Goodbye!

I'd already requested that my neighbor watch the peony buds and, 

when they opened, to stop and smell the fragrance, and then take a photo

 for me thinking I'd miss seeing them!

Earlier this morning it was cloudy and these two blooms were still closed in

 rounded buds, a few tiny ants doing their usual creeping about which peonies

 require to open. Much maligned ants apparently do have pros as well as cons!

I just went out for a last look about the garden before packing the last bits

 and bobs into my carry-on, and there they are, open and so beautiful,

 the fragrance divine. I grabbed my iPhone as my camera is packed.

It's almost as if they knew how much I wanted to see them this year.

Last year with a very late freeze they didn't do well.

As I always say, Nature never ceases to surprise, and a 

big "thank you" to her from me.

Off soon - not sure when I'll be posting here but hope to stop by now and then.

Thank you for the many safe journey good wishes.

Hugs. . . . . . . 

Water, water everywhere!!!

Torquay Harbour, Devon

The arrow marks the spot. 
This is where we'll stay for the upcoming visit to my home town in England -
following a couple of nights in Bath on the way south.

On the water, close to everything, and with no treacherous steps

 like the last visit HERE.

This photo is actually taken from the hilltop where we stayed last time.

Yes, the view was amazing but the access problem - especially climbing
 up and down 277 slippery old steps on wet winter days - was not.

Have you visited southwest England? It really is beautiful so if you haven't
made it there yet I hope some day you will.

P.S.  Always something before travel starts - such this morning. 
The washing machine decided not to stop filling and we paddled through the kitchen
 with a load of towels to mop up a lot of water!!!!
This is why I never leave home with either the washer (floods) or dryer (fires) running.
 Repairman coming tomorrow! 

Timeless - a special anniversary. . . . . . . . . . . .

On this day, ten long years, ago I sat down at my computer and penned a little blog

 post, my first ever. It became the beginning of a new and exciting part of my life.

 My first blog I named Across The Pond, a title I liked as I believed it would resonate

 with any readers who might somehow discover me. Having come across that wide

 Atlantic Ocean many years before, and making a new life here in America, I was

 hoping to share not only my life here as an expat, but now and then throw in a

 few stories of my life growing up in England. . . . . . . and of my visits back and

 forth over what is now fifty plus years. 

After three years nurturing that first blog (still available HERE - see how bad

 my photos were back then!) I was forced to start another thanks to problems with

 the Google/Blogger gremlins! 

So, since 2010, A Breath of Fresh Air has been my window to the world, and my

link to kindred spirits. What an astounding world it is.

I especially have enjoyed meeting several of my blog friends in person, both here in

 North America, and across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in several countries.
 Those of you who follow me, whether you leave generous comments or just
 read and run, I appreciate you all so very much. I know blogging takes time and
 we're all busy. There are now numerous fabulous blogs to follow out there
 compared to when many of us started years ago.

For me, this blog is my personal creative outlet, a way for me to share my

 photos (a now favorite hobby which, by the way, has been impacted greatly by

 blogging), especially those taken on my travels to places near and far on all

seven continents.

But, even more special, is the fact that my blog has brought me to

your blog, some for many of the past ten years, others more recently. I do so 

enjoy reading of the lives of others in their special corner of the world.

Some of us mention now and again that we are considering giving up blogging 

for one reason or another. It does take time, especially if you like to write 

a wordy post, prepare your photos, and do that several times a week, perhaps

 even daily. I admit to having had thoughts of quitting. Just think of all the other

 things I could be doing, such as making lampshades like the one above, yes I used

 to do that when my eyesight was better and sewing was a big part of my life.

 But now I really enjoy getting out with a camera, and coming up with something

 to write about which I hope you will read and enjoy.

Yes, blogging and I are planning to keep going a while longer. . . . . .  as long as

 I am able to fit it in along with all the other things life has a way throwing at us.

 I will be traveling internationally again this Spring - to a few new to me

 beautiful places - more on that later!

So here's to this day next year when hopefully we can celebrate yet another

 anniversary together. . . . . . . . .many thanks again for stopping by and

 sharing your time and your words with me here. You are certainly a very 

special group of great friends, and I'm thankful for each and every one of you.

Big hugs.

Getting Away From It All. . . . . . . . . .

No, this isn't happening at the cottage this Christmas season.

 These are decorations from another year when I had time for such. 

This year we will be gone from home so the green boxes are staying tucked

 away in the attic. I'm somewhat sad to think the house will be in darkness 

for Christmas. We fly across the pond tomorrow night. Hoping for a great cruise

 and then back to England for Christmas week. 

Hope to keep in touch with you all here, but just in case I'm having too much

 fun to blog, or the Internet lets me down out on that ocean, know I'm sending

 good wishes to each of you, my dear friends, for a wonderful holiday season.

Pre-Christmas cruising . . . . . . . . .

We sailed on this 'royal lady' in June 2014 and loved everything about Cunard's

 smallest - but still large - ocean liner. She took us to the beautiful Baltic

 countries and on to St. Petersburg, Russia - an amazing journey.

This weekend we fly across the pond to London, then head down to the port city
 of Southampton to board Queen Victoria on Monday afternoon and sail away
 that evening. Looks like our deck chairs are waiting - hopefully it will be warm
 enough to relax out there on sea days - bring on the blankets and hot toddies
 please - and calm water will be hugely appreciated!

