I'm sorry to have had this time lapse for my friends and readers. My daughter and I have been on the go since we arrived in the Cotswolds. This is one of my favorite places on earth. The villages are all so picturesque, exactly how I imagine England in Jane Austin's time. And oh the gardens are heavenly. The Brits mesh formality with the wildness I so love. Everywhere I see treasures of the most magnificent climbing roses, fushia, hollyhocks, and delphiniums taller than me! And around each corner the views open up into breath taking vistas. Tia and I have been strolling through National Trust gardens, Exploring magnificent country estates, taking long hikes on circular footpaths through the rolling countryside with sheep pastures and haunting forests, and eating local dishes in atmospheric English pubs.
And yes I've been painting and sketching but not as much as I had hoped. I am, however, soaking in every minute of this inspiring visit and collecting a wealth of references and ideas for future paintings. Here is a little sketch of the sweet little cottage, we first stayed at, in Dyrham Park. They call these historical tiny homes ‘chocolate boxes' here!