Retracing our footsteps

Last weekend  it was our 30th Wedding Anniversary and we celebrated by retracing our footsteps from such a long time ago! First of all we visited the Walled gardens at Littlebredy and enjoyed a cream tea in these beautiful surroundings.


As regular readers will remember the Head Gardener's cottage was my first home in Dorset, (you can just see the roof top above the walled garden) and from where I left home to get married. See my previous post the walled garden.


The walled garden was not as pretty then as it is now, as the plants were mainly fruit and vegetables. . It is so lovely that the garden is now open to the public at selected times and we can still visit this special place.


 Here am  I sitting in the same spot all those years ago with one of our previous dogs called Brandy.

 Back to the present day!




We then visited the village church where we were married.


We spent our honeymoon in the neighbouring county of Devon. It is a county we have visited so many times over the years and we couldn't resist returning back to Devon for one night's break.



The orginal hotel at Buckfastleigh has been converted into flats, so we chose another location close to Dartmoor and enjoyed a walk along one of the beautiful Dartmoor rivers.



Tavi came along too, although he wasn't as well behaved as this dog that was sitting so patiently outside a icecream and dairy shop!


Like many Westies Tavi loves finding revolting things to roll in and was delighted to coat himself in 'eau de cows poo', this was the second time in a three days! It was quite a job to clean him up and make him smell better! He also loves water and on our walk the following day he discovered some peaty water.  I think he rather liked the black and white effect!


 We should have known that taking a nine month dog with us would not be a bed of roses!  We couldn't be angry and had to laugh at some of his antics, even though the smell was not to our choosing!

Do you return to the same place or special occasions too?

Sarah x

Comments

  1. Janneke 12 July 2015 at 21:06

    So nice to celebrate your 30th wedding anniversary at places with sweet memories like the walled gardens at Littlebredy and Devon. It all looks like a wonderful trip and Tavi enjoyed it too. I cannot help laughing seeing how dirty the little dog is. He behaves like Snarf always strolling in peaty and dirty ditches. Love it.

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  2. Gardens at Waters East12 July 2015 at 21:16

    Nice visiting you today, and sharing in some of your memories. JC

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  3. KahviKaneli12 July 2015 at 21:22

    :)
    Lovely pictures.
    I visited first time in England, and in Western Country. F.ex. Bath, Dartmoor!, Torquay, Dartmouth ..
    Some pictures I've in my Blog too.
    You have so beautiful country. Certainly I will visit again :)

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  4. Sue in Suffolk12 July 2015 at 21:38

    What a lovely way to celebrate your anniversary, lovely pictures. I think Tavi needs Westie Wellies! The only dog we have had was a Collie cross and she avoided all water, taking a wide detour around even the smallest puddle - thank goodness.

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  5. CJ12 July 2015 at 22:08

    How lovely to go and revisit such beautiful places. I'm laughing at Tavi's black legs. And how sweet that little dog outside the shop is. CJ xx

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  6. Louise12 July 2015 at 22:14

    What a super way to celebrate your anniversary! Congratulations :)

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  7. Kezzie12 July 2015 at 22:24

    Happy Anniversary my dear! Glad you had a lovely time! I recently went to Buckfastleigh.x

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  8. Gracie Saylor12 July 2015 at 23:04

    Although I never went back to retrace steps of happy occasions I love seeing some of your special locations, Sarah. I'm glad you had a happy 30th wedding anniversary celebration in spite of Tavi's questionable explorations [I can't help but send love pats for Tavi :) ] Thanks for posting!

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  9. artistfriend12 July 2015 at 23:13

    Congratulations to you both on your 30th anniversary. What wonderful photographs of some very special places!

