Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Sunday, June 09, 2013
Margam Castle Gardens
The gardens are extensive and lovely.
Though the grass would never have been allowed to grow this long in the days of the Mansel Talbot family's occupancy of the Castle.....
The Hubster admiring what I think are miniature Japanese Acers.
A side view of the Castle.
Such colours......
And further down the hill, the remains of the mediaeval monastic Chapter House.
The stunning Orangery.
High up on a near hill is the very ancient Chapel used by the locals.
And a closer view.
Walking back to the car park, we could see more kites....
And still more kites!
It was a lovely day out.
Margam Castle
Margam Castle has some superb architecture. The initials M and T appear scattered in stonework and decor, referring to the Mansel and Talbot families.
The skyline is dramatic.
Even the chimney pots are decorative......
Stained glass in one entrance hall.
And intricate ceilings.
Filming for the series "Da Vinci's Demons" continues inside the castle, and we were able to peep into the sets......
Like this one, meant to be a baronial-type hall.
A detail of the left hand side of the fireplace.
One of the wall-hangings scattered around the set.
The juxtaposition of faux-old sets, and modern film lighting was amusing.
.
I was not convinced at what they had done by adding greenery to the grand staircase.......
I did like seeing St Barbara placed in centre glory at the top of the stairs!
The staircase is truly magnificent, though quite tricky to photograph due to the light flooding in from the lantern windows.
I wanted an atmospheric black and white shot.....
Sigh.
I love this ceiling!
And the other side of the staircase. You could spend all day taking pictures......
Saturday, June 08, 2013
Kite Festival 2013
This was the view as we were walking up the hill to Margam Castle.
It was a shame that DD3 missed the Kite Festival this year as it coincided with her school trip to Italy, but we kept up the family tradition and took all four kites with us anyway :-)
There were all sorts of wonderful kites there!
Lots of exhibitors were camping there for the whole Bank Holiday long weekend.
We saw kites on the ground, then slowly lifting up.....
The wind was slight and unpredictable, with long periods where there was no breeze at all....
But then this grey elephant and giant football did get aloft!
They made our kites look miniscule in comparison.
We were very proud to get our kite up and flying, in the end :-)
The giant penguin was great.
I could have watched it all day...
Pond Life
Apple Blossom
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
A Hopeful Heart
A Hopeful Heart
(Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel Series 1)
By Amy Clipston
Published by Zondervan, June 11th, 2013
I started to read this book yesterday and spent pretty much the whole day just reading, unable to put it down. We are introduced to a group of characters who quickly take on real faces and lives, so much so that one point I really wanted to give one of the teenage daughters a stiff talking-to about her attitude!
So, who are these people? Set in Paradise, Pennsylvania, we meet Hannah Glick - a widow who is supporting her young family by working part-time in the Lancaster Grand Hotel as one of the housekeeping staff. The rest of her time is devoted to her family and the horse-breeding farm set up by her late husband , which is continued by her brother-in-law Josh, who is very attracted to Hannah, but the feeling is not mutual.
Very quickly, Hannah makes the acquaintance of one of the guests at the hotel, Trey Peterson, under embarrassing circumstances. Trey is a widower whose wife and daughter died tragically some time before and as he and Hannah continue to bump into each other and chat, they are increasingly drawn to each other and reluctantly fall in love. Hannah is all too aware of what will happen if she chooses to leave the community and marry Trey and does her best to suppress her feelings, but as in any tight-knit community, it doesn't take long for gossip to start and soon she finds that her innocent actions are starting to affect how the community feels about and treats her family.
She is faced with the toughest decisions of her life - should she leave her Amish community and be permanently shunned by her close family in order to follow her heart? Or should she grit her teeth, send Trey away for ever and either spend the rest of her life lonely, or end up marrying the eager Josh whom she does not love?
