It’s getting pretty busy around here, as you can probably tell from my sporadic posts! But to prevent any kind of cabin fever we have a clever little trick that takes us to new places and out in the fresh air. Mini breaks in the form of walking afternoons. Emotionally refreshing and something that busy freelance schedules should allow for to keep creativity and productivity up!
Our first one of the season took us to Lamb House in Rye, only a few miles away and somewhere we have never visited before, despite having walked past it a hundred times! I had also been offered to pavement test some new boots from Seven Boot Lane. My first pair of ankle boots for a few years, I chose a soft but structured, walnut suede pair. It turns out – they are the perfect comfy boots to welcome in dry autumn days.
Inside Lamb House, the home of the late writer Henry James, you can explore three of the downstairs rooms and garden. I couldn’t wait to see the changing garden beyond these doors.
Tapestry curtains and wood paneling, worn rugs and the amber glow from antique wall sconces.
The house became a centre for Henry James’s wide circle of literary friends, including H.G.Wells, Joseph Conrad, Rudyard Kipling, Max Beerbolm, Hilaire Beloc, G.K.Chesterton, Compton Mackenzie and Ford Maddox Ford, can you imagine the dinner conversation that was had here!
The garden is charming, with large trees, brick, stone and shingle pathways, we were lucky to get in on the last weekend it is open this year (someone still lives in the house). Hats off to Dean, who managed to catch the photos of me looking not too ‘frowny’. I am not a happy model, and my resting face is quite serious for someone who is quite jovial (most of the time), I assure you ;)The walled garden has a modest fish pond with miniature fountain, flower beds a vegetable patch and more formal borders near the house. The falling leaves and autumn colours everywhere made my afternoon.
The dark sky loomed but never broke and turned into the most spectacular sunset, which I only caught in a fleeting snap from the car on our way home.
you are after a new pair of shoes or boots for the colder months, Just enough time to get cosy toes for bonfire night!
As the sun set we made our way home, refreshed and inspired from an afternoon out of the office, and I can never visit Rye without coming home with a paper bag full of goodness from Merchant and Mills.
