Wednesday 29 July 2020

The Distancing Diaries - Day 130 & 131


Unlike the previous day, Tuesday morning was mercifully dry. After my Wii Fit session and our fruit & yogurt breakfast, Jon made sandwiches, filled the flask and off we headed to Warwickshire, a forty-minute drive away, to this week's National Trust adventure, the magnificent Coughton Court.


The Coughton estate has been owned (and inhabited) by the Throckmorton family since 1409. The house was rebuilt by Sir George Throckmorton in 1549. He became notorious due to his involvement in the divorce between King Henry and his first wife Catherine of Aragon as he favoured the queen and was against the Reformation. After his death in 1552, Coughton passed to Sir George's eldest son, Robert and his family, who were practicing catholics. The house was adapted by the family to accommodate a priest hole in which Catholic priests could hide, as Catholics were persecuted by law in Elizabethan England. Coughton Court gained notoriety for the Throckmorton Plot, a failed plan to murder Queen Elizabeth in 1583 and also for The Gunpowder Plot, in which the conspirators rode directly to the house directly after their discovery in 1605.

WEARING: 1960s Dollyrockers gauzy cotton maxi (Second To None, Walsall 2009), vintage block print Indian cotton waistcoat (also Second To None, 2019), plum fedora (new, retail, 2019), Doc Marten boots (eBay)

It was our first visit to Coughton Court and we loved it. The drifts of carefully co-ordinated coloured plants, flowers and shrubs were an absolute joy. I had no idea there was a predominately purple theme, in the form of huge swathes of Nepeta and, by happy coincidence, I matched the landscape perfectly.




After a wander through the woodlands, admiring the quirky wooden structures, magnificent trees and shade-loving plants we followed the trail to the Bog Garden.



Following the heavy rains of January 2020 many of the plants in the Bog Garden were washed away although it looked like the garden was starting to slowly recover, it really was beautiful.








From the bog garden we wandered through the orchard where trees were already laden with ripening apples. 












After we'd eaten our sandwiches we headed back to Walsall. Jon dyed some of his old tee shirts black whilst I downloaded and edited my photos and swept the patio then I grabbed my bag, swapped my Docs for Lottas and wore a colour co-coordinating face mask.


Jon drove me down to the hospital where, despite being free, there was an abundance of available car parking spaces. The clinic felt perfectly safe. The receptionist sat behind a glass screen, there was hand sanitiser available at the entrance to the waiting room and designated seats clearly marked at a two metre distance. Everyone, from the four patients waiting to the nursing staff on duty, wore masks. The nurse I saw went wild over my mask and said she'd never seen anything lovelier. As usual my blood pressure and weight were "perfect" & unchanged from last year.  After my appointment I was accompanied to the fire exit at the back of the building and encouraged to use more hand sanitiser on exiting.


Tea was the rest of the posh pizza with salad & four sweet potato chips Jon found in a bag at the back of the freezer (he had potato wedges). We watched Salvage Hunters and Hidden Secret Cities, Istanbul on the i-player.



On Wednesday (day 131) I was up before 6am. After I'd let the lads out, I thought I'd apply for a £50 government voucher to get my poor old bike repaired as BoJo had been banging on about it all day yesterday. Applications had opened at the rather odd time of 11.45pm the previous evening  and, as with most of these seemingly too good to be true government schemes, once I got online the website had crashed. I tried again after my Wii Fit session & there was a message to say that all the vouchers had now been claimed. It makes me wonder how many were actually available.

My Raleigh RSW 16 could do with some help

I caught up with blog comments and when Jon got up we had a slice of toast for breakfast as we'd run out of yogurt. After we'd eaten Jon went off to the shops for supplies while I swept up the lime tree debris and cut back the brambles growing from the hedge into the avenue & threatening to blind passers-by. I wheeled back the garden waste bin that had been collected earlier and managed to fill it ready for collection in a fortnight's time.


Jon returned with the shopping and I joined him for a coffee before giving the garden a thorough watering and doing a bit of dead-heading. Look! My first cornflower, grown from seed.


Jon finished painting the cupboard and, after a break for our lunchtime noodles, we sorted through the boxes of stuff we'd moved from the kitchen a few weeks earlier and soon filled it.