One of her teenage daughters is struggling with the restrictions of Amish life but the other is appalled at the thought of ever leaving their community and lifestyle. Her younger son is a sweet and loving boy who is happy as long as he can still care for his family's horses. I found that Hannah's children are particularly skilfully drawn, as is her domineering, difficult and sometimes spiteful mother-in-law. The heartbreaking dilemma Hannah faces is handled well, giving an insight into one of the most misunderstood Amish practices - shunning.
Having finished this book, I am eagerly anticipating the next in the series, to find out what the ramifications and consequences of Hannah's decision will have on her close and extended family alike.
Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for a frank and honest review.
Monday, June 03, 2013
Accidental Pharisees
Accidental Pharisees:
Avoiding Pride, Exclusivity And The Other Dangers of Overzealous Faith
By Larry Osborne
Published by Zondervan, 2012
If somebody called me a Pharisee, I would be upset, offended and secretly, pretty sure that it was an accurate observation.
Is it actually an insult or something of a compliment? Who were the Pharisees and how did they get their reputation for zealotry among the Jewish people in Jesus' time?
This is a really interesting book which looks at the Pharisees in a fresh way, and focuses on how terrifyingly easy it is to fall into accidental Pharisaism without even realising it... filled with enthusiasm for the Faith, we try to clean up our lives and grow spiritually. Gradually we notice that others in our faith family are not making the same steps and progress that we are, and the niggling thought creeps in that they are not truly disciples of Christ in the way we are, not committed to Christianity in the way we are, and therefore they are slackers, lightweights, and eventually, we think they are simply not as good as we are.
Have you ever done this? I know I certainly have, and I found myself convicted on almost every single page of this book. "Unfortunately, many of us fail to grasp how dangerous pride is. We know that we shouldn’t look down on others, but we tend to see it as a small sin. It’s not the kind of thing you go to prison for; it falls somewhere between failing to floss and driving too fast. It’s something to work on. But no big deal. Even if we admit to periodic bouts with pride, what most of us mean is, “It’s tough staying humble when I’m so much better than everyone else.” " (Page 31) Dear Lord, that's me to a T, I am ashamed to say.
Larry Osborne looks carefully at the alternatives ways of behaving and of living out our Christian faith which do not run the risk of us becoming accidental Pharisees. Even good things can lead to problems; it is not a good idea to become majorly obsessed with national or global issues (even Church-related issues!), over which we may personally have little control or impact, when such interest may be to the detriment of those around us - our family, friends, neighbours - who are also deserving of our love, time, attention, gentleness and compassion. Of course it is important to be aware of "big issues" and to care about them greatly, but not to the point when it adversely affects our relationships with those around us.
There is an enormous amount in this book which would be of immense value to Christians of all denominations, some aspects may not gel with the doctrines of every denomination, but this book is well worth a read, and as far as I am concerned, it's a keeper for my spiritual book library.
Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book as part of the Booksneeze program, in exchange for my honest opinion and review of the book.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
The Farm At Holstein Dip
The Farm At Holstein Dip
An Iowa Boyhood
By Carroll Engelhardt
Published by Bur Oak Books/ University of Iowa Press
Carroll Engelhardt, a Professor of History at Concordia College, Minnesota, grew up on a farm in the 1940s and 50s without the benefit of the modern conveniences enjoyed by many other farming communities during the same timescale; his farmhouse home had no indoor plumbing, electricity or functioning heating, yet his childhood was filled with hard work and many happy memories indeed.
Descended from Norwegian and German immigrants who settled in the beautiful and fertile Clayton County, a strong Protestant morality and work ethic dominated both the area and his own family.
Professor Engelhardt covers five main topic areas: Home, Farm, Town, Church and School, recounting his recollections and experiences relating to each. I had to smile at the description of his exceptionally thrifty, almost parsimonious father at home:
"Father feared additional fees for drilling a new well and excavating through limestone to install the septic system. This seemed so daunting that he refused to act. Living in the house for nearly four decades without running water, a water heater, and a modern bathroom inconvenienced Mother more than it did him."
