sarah x
DeleteHope the move goes smoothly for you!
ReplyDeleteSome lovely happies there - what a wonderful wedding and graduation too. I'm afraid that I have missed that you're moving. I'm so sorry that there are some stresses, and can completely sympathise, I do hope they sort themselves out soon for you. Juliex
ReplyDeleteThe wedding sounds like it was perfect. Congratulations to your daughter on her graduation! Your pictures are, as always, breathtakingly beautiful. I can almost smell the sweet air in the ones of the ripening fields. I was in the same place as you a year ago - downsizing in preparation for our move. Take heart. It is worth all the work. Neat story about the painter buying his paintings back. :-)
ReplyDeleteSarah, it thrilled my heart that the artist was reconnected with his work like that! How very special. It must have made it easier to part with them knowing where they were going.
ReplyDeleteAs always, your photographs of your lovely island are much appreciated. I hope your move goes more smoothly than it has this week. Does this mean you are to the point of packing? Has this house sold? When will we get pictures of your new home?
House buying in this country is a long drawn out process that takes a couple of months at least, and can be liable to break down at any stage, as happened last week! We currently have buyers for ours and have agreed to buy a house elsewhere-but anything could change until contracts are exchanged. We have started clearing out things as it is never to early to start, especially with us downsizing! Sarah x
DeleteOh Sarah, so much beauty in this post! How lovely your niece looked- so elegant and the setting looked amazing (whereabouts in Herefordshire? It's my favourite part of the country and I was in Hay on Wye and Abbeydore only 2 weeks ago!)
ReplyDeleteHow amazing that the artist bought the picture and you had such a special one for him! It's beautiful though- not surprised he was so popular. The rolling fields with hay picture is utterly beautiful! I imagine that downsizing and moving is crazy! I moved from my home of 27 years fairly recently as it was being sold and it took SUCH a long time to sort things out and move and then my Grandad died in April so we've been clearing his HUGE, VERY cluttered house out and it has been rather traumatic!x
Oooh, I forgot to say, are those Agapanthus? My husband loves those and would be totally jealous you have those in your garden!x
ReplyDeleteYes you are right those are agapanthus - they grow well in this area and we have always found they also are good in pots too. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteWhat a bussy time - but wonderful. Congratulations to your daughter!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures from the fields.
Sigrun
Hi dear Sarah,
ReplyDeletewow, these are very lovely excursions... the wedding dress from your niece looks lovely and the cakes are stunning. Congrats to your daughter, I guess it was a great day. I love your photos of the wonderful landscape and the sweet peas are also lovely.
Hugs, Bine
What a busy week you've had. So many good things, but moving house is so stressful. I hope everything works out in the end. We are in the early stages, but hope to move down that way soon, fingers crossed! xx
ReplyDeleteHope you have an easy time with your move.Someone from your area was meant to be viewing here too, but it was sold before they managed to get down. Maybe we will be able to meet up one day when you move. Sarah x
DeleteSounds like you've been having a good time lately :)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that the artist bought the paintings from you and to reunite him with pictures of his old home too!
So much beauty, it's taken my breath away. Congratulations to your niece, she looked amazing, and all of the flowers, cakes and everything look divine. And congratulations to your daughter and the others on their graduations. The world is now their oyster! Good luck with the move. It's always a stressful time, I do hope it all proceeds as well as possible. That tea looked fantastic. Afternoon tea is one of my absolute favourite things. I could eat it every day. I hope you have a good week, CJ xx
ReplyDeleteDear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing week and your pictures... so beautiful! Congratulations to your daughter on her graduation. What a proud moment. And what a beautiful wedding and paintings wich found their way back to the painter, you sure had a fantastic week Sarah.
Take care and I hope next week will being you lots of memorable moments as well.
Charlie
xx
Your niece looks beautiful and the cake made of cheese looks fantastic! Some lovely photos as always. Hoping the house move goes well for you all x
ReplyDeleteDear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteSuch breathtaking views! You Niece's wedding dress is exquisite... How proud you must be for your lovely daughter.
fondly,
Penny
Lovely Sarah! HELLO! Oh how kind of you to come to comment and take a little whirlwind tour of our European link party! It has been a great two days so far and we will be winding down next Friday. What a great group of bloggers you all are to visit and leave sweet words! Enjoy your week, Anita
ReplyDeleteWhat a week, and what an amazing story about your pictures. Good luck with the house move, I remember when we came here it was fraught with problems, I wish there was a way of making the process a little less stressful. I hope the house you have found is everything you want it to be. Take care x
ReplyDeleteYou have been very busy haven't you. What a lovely time you have had weddings, graduations and meeting the artist of some of your paintings what a truly unique experience. Good luck with your move I hope you don't have any more dramas with it.
