Saturday 30 January 2016

Woolpit, Suffolk

The January blahs. I haven't been inspired to post anything blogwise for a few days. The weather is cold, the sky is grey, and there is a sprinkling of snow on the ground. Only a sprinkling, thank heavens, we missed the big snow that hit Washington, and New York, and the East coast.

So my winter mind is going back to last summer's European trip. Instead of heading back to Canada with the choral group at the end of the concert tour, my friend and I flew to England to stay with my cousin for a week. And the sun was shining. Some of that summer sunshine is preserved in these photos.

Valerian valeriana officinalis has been known as a medicinal herb since the time of ancient Greece and Rome. It has been used as a remedy for insomnia, cough, convulsions, plague, and those that are "bruised with falls".
Rosa canina, commonly known as the dog-rose. The fruit, known as rose hips, are full of Vitamin C and are used to make rose hip syrup,
 
 Red corn poppies. Papaver rhoeas. They are everywhere in the fields in June. Usually referred to by the farmers as a weed, but I love them. They mean England to me.

My cousin's house... part of it dating from the 1700s, then an addition in the 1800s, and another addition in the 1900s.

Purple Clematis and red climbing roses decorating the old wash house wall.... love the green mossy look to the gate.

A well cared for shrubbery in the village. Monty Python would be proud!
(If you don't get the reference, Google Monty Python + Shrubbery)

The village square viewed from  the window of the teashop where we stopped for morning coffee and "elevenses".

12 comments:

  1. Hello,Shammic,
    Lucky to see those sunshine and summer flowers in this cold evening here!
    Your cousin's house is very charming. Glad to see such a long-well maintained house!
    I like it.
    Have a happy day!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Loved your photos!
    It will be good to see the real sunshine, hopefully in a month or so!
    Maggie x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Loved the Monty P reference. Perhaps our overcrowded garden is a just a sign that we continue to get shrubberies. And another...
    Loved the photo tour too. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful photos. Love the flowers and the house. The sense of history with that house must be amazing. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It looks lovely. And it's just what I needed right now.. the warmth and reminder of summer. Thank for that.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So beautiful photos! Love the flowers and your cousin's house is just lovely!
    Have a Happy Sunday! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'll bet that was a wonderful time with your cousin. Love those beautiful flowers. And the house - very old. Older than me, for cryin' out loud! Great fun; thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nothing like dreams from the warm season to get you by.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for a few minutes of sunshine, Shammie.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The first thing I said when I open to your post was : Ohhh flowers, I want to see flowers! We still have snow and will have for awhile yet. Love to see your flowers. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. The sun was shinning?? Here the UK, you were very lucky indeed! At the moment we are having gail force winds and we live on the top of a hill. No fun at all. Love your photos.

    ReplyDelete

All comments welcome.... unless your name is Anonymous..