Sevenoaks, Knole, and Wakehurst

Tuesday after breakfast, Connor drove us to the Sevenoaks Sainsbury's where Grammy made some purchases from everyone's sweets-request list. We made a stop in the center of Sevenoaks for a few things from Holland & Barrett, and while we were there we visited M&S for some purchases, including some chocolate-chunk shortbread squares, wouldn't you know? Knole House was nearby and we visited the gardens and house. I showed pictures of the house in my history class for years, and at last got to visit in the flesh. It is quirky and rambles, with three galleries. The gardens are a bit wild, but charming nonetheless. Connor drove us several miles west and then south past the London Temple to Wakehurst Place, another English Renaissance house that sits in the center of a HUGE and wonderfully maintained garden. The estate is now an arm of Kew, and is in my mind, every bit as nice, maybe nicer. The house has some of its original bits, and some rooms that look like classrooms and offices at a university -- kind of 1960s drab.

Sainsbury's

 In preparation for our return to the US of A

Sevenoaks

 Charming Sevenoaks

 Wonderful shops and public spaces

 KBT headed to M&S

Hanging flower baskets all along Sevenoaks High Street

Knole

 Knole sits in an immense park of rolling hills and forests

 Rounded Flemish gables are typical of the English Renaissance

 Kris and Connor

 Sampling wild blackberries

The vegetables made me think of Anna

 I really do love a stone wall

 Enclosed garden with a tower in the distance

Knole has been home to the Sackville family since

the time of Elizabeth I

 Textbook example of an English-Renaissance staircase

 Photography not allowed, but....

 The bed curtains are being restored -- the other textiles will follow

London Temple

 A quick dash around the London Temple grounds on the 

way to Wakehurst Place

 The late summer flowers are beautiful

Wakehurst Place

 Wakehurst is a fine example of an English-Renaissance house

 I think this staircase is splendid, too

 It features a screen (upper-left part of photo above) rich with 

English-Renaissance detail: arcades, strapwork, and pilasters

 A most unusual mantel piece

 Expansive and beautiful gardens

 Ditto

 A view back from the gardens

 English flower borders are so fine

 Walled gardens always make me think of The Secret Garden

 Everything seems to grow with such ease

 And the color palette is fantastic

One way in, one way out

 I can't see wattle without thinking of Uncle

 A beautiful carpet of cyclamen in the shade of huge trees

A lovely day! Thanks to Connor for his good management.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Pub Lunch

Monday Matt and Kim thought that lunch at The Spotted Dog Pub would be a good remedy for cabin fever. The pub sits on the side of a ridge along the bottom of the Weald of Kent. The view north is toward Penshurst Place, the house with the very fine original great hall with hammer-beam ceiling. So we hopped in two cars and headed south and then east from Edenbridge. Kent is so beautiful it makes my heart hurt. The view of fields, forests, and vistas is incredible. Pictures do not do it justice.

 The tunnel-like Kent roads are wonderful

 Road-side pub

 I have always been taken with pub-sign graphics

The building dates back to the 15th century

 Tall guys have to stoop

 Dining spot with a view

 The Weald of Kent framed by trees

 Penshurst in the distance

 Penshurst Church and House

 Inside Penshurst, October 2012

 A delicious meal

 Baked Camanbert with sweet chili jam: wonderful

 Very fine fish and chips

 Lamb with mash

 Banoffee cheescake: exquisite

Rooftops and church spire of Edenbridge from 

Waitrose on the way home

Brig stares fixedly at Aunt Kris

This was a really fun outing. We finished the day with some pulled pork sandwiches and a screening of A Knights Tale.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

The Weekend

This weekend was spent close to home helping with young man, making supper, and trying to be useful in other ways. I did get out for a few minutes with Conner on a trip to Morrison's in Oxted. We were in search of infant formula and some bread for supper. The roads around here are so beautiful that it is always a joy to go on an errand. Sunday I went to church with Matt and Conner. It was actually a very nice testimony meeting: no craziness, just affirmation that this is a good way to live, and that family binds us together even when not all are members or active. The expressions of gratitude and family solidarity resonated with me. I'm glad I went. For Sunday dinner we all pitched in to make sukiyaki. It was delicious. Late afternoon, I spent some quality time in the back garden playing ball with Nashi and watching airplanes make their approach to Gatwick. Matt introduced me to an app that tracks flights and identifies the planes. As Anna noted in a text exchange, it is my "dream app."

 Wensleydale and Stilton cheese make a delicious Saturday lunch

The trip to Morrison's is a treat

 East Grinstead Ward Chapel

 Ready to cook

 An Asian market sells the thin-sliced beef

 Delicious!

 Sometimes I am a major disappointment to Nashi

 The one just south of me (blue dot) is the one I can see

I think Nashi gave up

All in all, a pleasant weekend. When Kim gets a diagnosis (hopefully tomorrow), we will know better how we will spend our last few days here.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.