ReplyDeleteHello Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your wonderful new of your Daughter and Niece. What a wonderful thing to hear about your painting being returned to the artist. Amazing. A wonderful story that would make. : )
Never worry about visiting my blog. All the best to you again with your move.
Blessings to you and your family.
What a beautiful life you live. Congrats to all your graduates! xx
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your daughter and niece, they are both beautiful looking girls. That wedding cake is amazing and the cheese one. Afternoon tea is my favourite meal (can you tell yet that I love cake!) xxx
ReplyDeleteA wedding, graduations, moving, your husband's retirement, and regular seasonal pleasures all make for an especially celebratory post, Sarah! Thanks for taking the time to share your wonderful news and photos. Blessings to you and yours :) xx
ReplyDeleteGoodness - it sounds like you have hardly had time to sit down just lately. I love the pictures of the fields overlooking the sea, wonderful shots. And what a coincidence with the pictures - how nice for them to be reunited with the artist.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your niece and daughter, I hope that they both have wonderful futures ahead of them. The afternoon tea looked delicious, so many lovely things!! I hope that things go well with your house sale. xx
ReplyDeletewow, Sarah, so much to celebrate!! Congratulations to you and your family members. Loved your story about the artist :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a time you are having! I'm so glad so much of it is joyous and that you've taken the time to share it. Good luck with the house move.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely country wedding, and I love how simple and serene it all looks. The views are lovely and what are the odds of the artist himself bidding on his own paintings! What a coincidence! I am looking forward to our daughter's graduation in October, I am sure it was a lovely day with lots of tears of joy and relief that it's all over! Have a lovely week. Sharon x
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning wedding and as usual you photographed it beautifully . Congrats to your daughter on her graduation, a journey our son is about to embark on.
ReplyDeleteThe cream tea looks wonderful, I love afternoon tea with scones and little sandwiches .
Good luck with the move , it can be a very stressful time, I hope it all works out for you.
What a wonderful amazing time you have been having, so many special moments.
ReplyDeleteAmazing cakes, wonderful celebrations and, as for the water colours - what a fantastic coincidence! So pleased for everyone! x
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you and all of your family members who have many events to celebrate. Beautiful countryside photos, and what an amazing story about the paintings you sold. Hope you have a great week Sarah!
ReplyDeleteΤhese news are wonderful and your photos transmit the happy moments and the joy you have lived, So much to celebrate.Congrats to all of you! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteA warm hug
Olympia
So many celebrations - and such lovely photos to capture those moments. Afternoon tea sounds like the perfect way to relax. My husband's family come from Dorset too. What a lovely full circle for those paintings too - who'd ever have thought! Hope the house move goes well - I think you're very brave. You're not selling to a couple from Winchester are you? Our next door neighbours are off to Dorset somewhere - wouldn't that be a funny thing! All good wishes for your clearing out - I don't envy you in this heat. Ax
ReplyDeleteLovely post Sarah - what a pretty wedding. What fun to meet the artist & reunite him with his paintings !
ReplyDeleteDear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteSo many lovely things to celebrate - the beautiful wedding, and your daughter graduating, congratulations to all.
You must be very proud of your dear daughter.
So lovely that the paintings went back to the original owner - what luck for them. The afternoon tea must have been lovely. Best wishes for the house move and hope you will be all settled in soon.
Hugs
Carolyn
Good luck with the move. Nearly 20 years since we last moved and I'm not relishing doing so again a few years from now although I'm thinking we inevitably will. I quite understand re. the blog commenting too, I'm only just getting back into the swing after my break from knitsofacto. Life comes before blogging.
ReplyDeleteMany congratulations to your daughter and the other recent graduates.
What a lovely collection of scenery and celebrations!
ReplyDeleteAll the best with the house move - hope you will be happy there (eventually).
:)
It sounds as if you have had delightful breaks from a busy time. The foods at the wedding look wonderfully creative. Good luck with the house hunting.
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely post sarah.. gorgeous photos, and lots of happiness. made me smile as i scrolled down. I love that little painting, not surprised he wanted it back! what was the artists name please? Id like to see more of his work! I have agapanthus out too, its stunning!
ReplyDeleteLeanne x
The artist's name was Peter Toms. It you google his name and watercolours you will instantly recognise his style. Many of his paintings were orginally bought locally. Sarah x
DeleteSimply beautiful! Your area is just stunning. :o) I've moved 17 times so I know how crazy it can be. I love that the artist purchased his own paintings back. I love it when life comes full circle. :o)
ReplyDelete