Showing posts with label England. Show all posts
Showing posts with label England. Show all posts

Meet The REAL Jane Austen

6:32 AM | Labels: , , , ,


I know that many of you reading this are fans so prepare to be amazed - as this portrait is said to be a recently discovered portrait of Jane Austen. I'm going to let Mary Jenkins from Wales tell you the rest of this fascinating story.
Read the Jane Austen scholar's story here as reported in The Guardian. She owns this portrait. 

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

Garden Passage

5:25 AM | Labels: , , ,

Hidcote Gardens -- Cotswolds, England. Absolutely wonderful! Actually it's almost too lovely if that's even possible. Maybe that's why the French doors are there...so you can block some of it out when you can't absorb the enormity of it all. Wouldn't you love to sit on one of those benches and soak in the beauty? via Have a great weekend.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

Countess of Grantham and Lady Mary are to release a record album

6:08 AM | Labels: , ,

Are you watching Downton Abbey? I read two press releases recently saying Maureen McGovern and Michelle Dockery costars on this wonderful PBS Masterpiece series were pairing up to release an album.

I must confess I wasn't that impressed with Lady Mary's voice in last week's episode. We will just have to wait and see.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

Spectacular Boat House

5:04 PM | Labels: , , ,


Magnificent Boat House in Soulby England

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

Natural History Museum - London

4:25 PM | Labels: , ,


Wow. I wouldn't even care whether or not there was anything on exhibit. The architecture itself is enough for me. It's really a museum within a museum. image

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

A Very Young Prince Charles and The Queen Mother

6:10 AM | Labels: , ,

The young Prince Charles adored and was adored by his grandmother Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. We haven't had a dose of British Royalty lately and I know everyone will love this delightful vintage photo. via

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

Randolph Caldecott Illustrations are So Charming

2:48 PM | Labels: , , , ,


This was photographed from one of my antiquarian picture books by R. Caldecott (1846-1886). It is a scene from 'A Frog He Would A-Wooing Go' that couldn't be more charming. Mr. Rat and Froggy are on their best behavior while being entertained at Mousey's Hall by Miss Mousey herself.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

Recreating Print Rooms

1:04 PM | Labels: , , ,


Print rooms were popular in 18th and 19th century England where they served as charming exhibit rooms for prints.


An unusual way for those returning from grand tours abroad to display a sort of souvenir album of visited landmarks, print rooms often featured engravings of favored classical ruins and city scenes.

I photographed these two print rooms from one of my design books: Decorating with Paper by Donna Land and Lucretia Robertson. They were created by English artist Nicola Wingate Saul. What a fun way to display old prints and engravings.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

A Royal Nap

5:13 AM | Labels: , , , ,

Are you smiling yet? I can't tell you how much I love this photo of 'The 11th Duke of Devonshire taking a nap in the Lower Library of Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, circa 1995' Shot by Christopher Sykes. I love peeking into the private lives of English Royalty.  via

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

An Important Royal Christening

10:32 AM | Labels: , , , ,


The christening of H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. The sitters in this vintage postcard are T.M. King George and Queen Mary, T.R.H. The Duke and Duchess of York and Infant Princess. Such a happy day. via

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

English Country House

6:59 AM | Labels: , ,

I never tire of the English countryside, do you? via

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

The Queen Mum at Birkhall - Scotland

1:45 PM | Labels: , , , , ,


Times spent at Birkhall were relaxed and informal. In her late years the Queen Mum (1900-2002) enjoyed sitting with her corgis and admiring the views of her magnificent sunken garden. She was 99 in this photo. 


Birkhall is an early Georgian house that was the favorite holiday home of the Queen Mother, where she and her husband (pictured below) would bring the young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.



Vanity Fair Men of the Day caricature prints circa 1890 line the staircase wall. They are often called Spy Prints.


