Our snows here this year in KY reminded me of the same, in England.

    I am going to try a new font, because why not.  We can always get wild and take a new path. This font is called Carrier.  What I have liked and used for forever is Ariel.  I want to see if the letter "l" looks either more or is it less than what I usually see. (When is an l not a 1??) Look closely. There is a difference!

    I got distracted a half hour ago. Then the photos that showed up were of snow in England, during the winter of 2013! After all, it does snow other places. I was visiting my stepmother who was living then on the main street in picturesque Chipping Campden, in the Cotswolds.  The Brits had a hefty snowfall during my visit, and even though these photos are not all totally fixed up I think they give the flavor of the place at that time.  My stepmother, whom we called Potter, was staying 2 weeks several towns distant recovering from having her hip repaired. When I drove to see her, with snow on the roads and cars on the left hand side of the road, I managed to do a little damage to her car.  Well, maybe a little more than a little.... But it all worked out. I hope these photos are fun to see. 

    

in town, before the snow came

This view from the third floor is included because the other photos of this garden show everything covered with snow.

This oak tree and sheep were on my way to see Potter -- before the storm.

driving by the next day...

The tree and sheep were off the main road, and it didn't seem the milk delivery had gone smoothly this day.

The sheep market, hundreds of years old, is in the middle of town.

other winter trees en route

what awaits even then

 

outside the house, not too many tourists on the sidewalk for a change.....

in Potter's back garden

  across the street

warm inside, and I always loved this wisdom on her wall

more of the back garden

                     I ended up fixing this image a bit.                        It may well be my favorite photo of this post.

    If I try to put these photos in perfect order tonight, I would be in deep distress. MY apologies. I am familiar with imperfection -- believe me, it can have its benefits.  I wish every one well, and how fabulous it would be if a war based on greed and ego wouldn't start this week or ever need to happen. When all is said and done, it snows and rains on each and every one of us.

 

 

Great Britain wrap-up -- for 2018

post #398
        By now it's more than two weeks since I have returned from England, yet I remain in transition. I haven't yet come to terms with my new relationship with the British Isles.  I do know the light over there is amazing -- a photographer's friend -- though because it's closer to the North Pole, there are more hours of darkness in the winter. However, as always, I'd like to express my appreciation for all the fine and fun folks I have met there over the years, the main reason my connection will remain for many more years. 
        These remaining photos from two weeks ago were made in the little bit of time I had that week to be out and about with my camera. 

SO, this is where I left off last week -- about to walk to High Street via Peelers Close:

 I was looking for some protein to fill out my leftovers at the apartment, but, really, a hunk of cheese, no matter how amazing, is not a good option when the next day requires 22 hours of traveling and the scrutiny of TWO Customs and Security lines, the first one in London and the next one after arriving in Detroit.

    This new small shop in Chipping Campden also sells fresh cut meat, and has vegetables as well. I'm afraid this town is catering more and more for the many tourists than for the random hungry residents..... but they were more than tolerant of my American self.

    I wanted to walk home the scenic way, over this creek that runs through town, where for days I had been wowed by the fullness of these flowers.  The next two photos were made from the little bridge that crosses over the creek.  Well, maybe it's not called a creek in England.
 

These homes back up on the creek.  The English love of gardens is legendary, and it lasts during every month of the year:

I guess this limb, in a front yard, could be said to have a pair of pears.

The solar panels caught my attention as well.  Then I looked more closely at who was in the window.

Sure looks like Shakespeare to me...   He made me laugh, in any case.

          The next day I headed for home.  I was picked up around 7 p.m. at the Lexington airport by my dear daughter, since driving myself home, with over an hour on the interstate, after such a long day without sleep, has never been a good idea.  
       After that first night's sleep, I absolutely needed to drive to town, for a dental appointment. When I started to get in my car -- left for several days in my very basic shed -- I discovered this enormous web, complete with its workaholic spider.  I hated having to destroy everything, so the least I could do was to make this photo in honor of all that deft design work which welcomed me home.

     

         I will get back to add to this post after I check with friends in England about what a creek is called, and, from last week, what is the story behind "Peeler's Close."  Thanks!

Back home and back to weekly posts!

post #397
      NOTE: Here is the post I did last weekend but never "published." I will blame that error on Brain Fog after my long trip. Part 2 will now come next week. I am prolonging my trip....

       I have seen more rain in Kentucky in the three days I have been back than I did in a week in England!  Today's storms have kept me more on task, though, I have to admit.  I even decided to go back to weekly posts after the summer of posting every other week.  I want to share some more England photos, in honor of the fifty years I have been visiting there to see my father and stepmother. (I have of course gone over there more than once a year only in the last ten years, when my stepmother began not to be able to make that long trip to the USA, "over the pond.")
       I figure I spent 20 hours on Thursday [September 6], from the time I left Chipping Campden at 7:30 a.m. until I got back home, in time to go to bed here at 10:30 p.m. -- which was 3:30 a.m. in England. It takes two two hour rides to or from airports and two flights each way, via Detroit. All went well in the end during the entire trip, and for once I didn't leave anything behind -- anywhere. YEA.

        After gathering the photos I want to share, I only have time to post half of them this week, and I will do the other half next week -- yes, I'll be returning to posting EVERY WEEK.

I was surprised while at the dining table!  but no rain!!

along High Street, in Chipping Campden

along Sheep Street, close to where my stepmother lived

flowers below the above flowers....

I had a short last day visit with wonderful Peggy and David

in Peggy's garden,

where I was totally taken with the beauty of David's hand, 

so I took a quick photo on the sly, before heading for High Street

via this town path, Peelers Close, for some fixins' for dinner....

               Next week I promise more photos of the short time I had in town with my camera.
       Thanks for sharing this trip with me, which, this time, had greater poignancy than ever.

England, winter weather, Chipping Campden

post #370
       Yes, the current weather here in England is not for photos, but I have some anyway.  I also have a few more from earlier visits. (See last week's post.) BTW, the English are currently having a lot to say about the American political scene, holding Trump responsible for his own behavior and not seeing the rest of America as being like him.  I've heard some folks talk about being embarrassed by their own political leaders, so they may be more understanding that this just happens sometimes.
       On with photos, however. I will begin with some parings -- a photo from a time before with one I took in the last few days.

hard times, after more years than I can imagine.

two years ago

this Saturday -- I visit with June and Bill every time I come over.

This is a favorite photo that I have used on my notecards. Best hanging baskets in town.

This is the same building, on Friday. It's the Eight Bells pub. I never realized before that the church tower was visible behind it!  Two hooks for plants are visible on either side of the lower window.

 These next four photos were taken from inside the room I stay in when I visit here. There was snow early today, and then it changed to rain. I eventually went out in it, feeling very authentic....

across the street, looking to the right

across the street, looking left

 This bunch of four photos with two from a joint visit here my sister, Cathy, and I made, during our walk on the hills near town.

several years ago, but the same time of year....

I saw in passing yesterday that this butcher is still in business.  I'm sorry not to have the photo I made here many years ago before the EU stopped allowing fresh kills from hanging along the building outside.

And, at the end, two signs in England of the times:

a note card my step-mother really likes, which she received from my sister, Robin, exactly a year ago, right before the looming inauguration, while contemplating life without the steady, intelligent, and decent man, Obama