{Blenheim Palace Garden Party}

Is there anything so glorious as a sunny English summer? Combine that with an old fashioned garden party at Blenheim Palace with fabulous company & you've got the recipe for a perfect evening (and weekend in the end).
Last Saturday I had the Great British Garden Party at Blenheim Palace booked but realised it was going to be a really long journey home late at night, so I decided to treat myself to an overnight stay in an old coaching inn, in Woodstock, which was the best decision.
 I spent Saturday afternoon perusing the lovely shops and enjoying a pint in a beer garden, before walking the 4 minutes to Blenheim's gates!

{charming Cotswold village!}

{my coaching inn} 

& then the gloriousness that is Blenheim Palace:

The interiors are just as striking, with this lovely library (although I couldn't imagine actually living in a place like this (birthplace of Winston Churchill)) :

{stunning ceiling!}

& then back out to the grounds to enjoy all the entertainment, from live music to cricket matches to croquet to Pimms to fabulous gardens!

{all dressed up with somewhere to go!}

{cheers!}

& then it finished with fireworks playing to all the Proms favourites, including Jerusalem!

{sound on!}

Now that things are starting to slow down with teaching, I'm hoping I'll have some more time to catch up on blogging, life, and other things!
x
L

{Ickworth}

Last weekend my aunt from Canada was visiting and we went to Ickworth. Have you been? Fantastic place with beautiful gardens.
Some pictures to show you just how lovely it is!

{bells, just like Downton!}

{lovely neo-classical interior}

{they have two stumperies no less!}

{this storm luckily missed us!}

A walk down to the walled garden, is certainly worth it...

{the wild flowers were stunning}

xo,
L

{sisterly visit}

{reunion at Chota House}

In July, my middle sister came for a visit with my niece & nephew.
We had loads of fun & had a great amount of time to catch up.
We went for afternoon tea at Oliver Hare & Co:

 We wandered the mews of Leighton Buzzard:

 We went to my cousins for a fab weekend in the country:

{started with evening croquet in the garden}

 We then went to Hever Castle (where Anne Boleyn grew up) and met Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII, & the ladies in waiting:

 The gardens are stunning! (not to mention the fantastic mazes: a water maze, an impossible hedge maze, and a tower maze)

{I think I might have caught a couple kissing by accident (!)}

{nice legs!}

We went punting in Cambridge (where my sister did her MPhil):

 Followed by the necessary cream tea at Grantchester (where Rupert Brooke and the Bloomsbury set used to hang out):

{gurham chai sisters (minus three!)}

{cheers!! 2 out of 5 Clark girls!}

xo,
L