More from Doreen’s Garden

When you enter Doreen’s world it is like entering wonderland, with a fabulous mixture of caring touches

surreal sculptures

(in March)

and a poignant little row of memories

The sculpture of the children climbing always draws my attention

I love the way the lichen decorates the surface (you might remember I’m a great fan of lichen)

It came as no great surprise to see a man who appeared to be walking on the roof 

he was in fact working in the garden behind

(can you see that little white model of a dog’s bottom up in the air as if digging in the lawn)

and then to come across these shoes sunning themselves on a bench

They belonged to Doreen’s very own Mr Mcgregor who was clipping the evergreens

The house looked like this in March

and the garden

What a transformation takes place during the year

I discovered these two brief videos taken in August 2016.

 

I hope to return in April or May one year to see the flourish of Spring.

Maybe I’ll stay in her Garden studio – a link here to see more about it.

Now I’m off to be a ‘bit more Doreen’ and sort out the containers of bulbs in my garden.

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Doreen’s Garden in September

Last weekend I was in beautiful Branscombe, Devon, England.

As usual I had to make my pilgrimage up the hill to Doreen’s Garden and this time I was lucky enough to meet the delightfully sprightly 84 year old. She is originally from Liverpool and has lived in this cottage for 34 years.

She gives me hope for the future!

Click on any photo to see it larger.

We had a lovely long chat and she showed me the best viewing points for photos .. Here

and then the view to the church

Doreen has a box for donations to support the Devon Air Ambulance and so far she has collected over £7,000!

You can even stay in her garden in this delightful self-catering little unit

what a sunny spot!

We talked about her magnificent dahlias

She doesn’t lift them but cuts them right back to the ground and mulches them.

I do not live in quite such a sheltered spot – I tried them years ago and did not have a good success rate, but I might give Doreen’s method a go as there is no doubt, they put on a spectacular show – if only they were scented .. mmmmm there’s a thought. Are there any scented dahlias?

 

Silent Sunday in Branscombe

Silent Snowy Sunday

Pictures taken last weekend.

Joining Cee’s Which Way Challenge

Snow, Ice and Guinness

Last weekend I went to Branscombe, Devon for a ‘Walk of Life’ workshop.

But

The Beast from the East was foretold and this Beast would clash with Storm Emma and cause all sorts of dire conditions

I wondered if the workshop would still take place, but Helen seemed very determined that it would go ahead so I decided to go a day early to get there before the worst of the weather was due to descend upon us.

I got there just in time, as just a couple of hours after I was cosily ensconced in Nestlecombe, the walk across the road to the Masons Arms was getting icy and the village was soon to be cut off for all except farm vehicles.

In the pub I found a log fire, a warm welcome and a handsome young French bartender. I ordered mushroom soup and Guinness… I do love a draught Guinness.In his strong French accent, the bartender asked me what I was doing in Branscombe.

“I’m here for a dance workshop on the beach,” says I

“I was not expecting that!” he said, we laughed!

After lunch, while the storm raged and the snow fell, I was snug back in my holiday let, happily watching ‘Shetland’ on iPlayer and doing some more of my Jurassic Coast blanket.

This is currently my go to project when I just want to do rows and not have to think too much about the pattern. Easy to do in front of the TV.

I laid it on the bed to see how it was coming along

Just coming up to half way.

Keeping to coastal colours in Stylecraft Special DK, 4.5mm hook and in Extended Moss Stitch, which I think is also called Linen Stitch.

The view from the bedroom window

After the snow came the freezing rain and on Friday walking anywhere was lethal – lethal but beautiful 

so I just had to get out there with the camera – luckily I had my walking stick and Snow Grips with me. I’ve had them for years and never used them before.

There was a crust of ice over everything

which made a wonderful crunchy sound as you made your way across it

I have never seen the effects of freezing rain before

this whole tree was encased in ice

The photos don’t really do it justice as the light was so low

the effect was spectacular

I thought the pub sign had a touch of ‘Daphne du Maurier’ about it.

and in the fields

so much beauty to be found

even the catkins were frozen

more icy photos to come …….

Click on any photo to see it larger.

(PS. I was the only one who turned up for the Workshop! Wimps! Ha!)

Now I’m going to pop over to Cathy’s for a good ol’ Knit and Natter Friday

Listen

No grief, no pining

I will be glad to be free

Of this old body

~

 

For Bluedaisyz Photo prompt: LISTEN

Another soothing take on ‘Listen’ by Cathy: and click here for Jamie’s avian photo.

