First of all I had a really lovely 'staycation' this summer. I had hoped to get to Ireland to see friends but unfortunately by the time I was able to book flights they'd gone up to silly prices. So I stayed at home.
I spent one day at Castle Acre Priory. I'd called in there a few months ago and walked around the edge but this time I was able to go in and took the audio tour which was fascinating.
On another day I walked with a friend from Dedham to Flatford Mill along the Suffolk/Essex border to visit the RSPB Wildlife Garden which is almost next to the National Trust tearooms at Flatford.
It's a really lovely garden, free entry and had lots of information and activities for children.
After we'd left there we did the obligatory walk up to Willy Lott's House as made famous by John Constable's The Haywain.
I also spent a day in London with Celia, when we visited Dulwich Art Gallery and the Ravilious Exhibition. It was wonderful. Such detail and such light in his pictures. It's finished now but there are still some images of his work on the gallery website here.
The next week I drove down to Bexleyheath to visit The Red House - a house commissioned by William Morris and designed by his friend Philip Webb.
We took the tour, which was really interesting and then wandered around a bit more after lunch.
If you're interested, like I am, in the Arts and Crafts movement it's a wonderful day out. (Celia went a few months ago and has more photos and information about it on her blog which I can recommend reading)
After we'd left there we did the obligatory walk up to Willy Lott's House as made famous by John Constable's The Haywain.
I also spent a day in London with Celia, when we visited Dulwich Art Gallery and the Ravilious Exhibition. It was wonderful. Such detail and such light in his pictures. It's finished now but there are still some images of his work on the gallery website here.
The next week I drove down to Bexleyheath to visit The Red House - a house commissioned by William Morris and designed by his friend Philip Webb.
We took the tour, which was really interesting and then wandered around a bit more after lunch.
Isn't this ceiling stunning!
And finally (for now) my new chair covers came this week, 2 weeks earlier than they'd originally said, so the 2nd hand very traditional chair now looks rather different and has already been given the feline seal of approval!
