Sunday Solace

 

Picture courtesy of Pinterest 

Once a year, here in Ivybridge, a Quiz Evening is held to raise money for Children's Hospice South West.  This fund raising event was held on Thursday.  It is always such a fun evening and, because the venue doesn't charge,  and a local businessman sponsors the cost of the food for a very tasty supper, every single penny goes to the Charity.  This year, the magnificent amount of £800 was raised. 

The motto of the Charity is "making the most of short and precious lives across the South West".  The nearest Hospice to us is Little Harbour, just across  the border into Cornwall.  Little Harbour really is a home from home.  A place where each family member can find time and space to feel 'normal' for the duration of their visit. This includes mum, dad, grandma, grandad and brothers and sisters.  People often think of Hospices as sad places, whereas, in actual fact, they can be just the opposite.  

You may wonder why I'm writing about the Hospice in this Sunday Solace feature.  Well, the little piece I'm using today, is actually on one of the walls of the Hospice, and here it is .... 

The Starfish Story .... Adapted from the original by Loren Eiseley ....

"An old man was walking along the beach one morning, after a storm. In the distance, he could see someone moving like a dancer.  As he came closer, he saw it was a young woman who was picking up starfish and gently throwing them into the ocean.  

"Young lady, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"  "The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in, they will die," she said. "But young lady, do you not realize that there are many miles of beach, and thousands of starfish?.  You cannot possibly make a difference."

The young woman listened politely, then bent down , picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea.

"It made a difference to that one', she said. "

Perhaps there's a moral for all of us in there somewhere. If we all just do small, good things, then perhaps we, ourselves, can make a difference. 

This is my own starfish, painted by my blogging and Facebook friend, Eva. 

 

If you click on the column Featured Post on the right hand side, you will be able to read about a visit to the home of Doc Martin in Cornwall, with some lovely photos. 

Visit To A National Trust Property

 

 

Knightshayes Court, Devon. 

For those of you who have never heard of the National Trust, it is a  country-wide Organization, which looks after the upkeep of wonderful country houses and their magnificent gardens. I have been a member for a great number of years, as the annual subscriptions help to keep these properties in a good state. They also look after miles of coastline around the British Isles. 

 

Killerton House in Devon

The ladies from the local Art Society were going on their annual outing to Coleton Fishacre, one of the many National Trust properties in Devon.  Thirty ladies of varying shapes and sizes congregated in the local coach park waiting for the bus to arrive.  It was already fifteen minutes late, and a rumble of discontent spread along the line. Thank goodness it wasn't raining!  The temperature, even at 9 am was in the mid sixties, and the sun was shining down.

Suddenly the coach could be seen chugging up the steep hill, and the mood of the assembled throng immediately changed, as they started to chatter excitedly. Once everyone was safely on board, the driver headed off to their destination. Soon, he turned off the main road, onto the winding lanes of the Devon countryside. They drove through the pretty town of Dartmouth, travelling across the River Dart on an ancient little ferry, continuing along the narrow lanes to the little hamlet of Kingswear. 

 

The pretty little town of Dartmouth in South Devon.  

Suddenly the sea mist lifted and there was the house in all its glory.   Coleton Fishacre was built between the years of 1923-6 for Rupert D'Oyle Carte, whose father, Richard, had been the impressario behind the operettas of Gilbert & Sullivan.  Rupert had developed the business empire he had inherited, which included the very posh and upmarket Savoy and Claridges Hotels in London. 

 

Coleton Fishacre

Rupert D'Oyly Carte, and his wife, Dorothy, actually found the site for their new house from the sea, whilst sailing their yacht between the quaint small towns of Dartmouth and Brixham. The interior of the house really does invoke the modernity of the Jazz Age, and it would be just perfect for a weekend in the country. 

 

Interior shot, courtesy of The National Trust. 

All the ladies agreed that the house was absolutely perfect. The Architect who designed the property, Oswald Milne, was an assistant to the famous Sir Edwin Lutyens.  A particularly appealing feature of the property is that you have quite stunning views of the garden from every room in the house. Although the house does speak of elegance from a by-gone age, the ladies agreed that they could all imagine themselves living there and, on a beautiful Summer's evening, wafting out onto the terrace with a drink in hand. 

 

The garden itself is quite magical as, like several in the South West of England, it descends from open views around the house, down through increasingly jungle-like vegetation, until you get spectacular views of the sea beyond. 

 

The gazebo look-out  at Coleton. You can just see the steps leading down to the sea. 

 

How about this for a view ?!

I hope this has given you a little insight into the beautiful houses and gardens owned by The National Trust.  So then, another blog post hits the road. I hope to see you again soon, and, as always, thank you for dropping in!

 

 

 

Sunday Solace

 

Well, my friends, what a week it has been!  I pray that our world can come together and I pray that peace, love and kindness may prevail - for all of us. 

Sometimes we may feel helpless and forsaken, and, yes, even angry, with events that happen around us, but we must each keep our own little candle burning,  to spread the light to others. Otherwise the haters will surely win. 

