Feeling blessed.. Feeling rushed..Feeling a bit guilty too

To my long suffering and very loyal readers, thank you.. I have been consistent with my blogs for so long and then have fallen in a heap.

 I apologise for this break in transmission, but assure you that normal programming will reappear shortly.

So much has happened in this short time since coming back from the Camino, all great, I can assure you; but it has meant that we have been traveling round alot and that much of the time I haven't had good internet connection - or the time to commit to writing a blog. Those following the kids blogs will also see that theirs have been very flaky too.

I have a number of blogs in 'draft' format, so will attempt to compete them and publish all in one hit.

I do keep a photographic diary - so if all else fails, pop on over to instagram   - http://instagram.com/anniemmitchell

Painting of two worlds at Melford Hall, Suffolk

No sooner than the guide told me the name of this painting and the artist, than I forgot it. However, the story that goes with it stuck with me and one I felt I must tell.

The painting is hung over the fireplace in the children's dining room in Melford hall. Its fascinating as it was painted in two halves, but different artists. 

The couple on the bridge are the focal point. The husband points towards the light - where people are having fun, skating, chatting and going places. The mood is airy and free with plenty of space and movement. 

As we are drawn towards where the wife is pointing, the mood darkens with the colours and stoic forms of the church and government buildings. The people going to church are slouched and seem to trudge through the environment. 

Michael and I stood and commented on details we picked up in the painting for a good half an hour. the more you look into it, the more tiny and significant symbols you pick up.

Melford Hall

From the outset, this National Trust place captures all that it is to be grand.. and old.. and stately. 

It dates back into the 1500s and was originally a monastic hunting lodge. It has been owned by the same family since 1780s and they still live in part of it!

One of the most fabulous things about Melford Hall is its connection to Beatrix Potter.  I got a little silly and excited when I began to see all the hand drawn pcitures she had left as gifts for the children of the family and was giddy when I saw the original Jemmia Puddle Duck.

Melford Hall is set, as most are, amongst grassland filled with grazing sheep. Its only open in the afternoons and allows visitor to wander the paddocks with their dogs.

It houses rare Tudor Paintings as well as many of Beatrix Potters water-colours. 

The curved library is a beautiful display of how building can be refurbished and extended over the years and still retain a fascinating theme.  The room was built on so that there could be extra room upstairs and had to incorporate curves and large columns. 

This is the pond that Beatrix Potter sat and sketched her original Jeremy Fisher story book. ( small sqwee here)

This is the original wall of Mr McGreggors Garden. ( Noted in both Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny books)