I think Jon was beginning to regret suggesting that he build a fitted cupboard. When we moved in there was one already which we had to remove in order to repoint the kitchen wall. He thought that he'd kept the original doors but he'd got confused and it was actually an old Victorian bedroom cupboard we'd broken up to build an upstairs bathroom that he'd seen in the shed. As the house is 270 years old there's not a straight wall or floor anywhere and it's been a real labour of love to cut the wardrobe doors to size and odd shape. He edged the cupboard with architrave and skirting boards salvaged from Liz & Al's wood pile and used a pair of handles we've rescued from a knackered 1930s dressing table which was broken up for firewood years ago.


The shelves were the sides of the old wardrobe attached by batons which were bits he'd rescued from the wood pile. The only cost was Jon's time. You can just about see what used to be in the corner HERE.


I'd sewn a mask for Jon the previous evening and added the elastic after we'd dealt with the cupboard. It's made out of a pair of vintage 1970s Souvenir of Benidorm embroidered napkins which were looking a little worse for wear after too many parties (I know the feeling).


Today's outfit was admired by several passers-by whilst I was trimming the hedge.

WEARING: Vintage dress (remade by me), Indian sponge coral necklace (from a lovely vintage trader friend)

 This dress has been seen numerous times on my blog, its the bastard love child of a charity shopped 1960s maxi dress and a tatty Kuchi bag. With its piecrust collar, ruffled bodice and elasticated cuffs I looked like a reject from Little House on the Prairie so I took the scissors to it and remade it into an Afghan style dress.


What is new are these Kuchi earrings that were made by Afghan refugees in Peshawar in Pakistan and accidentally fell into my basket when I was buying something for Jon's birthday from eBay last week. They'd arrived earlier & I wore them immediately as they matched my sponge coral necklace. The seller had described them as being "not a perfect finish as handmade" but at £3.99 I'm thrilled with them, so much so that I've ordered another couple of pairs.


After I'd finished posing in the garden I made Jon a homegrown rhubarb and apple (which I'd scrumped yesterday) crumble which he'll have with custard after our grilled haloumi & roasted vegetables.

SOURCE

It's Wednesday which means rum & cola night. We're planning on watching the feature-length documentary, Keith Haring: Street Art Boy on the BBC I-player.

Stay safe & see soon!

55 comments:

  1. that cupboard is gorgeous - especially as the old house is so not right angled at all...... jon is a wizard!
    and you! wearing the matching outfit for your national trust tour! how cool is that! the gardens look beautiful, love the agapanthus in that huge pot and all the flowers in the bog garden.
    your bike looks funny - maybe you could do with some cleaning and a bit of grease and new tyres perhaps? i would be burried here without a bike, to the next supermarket it takes a one hour walk - one way.
    i´m a big fan of keith haring - love his art!
    xxxxx

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    1. Thanks, Beate! That cupboard nearly killed him but he's really pleased with how it turned out.
      Coughton Court gardens were beautiful, I loved their use of colour and the agapanthus in the tin pot made me weak at the knees!
      My poor bicycle! I used to take mine everywhere but when I had my hip replacement I lost the ability (and the confidence) to cycle. Jon did get it serviced for me a few years ago. It needs new tyres and a good clean and there's something wrong with the brakes. That voucher, if I'd managed to get one, would have only covered the tyres. Bike repairs are really expensive here.
      The Keith haring film was fantastic. I had one of his "dog" tee shirts in the 1980s I bought in a charity shop and wore lots. xxx

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  2. Fab kitchen cupboard....like you we're both very keen on using up what we've got to make what we need. I had forgotten that I have been to Coughton Court too on our holidays. Your lovely photos have reminded me....I also have vague memories of visiting an open air museum on that trip too! Arilx

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    1. Yes, we're all about using what we've got before dashing to B&Q!
      I think you've been to more NT properties than anyone else I know. I'm hopeless, I always have to check my blog to see whether I've visited before, I'm not quite sure why we hadn't been to Coughton before but it really was lovely. xxx

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  3. I think Jon deserves a bespoke facemask as he has worked so hard-and you two are a great team x

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    1. Thanks so much, Flis. He certainly deserved a reward after building that cupboard. It's lovely to have a decent storage space now. xxx

