Holiday Memories

Niki had a nice idea with her recent post about memories, so here are mine. Just a couple of years ago we had a wonderful holiday in New England. We stayed in Southern Vermont, in the town of Bennington (where the English were defeated by General Stark!!!) at a beautiful colonial clapboard house - complete with verandah which had a resident robin family (see photo).

Most of us have regular holidays to far flung places, but of all the countries we've visited this was the hardest place to leave. The people were wonderful, the scenery was breathtaking, the streets were clean and we felt so much at home there.

We crammed a lot into our 10 days - which felt like 10 weeks, we did so much! We met up with some friends from Pennsylvania, we visited the most enormous antiques fair at Brimfield MA, and experienced an evening at a 'traditional English pub' in upstate NY. We visited all the small towns we could and drove the 5 miles to the top of Mount Equinox. We delighted in seeking out the old covered bridges (who didn't shed a tear over 'The Bridges of Madison County' - both book and film!) We revelled in the beautiful old houses and the charming Dutch barns throughout MA.

When we came home we mused on the idea of living there. It's something we still talk about and as I type this I feel a really overwhelming sense of longing. Since our return, life has intervened in our plans - someone once said 'life is what happens when you're busy making plans'. How true. Still, we may yet return, be it for a holiday or to live there. Hope you enjoy the photos!

Shopping at Shepton!

Yesterday, I went to the first day of the DMG Antiques Fair at Shepton Mallet. The weather was horrible - heavy rain and winds which gave way to calmer - but colder!- weather later in the afternoon. Not one to be deterred, I managed to find some nice things to buy! I also met up with Sue of Vintage to Victorian, Niki of Nostalgia at the Stone House and Kelly of Vintage Lifestyle. Sue and Niki had stands at the fair and Kelly was doing the same as me - shopping!

Here are some of my buys. The bag is a beautiful creation of Niki's - lovely old floral barkcloth with a sumptuous satin lining - and a dramatic black rose for that final touch! Next, I just couldn't resist the 50's plastic clothes protector smothered in large pink roses - they certainly don't make 'em like that these days!

The impulse buy of the day was made just ten minues before the gates closed! On our way out, I spied a beautiful Victorian prie dieu - a French prayer chair (hope my spelling is correct!) Amongst many other things, I also collect vintage tapestries and embroideries and this just called out to me! Shown with it, are some of my old tapestry items, including a Victorian cushion with roses and a shell in the design. Now my main concern is how to deter my cat from exercising her claws on it..!