A Village Sunday

Sunday started as Sunday should -- with services at our village church -- St. Mary's. The one that is across the lane from Blue Row. The one whose bells remind us hourly of the time.

And what does one wear for church in England on Sundays? Wool -- for warmth. For even on a warm day, old churches are cold -- too many stone surfaces and no real heating most of the time. Warm socks are even advised!

After church, we headed to what has become a favorite little town -- Bloxham because they were having

An antiques fair!!! And yes, I found something but more on that later!

After the fair, we headed for the town of Great Tew because it was Sunday and in Britain, Sunday is the Sunday Roast at the local pub.

The Falkland Arms. A 16th Century public house with low ceilings, stone floors, and mugs hanging from the beams. It was a great pub and, according to one of Husband Jim's travel books, had one of the best Sunday Pub Lunch in the area.

Traditional roast beef, Yorkshire Pudding, roasted potatoes and veg. It is a great Sunday Lunch and reminds me of the Sunday dinners of my childhood which often revolved around roast beef and mashed potatoes (alas, no Yorkshire pudding!)

Then we headed to another favorite town of ours

Woodstock

Where we did some antique shopping. We have found that "Antique Centers" are more our style than "Antique Shops" but the two shops in Woodstock were a true treasure trove. With an unlimited budget I would have filled at least one carry bag. I, did, however, find a treasure that did come home with me.

We then headed back to Great Tew.

St. Michael's Church was having an organ recital and

tea provided by the ladies of the church to raise money for the organ fund. We gladly participated in all of the great homemade tea treats -- sandwiches, cakes and scones! And tea. And in England, feeding the multitudes in church involved brewing the tea in real crockery tea pots and serving the tea in real tea cups. And cutting the crusts off the sandwiches and cutting each into 4 pieces!

And my treasures?

This wonderful petit point needlepoint pillow. Not sure of it's age -- probably 60's but the work is exquisite and for $15, I could not do it myself. I have an idea of where to put it when I get it home to Linderhof!

And my Antiques Fair purchase?

This wonderful Spode Camilla covered vegetable dish from the 30's. Blue and White which should pair well with my Spode Blue Italian covered vegetable dish whenever we have large dinners.

It's as pretty on the inside as on the outside!!! The price was 49 pounds which actually was not a bad price for it . . . but it was the start of the fair and I went back and looked at it 3 times. I truly wanted it, but bringing breakables home sometimes is daunting and I wasn't sure that I wanted to do that. The dealer, however, said that she would do me a good deal and would I be interested in 35 pounds? I didn't hesitate!!! She provided bubble wrap and I'll hand carry it in my carry on when we fly home. What a wonderful remembrance of our month in England!

My two new treasures -- both blue -- I'm sharing with Smiling Sally for Blue Monday. Please visit her and see all the other blues this Monday!