The incredible details about farm life in Chapter Two will stay in my mind for a very long time; vicious bulls escaping, animals being slaughtered on the farm and daily seeing procreation gave him respect for all forms of life. Saturday nights saw them trooping to the local town of Elkader, whose delights constitute Chapter Three and lead naturally into school and church attendance and their impact on his life, covered in Chapters Four and Five.
This is an absolutely enchanting book, perfect for anyone who enjoys history, sociology, memoirs and/or rural life, and the stunning photos - especially of his grandparents and parents - give an evocative glimpse into a long-gone era.
London Underground's Strangest Tales
London Underground's Strangest Tales
By Iain Spragg
Published by Anova Books/Portico
January 2013
Many books have been written about the history of the London Underground Tube system, but not one like this.
A relatively short book of 202 pages, it starts with the incarceration of Mark Isambard Brunel in a debtor's prison; while there, he notices the tunnelling activities of a shipworm. This gives him an idea about how deep tunnels could be constructed safely and then the book follows a historical timeline of notable events in the subsequent history of the Tube, each covered in a few pages.
Did you know which Victorian author's novel, published weekly in a magazine, caused passenger numbers to plummet because of its subject matter? Or that a river - the Westbourne - is channelled through a large pipe along the ceiling of the Sloane Square Station?
Which famous person's body was carried to its funeral by Tube, and how many babies have been born Underground? One notable train delay was caused by talk about a vasectomy amongst the drivers! Other stories relate to ghostly apparitions and suicides.
Just about everything you could wish to know -and somethings you don't - are included in this riveting read, which is ideal for picking up and dipping into as well as reading straight through.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Busy Busy!
It's been a busy week at The Garden Window and will likely be busier still....
DD3 is off on a school Geography trip to Italy in the early hours of tomorrow morning, taking in Naples, Pompeii, climbing up Vesuvius (on her birthday!) and then heading to Rome, where she will visit the Catacombs of St Sebastian, lots of historic sites, St Peter's and the Vatican museum. This is half-term week, so DD4 will be home and I hope to do some fun activities with her to cheer her up, as she will undoubtedly miss her sister greatly.
This weekend is the local kite festival, so we will most likely head up to the Park with our own kites in tow and join in the fun, as we normally do every year. Hopefully, photos will follow soon!
We have two viewings of our house, which is up for sale, and my mother-in-law is also moving back to our town next week so we can keep a closer eye on her now that her health is sadly failing.
DD3 is off on a school Geography trip to Italy in the early hours of tomorrow morning, taking in Naples, Pompeii, climbing up Vesuvius (on her birthday!) and then heading to Rome, where she will visit the Catacombs of St Sebastian, lots of historic sites, St Peter's and the Vatican museum. This is half-term week, so DD4 will be home and I hope to do some fun activities with her to cheer her up, as she will undoubtedly miss her sister greatly.
This weekend is the local kite festival, so we will most likely head up to the Park with our own kites in tow and join in the fun, as we normally do every year. Hopefully, photos will follow soon!
We have two viewings of our house, which is up for sale, and my mother-in-law is also moving back to our town next week so we can keep a closer eye on her now that her health is sadly failing.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
A Wedding For Julia
A Wedding For Julia
By Vannetta Chapman
Published by Harvest House Publishers, July 2013
This is the third book in the Pebble Creek series, and possibly the best one yet.
Julia Beechy is approaching forty and cares for her elderly widowed mother in their home. A talented cook, she has plans to convert their home to a cafe to serve the need of Plain and Englisch folk alike, but when she plucks up courage and mentions this hope to her mother, she is stunned to find that unless she marries, when her mother dies, the house is to be sold and the money used for Julia as long as she agrees to move away to live with her mother's relatives......
Bewildered and bitterly unhappy about all this, she accepts a proposal of marriage from the kindly, lonely Amish bachelor who delivers their groceries - Caleb Zook. Are liking, mutual regard and aspirations good enough bases for a successful marriage, or will it all go horribly wrong? Julia's mother Ada is in failing health and now Julia faces having to provide increasing care for her as well as her marriage and her fledgling business and when one of Caleb's younger cousins is sent to live with them in a desperate attempt to keep Sharon out of trouble and to resolve her own problems, it is yet another worry for Julia to contend with.
Julia is strong-willed yet vulnerable and insecure in her new marriage, and I found myself talking out loud to her as I was drawn deeper and deeper into this delightful tale. Ada is a delightful character; her unswerving faith and love of quoting the Psalms at every possible opportunity is complicated with the onset of dementia, and in many ways, she is rather a loose cannon, yet she manages to relate to the troubled Sharon in a way no-one else can. Caleb is a sweetie, prone to blurting out the first thought in his head without thinking of whether it adequately conveys what he really feels or not, and my heart ached for poor Sharon and her anxious parents.
The nail-biting ordeal they face at the end had me sitting on the edge of my seat, and the book ended all too quickly for me; the situation with Sharon seemed to have resolved itself a little too abruptly for me, but I absolutely loved this book nonetheless!
A Home For Lydia
By Vannetta Chapman
Published by Harvest House, 2012
This is the second in the Pebble Creek series by Vannetta Chapman, and we get to meet a very strong character indeed in Lydia Fisher, who helps her family financially by working as a housekeeper at a complex of holiday cabins in Pebble Creek. Fearless, outspoken and strongly protective of those she loves, she seems truly formidable when Aaron Troyer ends up helping his family by taking over the running of the cabin business and has to deal with Lydia on a daily basis.
All he wants to do is farm, but he has to learn to run the business without alienating Lydia, who fears the effect that losing her job may have on her struggling family; the potential for misunderstanding each other's motives and actions causes unhappiness and mistrust. Can they learn to get along, and how will they deal with a crime wave that affects the business and even threatens their safety ?
This book is not afraid to deal with many of the problems faced by Amish when interacting with the modern world and is a good counterpoint to some of the heavily romanticised Amish fiction books. Lydia has very real concerns and anxieties, all well-founded, and she is a very real and likable character who wants to be able to lead her own life while still honouring and supporting her parents.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Thieves Of Book Row
Thieves Of Book Row:
New York’s Most Notorious Rare Book Ring and the Man
Who Stopped It
By Travis McDade
Published by Oxford University Press,
2013
Crime is not the first thing one would necessarily associate with libraries, but libraries have been
faced with the problem of thefts of their rare books ever since their inception
and continue to do so.
The scarce poetical works of a youthful Edgar Alan Poe open the story and we are introduced to Al Aaraaf - the first collection of poems published under Poe's own name, and although uneven in quality, it was highly prized for being incredibly rare with a print run of only 250 copies.
One was enshrined in New York's Public Library, until a young man using an alias asked to see it......it eventually ended up on Book Row, the home of a huge number of second-hand and antiquarian booksellers, some dealing only in highly specialised fields, others being general booksellers. Some happily dealt in books whose legitimate ownership was rather muddy to say the least. There was a thriving trade in "sophisticating" books by a variety of methods; one involved taking apart several volumes and incorporating the most attractive and rarest parts of each to produce a volume which would be attractive to collectors.
Thieves Of Book Row details the activities of one
particular and notorious ring of thieves who targeted the libraries - both
public and university - of the East Coast and
sold the books onto other booksellers and collectors. This is a truly fascinating account of how books were stolen, often to
order for specific clients all over the world. All traces of previous homes had
t be removed, whether ink stamps, embossed stamps , perforations - all could be
removed or disguised given enough time and money. But who were these thieves,
and how were they eventually stopped? What could be done to improve the security
of rare book collections?
An investigator named G. William Bergquist took up the challenge to halt the activities of this gang,which was led by Harry Gold and his associates, and this is a gripping reconstruction of the battle of wits between the two sides.
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