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  10. Cathy13 July 2015 at 01:45

    How nice that you got a photo of now like the one you took 30 years ago. The only time I've returned to a special place for an occasion was to have my teenage boys re-enact a photo I took of them when they were little. The two older boys were holding their little brother up--one at each end at a park. The exact spot was no longer there, but I found another fence like the other one and had them pose again. It was pretty funny because they were so grown up now but I love having the two photos of then and now (which technically, now a then!). Tavi sure does like to get into things. Gabriel will sniff things, but has never wanted to roll in it, thank goodness. We have plenty of deer droppings--I did catch him eating some once! :-(

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  11. ANNE13 July 2015 at 02:39

    Happy anniversary! It sounds like you had a wonderful time. As always, your photos are gorgeous! xox

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  12. Sigrun13 July 2015 at 05:58

    Such a long time, happy anniversary, Sarah! Oh my goodness, what a dirty dog!;) Yes, I love to go back to some places, mostly in Britain, but also in Germany.

    Sigrun

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  13. Jo@awholeplotoflove13 July 2015 at 07:42

    What a lovely way to celebrate your anniversary. Many congratulations on your 30th, the last photograph of Tavi made me laugh x

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  14. Anonymous13 July 2015 at 08:49

    What a lovely post. We spent our September honeymoon in Pembrokeshire and although we've been back to that beautiful county many times with the children over the years you're making me think it might be time for a return holiday this September. You haven't changed much over the last 30 years Sarah - congratulations and here's to the next 30 years!

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  15. Patricia13 July 2015 at 09:10

    Many congratulations to you both on your 30th anniversary and how lovely to re-trace the steps once taken. Lovely photos. Thanks for your comment on my last post and I've been away so long I didn't know you'd been to Sorrento too. Lovely isn't it. Px

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  16. Rosemary13 July 2015 at 09:32

    Congratulations to you both on your 30th Pearl Wedding Anniversary.
    There seems to be a stage in life when it is lovely just to return again to our roots, reconnect with our past, and remind ourselves of its memories.
    Tavi is such a cute little dog full of fun and games, I think that he like to keep you busy.

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  17. Castles Crowns and Cottages13 July 2015 at 12:05

    I am GUFFAWING here as I see Tavi; I tell you Sarah, I can almost smell him! HAHAHAHHAHA - I remember walking at one of our local lakes and on the little beach on the east side, a woman had her Westie with her. He was rolling about in the sand and frustrating his owner. We all had to laugh after a while because he seemed to enjoy it!

    OH SARAH! What a lovely tour today! THIRTY YEARS my dear? Congratulations! And I love how you showed the same beautiful spot where you sat....30 years ago, and today! It reminds me of our recent third honeymoon to our original spot from 33 years ago. When we were there again just a few weeks ago, I retraced a very special path at Point Lobos....I could hardly recognize it! When we were first there, the trees were so small, now, the are giants. I failed to realize that though we have aged and grown, that the trees too in that special, almost "virgin" space would grow with us.

    Lovely place and that tea salon with the little dog is so precious. Happy week! Anita

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  18. Simone13 July 2015 at 12:15

    A wonderful post with beautiful photos! I tend not to revisit places. I think I would get too melancholy!

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  19. Anonymous13 July 2015 at 12:33

    Congratulations. A lovely, romantic thing to do to celebrate 30 years(!) in such beautiful places. Not quite so romantic perhaps, though, with Tavi? Your final picture made me laugh. I'm glad my dog is brindle...

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  20. Margaret13 July 2015 at 14:34

    Happy anniversary Sarah. Our cat loves to roll about in dirty, dusty places, then she comes into the house shedding, leaves, twigs, dust and even slugs. Last year we revisited Hope Cove in Devon. We went there several years running when the children were young. We love the South Hams area of Devon. A couple of years ago we went to Cornwall and revisited all the places we used to go to when we were first married

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  21. kristieinbc13 July 2015 at 15:15

    Happy anniversary, Sarah! How lovely to go back the the place where you were married. And that picture of your black and white Tavi gave me a good laugh. Oh my goodness!