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  4. Hey Vix! Wow what a beautiful place to visit such interesting history and what a pic you in all your purple glory the lavender as a background(Ilove purple in a garden). Glad your appointment went ok and that you felt safe. You made me giggle out loud "the bastard love child" dress. I think everything needs names not just me then hey. Wow the cupboard like that is exactly what we did as I said for my sons shelves. BUT that was utelitarian where as your cupboard is art. Those handles what a great idea! Jon is clever. Love his face mask. Well more friends over yest. we kept chasing the sun but very windy all day boo Yes I reckon we will keep it outside when things return to normal way more relaxing with the added bonus of not having to do the frenzied tidy( I am having way too much fun outside at the mo) WEll Vix you never know one day a real drink we can dream mind you having to book a table just to have a drink in our tiny local come back the old days when you could just wander down on impulse! Stay safe and keep being fabulous xx Shazx ps I think I like your description of A Suitable Boy fluffy

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    1. Hi Shaz! The colours they used in the gardens at Coughton were wonderful, I'd love to do something like that instead of randomly planting things and seeing what happens.
      There's something so rewarding about making something completely from scratch, isn't there? I was hunting frantically for handles online and then Jon surprised me with those dressing table ones, I had no idea he'd kept them.
      All clothes need names, they're part of the family!
      Windy days drive us mad at festivals so I feel your pain with entertaining yesterday. I'm eagerly awaiting this glorious weather we've been promised, I can see blue sky in the distance but it's quite chilly at the moment. I'm desperate for a bikini day.
      The booking a table at a pub takes a lot of the joy out of the experience, doesn't it? I can't believe I've not visited one in over 4 months!
      Fluffy is good for animals & fake fur coats but definitely not for TV adaptations of beloved books!
      Have a lovely day. xxx

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  5. I can't wait to dedicate some time ot my office where I willhave some color! We are such anoak and beige family, but I feel like I have a little splash to come out somewhere. The trust property-wow. I cannot imagine how home slike that were built back in the 1500's!

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    1. Couldn't you hang a colourful print or introduce a rug into your house? I'd be tempted!
      It's crazy to think that the same family have inhabited that lovely house for 600 years, isn't it? Or that Guy Fawkes fled there after failing to blow up parliament! xxx

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  6. Glad to see you two getting out and taking us with you..via social media. Jon mask looks fun.

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    1. Thanks, Dora! Glad you enjoyed the trip! x

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  7. I do so love your bicycle. I do believe it's a collector's item too. You should check it out. I adore the new kitchen cupboard and what a coup using those handles, they're perfect. sThere's a shop in Edinburgh that I know of that sells those earrings and other jewellery, all with heftier pricetags than £3.99!Another coup for you! xxx

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    1. I've also still got my Moulton Mini which my parents bought (secondhand) for me when I was 11, sadly Dad took it apart and there's bits missing and they cost a small fortune to replace!
      I was amazed at the quality of the earrings for the price, they're usually quite expensive so I was expecting them to be pathetically small or really badly made and they're lovely! xxx

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  8. funny how things just sort of fall into your shopping cart. That is one beautiful estate. I had a doctors appointment last Friday and was nervous as can be. Turned out I had nothing to worry about as the huge waiting room had about 5 people in it and everybody was wearing masks.

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    1. Its also inevitable that when you're looking for a gift for someone you always find something you want, too!
      Coughton Court is stunning, I bet the inside is wonderful but that's still off-limits for the time being.
      I'm glad your appointment was well managed and not scary either, it is a worry, isn't it? xxx

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  9. Coughton Court looks beautiful, and how considerate of you to co-ordinate with the flowers :)
    I hope you manage to get your bike sorted. I have a feeling many of the vouchers will not get used how they were intended. X

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    1. I had to laugh, I almost looked camouflaged.
      £50 doesn't go far in the world of bike repairs, Jon needed a couple of new tyres for his recently and they set him back £45! It seemed very strange that the applications opened at 11.45pm and were all gone by 6.30am. Either millions of people stayed up all night or there were only a handful available! xxx

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  10. Am I alone in thinking the art in the bog garden looks like a Corona model?! Aside from that, it looks like a lovely place to visit.

    That's just such a great job Jon's done on the cabinet. I really love the hardware as well.

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    1. Hahaha! It does! What a shame the garden shop wasn't open, if they were selling them I bet they'd have been reduced to clear if everyone else thought the same!
      He's done a cracking job on that cupboard, hasn't he? He's boxing in a pipe today, he'll have fun with that, the wall in question is shaped like a banana! xxx

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  11. Wow!! Your kitchen cupboard is beautiful! Your kitchen is so cheery, love your colors and a happy place to cook!! The pictures of your latest adventure are gorgeous, in the bog picture I had to do a double take, I thought there was a big black whale sunbathing in bottom right corner! Great picture! I got a surprise in our garden today, a red dahlia in bloom, and buds on my new dahlia planted this spring called Chrystal Ann, that my friend Ann gave me!!Hot weather here now. Great job on your masks Vic! Take care. You are amazing about answering your comments from all of us, do not know how you do it with your busy days!!

