Kingston Lacy, Dorset (Part 1)

Happy New Year to all

I think it is time to get back to some serious blogging.

We visited Kingston Lacy in June 2013 and I can't believe I have had this post on the back burner for so long!

There are 96 photos to post (even after whittling them right down) so will do this house in 3 parts!

The house set in 8,500 acres of gardens and parkland

A lavish family home built to resemble an Italian Palace. An art lover's dream with rooms teeming with paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Titian and Brueghel.

We arrive at the Stables and of course it is first things first - time for coffee

We choose inside in the converted stalls

Walking first through the old laundry and sewing room 

as we make our way through the hall

and spectacular marble stairways 

and through the libraries 

and through the various living rooms 

photographs of Queen Mary and King Edward 7th

Van Dyke paintings

into the Dining Room with Pipe Organ

Dining room set for an Edwardian dinner

Painting of The Judgement of Solomon 

and table setting

Lazy Susan (how food is sent up from the kitchens)

Reubens

Will continue our visit in the next post

It's Christmas!

Better late than never - did not get current photos for our 55th wedding anniversary last week so here are a couple now 

before moving into a late night Christmas Eve posting

 I just love the way the lights reflect in the windows

and I am so glad that my Orchids are making their presence known at Christmas too 

I will not be setting the table until tomorrow

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish my blogging friends a Very Happy Christmas
and a Blessed 2015
It is a joy to journey with you through your blogs
I am looking forward to catching up on visiting after Christmas

Married 55 Years Ago Today - 19.12.2014

Hard to believe but yes it is 55 years today since we made that commitment to one-another.

Fifty-five years of love, fun, trauma, pain and everything in-between.

Not forgetting two wonderful children and two Grandchildren.

By God's Grace we live a happy, fulfilled and busy life, thankful for each day.

  

The words in my card to Alan are very apt.

It seems like only yesterday

I heard you say 'I do'

We held each other's hand

And promised to be true

It seems like only yesterday 

I gladly gave my heart

And vowed whatever life may bring

From you I'd never part

And here we are upon this day (55 years)

So much time has passed

Who could have known back then

The love we'd found would last

And last it has and what is more

It's grown with each new day

You've filled my life with memories sweet

That will not fade away

So thank you for the years of love

We've shared and we share still

I loved you when at first we met

And I always will

and Alan's card to me

It certainly has not all been easy but certainly worth while