In the Mews!

 

 

It's been weeks since I've written a post! So much going on. We've been busy sprucing-up the garden and our deck, (more on that to come!), as well as planning a trip to Paris!

 

In the meantime, not sure if you are familiar with a 'mews' house. Essentially, the 'mews' house is where the chauffer used to live above the garage or 'carriage house' located behind the towering upper middle class to upper class townhouses of London.  I think this would be my preferred style of housing in London for many reasons: quiet back lane streets, privacy, and off-street parking - practically unheard of in London!  In my mind, the value is incredible. And for a cool 4 to 8 million GBP, one of these could be yours... :) Truly still a bargain in London.  

 

 

 

 

This last one is my favorite!!

Easter Yellow

 

 

There is no more surer sign of spring than a bounty of yellow blooms and handsome birdlife.  (Even if photo-bombed by a pigeon). Yellow is the most uplifting color this time of year. Even on a dreary day in London, daffodils bursting with the deep yellow flowers brighten-up all of St. James's park. These photos are from last month, so by now, London is bursting with green foliage.

 

~ Happy Easter! Hope you're enjoying a beautiful Easter Sunday. ~

 

 

London Refresh

With a few things to celebrate, we returned to our favorite city for some greenery and a refreshing (and luxurious!) break. How lovely it was to be surrounded by daffodils, crocuses and cherry blossoms. The luxury of our South Kensington hotel was the icing on the cake. 

 

 

 

 

It is still winter at it's worst here in Calgary, so I am missing London already. Until next time!

 

~

Blooms for the Winter Blues

 

I'm in desperate need of a reprieve from winter! Thank goodness warmer weather is apparent! It is difficult to believe that this gorgeous wintry wonderland  our city has become, will eventfully emerge into greenery and blossom in a few months time. 

 

I've filled the house with the floral scent of Jo Malone's 'Orange Blossom' candles and have been taking a look back at my photos of local gardens in summer; as well as some bountiful blooms from our vacations over the past few years - has been very therapeutic! (Please take note, these are my original photographs!)

 

Can you guess where these locations are? See the answer key at the end of this post...

 

 

 

Winter has taken hold all over the globe it seems!.....

 

~ Wishing you warm and sunny days ahead! ~

 

 

From the top: Our back garden, Calgary; Holborn, London; St. James's, London; Lougheed House, Calgary, ; Colony Palms Hotel, Palm Springs; Bistro Jeanty, Yountville; South Beverly Hills, Los Angeles; Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; Rosendahl Palace, Stockholm; Memorial Park, Calgary; Botanical Gardens, Sydney; Reader Rock Garden, Calgary.

 

Kensington Palace Grounds

 

Five years ago exactly, on Friday, April 29th, 2011, we woke up to my alarm set for 3:00AM to watch the wedding of William and Catherine 'live' with tea and scones in hand (naturally).

Their London home, Kensington Palace, is always one of my favorite places to visit. I never tire of the beautifully kept grounds, architecture and activities taking place around the palace. So, in hopes of bringing out your inner anglophile, I leave you with some lovely images of Kensington Palace.



 

 

~Enjoy this gorgeous spring day!~

Being Georgian

I'm captivated by the Georgian period so when we stumbled upon Dr. Samuel Johnson's Georgian home at 17 Gough Square in London, we just had to go inside! The 300 year old townhouse is just as it would be when Dr. Johnson lived there.  Dr. Johnson was a writer and lexicographer, and among many other things,  is known for writing the first dictionary.

 

‘...when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life’.

 

 - Dr. Samuel Johnson



 

 

 

 

On the second floor of the house was a dress-up station to try the Georgian wigs and period style clothing. We laughed while we dressed up as Georgians. The wigs and clothing were very heavy!

 

Dr. Johnson had great affection for his cat, 'Hodge'. This cat was so important to the doctor, that he frequently walked down to the fishmonger along the Thames himself  to buy oysters for Hodge.  There is a charming bronze tribute to Hodge in Gough Square depicted with his oysters.

'..but he is a very fine cat, a very fine cat indeed'

 

- Dr. Samuel Johnson

There is beautiful photography of the house on the website. Far better than what I have captured here, of course. Please have a look!