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    1. Hello Chrystal!
      I saw a TV show set in Victorian times at Xmas and fell in love with the mortuary wall, that green paint was the perfect match to it.It's so much cheerier than the original white walls, I want to sit in there all day, never mind cook!
      I can see the whale now you've pointed it out.
      How exciting about the dahlia especially as it shares your name. What a lovely gift from your friend.
      We're expecting two hot days this week and I can hardly wait, should help the tomatoes to ripen if nothing else.
      When people pop over and comment it's like having friends pop round, replying is like offering them a cup of tea so they'll come back! xxx

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  12. I was rather excited to see the gardens at Coughton Court in their Summer glory as they are mentioned in a book ( The Gardener's Travel Companion to English Gardens) that my son gave me for Christmas. So clever of you to colour co-ordinate with the gardens. My sister and I would love to do a garden tour in the UK but who knows when so I will do so through your posts.
    Jon is doing a stirling job on the cupboard , I know about not straight walls . I spied your Le Crueset pots, I have some from the same era in orange .
    Glad your hospital visit went without a hitch. Stay safe, enjoy the sun and your garden. xx

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    1. What a coincidence that the Coughton court gardens are mentioned in that book. They really were gorgeous, I'd love to plant in colour schemes, it makes such an impact, doesn't it?
      I hope you manage to do your UK garden tour with your sister eventually. I used to visit National Trust properties mainly for the houses but I'm loving the gardens so much I've barely missed the interiors.
      Lucky you having the orange set, the yellow aren't as attractive! xxx

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  13. Wow, completely impressed with Jon's handiwork. I love the oxidized copper green colour, and those handles really are beautiful. That everything is second-hand or salvaged is the cherry on top.

    What a fun trip you had! I'm in the middle of booking an adventure for a group of 6 friends - nothing requiring much travel, just visiting a tourist attraction. Since there are no tourists, these spots need our money and support! How lovely that they planned to match your outfit, ha ha!

    Glad your appointment was safe - that's always reassuring!

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    1. Thanks, Sheila! He's done a cracking job, hasn't he? That paint was really expensive but the more I look at it the more I love it. It was worth every penny!
      I'm looking forward to your trip. It's bad enough trying to organise the two of us, I have to set the alarm early every Friday to make sure I can get online before all the slots sell out.
      Normally the NT properties are mayhem at this time of year with all the tourists, it's lovely to be able to take photos without someone in Gor-tex & hiking boots photobombs you! xxx

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  14. Those bloody bike vouchers, I have clarabell sitting in my mums garage and she messaged me about those vouchers as I cycle all over when I am back home! And I cycle All the time here. She thinks people will get their bikes mended and then resell them on flea bay!!
    The gardens were beautiful, much better maintained, I am a sucker for woodwork. I have a wooden bear mum bought me in the lakes I love him. I am glad the hospital visit went ok . And they have everything organised .
    The cupboard looks great, men always get the wrong end of the stick lol!! looking fab as always keep safe xxx

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    1. Bloody BoZo and his big ideas! Not that £50 would make a bike roadworthy, a pair of standard tyres cost £45.
      The gardens were lovely, such beautifully thought out colour schemes. That bog garden was something else.
      I was convinced Jon had got rid of the original cupboard doors as they were knackered but he wouldn't believe me, he had to built that cupboard from scratch as penance for being so pig-headed! xxx

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  15. Love that bog garden, that's my kind of garden - I want to create a shady leafy jungle with pools and mossy stones! Your purple dress was a winner - what a great match for the gardens. I like the repurposed Handles on your kitchen cupboard, very stylish. Jon's mask is fun, I downloaded the pattern you shared -thanks - I made my last ones freehand and the mens ones needed lots of faffing around so this pattern might work better for me.

