Sunday 13 April 2008

My heaven on earth..


I have been absent for a few days and now feel strangely nervous about writing this post..
Not that I have forgotten how to prattle on about this and that.. I do, however, feel as if I have left a party and now I am hoping to slip in quietly by the back door and hope that no-one has noticed that I just nipped out for a little fresh air.
I have been away to a little piece of heaven.. a place that holds great significance for me, has immense beauty and is my sanctuary.. and much as I would like to keep it to myself, I would dearly love to share this magical place with you as it really is nature at it's best!
When I was a child I would regularly travel with my family to Cornwall for the annual pilgrimage to the coast for the summer hols.. We would cross Dartmoor many times on these journeys and I had a strange love/hate feelings about the place.. I found it slightly menacing and strangely beautiful too.. The fear came from Dartmoor Prison which still exists today and is an imposing and bleak Victorian monument that dominates the area of Princetown. My imagination would run riot as we drove past this sinister building and I would conjure up the dark elements that lived within it's towering walls..
That was then and many years have passed ... now my overriding emotions of Dartmoor are ones of great admiration and a love of the raw beauty of the place. It still has elements of bleakness for me but the area that I have fallen for hook, line and sinker is the north east corner of the moor and an area around the much loved village of Drewsteington.
It is here that we escaped for a few days and met kindly folk and shared laughs and friendship with the delightful host of the B + B in the village.. The Old Inn.

On arriving in the village we soon headed off on our favourite walk along the River Teign at Fingle Bridge.. an area of outstanding beauty owned by The National Trust. We had the whole river walk to ourselves for at least an hour before we saw other walkers along the way..
It is a place I will return to time after time as with each season it brings new colours, sounds and sights of flora and fauna... It really is my little piece of heaven on earth.
Now we are home.. there is the inevitable mountain of washing and ironing to catch up with.. and some Cowboys & Custard product orders to be met.. so it's a different pace altogether this week though my memories of our escape to Devon are close to my heart.

I hope all is well with you and I will endeavour to catch up with all your news soon. XX

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

What gorgeous photographs, your "heaven on earth" is indeed v. lovely.
Carolyn
http://willowhouse.typepad.com

Anonymous said...

I can see exactly why you call it your heaven on earth Michelle, it looks divine, no wonder you were reluctant to return home. Lovely to see a new post from you , thank you for sharing those beautiful photos. Jackie Mx

Ragged Roses said...

Gorgeous photos Michele, we did notice you're absence and are glad you're back!!! Welcome home! I remember first visiting Dartmoor with a boyfriend when I was at University and my overriding memory was the prison too! But I also so remember running around on the moors and just wondering at the expanse of beauty, it is lovely there. So glad you had a good time
Kimx

Road Trip With Ruby said...

Hello...I've been enjoying your blog for some time now. I love the pictures of your scenic part of the world. I visited Bath a few years ago, and loved it. I hope to return one day...but til then, I'll pop in on you.

Tracy x said...

so glad you are o.k and so glad you are back x
speak soon
t x

Sea Angels said...

Hurrah!! you are back, and you have bought some heaven in the form of photographs with you. I can feel from your post just how very much this break has meant to you, your words just twinkle and sparkle with your joy at being there. Thanks for sharing, so pleased you enjoyed yourself.
Hugs Lynn
We all need treats to dream aboutxx

Sal said...

I'm so glad that you enjoyed your escape to Devon. Lovely pics Michele! Maybe, next time, you'll get to Exeter ;-)
Meanwhile, I am glad you are back home safe and sound. Sal;-)

Michael House said...

Beautiful post and pictures, very evocative, love the sheep!

Anonymous said...

your photos are breathtakingly GORGEOUS... debbie =)

Louise said...

