Sunday 27 January 2008

Time out..

This weekend started with a whimper and ended with a whimper..in fact there were no bangs to be heard apart from my head imploding today as I embarked on packing my recent card orders into numerous cardboard boxes ready to be shipped to London tomorrow morning.. As I counted the orders out and packed each one into a separate box I had an uneasy feeling that I had miscalculated my production ...and so it was.. the final count should have been 1036 cards and I ended up with 1060 cards..
Either this meant that I had left some out of certain boxes or that I had made too many.. At this point I have to admit that I was close to tears.. this final stage of the whole process was most unwelcome on today of all days.. when the sun was shining outside and I could hear the world going about it's recreation whilst I spent several hours rearranging boxes to fit into one large container...
Well now I can say.. it is done and dusted and a huge weight has been lifted from my mind... I set myself a deadline and I met it... but I think next time I must learn to pace myself because my nerves are shredded and my family have talked about leaving home.. due to the psychotic tendencies I have shown over this past week..

On a much brighter note...
Yesterday I wanted to salvage some of our weekend together and so we headed off to the fantastic National Trust Estate of Stourhead in Wiltshire...It is a magnificent house and parkland designed by Capability Brown.. the finest landscaper of the British countryside.
The sun shone through and despite the protestations of my darling 13 year old son.. who would much rather have remained welded to his computer for the day.. we all had a thoroughly enjoyable walk around the lake and woodland of this fabulous landscaped setting..
The snowdrops carpeted the slopes and rhododendron flowers were bursting into blossom...magnolia buds waiting their turn.
Spring really felt as though it had sprung already.. despite the nippy wind blowing.




Snowdrops galore..


Must return soon to see these Magnolia buds opening..


One of the finest examples of Palladian architecture to be found in the pavilion next to the lake


Now I could happily move in here..today?


Lovely mossy bowers cloaked with ferns..


This brief outing was the perfect antidote to a very stressful week and it managed to recharge my batteries so that I could face the final onslaught today.

I hope that you have all managed to have a restorative weekend and I look forward to catching up with you all in good time..XX

18 comments:

Garden Girl said...

Beautiful photos- I especially like the tree in bud against the backdrop of the sky- very arty!
Hopefully you will be able to relax even more over the coming week after your card crisis!x

Ragged Roses said...

I'm so glad for you that it's all over, you must be so pleased to have met that deadline, what a feeling of euphoria. I can really understand that close to tears feeling when you are just so tired of something and you fear you've got to do it all over again! Glad you were able to grab some of this wonderful weekend weather, it is so great to be outside. Hope you've got lots of wonderful plans for a badge-free week ahead
Kimx

Curlew Country said...

Oh well done Michelle. Stourhead looks fabulous. Not many snowdrops up here yet but I'm feeling springy too. You watch it go and sleet for a week now I've gone and said that!
Stephx

Kristen Beason said...

Hello~
I enjoyed your beautiful photographs. I hope to make it to England someday :+) No signs of spring here for at least two more months, so it gave me something to look forward to...
Have a good week,
Kristen

Nonnie said...

So pleased to hear that you've got it all packed up and ready to go. I'm glad you managed to have a relaxing day at Stourhead too. It's somewhere I've always wanted to visit and looks totally stunning in that sunshine. Wasn't the weather just gorgeous this weekend? I was at Mum and Dads and it really did feel that Spring was in the air. Definitely good for energy and mood boosting.

Tracy said...

So glad the big work load is done! And that you still have a shred of sanity left--brave girl! So glad you were able to salvage the weekend. Stourhead is gorgeous...It's on our list to-see next time we're in England, which with luck may be this summer! Hope you week will be a good one, and you can relax after last week's stress. Take care ((HUGS))

Felicia said...

What a beautiful tour. Thank you for sharing it :)

Anonymous said...

We love stourhead too and always go there in the autumn. Those trees are amazing aren't they?

Rubyred said...

Hi Michelle,well done on the completion of your order!I bet you're so relieved.Love the photo's,what a lovely place!

bj said...

Fabulous posting, my dear! Here is hoping this coming week will be less stress and more fun for you!
hugs, bj

Anonymous said...

My boys always bemoan the fact that they are forced to leave their infernal machines to go on family outings but they soon forget all about them and usually end up having a wonderful time.
Carolyn
http://willowhouse.typepad.com

Cape Cod Washashore said...

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! Magnolia buds!!!! Snowdrops!!!! Magnificent views with even more magnificent architecture! Would you like some snow to add to the mix - we have more than enough! =)

Jane said...

well done with the order.
Magnolias against the skies are one of my favourite things - we had a magnolia in our old garden -it was the plant I found hardest to leave,
J
x

Anonymous said...

That looks gorgeous... Glad you got some respite from the hard slog. Well done for meeting your deadline, you must have gone like the clappers!x

Connie from Beverly Hills California said...

Sounds like you have had a very buy time!! I enjoyed my visit as always!! Connie

Chelle said...

Yay! You must be so glad to have that order out of your hands. I love the pictures. It seems so funny to me that its green and budding there when I just keep getting buried in snow here. lol

Hopefully now you get to take a little break and really breathe. And you really must go back when the magnolias blossom. They smell so wonderful, don't they?!

Hugs from one frazzled woman to another!

A Saucerful Of Secrets said...

You poor thing!! but hey, you did it, you are clever.....I think you've earned the opportunity to play around a bit don't you?Why don't you treat yourself to a nice coffee and cake in one of those lovely cafe's down there in Bath? wish I could do the honours :(
Best Wishes from Annie x

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

This has been a delightful visit through the countryside! Love! that house! I can see why you would want it...just spectacular! Reminds me of the movie Miss Potter where she bought a house on a farm. Too cute!

I am intrigued with the gardens and how perfect they are. I want to go to England sooooo bad!

Glad you had a wonderful day out - a much needed retreat, I know!

xo
Becky