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    1. We loved the bog garden, too. There was a elderly couple having their lunch in the pagoda, they book the first slot every week so they can get a seat! It was funny to match the gardens, talk about camouflaged!
      I'm so happy with my cupboard, it took a while but it's perfect!
      Those masks are really comfy, they cover the face really well. I think you'll enjoy making them! xxx

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  16. Thanks, Marlene! I love purple, too - such an underrated colour!
    I thought I'd miss not being able to go inside National trust houses but the gardens are always so interesting I haven't.
    It is really rewarding to make something out of what you've already got, my masks, Jon's cupboard. I keep thinking about visiting a car boot sale and then telling myself that there's nothing we really need and it'll just be an expedition to accumulate junk we don't need! xxx

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  17. Clever, clever Jon. The cupboard looks fantastic. Kitchen must be almost ready now after all his hard work. What a stunning garden. I also plant whatever I get wherever I can find a space so it's all a bit ramshackle (though I like that!). I don't suit purple so have no purple clothing and there is no purple in the house (yellow, white and blue girl, me) but when I look at my garden, there are many purple flowers which are beautiful. I have a penchant for white flowers which help calm down the swathes of colour from my annuals. Great face mask, great outfits. Another great post!

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    1. Thanks, Catmac! He's done well, hasn't he? There's still a fair bit left to do but at least the list is down to single figures now.
      I love the carefully selected drifts of colour but I'm like you and tend to plant everything, I'm not sure I could discipline myself not to buy trays of reduced to clear plants. I love white in the garden, it really draws the eye and has such a lovely, calming effect. xxx

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  18. Jon did an amazing job with the cupboard and it’s wonderful how your house keeps evolving and adding to the history of it. Not many folk will have such a generational attachment to their home like you have Vix.
    But I’ll have bets on nobody having a coroners bench in their garage either. That’s the latest thing at ours. I’ll have to get some photos of it haha. Xxx

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    1. Thanks, Lynn! I'm loving that we're able to incorporate bits and pieces we've had stored for years that we haven't had the heart to part with.
      I don't know anyone else with a coroner's bench in the garage but I would buy one in a heartbeat! xxxx

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  19. Wow beautiful place and beautiful photos

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  20. This post is a buffet of delicious tidbits: your serendipitous choice of purple for the costume of the day; the espaliered plum; the blend of colors and contrast of textures in the bag, mask and shoes accessory ensemble; the posh pizza; the well-crafted cupboard; and last, but certainly not least, Jon's "Souvenir of Benidorm" mask.
    Can't decide which inspires me more -- the pizza or the mask. Those appliqued bulls remind me of an assortment of flowers and flourishes in a grab bag I purchased at the closing of a sewing notions counter a few decades ago. Just the thing to upgrade some plain masks! Hope I didn't bin that bag in a mad momment of decluttering!

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    1. That's it, I was driving myself mad with the name for a fruit tree grown flat against the wall - espaliered! Thank you, Beth!
      I've told Jon that his mask isn't a bullfighting bull, it's a Minotaur like the hair oil dispenser on my dressing table.
      I hope you find that bag of bit and are able to embellish the masks. I'm eyeing up a mirrorwork panel and wondering if that's a step too far! xxx

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  21. Coughton Court is beautiful, both the house and garden.
    I love your matching orange mask and clogs and also Jon's bull mask.
    The kitchen cupboard is lovely, Jon made a fantastic job of it and I love the colour.
    Your dress upcycle is inspired, I cant imagine you in it as it was before but it's perfectly you now. xxx

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    1. Isn't it stunning? The garden was so lovely, the colour scheme was just magical.
      Jon's done a wonderful job on the cupboard, it's shelves next (I hope!) xxx

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  22. Coughton Court looks magnificent indeed, and has quite the checkered history to boot. I do love a priest hole! That first photo is just gorgeous, aren't Nepeta and Lady's Mantle a wonderful combination? Frank would probably go mad! And your Dollyrockers dress seems to match the Nepeta perfectly indeed! I love the quirky wooden structures and I'm a big fan of bog gardens. Jos would be drooling over those espaliered fruit trees, as he always wanted one for Dove Cottage's garden. One day, perhaps! I'm glad your visit to the clinic felt perfectly safe, and no wonder that nurse went wild over your mask: it is quite fabulous. What a shame you weren't able to get one of those bike repair vouchers. How silly that they've limited the number. I'm loving the look of your old Raleigh, though. That fitted cupboard looks absolutely gorgeous. Well done, Jon, it was well worth the effort and time! His mask is fabulous, too, as is that bastard love child of a dress xxx

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    1. You'd love Coughton Court, it really was lovely. I didn't know what that other plant was so I've now added Lady's Mantle to the never-ending wishlist, thank you!!
      Jon's fascinated by those espaliered trees, too - we've got the walls but not sure about the wherewithal!
      It looks like the poor old bike will go back in the shed for another few years unless the government release a few more vouchers - hopefully at a less strange time! xxx

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  23. Hello Vix. Coughton estate looks beautiful and what interesting history. Imagine the stories they could tell if the walls could talk! You look like the Lady of the Manor draped in perfectly co-ordinated attire.

