Going a-visiting

Well, I'd be as happy as a dog if I lived here too....this is where

I went to visit friends in the

depths of Hampshire who live in an idyllic cottage just in the throes of being re-thatched, and the process is watched with interest by the wildlife in the river at the bottom of the garden.

The garden is a riot of colour, and pots are over-flowing.
I love the thickness of the thatch, and my friend and I can sip our drinks in the garden and watch the well-honed legs of the thatchers as they shoot up the ladders with their sheaves of straw and their lengths of wire and their expertise.

A very happy visit, and a million light years away from my normal surroundings.

Down by the river

On a hot summer's day, the best thing to do is go for a stroll down by the river. I took a copy of Ted Hughes and sat on a bench and watched the wildlife preening and primping and gazing at themselves in the river mirror. Even the leaves were pretty, and everything seemed to have patterns and designs.

P is for Pisa, Pizza and Prosecco

Entering the gate into the Piazza del Duomo to see the Cathedral and Museum. When we had lunch there was this wonky tower peering round the corner.....(what? oh, pizza of course)

The Museum and the Cathedral were fascinating, plenty to see...isn't she beautiful?

The frescoes gave us happy neckache.

Some were being restored - by students perhaps?

The next day we went to San Giminano en route south, and stopped for lunch - the first of many view admirings...

We arrived in Paciano, met up with the others, little walk up lane to admire the sunset.

Assisi - the Basilica of St. Francis - breathtaking frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue. Put on your list of places to see before you die.

Panicale - another walled town. Love the patterns on the walls that you get in all the towns. Wandering down alleyways there are old doorways, ornate lintels - even the washing hanging out along balcony railings become picturesque!

Panicale bell tower

Citta della Pieve didn't disappoint - with its view over Lake Trasimeno, and the painting of the Adoration of the Magi by Perugino (1504) in the Oratorio. Amazing detail.

There were little insets in the walls
like this, so much to admire.

Little alleyways..

High up - high high up - Cortona. Luckily there was an escalator
from the car park. View over huge cemetery.

Went to the Museum (Museo Diocesano) stunned by the golds and rich colours, particularly the Annuncianzione by Beato Angelico.

Back in Paciano, then time to go home - last sight was of poppies in the mist.

The hills are alive with the screech of peacocks

I needed to get out and get some fresh air and see some flowers.....

Felt I needed to go back to Harcourt Arboretum again and see the peacocks and the bluebells - took along a sandwich and a book. Even in the short time since my last visit there are more rhododendrons out, with their stunning colours. One peacock tried to hitch a lift - I had to get someone to entice him away as he was determined to come home with me. You can't help but be fascinated by the colours, and his back looked like a tapestry.

Some of the tree trunks were like modern art - a Henry Moore, and a couple of reclining figures perhaps.

As I was leaving, looking back at the carpet of bluebells, I did wonder what that particular kind of purply-blue reminded me of......then I remembered.....

Chickens and herons and cream jugs

When I want some fresh air I can go up the road to my friend Felicity's garden and talk to her chickens, who are very interesting and very pretty, and don't they know it.

I think here the hens are dancing.... bit of dosey doh going on methinks..

Otherwise I can go down to the river and

admire the herons - who can't be better described

than by Mary Oliver:

'On the leafy banks

an old Chinese poet

hunched in the white gown of his wings'

was waiting.

The water

was the kind of dark silk

that has silver lines

shot through it

when it is touched by the wind'

and

'The preacher

made his difficult landing,

his skirts up around his knees'

When I am not out, I am often
in the workshop bashing away
with a hammer and generally
making a lot of lovely noise

without annoying anyone..

My next project in silversmithing is a cream jug - this is one of the very early stages, when I am raising and doing a bit of planishing - long way to go.

Bluebells at last

As I don't have a garden, I have to go out and find places to visit, and content myself with a jug of daffodils indoors...

Peacocks, rhododendrons, a tree that looks as if washing is hanging on lines.....

A visit to a bluebell wood has got to be one of the highlights of spring - at Harcourt Arboretum a short walk for those who are not too mobile (me!) brings a great reward. You are accompanied by peacocks and colour abounds. I did have to go home and write a poem, as you do, but won't bore you with it here - just enjoy the colours and better still - go out and see them.

Like a duck to water

Yesterday I came across these ducklings being taken down to the river by their mother. They stopped off at Waitrose on the way, crossed the car park escorted by me, and over a road, then down to the river - it was quite a trek for those tiny feet (theirs, not mine).