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Queen Elizabeth II, Rosemary Verey, and all things British on today’s Weekend Meanderings.
Good Saturday morning friends, it’s time for weekend meanderings with Kim and Juliet.
I don’t know about you but I still in shock at the loss of Queen Elizabeth II. Tuesday she was standing in Balmoral greeting the new Prime Minister and her smile lit up the room. Yes, she was 96, and at some point was going pass but it just seemed like she would always be there, because for all of my life, she was.
Queen Elizabeth II was a fairy tale come to life. I can remember standing outside Buckingham palace, at 15 years old, wondering if she was inside looking out the window at the crowds below and I’ve thought the same thing on every trip since then over the last 40 years.
I am going to miss her smile, her wisdom, kindness and humor. Her constant and gentle presence has been a balm in good times and in bad. The matriarch is gone and the there are changes ahead. It is the end of an era.
This morning King Charles III was declared sovereign and vowed to follow his mother’s example of ‘lifelong love and selfless service’
Weekend Meanderings No.
As an Anglophile I thought I would devote todays weekend meanderings to the Queen and all things British.
Queen Elizabeth II
As the UK observes 10 days of mourning there have been and will be televised coverage of events, you can watch them on Youtube on the Royal Family Chanel just in case you miss them because of the time difference. Below I have shared the Service of Thanksgiving and King Charles III first speech.
Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s
King Charles III Addresses the Nation for the Very First Time
The Queen’s Posthumous Transit Plans Are Surprisingly Detailed
World United in Grief at the Passing of Queen Elizabeth
What Will Happen to Queen Elizabeth’s beloved corgis?
How the Media Struggled to Capture Queen Elizabeth
A look at Queen Elizabeth’s Houses and Gardens
Are you a fan of India Hicks? Do you listen to the India Hicks podcast, she recorded it with her mother Lady Pamela during the Covid-19 lockdown.
I have been a fan of hers for years and I absolutely love listening to her interview her mother Lady Pamela Hicks about her life. In this podcast episode, Lady Pamela reminisces about the wedding of Queen Elizabeth to Phillip(Lady Pamelas’ cousin). You can read more about the incredible life of Lady Pamela in her book, Daughter of Empire. She is also hard at work on another book coming out in 2023.
Rosemary Verey and English Gardens
Image Gardens Illustrated
As you may know in addition to our kitchen renovation, we are slowly re-landscaping our yard and my dream is to create an English garden. That however is a pipe dream because instead of lush green lawns I have lawns of pine straw and my house is surrounded by pine trees not yew. Nothing is impossible but it is certainly a challenge, I have opted to add elements of the English gardens I love instead of recreating one.
For inspiration I have been tolling Gardens Illustrated, House & Garden UK and recently discovered Rosemary Verey. Verey was the garden designer of Barnsley House and became popular in the 1980’s when The Englishwoman’s Garden, written and edited by Alvilde Lees-Milne with Verey, was published. King Charles III(yes, the new King) visited in 1986 and his enthuasium for her beautiful garden led to work at his own estate Highgrove and commissions all over including the New York Botanical Garden and the garden of Elton John.
In addition to her garden design Verey lectured and wrote more than a dozen books. Here are a few of my favorites.
English Country Gardens
Making of a Garden
A Country Woman’s Notes
You can read more about Rosemary Verey here and here and see all of her books here.
Quintessential British Comfort Food
In times of trouble, sadness and cold weather we all can use a little comfort food and a cuppa tea.
“Its roots stretch back to medieval times, but the Cornish pasty is forever associated with the tin miners of Cornwall in the 1700s and 1800s. Traditionally made with skirt steak, the pasties’ pleated seam was used as a disposable handle, and the miners’ initials were sometimes marked in the pastry before baking.” Sainsbury
Cornish paties are easy to make, delicious and a great meal to keep you warm in the cooler months.
Toad in the hole
Traditional Cottage Pie
Bangers and Mash
In all honesty in times of trouble my comfort food is sweet.
Want to make the perfect cuppa tea?
Finds from My Favorite British Catalogs
Tweed, plaid, comfy cosy looks for your wardrobe and your home. A few of my favorite places to shop in Britain while in the comfort of my own home.
If you pop over to these stores notice that there is a tribute to the Queen on each site.
OKA
OKA if you are not familiar is a British home furnish store and online catalog filled to the brim with an interesting and collected mix of finds.
The magic of OKA is the mix: hand-picked global treasures, rich textures and patterns, and timeless furniture profiles. It’s ever-changing but unwaveringly British; elegant and easy-going; sophisticated but never stiff.(from OKA)
This shop is right up my alley, I love comfy, cosy, collected rooms with family pieces, vintage finds and more.
I “shopped” last night and filled my cart with basket planters, candle holders, pillows and more.
Tweed jackets, wellie boots and more with a touch of whimsy.
BODEN
“Boden isn’t about fast fashion and fads. It never was. It’s about making clothes that put a smile on your face, for a long, long time.”
UNTIL NEXT TIME
That’s it for this weeks post of weekend meanderings. I hope that you enjoyed meandering today and that when you leave here you pop over to see all of the things that Kim and Juliet have discovered this week.
If you missed lasts weeks weekend meanderings post you can find it here.