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  22. Casa Mariposa13 July 2015 at 15:19

    What a wonderful anniversary! My husband was in the Air Force for 20 years and we've moved many times so going back to special places often involves a plant ticket. Devon looks so beautiful. :)

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  23. Vintage Sheet Addict13 July 2015 at 16:29

    Happy Anniversary and how lovely to retrace your steps! :) xxx

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  24. Seawashed13 July 2015 at 16:40

    It is just so lovely where you live. That puppy dog is too cute waiting for his ice cream! Tavi is adorable even covered in black goop.

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  25. Unknown13 July 2015 at 17:30

    Happy anniversary Sarah! Well I haven't been back to Paternoster in the Cape where husband proposed,and we got married, but we took our children on holiday to Mevagissey where I holidayed for so many years as a young child and which I remembered fondly...they loved it...Tavi looks like he enjoyed his time away too!

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  26. Madelief13 July 2015 at 18:58

    Dear Sarah,

    Congratulations on your 30th wedding anniversary! You chose a beautiful spot to celebrate at. Lovely photo's of then and now! And what a beautiful garden.

    Wishing you many more happy years together! Have a good week.

    Madelief x

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  27. Annie Cholewa13 July 2015 at 19:12

    Happy Anniversary to you both Sarah. And yes, we do return to the same special places when we have special things to celebrate.

    Tavi looks very pleased with himself there :o)

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  28. BadPenny13 July 2015 at 20:48

    Wonderful x It's always Palma de Mallorca for us x

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  29. The House with the Blue Door13 July 2015 at 21:39

    Happy Anniversary to you both! Later this year we will have been together for 30 years, definitely something to celebrate! Your photos of the beautiful gardens are delightful, and I laughed when I saw Tavi looking like 'Harry the Dirty Dog'. That Dartmoor river looks very appealing on this humid day!
    Cathy x

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    1. Down by the sea13 July 2015 at 22:15

      Harry the Dirty Dog brings back memories! Just discussed it with my daughter we still have the book somewhere we will have to find it and compare Harry with Tavi! Sarah x

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  30. Lynn13 July 2015 at 23:46

    Happy Anniversary. Like you, growing up I also lived on an estate in Cornwall which in those days was not open to visitors daily as it is now, so my dog and I had the grounds to ourselves a lot of the time. I visit it all the time when I go back home as I will always call it. On the way down to Cornwall, we often stop at a hotel in Bath which used to be my college dorm in the first and third year. It has been beautifully renovated, but we always get a kick out of having a drink by "our fireplace" which is where we first met at a party the girls' hostel gave after our first teaching practice. The fancy basement restaurant also makes me smile as that was our laundry area where drying racks on pulleys lined the ceiling. Still we love to walk down the street and follow the alley to Milsom Street where we wandered as hard up students. Going back is so nostalgic.

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    1. Down by the sea14 July 2015 at 07:27

      Lovely memories especially of your college days at the hostel. It must be quite strange seeing it look so different and attractive! Sarah x

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  31. Lowcarb team member14 July 2015 at 00:17

    Many good wishes for your Anniversary ...
    What a lovely post with some great photo's - you had good weather too.

    Best Wishes for the coming week ahead.

    All the best Jan

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  32. Fran14 July 2015 at 06:43

    Congratulations to both of you. All your pictures are lovely but the ones of Tavi made me laugh out loud. How cute is he? Wonderful xxx

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  33. Art and Sand14 July 2015 at 06:58

    Lovely garden ... gorgeous photos ... adorable Tavi ... Happy Anniversary!

    We have been married 44 years during college spring break. For our honeymoon, we went for 3 days to San Francisco, came home and headed out with a group of friends on a ski adventure to Mammoth Mountain. For our 41st anniversary, we repeated the Sand Francisco and the Mammoth vacation during my spring break.

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  34. Jane14 July 2015 at 23:53

    Happy Anniversary Sarah, and what a magical way to spend it! I love the photos of you in the gardens from the past and in the present. Really great! All your photos are wonderful and make me want to go there.

