An impossibly beautiful day

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Our house faces south east across the valley and in the morning the sun streams in through the windows. The shadows are long on the far hill and the dew is deep and shining. I have a hundred and one things to do today but I eat my breakfast slowly outside in the sun under the yew tree. Then I take my camera and wander slowly around the garden. I hope I can share this morning and this place with you.


This is the house, tucked into the side of the valley, sheltered for four hundred years from the prevailing wind. There are massive yew trees on either side and beeches behind, in a protective curve.




This is the view out up towards the head of the valley where the Offa's Dyke path marches along the ridge towards Moel Arthur and Moel Famau. No doubt at all that this is the place of Arthur's burial to local minds.



The kitchen garden still holding onto its last abundance looking towards the big pigsty.



Cotoneaster, geometrical, perfect.



The house as you come up through the footpath, with the bakehouse and the small pigsties (just wood stores now) on the left. The little tree just seen on the right is a medlar, covered with fruit. In a couple of weeks I shall make medlar jelly with it.
Well I have chutney to make, if I can bear to stay inside. Ian has been away a couple of days and is back about lunchtime. The sun is pouring like gold into the kitchen. What a joy it is to be alive.

Comments

  1. Wizzard5 October 2007 at 10:58

    It looks lovely - I can understand why you dont want to go inside on such a lovely day.
    Wx

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  2. Suffolkmum5 October 2007 at 11:14

    Beautiful. I so love your house - my ideal kind! The whole site looks magical, what a view, I do yearn for hills sometimes. This weather has worked it's magic on me - the sun really is like gold at this time of year isn't it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5 October 2007 at 12:15

    What beautiful pictures. Your house is lovely. I love these days now when the nights are beginning to close in and the air seems fresh in the evenings.

    Crystal xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Milla5 October 2007 at 13:32

    That is a stunning view, great pictures and, yes, what a BEAUTIFUL day - it's blue all the way here, too, AND warm. The summer we never had in a single day.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hannah Velten5 October 2007 at 14:21

    What a lovely place to enjoy the sunny weather - I can see why you live there and commute to London! Hope the chutney turns out well and you have a lovely homecoming with Ian! Mootia x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Norma Murray5 October 2007 at 14:24

    What a beautiful place to live, whatever the weather. Thankyou for showing us.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kitty5 October 2007 at 15:21

    Just gorgeous, what a fantastic location, house, view and blue sky! Lucky you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Chris Stovell5 October 2007 at 16:23

    Thank you - what an absolutely idyllic setting. The last few days have been beautiful here too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Westerwitch/Headmistress5 October 2007 at 18:45

    What a gorgeous place to be outside and the house looks as though, when you have to be inside, it is a pretty wonderful place to be as well!

    ReplyDelete
  10. mountainear6 October 2007 at 00:35

    Today has been such a glorious day - quite exhilarating. And the night sky before that - so full of stars. How lucky we are.

    The autumn colours in your garden are a real treat - enjoy them while you can...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Pondside6 October 2007 at 07:07

    Beautiful, beautiful! I loved the photos and now understand why you are willing to put up with the terrible commute. The contoneaster and sedums make a lovely show!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sally Townsend6 October 2007 at 07:45

    Gorgeous, makes me want to race straight over and sit on the steps with you

    ReplyDelete
  13. bodran...6 October 2007 at 18:58

    Lovely photos E and it as been a fabulous day, , very frustrating that i wasnt fit to do anything. well hopefully tomorrow will be better, se you thursday xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. laurie6 October 2007 at 23:31

    how did you get to live in such a beautiful place??? how have i lived so wrong?

    those pictures are beautiful. i can't imagine ever getting anything done if i lived there--i'd just be staring all around me, all the time.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Milkmaid7 October 2007 at 18:38

    Wonderful photos, I've always fancied a medler tree, but have never been sure what to do with them, not certain how medlar jelly would go down

    ReplyDelete
  16. CAMILLA8 October 2007 at 23:15

    What a lovely house Elizabeth, and such beautiful views, the pictures are a joy, thank you for sharing them with us. I love Yew Trees, and know they can grow to a most huge height, a neighbour has one as centre focal point in her garden, hundred of years old, but apparantly it cannot be chopped because of Conservation Protection Order.

    Camilla.x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Cait O'Connor9 October 2007 at 00:03

    Beautiful photos, I love your house. We had a medlar tree in Sussex, we renamed the cottage Medlar Cottage actually (it was Rosedene).
    Another glorious day today, isn't it wonderful? (I so agree with your latest menopause comments by the way).

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  18. Catherine9 October 2007 at 11:29

    Can I come and stay? What a wonderful place you live in. Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Pig in the Kitchen10 October 2007 at 20:20

    It's so beautiful, the view is breathtaking. Your final comment brought tears to my eyes, it IS good to be alive, I shall hold onto that.
    pigx

    ReplyDelete
  20. Bluestocking Mum12 October 2007 at 21:30

    Your words and pictures portray vividly your beautiful home.

    I do think me and SBS will have to return and spend some time drawing.

    warmest wishes
    xx

    ReplyDelete

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