I Dream of England (Queen Elizabeth I and II, Chatsworth, Led Zeppelin and Swinging London)
Those of you who know me well, along with those of you whom I have met through my blog, know of my dream to see England in all of its beauty. I don't mean a two week trip to London...I mean a real view of England. And all of Great Britain for that matter. Ever since I was a little girl, when the other girls my age were dreaming of pageant dresses, tiaras and Donny Osmond, I can remember sitting for hours with some books that my grandmother kept in the bookcase at the end of the hall next to my bedroom door. I can't remember the names of the books, but I remember that they were all about flowers. My grandmother was such a gardener, and I have inherited her love of the same. The books' focus was roses, so as one can imagine, there was page after page of English gardens. I remember thinking that there couldn't possibly be places so beautiful...that the photos had to be staged, on a set somewhere. Cottages with doors and windows with climbing roses, rock walls that lined old roads that can only be referred to as "lanes" in Great Britain. I remember removing the books and taking them to my room and keeping them on the table in the corner between my twin beds...bedspreads covered in big yellow, green, black and white flowers. And the table had a built in 8 track stereo. I thought I was the coolest kid on the block.
My love of all things British eventually turned me into what my daughter Sarah considers an almost unbearable Anglophile. She has informed me on more than one occasion, "Mom, I could never go with you to England...everything would be a life changing moment and I just don't know if I could take being with you if you saw the Queen." I think she decided it was official that I had a serious problem when I found one of my most prized possessions on Ebay and couldn't purchase it fast enough: Smelling salts from the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It came in the original leather pouch with the "HRH" insignia and is in beautiful condition. I also have an original school photograph of the Queen from the age of around 10. Another original photograph of the Queen riding one of her prized ponies as a child...the list is endless! My good friend Ann, whom I met poolside at a hotel in Sorrento, Italy several years ago, lives in Manchester, England. She and her mum were in London a few weeks back and actually saw the Queen in an unannounced public moment. Ann said her mum cried, and then Ann's first thought was of me, knowing that I would have cried right along with her mother. I know that, in some circles, it is no longer popular to be so enamored with the Royals, but in my heart, their sense of duty, history and tradition only make me admire them more. I know all the obvious negative thoughts that easily come to mind...their money, the lifestyle that they were literally born into with extravagance that most of us can only imagine. But none of that matters much to me. I find them fascinating and hope that I always do, as it makes for such fun! I have two large bookcases in my bedroom, from Ballards Designs (love!) and they are overflowing with books on the royals, and all things British, from country houses in England, particular Chatsworth (every book ever published about this amazing country house) to the timeless interiors of cottages scattered throughout the countryside of Ireland. Books about British humor, British culture and what to ask and not ask while in England LOL! Oh, and did I mention that I own every single book ever published about Princess Di...I know, it's not like I'm bragging.
I had originally planned to head to Great Britain in 2013, but then postponed that date until 2014 because of the Olympics, knowing that even though the Olympics would certainly have made for even more wonderful things to see, the expense of being in an already outrageously expensive city while hosting the Olympics was just not what I had in mind. I wanted to go and stay long enough to take in every detail, everything...without the rush. For now, my trip has been postponed. In the meantime, I will dream of country roads that seem to go on forever, dream of bumping into Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, and him becoming so enchanted with me that he drops everything and pursues me endlessly throughout the country LOL...dream of being able to see up close and personal where Swinging London was born in the 60's, and see where the greatest music ever made was born. And to think there is now a royal baby on the way...maybe it's a good thing that I'm not there. William and Kate prefer, I'm sure, to have their child without intrusion from me. But I'm only across the pond...
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| Curtains and upholstery by Colefax and Fowler |
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| A dress by the late Alexander McQueen, England's greatest fashion designer and the greatest designer of his generation |
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| Balmoral, the Queen's favorite of all |
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| I snapped this photograph in downtown Atlanta about three years ago...this lovey gal was visiting from England and was wearing one terrific English hat! |
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| Perfect |
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| Love the wallpaper, the chair and especialy the tattered Union Jack throw pillow |
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| My dream Hollywood Honey, Daniel Craig - he makes me want to slap someone! |
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This postage stamp is actually a rug, from
Stamp Rugs Limited |
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| I have this beautiful pendant, courtesy of Etsy seller. Eizabeth Taylor, herself an English lass, is my all time favorite actress |
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| English Club Chair, torn and tattered...and perfect |
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| English interior...source unknown |
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| Through an English window...source unknown |
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| My pendant with a painting of Ann Bolyen, courtesy of Etsy seller |
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| I purchased this postcard from an Etsy seller in Ireland. I love theimage of the woman bringing the baby to the jail window to see its father. |
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| Purchased this pendant, with a silhouette of the Queen, made from an old vinyl record, from Etsy seller |
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| Another Etsy purchase, which only contributed to my Led Zeppelin obsession, courtesy of Etsy seller |
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| And again...what's better than a Union Jack ring? From Etsy seller |
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| And your point is? Well, yes I do love them. I purchased this silly button, which is pinned to my overnight duffle bag, from Etsy seller |
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| This lovely pendant is pinned to my bedside table lamp, courtesy of Etsy seller |
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| My favorite postcard, also purchased from the Irish Etsy seller |
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| I bought these cupcake decorations from Etsy seller, not knowing what I would do with them because I do not bake! I have them on my desk, where I can look and laugh at them whenever I feel like it |
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| Wore this one just last week...lots of compliments whenever I wear it, courtesy of Etsy seller |
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| A winding little river in the English countryside...source unknown |
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| from one of my favorite blogs, A Paper Mulberry |
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| Second only to Daniel Craig in the list of British movie hunks, Henry Cavill. Watch for him as the new Superman in the upcoming film. I like to drool over him in his role as Charles Brandon on Showtimes "The Tudors" |
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| I know...I really need to move into the 21st Century...I promise that I do listen to music that was made since 1979. But not much. |
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| This photo captured my interest...an abandoned swimming pool at a school in England...source unknown |
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| Marc Bolan, UK musician and songwriter, who died back in 1977 . He's like a Raphaelite painting |
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One of my favorite films, 2005's Pride and Prejudice...see my last post for
more on this wonderful film |
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| Chatsworth, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, considered England's most beautiful country house |
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| This scene of Elizabeth Bennet on the cliffs in the English countryside is more like a painting than a photograph |
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| Union Jack as art...source unknown |
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| The Queen with one of her Corgis as a young girl...source unknown |
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| From Rachel Ashwell's latest book...She's the Queen of my favorite style. |
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| The Cast of "The Tudors" - catch the reruns if you didn't see it the first go around...it's deliciously decadent |
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| More from A Paper Mulberry |
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