As a gentle reminder to us all, here is my Sunday Solace feature for today ...

"Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better, to paint a picture, or write a letter,

bake a cake, or plant a seed - ponder the difference between want and need.

Dust if you must, but there's not much time, with rivers to swim and mountains to climb,

music to hear, and books to read - friends to cherish and life to lead. 

Dust if you must, but the world is out there, with sun in your eyes and the wind in your hair.  A flutter of snow, a shower of rain - 

this day will not come round again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind, old age will come, and it's not kind, and when you go, and go you must, you, yourself, will make more dust."

I'll leave you today with these words by Mother Teresa...

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."

I took an Autumn walk this week - not by the sea this time!  The last pic I found on Pinterest and I hope you like it as much as I did 🍁🍂

 

We Will Remember Them

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the whole of the United Kingdom falls silent for two minutes each year to remember those who gave their lives in service to their Country. 

 

I took the above photo of the remembrance garden here in Ivybridge.  The poppy is used as a symbol of remembrance, as they were said to be the first flower to grow from the freshly dug graves of dead soldiers on Flanders Fields. 

"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them."

(Poem by Laurence Binyon). 

 

Image courtesy of Google.

Here is a photo of my little grandson taken a couple of years ago on a Remembrance Day Parade, which will take place again on Sunday in every town and village throughout the United Kingdom 

 

Sunday Solace

 

Image courtesy of Pinterest

Hello again! As I write this, there are only 17 days until Christmas Day. Maths was never my strong point, so you might like to double check that! 

 

Pleased to say, that I'm pretty well prepared. Just the turkey to get and the last minute veggies! The deccies are up, the tree decorated, and sparkling fairy lights everywhere. 

My lovely granddaughter is 22 today. Where did all those years go?  Why does time fly by so fast ?! 

Anyway, my feature for this Sunday Solace is called "Slow Dance" ....

"Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,

or listened to rain slapping the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight,

or gazed at the sun fading into the night?

You better slow down, don't dance so fast.

Time is short, the music won't last. 

Do you run through each day on the fly?

When you ask "how are you?", do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,

with the next hundred chores running through your head?

You better slow down, don't dance so fast.

Time is short, the music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow,

and in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,

Cause you never had time to call and say "Hi"?

You better slow down, don't dance so fast.

Time is short, the music won't last. 

When you run so fast to get somewhere,

you miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

it's like an unopened gift, thrown away. 

Life isn't a race, so take it slower,

hear the music before your song is over. 

Yesterday, here in heavenly Devon, we had a glorious, sunny day with clear blue skies, but we had the first frost of the season....

 

 

 

I really can't recommend Verbenas enough for any of you gardeners out there. These have been in flower for over four months, and they are still standing tall after the frost!

 

Thank you for dropping by - see you again soon 💖

Sunday Solace

 

Image courtesy of Pinterest.

Simple things to think about...

Hold your family close and make time for them ❤️

Take time to live well

Eat ice cream

Pod some peas

Skim a few stones

Go barefoot

Read all afternoon

Tell a story

Find meaning in small things 

Gather your friends together

Watch clouds

Smell the sea

Be quiet

Feel the wind

Open all the windows

Count your blessings 

Bake bread

Climb a hill

Send postcards

Turn off your phone

Snuggle in

Have an adventure

Drink wine

Make a campfire

Ride a bike

Hang twinkly lights

Enjoy being alone

Like sunshine and showers

Make time for the simple things

It's quite easy sometimes to get upset about things - perhaps someone has said a wrong word. Perhaps you, yourself, have said a wrong word. It's so easy for misunderstandings to arise and then, before we know it, things can get blown out of all proportion. The one thing I have learnt now that I'm older, is THAT ITS JUST NOT WORTH IT.  Reach out to that other person. Even if it's not actually your fault, forgive and make things right again. Life is short and, as they say, tomorrow is not promised to us. Don't let things fester....

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. 

Enjoy your week everyone. Thank you for dropping by...

Image courtesy of Pinterest. I thought it went well with this particular Post 😊

Photos of Autumn...

October is fast drawing to an end, and I've seen so many wonderful photos of Autumn colours. This season must surely be one of the best for capturing images with the camera, and I thought I would just share a few of my own photographs with you today. 

This first one was taken at the Green Bay Botanical Gardens in America. 

 

This is another photo taken in America. The  pond is right behind my friend's garden, again in Green Bay. 

 

At this time of the year, the Farmer always puts his sheep back in the fields....

 

I love the October mornings when the sun is rising and the mist rolls across the fields next to my garden. It reminds me to be thankful for another day, and that I have blessings in abundance. 

 

 

 

I love this next photo, but I have to confess that it isn't one of mine!  It was actually taken by my dear friend, another Diane, just a stone's throw from her home in Green Bay. I just love the composition here, with the seat taking centre stage, the reflection in the water, the old tree on the right of the photo, and, of course, the colours! This, then, is Autumn at Duck Creek....

 

So then, I will leave you once again, but I'll be back on Sunday with another edition of Sunday Solace. Bye for now ...