 Lanhydrock House Lanhydrock Country House“The Lanhydrock estate has a fascinating history that encompasses wars, political scandals and a fire that devastated large parts of the house.” - quote from www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ I couldn't have said it better myself. Touring this estate took the good part of a day, even as we were barred from sections under construction during our visit. One thing I love about historic houses, is the ability to eavesdrop on a era gone by, and catch a glimpse of what life was like centuries ago. This home, owned by the Robartes family dates back three hundred years. Although most of what we toured was from the 1800s. In some ways, life was simpler—for the upper class. But it was just the opposite for the servants. There were a few conveniences but on the whole, day to day living was, well, a chore. Below are a few photos of the living quarters inside this spacious country house. Life in a Cornwall Country HouseThe living quarters were well-appointed, and I took note of the bright, colorful environment for the children, which would have enticed them to follow their creative bent. Enjoy these images below. . . The Vast Gardens of Lanhydrock HouseOf course, with every country house in the UK, there is sure to be expansive gardens, and Lanhydrock is no exception. Feast your eyes on these lovely grounds. I Couldn't resist a Cornish PastyNo, I couldn't. Even though I'm gluten and dairy-intolerant, I could not resist a quintessential mainstay of a miner’s lunchbox that is easy to eat with one hand without utensils (if none were available). I mean, how could I visit Cornwall without this tasty treat? Well, my knees soon told me it was a bad idea. They swelled, and I had a tough time walking back the half mile to the entrance of the park. Lesson learned.  Trebah Gardens of Cornwall“Trebah Garden is a sub-tropical paradise with a stunning coastal backdrop. One of the Great Gardens of Cornwall and rated among the 80 finest gardens in the world.” - quote from https://www.trebahgarden.co.uk/ Not much else I can say about this stunning garden. We wandered down paths and across bridges for a couple of hours, enjoying the beauty of summer flowers. The Hydrangeas were in full bloom -- some as large as my face! The photos below say it all. Trebah Beach in WW2“During World War II the beach would have looked somewhat different with 7,500 US soldiers leaving for Normandy for D-Day in June 1944.“ quote from https://www.cornwalls.co.uk/ Hard to believe a beach extending from a lovely serene garden could play a part in conquering the enemy in that hard-fought war! You can read about the details of this historic event below. Cornwall Captured My HeartCornwall certainly made a deep impression on me. I can see why British citizens looking for a quieter life away from the big cities find their home in this spectacular county. Not only is it surrounded by the ocean and has plentiful beaches, Cornwall is known for its artist communities. Who wouldn't be inspired to paint, draw, or recreate these scenes in every possible media?  Taking a Break From My Writing RoutineLast month I had robotic total knee replacement, and although I am doing well, it has caused me to slow down a bit and take a break from my normal writing routine, and thus I will be blogging every other month.
I am writing a book tentatively titled: Flourishing and Fragrant: Living an Abundant Life in Your Silver Years with Joy and Purpose. It's been slow going, since so many things are getting in the way. In the coming months, I want to concentrate on writing my third chapter, and also create a digital course on the topic. I'd like to know how many of my readers are in that category, and are struggling with the changes aging brings. If so, I want to hear from you! Tell me what your biggest challenge is in this season of your life. I'd also like to know if you would benefit by more blogposts on finding joy in the journey of aging. Does a digital course interest you? Let me know in the comments below!
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 Poldark’s TruroAhhh, finally we get to the setting for the series, Poldark—a British army officer who returns home to Cornwall from the American War of Independence. He discovers to his dismay that his sweetheart, thinking he was dead, is engaged to Ross’s cousin Francis. The rest of the tumultuous story continues from there. If you've never watched the series on PBS, (www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07pn8mz/episodes/player) I highly recommend it. Of course, the setting is stunning. Truro, a setting in Seasons 1 & 2, is actually Charlestown, a port village near St. Austell on the south coast. I'll post a number of pics below. I felt as though I was stepping back into the 18th century! Seaside Town of FoweyMy friend, Melanie and I were ready for dinner, so I Googled “best places to eat near Charlestown” and found a few. We perused online menus (since we were on Keto diets and I had to avoid dairy) and found the charming harbour town of Fowey (pronounced “Foy”) where, incidentally, in 1846, Queen Victoria and her dear husband Prince Albert had visited. Evidently they loved to explore, and desired to visit many of the counties in Merry Olde England. Being visible was just as important then as it is now—only in the 1800s there was no television to track their journeys, only word of mouth and a plaque to commemorate the event. Fowey https://www.fowey.co.uk/ was a busy harbor with sailing ships of all types, men of war, fast privateers and slow brigs filled with supplies for Admiral Nelson’s squadrons. By the mid-1800s, smuggling had almost ceased, so says the Fowey tourist guide. Looking out over the River Fowey, we found the Old Quay Hotel, a ‘renovated Victorian townhouse turned hotel.’ The food and the view were not disappointing, and we left satisfied. Enjoy the photos below. . . Our Airbnb in BodminIf you are curious, we lodged in a lovely, secluded ‘Cornish Country Barn’ which was clean, bright and well-stocked with amenities for cooking, hot drinks, and personal care. There were many special touches that made this place a restful home away from home, not to mention its location in the center of Cornwall. Click on the image above for the link. There are more pics below:  My Big EventI have two more locations to share with you, but, since I am off to the operating room (not really a destination, but. . . ) for robotic knee surgery on September 26th (prayers appreciated), I’ll leave the best for the last. Well, all our points of interest were visit-worthy, really. The two coming up next month could have won the ‘garden of the year’ award. So, as summer turns to fall, you might enjoy these in October. I’ll give you a peek down below.  Stunning, isn't it? Some of those hydrangea blossoms were as large as my face! Until next time, let me leave you with this verse from Ecclesiastes 3:11. . .
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” All these beautiful things in life are pointing us to God, the Maker of all things. Only He deserves our praise!  Cornwall’s Rugged CoastlineIt's been awhile since I've traveled out of the US, so I was thrilled (although I had been to England four times) to see Cornwall, “home” to Poldark and friends. This trip was a dream come true! Along with my dear friend, Melanie, who lives a three-hour drive away, we explored many of the major tourist areas recommended by those who either lived or had visited Cornwall—and we were grateful for their recommendations. We didn't waste a bit of time!
The image above doesn't do the Cornwall Coast justice. Located at Land’s End landsend-landmark.co.uk, it's rocky, rugged, and wild all in one. And part of the southern coast, affected by the Gulf Stream has a subtropical climate where succulents and palm trees flourish. Who would have guessed? Below you can see the location of Cornwall www.visitcornwall.com/film-and-tv in reference to the rest of England. There are more beach areas on the northern coast, which has its own charm. Besides a few hours inside shops and restaurants, most of our four day trip was spent outdoors. As an extra blessing, the weather was sunny and warm the entire week. Unheard of in the UK! |
Good News!My MG Biblical fiction "The Heart Changer" debuted in 2019 with Ambassador International. Categories
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