The hallway barometer was checked every morning by house guests in anticipation of fishing and other outdoor pursuits and the daily picnic. Lunch, their hostess would explain, is not a meal to be eaten indoors.
The walls are papered in Royal Stewart tartan and carpeted in a Hunting Stewart plaid. This is where the Queen Mum hung her pale blue gardening coats. Dog bowls and dishes and towels were always handy for the beloved corgis.

I found an old (1999) Country Homes & Interiors booklet I picked up on my last visit to England of the 20th century. It was devoted to 7 Royal Homes and Gardens. I'll share more with you from time to time. I used my iPhone to reproduce the photos from the booklet.  

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

Favorite Book or Movie? 84 Charing Cross Road

11:29 AM | Labels: , ,

I loved the movie but must confess I have never read the book. It’s the true story of a woman (Helene) who lived in New York in the 1950s, and wrote letters to a bookseller in England (Frank). Frank specialized in second-hand books and rare editions, and after seeing an ad for the shop, Helene started a correspondence requesting books she couldn’t find in the U.S. “I am a poor writer with an antiquarian taste in books,” she explained. “If you have clean second-hand copies of any of the books on the list, for no more than $5 each, will you consider this a purchase order and send them to me?” Over a period of 20 years, she and Frank exchanged stories of their lives and sent parcels to one other. The book is the collection of these letters.
There is a wonderful slideshow showing the author with Anne Bancroft, meeting the Queen Mother at the premier of the film, and several other stills from the movie. VIEW SLIDESHOW AND ARTICLE FROM THE TELEGRAPH HERE. Be prepared for chills and a delightful read.
See the movie trailer here.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

Duchess of Devonshire with Her Chickens

5:39 AM | Labels: , ,

The duchess with her beloved chickens at Chatsworth in the 1990s. Photograph: Christopher Simon Sykes/Getty Images

Wait For Me: Memoirs of the Youngest Mitford Sister
by Deborah Devonshire
I've been saving this article and book review from the Guardian until I could sit and enjoy it and this morning was the perfect time. If you are looking for the ideal Christmas gift for a friend who is a dyed in the wool Anglophile, this is certainly a book to consider.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

'The Look' we all loved has been Royally Passed On

8:06 AM | Labels: ,

How cute. It's in their DNA
via

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

1664 Engraved Title Page by William Vaughan

11:33 AM | Labels: , ,

A Booke Containing such Beasts as are most Usefull for such as practice Drawing, Graveing, Armes Painting, Chaseing, and for severall other occasions. 'Design'd by F: Barlow' and 'Ingraved by Wm. Vaugha[n] 1664'.
Engraved title page in the collection of the British Museum
Publication details at top: 'Sould by Iohn Overton at ye White Horse Without Newgate. where you may haue Severall Bookes for ye same uses'.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

Union Jack Fruit Pizza Recipe

5:04 PM | Labels: , , ,

Crust
1 pouch (17.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg

Filling
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Topping
4 cups sliced fresh strawberries
3 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh raspberries

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line 15x10x1-inch or 13x9-inch pan with foil. Spray bottom only of foil with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and egg until soft dough forms. Press evenly in bottom of pan. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

2. In small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Spread mixture over cooled crust.

3. Arrange fruit over cream cheese. Refrigerate at least 1 hour until chilled. To serve, cut into 5 rows by 4 rows. Cover and refrigerate any remaining fruit pizza.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

Bonnie Prince Charles

5:11 PM | Labels: , ,

I love looking at the old photos of our favorite royals. via

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

Royal Mail Stamps for 2012 Olympics

2:46 PM | Labels: , , ,

Royal Mail in the UK is releasing thirty First Class postage stamps, each showcasing an Olympic or Paralympic sport, in preparation for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics being held in London. Are you going? via Click on the link for large images of each stamp.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic

Have a Great Weekend

6:37 AM | Labels: ,

and try to stay on course :)

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Read User's Comments0
Posted by exotic
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...