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  35. Bobbie Lynn15 July 2015 at 13:46

    Hello Sarah,
    Happy 30th Anniversary to you and your Husband. What a lovely photo of you. What a sweet little dog you had back then too. The grounds have grown so beautiful. What a wonderful way to celebrate a happy occasion.
    Tavi is so adorable. : ) Looks like he keep you on your toes too.

    More loveliness a Lambrook manor. Those poppies are amazing. Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories with us. Thank you also for visiting me on my blog also.
    Have a lovely day.
    Blessings,
    Bobbie Lynn

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  36. Draffin Bears15 July 2015 at 22:23

    Dear Sarah,

    Congratulations on your 30th Anniversary and I enjoyed seeing all your gorgeous photos - lovely ones of you.
    Glad that you were able to retrace where you went and such wonderful memories you both must have.
    January, 2016 will be our 30 years too - don't the years fly by so fast.
    Tavi is so very cute and interesting how they think they smell lovely with eau de pong.
    Hope you have a lovely Thursday
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  37. serendipity16 July 2015 at 07:55

    What a lovely anniversary trip. The roses in the fourth picture are beautiful. Why do dogs love rolling in disgusting things? Lottie has a thing for pigeon poo! Debbie x

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  38. Mary Anne's Alaska17 July 2015 at 18:55

    First of all, happy anniversary and congratulations on a wonderful milestone! Second, oh my, the very mention of cream tea does something inside my heart and makes me long for that piece of culture I once experienced in the UK but don't do a very good job replicating in my daily American life. Third, how special that you got to visit your old home!! Those then-and-now pictures were amazing! Thank you for sharing about this wonderful trip.

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  39. elaine 18 July 2015 at 06:40

    What a lovely thing to do - very romantic re-visiting all those places - and how that garden has changed over the years. Lovely pictures, especially the one of Tavi in black and white - what a rascal.

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  40. rusty duck18 July 2015 at 07:18

    Belated congratulations to you both x

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  41. flowersandhome18 July 2015 at 09:33

    Hi Sarah!

    First of all, congratulations on your 30th wedding anniversary. Such fun to retrace your steps from 30 years ago. No, I can't remember us doing something similar ever but we do often say, we'll have to go there once again, so maybe sometime.

    I just had a look at your last posts and I'm once again amazed by the beauty of your country. I would so much love to visit all those wonderful places and gardens in Great Britain.

    You asked if there were a lot of visitors in the garden of Monet. There were! But I try not to have anyone in the pictures. Sometimes you're lucky, on other spots not so. With the bridge in the waterlily garden there's more often someone on it than there isn't. Wait and see if I got that lucky shot when there wasn't anyone on it for just a moment and all other persons were behind hidden behind the plants that grow along the pond ;)
    The effect on the pictures was just softening them a bit. With a lot of sun, the shadows are often very hard and then it doesn't look as I saw it in reality and I think Monet's garden did look like a painting, it really does. But a lot of gardens in England must look that way as well. I haven't visited any gardens there yet. Hopefully in the future.

    Have a great weekend,
    Marian

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  42. Things and Thoughts18 July 2015 at 17:45

    Congratulations on your 30th wedding anniversary Sarah! How beautiful to relive together some special moments of your common life. Your photos are really magnificent and I laughed with Tavi's outfit in the last photo!
    My fond wishes and rendez-vous at the end of summer.
    Olympia

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  43. handmade by amalia19 July 2015 at 05:04

    This is a lovely place, Sarah, and the fact that it has personal meaning must make it even more so. Happy Anniversary!
    Amalia
    xo

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  44. Caro20 July 2015 at 09:14

    How lovely to go back and find your home more beautiful than before! I took my son back to some of my childhood haunts in Cornwall a few years ago, goodness what a difference! The peaceful Cornwall and empty beaches of my childhood were replaced with beach shops and crowded car parks, although I didn't mind that the roads are easier now! Devon is a lovely county and your photos reminded me of the stream near my family home on the edge of Dartmoor above Plymouth. Congratulations on 30 years together, I bet the time has flown past! Caro xx

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