Day with Jane

What was our day trip today? Well let me tell you! First we went to Stourhead... the most beautiful landscape gardens in England! It was sunny so we were thinking it would be warm because the two usually go together...not the case. It was deceivingly cold and if wind didn't exist it would have been a perfect day for weather. But it was close to perfect, so I'm not complaining! This is the view that greeted us as we came around the corner, I could've stayed in that spot all day. All the green landscape (ignore the dead brown trees in the distance) reminded me so much of the Northwest...I miss all the evergreens so much! Being here today was like a breath of fresh air getting to be surround by trees and getting to walk on the trail, I can't wait for more once I'm back!

This is the view from a little cave we found, I think this was my favorite spot in the gardens.

I was so excited to be in the woods I tried to climb a tree...it was a little slippery though so I didn't get as far up as I planned...

Here you see the Rotunda, it's modeled after the Pantheon in Rome. You can't see the round part from the front (who knows why you'd want to hid that with the triangular pediment...architects...) but you can from the side! What a beauty.

The temple of Apollo! Now if you're wondering if this is the same temple of Apollo as in Pride in Prejudice (the new one) where Mr. Darcy proclaims his love...it is. And if you're wondering if that's scaffolding in the back...I think you can figure that out for yourself.

I just loved this door, it was in the front of one of the first buildings we passed. There are so many unique doors I've seen and I want to take pictures of them all! Is that weird?

Our next stop was Jane Austen's house, a cute little cottage! This is where she lived with her mom and sisters. We got to watch a dvd and everything in the learning center of the house so we were well educated about her life before we went in to see it! So exciting. I didn't know she was that young when she died, only forty one years old! She accomplished so much in her short lifetime though. Here I am in her front yard...what a nice little street sign! If you pull out a magnifying glass you can see the "Jane Austen's House" on the top of it.

Here's the actual house, I could imagine her living here. I look a little out of place...like an American tourist.

Her writing desk was tiny, I don't know how she worked on that little thing. I can't imagine writing novels by hand using a quill and ink either! I'm so impressed and in awe with authors who did that...we have it so easy these days!

The bedroom she shared with her sister, very quaint...I like it!

We ended the day with a visit to the Winchester Cathedral, where Jane Austen is buried. Her simple grave is inside. This cathedral has the longest nave in England, and of course it's beautiful! Cathedrals have become one of my favorites parts about being here.

I don't know why, but there was some art on display inside. I'm happy though, because I loved them! This one is a mosaic made out of bread! Real bread! I love creative people.

The best part about day trips: Listening to my ipod while looking out the window at the English countryside. My happy music that evokes so many memories combined with green fields and sheep makes me smile on the inside...and outside.