Friday, July 2, 2010

Chasing Steeples

 As we were watching a DVD of Inspector Morse last night (alas, we've run through all the Foyle's War episodes,) I found myself thinking of our last trip to England -- a walking tour in the Cotswolds in 2006.  We made our way along well-marked public paths through fields and woods and almost always, as we approached the next village, we would sight the steeple of the largest and oldest church.

 We managed to visit a few stately homes and even statelier gardens but my favorite parts were less grand ... the pastures (humming 'Sheep May Safely Graze') . . .

 
and the tidy vegetable gardens.
 The houses set me dreaming . . . how charming to live in a cottage with a thatched roof!


Or, in this house below, which I saw only at a distance. It was perhaps my favorite, isolated as few others were.
 But a quick perusal of the ads offering houses for sale let us know that not in this lifetime could we ever afford property in the Cotswolds.

Not even a fixer-upper.

15 comments:

Jinksy said...

You first photo certainly captures the spirit of dear old England, which still manages to survive in places...

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

How funny. You look for fixer uppers too.
Sam

Brian Miller said...

it looks like quite the wonderful tour of the english countryside..and chucked at the fixer upper...smiles. have a wonderful weekend!

Unknown said...

Wow. Looks like you had a wonderful time. Nice pictures...:)

Stephanie D said...

What lovely pictures! I like the waviness of the thatched roof.

Friko said...

You have all the Morses to come? Lucky you. And when you are done with Morse you can enjoy Lewis, Morse's sidekick, who hasbeen given several series of his own already. Still in Oxford.

You could always try a different area of the UK, where the houses, the scenery and history are at least as romantic as in the Cotswolds but a lot cheaper.

Tipper said...

I've never been to England-but your photos make me want to go : )

Miss_Yves said...

I don'know this TV serie. I have just seen a video on You Tube. It seems similar to Barnaby ?
Beautiful pictures of 'old England"!

You could buy a thatched roof cottage in Normandy..!(Lol)

Miss_Yves said...

www.fondation-patrimoine.net/fr/delegations-projet.php4?id=497

More and more cottages are built with a thatched roof like in the past .

Vicki Lane said...

Jinksy -- Thanks goodness that it does -- and not just in the Cotswolds.

Sam -- Always.:-)

Brian - It was wonderful -- brilliant, as out English friends say!

Mr. S and Tipper - I highly recommend a walking tour -- or anything aside from the 8 countries in 5 days variety of travel.

Me too, Stephanie!

Something to look forward to, Friko! And we did realize that the Cotswolds were a pricey Never-Neverland and prices would be better elsewhere.

But it's all just dreaming -- we are pretty well wed to our farm and the Appalachians -- it's taken us over thirty years to feel accepted in this corner of our native land -- and of course, this landscape and the people are the fount and well spring of my writing.

Miss Yves -- Another temptation -- another dream -- and considering my inability to speak French, I can only imagine the difficulties we'd face. A wonderful link -- and how nice that the craft is being preserved!

Martin said...

Nice post, Vicki. Some fond memories there.

The Cotswolds are out of reach for most of us. However, after our recent break in Cornwall, we find ourselves scouring the property pages once again. Going back for a couple of days next week, for a closer look.

Kathy said...

Hi, I live on a mountain in Candler, and I love your blog!! I have the DVD's of Rosemary and Thyme, I wonder if you ahve seen them?, I love MORSE also, have a good fourth!

Tammy said...

Love the pictures and a glimpse into your travels. That water garden in the first picture is wonderful. And of course you have to know I like the sheepie pictures! Looks so peaceful--creek running through, blossoms on the trees, quiet sheep in the meadow. Thanks for sharing more of these pictures.
Tammy

Vicki Lane said...

We've never been to Cornwall, Martin. I want to -- have been a longtime Daphne DuMaurier and Rosamund Pilcher fan. I love Devon too.

I've not seen Rosemary and Thyme, Kathy -- though I've heard of it and am intrigued. A happy Fourth to you too!

England is shepherd heaven, Tammy -- there are sheep EVERYWHERE! Well, not in the cities but certainly in the countryside.

Merisi said...

I was here already yesterday, ambling along the paths shown in your photographs. What gorgeous houses and landscapes!

Thatched roofs, constructed with reeds from Lake Neusiedl, can still be spotted south of Vienna in the Burgenland region.