I’m sure that we are all familiar with the quote from Richard III.
But I have just spent the past week living it.
And I am here to report,
that once again,
Shakespeare knew what he was talking about!
“This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise
This fortress built by Nature for herself
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
This blessed plot,
this earth,
this realm,
this England.”
It kind of makes you wish that Shakespeare had traveled and written about every place on the earth, don’t it?
But this was his place, his home, his heart land — so even if he had I doubt that he would have written about any other place with so much pride and so much sincere love.
This is our place too. And we spent the last week with our people.
All of Jan’s extended Dawson family, gathered in Cumbria for a long weekend. It was truly heavenly.
There were walks, water fights, a treasure hunt, hours spent swinging on the orchard swing & building secret hideaways with the cousins, swimming in the lake, eating great food, there was lots of relaxing and talking and enjoying this beautiful, beautiful place.
The girls were in heaven.
Of course I have a bazillion more photos and I am still trying to figure out how to tell the full story of this week. But I also haven’t slept properly in over a week, have piles of laundry that are patiently waiting to be dealt with, two sick daughters and you know, all the other responsibilities that come with daily living.
So, for now, I am afraid, this will have to suffice.
June 8th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Can’t wait to hear all about it!
June 9th, 2010 at 6:54 am
When I look at this I have to a remind myself, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s life.”
June 9th, 2010 at 6:55 am
That last comment was from me.
June 9th, 2010 at 6:59 am
I love how you used the Richard III quote and made each picture match it so beautifully, especially the last one, quintessentially English!! So glad you had such a lovely time – I think you will always be pleased you did it!! When can we chat again? Miss you!
June 9th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Lovely!
June 10th, 2010 at 6:11 am
Just one question…Can you take me next time? Gorgeous!!
June 13th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
“This blessed plot, this earth, this realm…this Boden Catalog.” Seriously, you’re trip looks like the Johnny B’s photographers/designers were right there with you, snapping photos, telling the little ones where to stand, etc. Will you tell the Jan Man that he’s getting better and better and the whole photographer thing? I mean that one photo of the kids by the tree is SO INCREDIBLE! It even surpasses old Johnny B – it’s so sophisticated and full of life. I’m totally blown away by it. You can blow up that photo and hang it by the bunk bed to up the cool factor, you know what I’m sayin? Also, I love, love, LOVE the one of you and Clara squeezing the guts out of each other! If I didn’t know that you were coming in a couple weeks, this post would just make me plain sad. But you are coming and I can’t wait to see you and the rest of Dawson clan!