Only slightly smaller than life-size this statue/sculpture is in a little pergola in Doreen’s garden in Branscombe, Devon

~

Allegory

Pine tree pines for cones

Dropping to the ground to grow

Not grief, just pining

~

And Ronovan’s Haiku Challenge: PINE and GRIEF (including a nature reference)

Go see this post by TJ –  but allow some time to really take a good look at the sunrise photo – just stunning! Click on it and see it much bigger with more detail – gorgeous!

And Olga’s Haiku takes my breath away, the sparkling picture and that last line ……..!

Next week’s photo prompt is ORANGE

WWAL: Doreen’s Garden and a Pub Lunch

For this week’s Wednesday Walk-Along: A return to Branscombe for a walk with a friend and time to fully appreciate Doreen’s garden. Branscombe is an extremely long village, sprawling along the sunny valley. From the Village Hall we walked up to the hill to the west towards the church. I was delighted to see this village still has a primary school.

The one in our village closed about 7 years ago – I miss the sound of the children at playtime.

Next you come to the church, of course I had to see the inside ….

 

 

 

…… and the needlepoint.

All the kings and queens of England are commemorated here. I just love the way each church has a design theme carried out by willing crafters. And this church still has the old box pews where the gentry used to sit to keep them safely separated from the hoi polloi. And an extraordinary structure for the pulpit, raising the speaker on high.

Then just a little further up the hill you are greeted by the delight that is Doreen’s Garden!with all sorts of quirky items to entice you in the garden is possibly nearly 2 acres filled with a bonkers mix of different styles and statues

A complete delight..

I didn’t get to meet Doreen, but I could sense her humour and her love for all living creatures, with poignant markers in the garden at random spots …the sculptures have obviously been in situ for some years….. I am always fascinated by the colour and texture of lichen – here an added twist!

I hope to come back again in late Spring to see how this garden is transformed by colour.

 

The garden is open every day, all that Doreen asks is that you make a donation to the Devon Air Ambulance Service, which of course we did – it would be interesting to know how much she has raised for them altogether.

We had a day of bright sunshine, cold breezes and snow flurries (back at the beginning of March) and headed on up through the village to the pub, as the sky darkened,

passing ancient cottages along the way and arriving at The Fountain Head just in time to watch the snow flakes fall whilst sitting by a warming fire.And continuing with Big Bros’s cushion cover, whilst waiting for our soup to arrive.

At this stage, it looks like a scarf, and the length is actually perfect for a scarf –  this is the Cosy Cal pattern that keeps on giving!

A walk discovering new places with a close friend, a quirky garden, sunshine, a pub lunch and time to sit and chat and crochet – all the ingredients for a heavenly day!

 

Here are a couple of other lovely UK walks to walk along with:

Walk along from Thornton Dale to Ellerburn with NanaCathy,

and near Southampton with RainbowJunkie

Wednesday Walk-Along Beer to Branscombe 1

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Set off by walking past the Anchor Inn, near the beach, and up the hill past the allotments. What a place to garden!!! Look West, and then look behind you to the East. The panorama is breathtaking.A first glimpse of the red cliffs of Devon.(more pictures in the slideshow)Decide whether to walk the undercliff (too boggy at this time of year) or take the high ground to the old Coastguard’s lookout with a Buddha now keeping watch from the upper window – and here the Buddha’s viewand on across the top to Branscombe ……. (to see the continuation of this walk click here)

Melissa and I started a Renga when I was in Devon and although we did not carry it on -( life sometimes takes over – and we do it for fun – no pressure) I wanted to record what we wrote, cos I like it as it is! And it refers to this very walk.

Melissa starts with her Haiku Challenge and we alternate the verses from there, if anyone else would like to pick this up and run with it you are very welcome:

On rare occasions                                                                                                                  I imbibe much and suffer                                                                                           Harsh headaches always

Away on a weekend break                                                                                          White wine for me, no headache

Sulphite free that wine                                                                                                  Must be, grapes sent from heaven                                                                                  To you in Devon

Walking on air along cliffs                                                                                           Clear head and cobalt sea drifts

Fresh air is the best                                                                                                  Remedy for my sore head                                                                                          Sleep? No! Walk instead

(addition in green! Melissa wrote the above next verse …. ah! now to see if the next couplet comes to me)

I love to include walks from other blogs here too, so we can all wander round the world together: this week join a delightful family walk with Alisa Burke, in Oregon, USA I would skip for joy if you put a link to your walk in the ‘Comments’, and if you don’t have blog, send me some pictures by email with a few words about your walk and they will appear in the next Wednesday Walk-Along. 😉