The sun came out in Aberdeenshire yesterday, after a good deal of rain, just in time for the festivities in Tarland, which hosted prizewinning sheep and Highland ponies; Scottish dancing and homemade jams. I was impressed by the grace of the leaping dancers; but expended rather less energy myself, aside from rushing across the field to buy two pots of delicious blackcurrant jam, an excellent Victoria sponge, and a hand-knitted baby's bonnet from the church stall; before a peaceful afternoon admiring the entries in the flower and vegetable show. Despite a month of mostly grey skies, there were scented sweet-peas and roses, glorious dahlias and ripe tomatoes. Lots of prizes won by competitors great and small: from six year olds to grandfathers, and a good time had by all. Nothing could have been more heartwarming and inspiring; thank you, Tarland...
11 comments:
Looks glorious!
Devoured the photos.
Thank you!
Love, Helen x
I'm rudely peering past you, Justine, in the hope of spotting local friends in the background of your picture! So glad the sun shone.
(I must also say how smart the paperback edition of Coco looks, and I was delighted to have it on the blog a few days ago: http://www.cornflowerbooks.co.uk/2011/08/mademoiselle-chanel.html )
What wonderful pictures. They reminded me of those wonderful fetes we had as kids- handknitted clothes for our dolls, tea cosies, fudge and loads of second hand books. How sad all that is no more !!!!!!!
Cornflower, thanks for the lovely review on your blog, and also for commenting here. I hope you make it back to Tarland one of these days, and come over to Tillypronie to tea. The garden is open on Sunday August 28th from 2pm; fingers crossed for sunshine.
Helen -- hope you're surviving the summer. August can be a lonely month, but better if you can see friends.
Enid -- fudge and second-hand books still very much available at British village fetes. You'll have to visit again soon!
And here's the link for the Tillypronie garden opening on August 28th:
http://www.gardensofscotland.org/garden.aspx?id=220c37fe-2547-4a6f-b4df-9e1700f98ff5
Would love to visit Tillypronie - perhaps one day!
Article in our local paper today about new US book about Coco = 'Sleeping with the Enemy' - have you come across it?
I have read the book -- it's by Hal Vaughan -- and as it happens, we were both just interviewed together on the radio (v. intriguing). More to follow, but am rushing around today -- it's exam results day (for my younger son; all good news, hurrah!), but must also deal with a zillion bits of paperwork that have gathered into a large grey cloud over my head.
Brilliant news about your son's exam results Justine! Gold star to the lad.
Helen x
Those are fabulous pictures, Justine! Have you read The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson? It has shades of Rebecca in it. I thought it was very good. Also, what do you think about the new book that just came out about Coco? Sleeping with the Enemy is the title, and the author claims Coco was a Nazi spy. I just started it, so I have no opinion on it yet.
Wendy
looks like the perfect occasion for an Eloise Grey coat....
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