Have a wonderful and safe weekend.
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE
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Beautiful tribute, Elizabeth. Like you, when I saw the queen the other day in her plaid skirt and sweet little cardigan, I thought – wow, look at her joy, and what a treat to see her in simple clothing. I did notice her purple hands though, and since I have Raynaud’s I wondered about them. I grew up with a mother who loved the Royal Family more than anyone else, but I was never as curious about it all. I didn’t appreciate history as I do at this age. Looking forward to getting back to England one day and raising a glass to Her Majesty. Good luck with all of your gardening plans – I know so little about gardens beyond the fact I love clearing the weeds and digging in dirt when I can. Thank goodness we don’t have anything to address here landscape wise at the new place – just replacing a few shrubs. Have a lovely weekend, friend.
I TOO STOOD OUTSIDE THE GATES OF Buckingham Palace CIRCA 1967 WONDERING WHY SHE DIDNOT COME TO A WINDOW AND WAVE TO ME AS WE SHARED THE SAME NAME!
I DID GET INTO THE MEWS/CARRIAGE HOUSE AS MY AUNT SWEET TALKED THE GUARD!
FOR AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD TRAVEL THERE WERE CARRIAGES ON BOTH SIDES.
I WAS ALLOWED TO SIT IN THE ALL GOLD CARRIAGE AND OF COURSE I CANNOT FIND THAT PHOTO NOW!
I BELIEVE IT WAS BUILT IN THE 1600’S………..RUMOR HAS IT THE QUEEN FOUND IT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE!
I REMEMBER FEELING LIKE A PRINCESS……
SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE AND NOW HER SON WILL TAKE THE REINS.HE WILL DO A FINE JOB I HAVE NO DOUBTS.
Elizabeth, I love this story! What a wonderful memory and experience. I can only imagine all of the gold carriages lined up waiting for an occasion to be used. She was an amazing woman and will be dreamy missed.
Elizabeth, How wonderful you have her name! I love that you visited the UK as a young girl. I also adored the queen, but more so later in life and respected her so much for all she did and all she stood for. It’s so shocking that she saw the last PM in and then exited the world. Anyhow, she has been a steady and positive presence in the world, whether you are a royalist or not. Even if you don’t agree with all that the monarchy and the history of the British Empire, she herself has done so much charity and bringing together of people. You can’t help but adore her common sense and no nonsense approach to life.
Thanks for all the links to cool British things. I adore Oka and have a few things on my wish list from them. The tweed jacket from Joules is lovely and I can imagine being on a fly fishing trip at Balmoral with that. I have their coats and they are excellent. I also adore Liberty, Barbour and Burberry and Mulberry.. So many wonderful companies are British. I always want to go to London to shop and visit museums..
Well the next ten days should be very interesting. I loved the King’s speech ( seems funny to say that) and I do think he will make a thoughtful monarch. He’s very progressive and caring and has wised up in his older years.
Have a wonderful weekend! xo
Kim, I could not agree more. No matter your politics, you cannot deny that Queen Elizabeth was an incredibly hard working woman. I might add that she never retired and was still working at the age of 96! I love reading the stories of her love for picnic, bbq and time fishing in Balmoral. She loved her time as a “regular person.”
I hope the monarchy can survive with all of the changes in the world. xo
Oh I meant to mention the wonderful food link. Cornish pasties always look so good and I’ll try your scones! Scones are my favorite food group I always say.. xx
Kim, a good scone is hard to pass up!
She will be missed.
She will indeed. Have a wonderful day William.
Elizabeth, I share your love for all things British. And it did come as a shock to learn the Queen passed … just two days before she looked in wonderful form ushering in her newest Prime Minister. It’s a sad time and I appreciate you reveling in all things British during this week of mourning leading up to her funeral. Rosemary Verey is new to me and I can’t wait to do a deep dive into her English Gardens. I hoped for an English-esque garden here at Snowberry, but we have our own weather challenges and have to pick and choose elements that will thrive. It’s going to be a very British focused week here in the US showing our respect and admiration for the Queen’s steadfast leadership. xo
I always enjoy your posts and today especially your comments about the passing of Queen Elizabeth.
I am interested in hearing more about your garden plans. I don’t know anything about what grows happily in the South as compared to what grows happily in England, but I have recently become aware of the vital importance of growing native plants and I have begun the process of replacing some of the non-natives in my garden. Will you integrate natives in your garden? Planting an English garden sounds so daunting to me. I wish you much luck and joy in your garden activities and thank you for the joy reading your blogs has given to me.
It’s so heartwarming to read so many wonderful tributes about this remarkable woman. But what I find really interesting is that even people who had never met the queen seem to feel a connection with her. She was truly an inspiring person.
Such a great tribute. It is weird to not have her as the Queen. I guess the it is about the things changing. It is sad though.
Patrick, I could not agree more. It is sad and it is the end of an era.
As I was reading this post my American accent turned to an English one! I do love a good London fog cuppa with honey. Britain will never be the same that is for sure, and it most likely won’t see another Queen for another three generations.
This is such a great story and remember your visit to the Palace when young. We love the Royal family and are sad she is gone. She had a long life.
She was an amazing lady and will be so missed.