Friday, March 27, 2020

Five On Friday + Two: Oxford in the Springtime

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life


“The snow has not yet left the earth, but spring is already
asking to enter your heart. If you have ever recovered from
a serious illness, you will be familiar with the blessed state
when you are in a delicious state of anticipation, and are liable
to smile without any obvious reason. Evidently that is what
nature is experiencing just now. The ground is cold, mud and
snow squelches under foot, but how cheerful, gentle and inviting
everything is! ...The trees are bare, but they are already living and breathing.”
ANTON CHEKHOV, The Exclamation Mark


The snow has not yet left the earth around here, but spring is definitely tapping on our heart's door. We woke to snow the other morning. It's not abnormal to get the stuff in late March or even in early April, but I am w-a-i-t-i-n-g for that welcome sound of trickling water as snow piles melt. Hubby's been acclimatizing the Peace Rose by bringing her out into the sunshine on warmer days. It's a hopeful sign.

Have been looking through our photos from our 2017 spring visit to Oxford, England. Can't believe it's been three years already. I so loved our visit then, and I hope you don't mind a revisit of these favourites.


ONE

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life
Oxford Botanic Garden


TWO

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life
Oxford Botanic Garden


THREE

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life
Oxford Botanic Garden


FOUR

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life
In New College Garden


FIVE

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life
Along Addison's Walk  in Magdalen College grounds

How fortuitous is this! A fellow just posted a 20-minute video taking a morning stroll along Addison's Walk. It's the very same walk we took the day we visited. And, I think I see the spot where I took the photo above! How cool is that. Now I feel more than a little homesick catching sight of this familiar view, especially when I hear all the birds singing and the crunch of gravel underfoot. I want to be there.

As I say, it's about 20 minutes long, but if you feel housebound and you've got time to relax, let's go for a virtual walk -- we can enjoy the sights and sounds together.


+ one

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life
The Fellows' Garden in one of the colleges

"To sit in the shade (sun) on a fine day and look upon
verdure is the most perfect refreshment."
JANE AUSTEN



+ two

Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life
Holywell B & B


* * *


Wishing you a beautiful day. See you Monday.

Heart Hugs,
Brenda
xox




14 comments:

  1. Brenda, I pulled the video off on my desktop to watch during my afternoon rest, and I thank you for it! And for your pictures of your trip to Oxford. My favorite Dorothy Sayers mysteries took place in Oxford and I adore the two PBS mysteries that take place there, my senior memory bringing a blank to their names, is it Inspector Morse and Endeavor? Anyway, I bet you know what I'm talking about.

    That large urn in your pictures, can you imagine having such a beauty in your garden? It's one of those that blogger Tara Dillard says is just as beautiful as a focal point empty as when planted. And the Chekhov quote is spot on! Spring is like recovering from a serious illness. And especially poignant during this scary time of history.

    Good health and happiness to you,
    Dewena

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  2. What beautiful photos! Hope your snow melts soon.

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  3. Lovely thoughts of spring. I seem to be very busy these days all alone in my own humble abode. Your journey down memory lane was most enjoyable and, when I get a chance this afternoon with my cup of tea, I’ll return for the walk about.

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  4. Its been six years since I was in Scotland, and I miss it. Deeply.

    I'm going to try to watch the video this afternoon!

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  5. Spring is definitely tapping on my heart's door! Can't wait for green grass and budding trees and warm breezes! Your Oxford pictures are very cheering. The Chekhov quote certainly encapsulates this time we are living in. A good reminder others before us have lived in dreadful, perilous times too and somehow the world keeps turning and life somehow continues on and spring does come!

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  6. Such beautiful scenes here on your Five on Friday! Lovely memories for you, I'm sure!

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  7. Maybe when this is all over you will be able to come over again and stroll those beautiful walks.

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  8. I very much enjoyed this stroll through Oxford via your photos, Brenda. I haven't yet looked at the video. Remembering happier times is good, and gives us hope that happy times will come again. Spring is on the way!

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  9. I spent some time this morning cleaning out my little herb bed & planting seeds. I hope I'm not too early but I'm so anxious for things to start growing. Our last frost date is about two weeks out so fingers crossed.

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  10. trips, photos and scrapbooks are full of so many fun experiences so are blogs...thanks for sharing

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  11. So lovely, Brenda. I hope that you are staying well and safe.
    Amalia
    xo

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  12. Thank you for the lovely images, Brenda.

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  13. Brenda your photos just make me want to go take that walk. The spring flowers are just lovely...so glad you shared these pictures from your lovely trip three years ago. It cheered my heart to see them. Thank you!

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo