Our stay in the English countryside has been quiet and inspiring. David and I are here in early February, and while the nights can be cold, it’s not nearly as cold as the winter we left behind in Iowa. It’s rainy and a bit cloudy today, but the first three days of our stay were full of sunshine. The grass is green here and the Daffodiles are beginning to bloom. It’s the off season, so tourists are few and far between. David and I feel as though we have Boxford to ourselves. It’s been refreshing.
We’re here to discover my Great Grandfather’s home, the Manor at Groton, where John Winthrop once lived before leaving for New England. We will visit the manor later today, and meet the current owners, who have been so lovely to invite us over for a tour. We’re also here to gain a better understanding of the English asthetic and to look for antiques we can bring home to our wedding venue, English Hills. We spent the day yesterday searching all around an adorable antique centric village called Long Melford. This is the place to find any antique furniture in the area.
February in England
We’ve stayed four nights in the outskirts of Boxford, in the county of Suffolk. Suffolk is just one hour drive to the North and East from London. We are only one hour from the sea. We’ve discovered it’s calving season for the seals. We are hopeful to take a trip to the beach where we will see them. But for today, we are enjoying a lovely breakfast omlet from our farm fresh eggs and a lovely cup of tea.
English Cottages
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the asthetic out here. It is that of a dreamy storybook. The roads are narrow, fit for one car at a time. We have driven through many streams that have flooded low areas of the road. David is doing a great job driving on the opposite side of the car..and the opposite side of the road.
Homes here are exactly what you would picture when you think of a cottage. Many of them are even named and names are displayed on adorable weathered plaques near the front door. Speaking of front doors, they tend to be painted really pretty pastel colors. Blue bells are popping up infront of many of them, as Spring begins to poke its head out. Pubs are lively at night, as it seems to be the main hangout for locals. We are staying in a lovely cottage called the Granary. Our hosts are wonderful. They left a welcome basket of eggs from their hens, jam, scones, and a fresh loaf of bread.
The Granary
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