A Walk in the Country

It was chilly today, but around lunchtime the sun came out, so I decided to forget about the housework, and to head out for the afternoon.

I went to Stourhead, which is owned by the National Trust, now. The house is not open in the winter, but the park is open all year round, and it's a lovely place to go for a walk. There is a lake, with ornamental bridge, miniature Parthenon, and temple of Apollo, not to mention the grotto, thatched cottage and neoclassical summerhouse.

Its a little late for the best of the autumn coours , but there were still some lovely acers clinging on to the last of their crimson leaves, and plenty of beech leaves in every shade of copper. There are masses of rhodedendrons and although it's the wrong time of year for their flowers they have that dark green, shiny foliage against which the other colours show up beautifully.

I didn't see any deer this time - which probably had a lot to do with the high number of dogs and small and excited children around - but there were ducks, and swans upon the lake.

I saw several robins, and blackbirds, and a few chaffinches and something which may or may not have been a goldfinch.

All in all, it was a very

After my walk, I headed to the farm shop where I bought 3 different types of local apples, and some Medlars (the last, simply because I have never had them before, and know them only from Shakeapeare and other literary sources. They will have to be kept for a while to ripen properly, and it does appear that opinion is divided as to whether they are worth eating or not, but it will be interesting to see what they're like.

And as an added bonus, I got a lovely big paper bag to take my groceries home in, which proved very popular with Tybalt once I had emptied it of fruit.

A Good Day.

Mostly an Excuse for Pretty Pictures, Honestly

It took me a long time to get home. I had to get the car back to the airport for 9 (where they stiffed me for an extra $50 'airport tax') which I would have minded less had they told me at some point before I dropped the car back (they were, after all, sending me unsolicited marketing e-mails every few days...)

My flight wasn't until 11.30, so I had a fascinating couple of hours in MSP airport, then, having arrived at Chicago O'Hare at 12.55

I had hours to kill before my flight back to the UK at 7 p.m

I learned to my cost that although O'Hare has an enormous shopping mall in the domestic terminal, once you go through security in T5, the international terminal, there is absolutely sod all. You cannot even get a cup of coffee. There are about 3 tiny kiosks selling very sad shrinkwrapped sandwiches and bottled water, but that's it.

(Well, there is an intermittent kiosk selling very expensive beer, too)

Thankfully I had a couple of books and a chocolate chip cookie, but had I known I would have stayed in the terminal I arrived into (T3, I think it was) for a lot longer!

The flight home was uneventful (which is, i think, what one looks for in a flight!)

I enjoyed watching the sunset

And then, a couple of hours later, the Sunrise.

It really was rather lovely.

And later, it was good to be home.