Hi Michele, I had a day off blogging yesterday, although I did have a sneaky read of your post! Your breakaway was fun, and I hope the sun came out for you all. I remember always being terrified of Dartmoor Prison, to be quite honest I still don't like it. We drove through, a year or so back, and I just get such an awful feeling about the place, and goosebumps. The b&b looks lovely, and yet another one for my growing list of places to stay, I love the photos of times past in the village on their website. I like your photos too, you were very lucky to have got that shot of the rather dashing man, standing outside the b&b! x

Garden Girl said...

Oh it all looks fabulous!Beautiful photos and glad you had such a lovely time.
Lovely sheep, did you smuggle one home?!xxx

Curlew Country said...

My brother in law is from Dartmoor and keeps telling me how beautiful it is, now I can really see why. Beautiful place and an even more lovely looking B&B.
Lovely to see you back, glad you had a smashing time.
Stephx - I do love your spotty mac!

P. said...

Your blog makes me feel so much in England.

Lucy Bloom said...

Hi Michele, welcome back, you weren't gone that long really but time seems to get distorted in blogland where a day feels like a week, or is it the other way around, you know what I mean anyway. Looks like you had a fabulous time in a beautiful place, I can see why you would want to keep it a secret!
I managed to get to our local car boot this Sunday, it's not the best but I did find a few bits, so I was happy.
Yes, it's was fun dressing the mannequin, just wish it was so easy to dress myself, in fact I'm not so sure I want that kind of competition in the house!!!
Have a good week,
Lucy x

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Carol said...

Welcome back from your little piece of heaven Michele,
Such a beautiful place, all so fresh and green. This is a lovley time of year for a holiday.
I love the bleakness too! oh and you did sent me the link...I remembered when I saw the photo.
Speak 'real' soon I hope!!!
Carol xx

Pretty Practicals said...

Ooh, it looks such a beautiful place to recoup some energy and inner peace. Thank you for sharing your special place with us.
Hope that 'hectic' doesn't arrive back with you too soon and that you can enjoy the benefit of the break for a few more days to come.
With love, Liz

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hello Michelle! Welcome back!
What beautiful pictures! I enjoyed learning about this lovely and interrewsting place. I can see why you call it your "heaven on earth." I love the song too --one of my favorites!

Hugs, Pat

Cape Cod Washashore said...

Oh Michele! That truly IS heaven on earth! How fortunate you are to live so close to these beautiful, unspoilt places!

bj said...

WELCOME BACK! and thank you for sharing these lovely pics with us. I am so glad you had such a great time!
hugs, bj

bj said...

Is Bath a large city? I have a cousin and wife that live there...she is a dentist. and has some sort of dental clinic there....of course, I've never been to England.

Twiggy said...

That looks heavenly, glad you had such a nice time
Twiggy

Tracy said...

It does look like a piece of heaven there...glad you had a grand time, Michele! Happy Days to you all ((HUGS))

Amy Sullivan said...

Oh Michele, that was so lovely, thank you. I would go and want to stay... as I am sure you do, but at least you get to go :). amy

Ally Jay said...

Stunning photos. Thanks for sharing

cd&m said...

Beautiful pictures of a beautiful part of England.

LiLi M. said...

And...did you already 'acclimatized' to your usual surroundings? Mustn't been easy coming from heaven, as those pictures of yours really look divine.

I always wonder...why do the British always use those lovely materials, even your landmarks look great (and old). Here such a landmark should have been made of white plastic and it looks like white plastic too. One shouldn't overlook such a landmark, you see :-}

Joanna said...

You look like you have had a great break. Its always hard to and good all at once to come home again. More captain ruperts soon, I rather enjoying making my captain rupert ideas real, so pleased people liked him. Hope your getting through the washing and orders!

Alexa Lett said...

Inviting pictures!!! Back to the grind!

Sandra Evertson said...

Beautiful!
Sandra Evertson
P.S.
Love your Ironing piece! Fabulous!

JuicyFig said...

wonderful photos! and now everytime you log on to your blog, there is a reminder for you!

Kath
x

Anonymous said...

Michele, your photos of Drewsteignton are gorgeous... I MUST get there! Glad to here you had a nice break xx