Enjoying English Air and Rain and Sunshine

A photo I took of the Climbing Roses at Hever Castle

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I know it's been a long while since I posted.  I promised something from England, and even though it's easy enough to tell stories of our experiences, I am having problems getting my photos to load from my iPad to my blog ... and we all know stories about one's travels are best with accompanying pictures.

So I will save the real posting until I get back and share lots of pictures then. Just so you know, we are having a lovely time -- lovely being a very English word. We just completed a six-day tour of English country gardens and homes with Flora Garden Tour and it was quite delightful. Lots of walking. Lots of gorgeous roses and parks and trees and fabulous architecture. Lots of breaks for tea and cakes.

We've been stationed in Royal Tunbridge Wells -- a delightful town with lots of history.  Well, to think of it, what part of England wouldn't have history that goes back a long, long way. Tomorrow we head by train to London where we will be for a few days.  We are doing a one - day tour of Highclere -- Downton Abbey country. Then we begin a 17-day geological tour that will take us a few eons back into time, geologically speaking. On this part of our trip, we'll be visiting Cornwall and I'm looking forward to meeting up for tea with one of our blogging friends, Elizabethd. 

For those of you who Facebook, I invite you to join me on my Facebook page, because I have no problems loading photos there.  My name there is listed as Bren Leyland ... Ask to be a Friend as my page is not public.  

I'm off now ... 

Wishing you a beautiful summer,

Hugs,

Brenda

xox

Five On Friday: A Few Favourites for Canada Day

1. CELEBRATING CANADA DAY
WITH A CUP OF TEA

 From Pinterest

 

2. A FAVOURITE
SUMMERTIME SALAD

Mango and Sweet Bell Pepper Salad

1 ripe mango (or 2 nectarines), peeled, sliced or small chunks

1 sweet red pepper, cored and seeded, sliced into matchstick-size pieces

1/3 cup diced sweet onion

1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley)

1 tbsp lime juice (or lemon)

1 tbsp vegetable oil

dash hot pepper sauce

Put the prepared mango, red pepper, and chopped cilantro into a bowl.

Add onion, lime juice, oil and hot pepper sauce.

Stir gently.

This salad goes great with grilled steak.

3. MORE OF THE FRAGRANT MOCK ORANGE
IN FULL BLOOM

4. NEW TOTE BAG TO CARRY WATER, SUNSCREEN, CHOCOLATE,  WRITING AND SKETCHING MATERIALS, CHOCOLATE, CAMERA, CHOC...

5. FIREWORKS MUSIC

 Unsplash.com / Andrey Larin

It seems nearly impossible to have a celebration without fireworks to round off a beautiful summer's eve, now doesn't it? I recently found something that might be fun -- a list of the 50 most popular songs people have recommended to go with fireworks.

 

Included in that list are a few personal favourites, including Music for Royal Fireworks by Handel, Chariots of Fire by Vangelis, Star Wars Theme, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, Zadok the Priest, to name a few. You might find your own favourites listed here.

Wishing my fellow Canadian a Happy Canada Day

and everyone a beautiful July ahead,

Brenda

xox

PS Next post will be from England

Joining with Amy at Five on Friday