This is the beech tree that I see out of my cottage kitchen window. In summer it glows coppery but in winter the sky fills the spaces between black branches. Standing at the sink I hear the church bell chime each hour, watch rooks fly in and out of the tower louvres, and see that thatched cottage snug behind the churchyard hedge. We have been fortunate in 2015, individually and as a family, but most of all I am grateful to have found a place of quiet in this cottage on the edge of Dartmoor.
how lucky you are to live in such a beautiful, magical place! I hope your blessings continue through 2016 and beyond.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I wish you and yours adventures, laughter and quiet moments in 2016.
DeleteIt has been good to see you back in the blogging world - wishing you every happiness for 2016.
ReplyDeleteThank you! And thank you for your own thoughtful writing and beautiful images - may you continue to find wonderful things to excite your photographer's eye in 2016.
DeleteHappy new year Alice. I hope 2016 will be as good for you as 2015. Sam x
ReplyDeleteThank you! May 2016 bring good things to you, your family and your lavender bushes. I have been quoting your advice on hard pruning lavender to all and sundry so if you are wrong I'm in deep trouble.
DeleteI've much enjoyed reading along as I only recently discovered your blog.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Thank you! The enjoyment is reciprocated as I watch your new garden grow in the shadow of Table Mountain. May you find space for all your 'essential' plant purchases this year!
DeleteHappy new year Mrs M. Looking forward to seeing your cottage garden grow in 2016. We also see a very old thatched cottage (it dates to 1420 and has just been rethatched so looks fabulous) from our new old cottage and I think once we remove the 40 foot high conifers (fortunately there!s only four) we will be able see the church steeple too. When we first moved here 25 years ago I could see the church tower from an upstairs window ... And then five massive houses were built blocking the view! I still hear the church bell chiming on the hour and the quarters which is very useful when I'm lost in the garden. Dartmoor, thanks to many childhood holidays and many holidays with my family staying at the Landmark Trust's Sanders, is one of my favourite places on earth.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am very excited to hear all about your new cottage in 2016. I am quite sure that there will be lovely surprises in the garden this year especially if you remove the conifers to let the light in.
DeleteSanders looks wonderful - we are quite close but tend not to go up that way because the roads around Chagford can be very busy. I love the way that the rooms are decorated - very bad rug envy!
Thank you Alice for all the delightful posts you have made here for our delight.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to the FamilyM!
Happy New Year right back atcha Toffeeapple and thank you for all your lovely comments over the years. I can't promise to delight you in 2016 but will try v. hard.
Delete