{quotable thursdays}

"To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment."

Jane Austen

Since I am in the land of Austen, and my new flat has a lovely English garden, I think this quote is perfect for today. Now England, you just need to bring some warm weather!

{amidst the blossoms}

{lovely picnic!}

{old fashioned camping}

{lovely!}

{picnicking a la Austen}

We are off to a 9 course black tie dinner in Cambridge tomorrow so many pics to come!
oxo
L

{an english welcome}

Hello from merry ol'! It has been a very busy week, but I'm so happy to say that I found a lovely flat!
I saw some AWFUL terrible horrible places...& was in a state of despair, when I walked into my new home, & just knew it was *home.* It'll be a few weeks until I move in, so pictures to follow. Before I moved, I was reading tips from apartment therapy on apartment-finding...when I read them, I was excited & the (mis)interpretation of the details of a flat (things like stickered-looking-wood vs real hardwood floors; a tiny room with an oven & some floor space vs. an open plan kitchen & lounge etc...) seemed funny at the time. But when you're in the middle of it, and you call flats that just got advertised that morning but now aren't available any more really can be depressing. One letting agent told me that the landlord only wanted a married couple (!) another said not to worry, the guy next store was being put in jail (!!)... I felt a bit like I was in the middle of a Bridget Jones film.

But I persevered and now have a wonderful 1 bedroom Victorian conversion flat with original wood floors & tiles & a lovely private garden. Can't wait to decorate & post photos!
...Here are some great pictures from my first week in the UK:

{flying over England's pastures' green}

{welcome sign by my cousin Choo}

{choo welcoming me with Union Jacks!}

{right off a red eye... Rule Britannia!}

{lovely gardens at Groombridge Place}

{spring flowers}

{a swing}

{walking amidst the blue bells}

{in a field of rape}

{I just love these sorts of details on English cottages--the way they decorate with the plaster}

This weekend I'm off to a fancy dress dinner at Cambridge...pics & more to follow...
xo
L

{quotable thursdays}

Hello from jolly ol' England! I'm afraid I must dash, but wanted to post a hello from the UK & be ever faithful to my quotable thursdays!
Flat hunting is a bit of a nightmare here in London. I've had a wonderful welcome from my cousins (more on that)...but as soon as flats become available they are gone. It's all a bit frustrating! I must run to see some, so will post a very short quotable thursdays today, which I must keep in mind as this life in London all begins:

{so true!}

{let the adventure commence}

{home?}

{a lot of phone calls to letting agents....}

{& a lot of tube rides}

I hope I find my dream home! Wish me luck!

xo, 

L

{quotable thursdays/change...}

{CHANGE}

{packing...}

change is a funny thing. We spend days, months, years sometimes preparing for something, but then one day we wake up and things have changed. I've been planning to move to London for months. I've been hoping to move for years. Even so, when I get on that plane on Saturday, I'll wake up on Sunday in England to start a completely new life. Yes, I'll get to my cousins' and be in my familiar room, but all the people here in Vermont, my lovely Florida Ave. neighbours, my colleagues, my students will belong to another life. I'm happy and excited, don't get me wrong. But we can't help feel a bit of nostalgia when we say goodbye to a chapter in our lives. but change is important for everybody, & I'm excited to see what the next step holds for me.

{suitcases}

{packing...}

{2 more sleeps}

{cheerio!}

{flying away}

{destination: London. All aboard!}

London: I'm ready!
see you all on the other side of the pond! I'll be sure to post on the flat-finding conundrum & the joys of living in the big city: the shops, food, drinks, etc...
xo
L

{3 more sleeps}

{3}

3 more sleeps until I move to London!

{tea}

{stylish telephones}

{love london}

xo, 

L

{4 sleeps...& a trip to LA}

{4}

4 more sleeps until I fly to London!

Last weekend I delivered my 20.5-year old cat to my parents in LA, since she won't be moving to the UK with me. It was a sad goodbye:( such a well-behaved cat, though. Slept most of the way & everyone who saw her fell in love with her!

{arrival at LA airport with my little cat in the carrier}

But we had a lovely weekend together in LA...

{walks along the marina in San Pedro}

{drinks at the marina}

{walks on the beach}

{night out in San Pedro (including live piano at the Whale & Ale)}

{visit to the gardens at the Huntington}

{more walks--chillier day}

{& finally the Wayfarers chapel built by Frank Lloyd Wright's son}

I'm back in Vermont now, just for a few days for the final wrap up!
xo,
L

{quotable thursdays}

Today is a day of travel, so with that:

{destination}

{somehow this seems apt as I'm travelling with my cat today}

{hopefully I get some sun in LA}

{audrey on the plane}

& we're off...
Ciao,

L