    What a great job Jon has done with that cupboard. Love that he has repurposed items already in storage. How clever is he! Can't wait to see the kitchen reveal.

    Super cool bike and gorgeous earrings. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Hi Suzy! isn't it a wonderful place? So much intriguing history, plots to kill the Queen, blow up the government and hiding illegal priests to boot! xxx

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  24. Wowww, you're looking fab in your coordinated dress and hat on this perfect background!, such a happy thing that your outfit matches the garden colours!, purple fabulousness!. And this is a particularly amazing house, love to read that it was involved in lots of conspirations!.
    Glad that everything was safe and nice in your medical appointment, no wonder that your mask received some compliments!
    Lovely cupboard, its color and fit look both perfect, such a cute corner! (even if it has been a lot of hard work). And Jon's mask is Totally Fantastic!. Love it!.
    And such a great revamp on a 'Little House on the Prairie' dress (I know what you mean!). You look fabulous!. And thanks for inspiring me to have a look at any maxi dress with an appealing print!, you've discovered me lots of possibilities!
    besos

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    1. Thanks, Monica! I had to laugh when I saw that purple garden, talk about mitchy-matchy!
      We've both had our creative heads on this week, me with my scrap material masks and Jon with his woodwork. We took today off to lie in the sun and drink beer!
      I'm happy to inspire you! Maxis are full of endless possibilities, there's loads of fabric to play with if you don't want to wear them. xxx

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  25. Coughton Court looks like an amazing place to visit. It is an absolutely stunning location with its Tudor architecture and wonderful outdoors. I mean the gardens are spectacular. I do like all the purple in the garden. How fun your outfit matched with all the purple tones in the garden. I thought it might have been on purpose but then I read it was a coincidence. You do look fabulous in that lavender maxi dress. How fabulous is that lavender vest you paired with a dress. Lovely purple hat, brown bag and doc Martens as well. I googled Coughton Court to read a bit more. I love history and the Tudor period was such an interesting time.
    Jon's mask is a work of art, so original and unique! I love it.
    I'm happy to hear all went well with your appointment. I'm not surprised that the nurse noticed your mask, it's so pretty.
    That revamped maxi dress looks great on you! The Kuchi earrings made by Afghan refuges are are beautiful and the red necklace is a great piece as well.

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    1. Hi Ivana! Coughton Court was splendid, I've no idea why we'd never visited before but I'm looking forward to returning and exploring the house once they reopen to the public. if it's half as good as the gardens we're in for a treat!
      Wasn't it bizarre how I managed to match the planting scheme in the garden? I'd intended to wear something else but changed my mind at the last minute, it must have been my sixth sense. xxx

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  26. The purple-on-purple was divine! I adore reading about you and truly feel like I know you and Jon -- even your hometown, which is worlds apart from me!

    You have inspired me to seek out an outside excursion or two... after this tropical storm passes. Le sigh!

    I hope you have a lovely weekend.

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    1. Thank you so much, Mei! It's been lovely getting to know you as well, with your delightful comments. I hope that tropical storm passes smoothly and you get to venture further afield.
      Have a lovely weekend, too. xxx

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  27. Wow! Coughton Court really is magnificent.
    Your fitted kitchen cupboard looks wonderful, definitely worth all of Jon’s hard work.
    Ha! I can hardly remember what a party is, but I do recall that day-after feeling. Those napkins make a hands mask.
    xx

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  28. Coughton Court is heavenly - so much lush greenery and beautiful flowers. Jon did an excellent job on the fitted cupboard.

    Glad to hear you are fit as a fiddle! Not gaining any weight when you're in your 50's is an amazing accomplishment in itself.

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  29. Glad to hear you are healthy. The gardens at that place are beautiful! I do love espaliered fruit trees! I love your remade dress! The face masks are wonderful!

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix