Royal wedding watch party time ...

I can hardly believe that the much awaited Royal Wedding is almost upon us.  We British do love a good party

We had a wedding watch party for Kate & William . We had several friends for the day to watch the wedding then we had a bbq in the garden afterwards.

This time it is much quieter after a rather hectic time work wise for myself & friends so it is just a few of us but I got the bunting out for the fireplace again.  I love the vintage feel to this bunting - the balloons are from a family birthday this week but they look good there too.

I bought this lovely Cath Kidson tea towel this week on a whim - it is patriotic & stylish.  I bought these IKEA candles on my last visit there recently because it is a fresh berry scent & a lovely red colour too so perfect.

Some eagle eyed followers will think these look familiar - I bought them at vintage fair in Ludlow some time back & shared them with you; they are perfectly royal

 A cathedral, a carriage & a castle - perfect scenes on the spoons ...

I found my box of things from the last wedding - a flag 

Some perfect spoons ...

Red, white & blue ready for cakes ...

These crowns make a regular appearance at home - they are good fun ...

These vintage candle holders are good fun & show the traditional side to life here ...

My great great grandfather served as a guard at the palaces for 22 years during the 1830's

Some little charms we use on glasses - ready & such fun

A fun cake stand ... 

The sideboard taking shape & having things swapped around ...

Red, white & blue candles in the candelabra in the conservatory ...

Our sideboard / dresser has its red, white & blue with the flags flying proudly ahead of the Royal Wedding - we will be watching,  taking in the details & just enjoying friendship & a fun event. 

If you are joining in out of curiosity or interest, enjoy the occasion as it lifts the spirits here.

Thank you for stopping by,
Dee ~💕~

Stepping back in our Shropshire history

Hi everyone,

Do you love finding new places to explore. I have lived in Shropshire for 20 years & passed Buildwas  Abbey regularly but the gates have always been closed or I have bot had the time to linger there.

Quite by chance this past week, we passed it & the gates were open & I just knew that it was meant to  be.

This is the background according to wikipedia 

The Cistercian Abbey of St Mary and St Chad was founded in 1135 by Roger de Clinton, Bishop of Coventry (1129–1148) as a Savignac monastery and was inhabited by a small community of monks from Furness Abbey. The stone from which it was built was quarried in the nearby settlement of Broseley.

The abbey's location near the border of Wales meant it was destined to have a turbulent history. Welsh Princes and their followers regularly raided the Abbey and on one occasion in 1406, during the rebellion of Owain Glyndwr, raiders from Powys even kidnapped the abbot. This however paled in comparison to an earlier event in 1342 where one of the Buildwas monks, Thomas of Tong, murdered his abbot, managed to evade arrest, and then petitioned for re-instatement into the Cistercian order.

I love these places when they are still so that you can feel  the atmosphere of the history that envelops it -  daughter & I were very fortunate that it was early morning & we were the only visitors. The stillness speaks to me, it gives you time to absorb the history & importance of the building & this was just so. 

The arches are so dominant & I can easily imagine silent monks making their way along the corridors & the upper floors which often had corridors in between the walls ...

We could walk quietly between the massive pillars, taking in the vastness of the building & the lovely quietness speaks loudly to me .... 

This view reminded me of Roman & Greek architecture 

The hugeness of the church looking towards the Nave shows the enormity of the Abbey

Magnificent arches hint at the size & grandeur of the Abbey

One of the corner rooms - looks out ...

 The caretaker offered to open the crypt for us - I was keen to see it. However it was really cold there & dare I say it, just a little creepy ...

Looking back from the back of the crypt toward the entrance again ...

The interesting architectural things are kept in the crypt, what history is contained there. There was a feeling of history there, a weight which you could not escape ...

I was glad to get back out in to the sunshine & the bright blue skies after the cold & darkness of the crypt.

I am so glad that I finally managed to visit this impressive Abbey. There is a similar one, Wedlock Priory  just 15 miles away in Much Wedlock that I love visiting too & another Abbey at Lilleshall that I visit often because I love the stillness of it. 

I am one of those who find great peace in the stillness of spiritual places - they help you to stay grounded, to keep life in perspective when there are things that trouble you & life needs a stillness to it. 

I hope you have enjoyed visiting the amazing Abbey with me, may you have a wonderful week too, thank you for taking the time to stop by - your company & comments are always appreciated. 

Dee ~💕~

Embracing healthy salads

The warmer weather always makes one long for lighter meals, especially salads.

Youngest daughter & I took advantage of my day off to have a local brunch at the lovely Green Wood Cafe  near our iconic Ironbridge. It sits in a beautiful wooded area & the ethos of the centre is commendable - it has courses to teach various wood crafts there & it is one of those places that embraces organic living.

I love my day off each week - it helps me to enjoy my hectic Elective Home Education job more because I am able to step back from it on my day off.

We decided on salad bowls for our brunch

HALLOUMI & POMEGRANATE SALAD (V)

With Balsamic Glaze

LENTIL, HOUMOUS & QUINOA SALAD (VGN)

With Chilli Dressing

Brunch on the lovely wooden deck in the sunshine with nutritious salads & freshly brewed coffee - the simple things in life make it so much richer ... 

The Green Wood Centre is just the perfect place to catch up & unwind in a glorious setting.  Thank you for taking time to visit - please leave a comment so I know you have enjoyed the post. 

Dee ~💕~

Hand made kiln fired glass art work ...

I have just returned from a visit to my Father in South Africa again. He lives in the vast openness of the Karoo with its huge contrasts.

On my visit last August, I popped in to the local artist Marguerite Beneke . She had shown us around her studio on previous visits & I am in awe of how well she captures the essence of the Karoo through her glass work.

She describes herself as a 'kiln fused glass artist'. Much of the work is fired more than once, each hand painted on the initial glass which is then fired again with the glass beads / bits & placed in a mould to give the various shapes she uses for her bowls & dishes.

These are some of her Karoo inspired work which she sells at galleries all over South Africa.

I am partial to proteas - I just wish I had space in my case for this one ...

Windmills dot the vast Karoo landscapes & are much loved ...

There are so many beautiful buck in the Karoo & South Africa - they are special creatures ...

So very beautiful ...

I bought this one as a gift for a wondering star & her hubby - a gift from the Karoo where her grandfather lives, their decor is inclined to grey colours so it fits in well  ... 

I bought 4 small painted tiles for myself - to remind me of the landscape & things I love.

I always look in on the new work on Marguerite's instagram & am always amazed at her beautiful items.  Do you have a favourites artist that you like to follow?
Dee ~💕~