boobs and brass

A few evenings before Christmas the village arranged for the ladies brass group Boobs and Brass to come to our village, Thorpe Waterville, for an evening of caroling.

The village green has been flooded so the owners of Thorpe Castle House were kind enough to hold the festivities in their barn (some castle wiki).

Since the day we moved in we have been curious about that massive property behind big iron gates just a few houses down.  And on the fourth night of living in our village we were able to peek their property.

It was nice to show our faces to the other residents of the village, enjoy mince pies and mulled wine, win a panettone in the raffle, and fa la la la la, la la la la.



walking through the iron gates

the barn

putting a face to a name

We moved into our cottage on Monday.  The movers came Monday afternoon with our belongings that were shipped from the states.  The past four days have been filled with boxes and painfully removing stickers from the bottom of wedding china.  (Why do you do that Crate and Barrel and Williams-Sonoma?)

I wanted to share a few photos that I was able to get before the movers arrived and filled the place with boxes. 

We hope everyone has a great holiday!  We miss our family and friends back in the states.  We hope to pick up a tree or wreath this weekend to make the home feel a little more festive.  Marco and I will prepare a seafood Christmas Eve dinner and then spend Christmas and Boxing Day down in London with my extended family.  Cheers, xoxo!

the view from your room

coat envy

I have had outerwear on.the.brain.  Wool trench, puffer, parka, cocoon.  It seems that my outfits don't see the light of day when we are out and about and I (Marco too!) have been browsing the internets dreaming up a long wish list of coats.  Here are a few I have been eyeing.

// Double-Cloth Greatcoat // J.Crew

// Hand Made Coat // ZARA

// Army Coat // Emerson Fry

// Printed Parka // Laura McCalmont for Asos

// Woolen Coat with Quilted Sleeves // ZARA.  Morgan, I hope Santa brings you this one.

// Northwest Parka // Patagonia.  This one is for the rainy day footpath walks.  A less expensive version here.

// Wintress Puffer // J.Crew

// Cape Zip Coat // ZARA

Have a great weekend everyone!  Marco is teaching me how to drive a manual car tomorrow (bless him).  And then we have his company holiday party tomorrow night. 

baked camembert

 

For the holidaze: a first course or dessert that is so simple.  Seriously, your guests will love you.  Serve it naked or top it with olive oil and your favorite winter herbs.  Serve it alongside a chili or fruit jam and warm, crusty on the outside chewy on the inside, baguette. 

Here is Jamie Oliver's recipe.


images from lovebryony and BBC food.

cambridge proper

If we were ever on "The Newlywed Game" and they asked me what Marco said he disliked most about the Washington, D.C. area my answer would be the traffic slash commute. ding ding ding! (But I guess that is everyone's least favorite.)

So when he found out where his job local would be, living in Cambridge proper was out of the question.  Bummer.  The traffic he would experience during the commute just wasn't worth it.

Being a short drive away will have to do.  On a recent Sunday we went to check out the Cambridge markets and get some Christmas shopping done.  Of course we had to bring Henry along, so we looked up some dog friendly pubs ahead of time.  The Cambridge Blue is known for its good beer selection and allows dogs, WIN WIN people.



gimme some of that bangers and mash



getting real downton abbey

Last Saturday we went to the Christmas fair at the Boughton House, home of the Duke of Buccleuch.  It was just a short drive from our friends John and Jenevieve's cottage. 

You could grab a cappuccino or hot mulled wine and roam the grounds, Christmas tree lot, or vendor booths.  Jewelry, homemade children's toys, jams, Christmas decoration galore.  Marco had to pull me away from the lady selling traditional English fashions and antique kitchen odds and ends. (I'm all, "But babe, I've been wanting one of these french wire baskets to hold fruit!  Look at these Scottish wool socks!  Look, these are the dog leads I have seen everyone using!"  ...  He is all, "Com'on.")

We walked the grounds until Jenevieve and I complained we couldn't feel our toes.  Then we headed back to John and Jenevieve's village to meet their neighbor's goats, have some pints, and eat a lovely pasta dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

marco the christmas card photog

 

john, jenevieve, and rafe

 

 

 

 

east horsley

I recently spent a week down in the southwest London village, East Horsley where my Uncle Ashley and Aunt Denise live because my father was visiting.

Each morning Dad and I took Henry on long walks on the (muddy) footpaths/bridleways around Horsley.

I thought it would take longer for Henry to get used to the rain and misty mornings but I was wrong.  It might have helped that grandpa Nigel was around (and his enthusiastic fast walk) because every morning, despite the soaking wet trails and fog, he had a pep in that step (I call it his sashay shante). So as Nigel picked up litter (some things never change) and Henry sashayed, I snapped some photos.