This ten day cruise will take us to Portugal (Lisbon), Spain (Cadiz, Malaga, La Coruna), 

and Morocco (Tangiers), and return us to England in time for a quick whiz down to
 Devon and my home town for Christmas week with family and friends.
Am I excited? You bet I am!
As always, I will do my best to share highlights of our trip along the
 way - it's all up to the Internet of course!

Travel views from the guest room. . . . . . . . . .

 It was rather late last night when I took these photos in the guest room.

In fact, I was lounging on the bed with my phone close by, looking about

 and thinking of all I'd done during the day to prepare for our upcoming trip.

 I'd brought out the trusty collapsible clothes rack, set it up and hung clothes
 I'd like to take but gradually editing. Actually very few clothes for this journey
 because I'm limited to one small piece of luggage and a backpack.
 I then did a dry run to see if, for this casual but lengthy trip, I could get
 everything into a small 21" (carryon size) suitcase! 
Yikes, it won't be easy, but it will be much better when it comes to traveling
 the length and breadth of IRELAND's countryside. . . . . on trains, buses, 
or with a private driver, for three long weeks!
Car rental in Ireland is not kind - or even available to some travelers for those
 of us who have reached the golden years - and driving those narrow winding
 roads on the wrong other side is something we no longer enjoy.

I rarely take photos with my phone. For some reason these came out

surprisingly clear even under chandelier lighting, so I thought I'd use them to

get started and share my journey back across the pond yet again.

Love this vintage secretary purchased several years ago, already painted,

 from SuzAnna's Antiques. . . . . .it stores a lot of my travel odds and ends.

Here's 'the rack', my favorite way to organize packing. . . . . . later I'll share better

 photos of the actual really minuscule pile of clothes I'm taking. Don't be shocked by the

 jeans you can just see hanging here. I never travel with jeans however this time

 I will, and I'll tell you why!

Close to midnight on the clock! Must away and forget the consternation  

of packing. There may have to be several dry runs for this trip. 

I'll update later - we leave in less than two weeks.

Travel to green, gorgeous, and often wet IRELAND - my first time there.

A challenge for sure, but very worthwhile I hope.

It's in the bag. . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . and these few items still on hangers that aren't packed will be 
keeping me comfy as once again I cross the pond tonight!
This is our third trip to Europe this year so will have spent time in Spring, Summer
 and now Autumn - each season bringing its particular beauty and weather. 

 BTW, the vintage blouse doesn't go - it's just the guest room window decoration.

Below is a map of the upcoming trip, We will be traveling the entire 
length of France with our usual group of wonderful friends
 Transportation will be on two river boats, the first one Paris and 
north to Normandy, second one from Dijon - mustard anyone? - then south to 
Provence. Connecting the two boat cruises we'll be taken by the high speed
TGV train from Paris to Dijon.
Sounds like rather a lot of unpacking and packing that bulging suitcase,
 but also some wonderful places to see along the waterways of the Seine,
 Saône and Rhône rivers.

Our trip doesn't end when we disembark in Arles. 
Bob and I will be taking a train westward to meet my brother and sister-in-law
who live in the vineyards corn merchant's house in a tiny Languedoc village 
near the historic walled city of Carcassonne. 

Early morning at my brother's house - Caunes Abbey in the background - 2008

Last there in Autumn 2008, we know what to expect. . . . . . all of it colorful,
 pastoral, historic and relaxing, with good food and excellent Languedoc wines.
 After visiting for a few days, the four of us take a train to Spain where we'll enjoy
 a few days in Barcelona, olé!

Will try to post along the way and share Autumn scenes from these lovely places.

Going home to Devon. . . . . . . .

Christmas in England...................

I'm not going home to England this year,

but yesterday, with a little time to spare (how on 

earth did that happen with Christmas now so close),  

I looked through the photos I've taken 

of Christmas decor about the cottage and 

decided to improve on the English 'cottage feel'

with a wee bit of cheating/editing.

I think receiving Christmas cards from England, 

some depicting authentic country cottages, 

made me realize I don't really have one of those. 

Who am I trying to kid!

This year my favorite card arrived from my cousin.

Cousin David in England gets it. 

He lives in my hometown, we grew up there, spent a lot of time together, and he knows how much I love coming home. Last Christmas Day I enjoyed dinner with him and his entire family. We indulged in everything English, from soup to Christmas pudding, gathered together around a big table in a lovely restaurant on the cliffs above the English Channel. It was the one day of our trip home when the rain stopped for a while and the sun popped out from behind the clouds......it was a perfect Christmas surrounded by special people. It was worth a long journey across the pond and brought back lovely memories of my English childhood.

This year we will be here. The cottage feel is important to me at the holidays. I admit I'm somewhat envious of those at home who will be cozy, tucked into a real country cottage, sipping a pre-dinner sherry, enjoying dinner, munching on mince pies with brandy butter, flaming the Christmas pud', listening to the annual message given by our gracious Queen.........then sitting by the crackling fire, sipping a nightcap, listening to the last of the carols as Christmas fades into the night.

I will soon be baking my mince pies..........we have the Harvey's Bristol Cream sherry ready for a toast - there are two bottles as we don't play Scrooge here - come by and join in. The firewood is stacked and ready to crackle and pop on the hearth, the candles are glowing, the carols are waiting to be played.

Christmas happens wherever one is. 

You can make it happen.

You can dream and remember.
It's etched in stone.

It's in your heart....isn't it?