Lee Miller, Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle, Strawberries and more on Weekend Meanderings.
Good Saturday morning to you friends. It’s time for Weekend Meanderings with Kim and Juliet! This is our weekly series where we share all of the things that piqued our interests and caught our eye.
It’s been a busy week, my niece has been here visiting and we have been doing all sorts of fun stuff, including a road trip to TN. She left yesterday afternoon so this weekend we have some things to catch up on around the house and in the yard, weather permitting.
I have a PSA for you, Hobby Lobby has Fall and Christmas decor! In the past I have seen the store stocked in July and that seemed early but this is so early they may as well stock it all year long. What do you think?
What about you? How was your week? Its’ been another crazy weather week, I hope that you are all ok.
Highclere Castle~Downtown Abbey News
Downton Abbey fans guess what? Our favorite cast of characters is back for movie #3. Sadly, Maggie Smith will not be returning because her character passed away in the last movie. But we will see Lady Mary, Cora and Robert Grantham and even Cora’s brother played by Paul Giamatti. And Julian Fellowes is back as the writer with Simon Curtis directing.
The Countess of Carnarvon announced yesterday that the trucks are back and the shooting has started at Highclere Castle. You can follow along with all of the filming and goings on at Highclere by following Lady Carnarvons’ newsletter.
More about Highclere Castle
A guide to Highclere Castle, where Downton Abbey was filmed
Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle
LEE~Lee Miller
I am looking forward to the new Kate Winslet movie LEE, about Elizabeth Lee Miller. Lee Miller was born in Poughkeepsie, NY in 1907. She was a model for Vogue, a muse to Man Ray and Picasso, a fashion photographer and owner of her own photography studio, as well as, an embedded a war correspondent during WWII. Lee led an amazing and fascinating life and we will see a small glimpse of it in this movie.
The movie is based up the book The Lives of Lee Miller by Antony Penrose. Anthony is Lee Millers’ son with her second husband. What is most interesting to me is that he did not even know about his mothers’ famous war photos or her Vogue portraits because he had never seen them in her lifetime. Lee had her son at the age of 40 and later in her life she suffered depression. She wanted to put that part of her life in the past and never revealed the details of her extraordinary life.
Upon her death he found a treasure trove of over 60,000 negatives in her attic and has made it his life work to bring attention to his mothers legacy.
Mark the calendar because you will want to see this amazing film in September.
More About Lee Miller
Kate Winslet Looks for Humanity in World War II in ‘Lee’ Trailer
Everything You Need to Know About Lee Miller in Vogue and Beyond
Who was Lee Miller? Why the model-turned-war photographer is finally getting her due.
Books About Lee Miller
Strawberry Season
It’s strawberry season, at least in my neck of the woods. The you-pick farms and farm shops are bursting with beautiful bright red berries. We picked a few baskets this week and it took me right back to my first job. I picked strawberries in the summer in Wisconsin, I loved that job. The berries were some of the best that I have ever eaten but what I didn’t like were the slugs. YUK.
We have been enjoying the fruits of our labor, eating them plain and with copious of mounts of whipped cream and sweet biscuits.
Strawberries are the first fruit of spring. Their harvest is pretty short, only three weeks, so be sure to pick yourself up a punnet or two. The best You-pick farms in each of the 50 states can be found here.
Here are a few Fun Facts About Strawberries You Might Not Have Known
- Strawberries contain more vitamin C than oranges
- Strawberries are low fat, low calorie; high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, potassium.
- Ninety-four percent of US households consume strawberries.
- California produces 80% of the strawberries in the U.S. The strawberries are planted in different regions in California and harvested at different times so that they are available all year long.
- Europeans discovered the Virginia wild strawberry in 1588 but they were found in Rome in 234 BC
- Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside, because they’re seeds on on the outside they are not a true berry.
- The average strawberry has over 200 seeds and each seed is considered its own fruit.
- Strawberries come in various colors including blue/purple, white, pink and yellow.
- There are 103 species of strawberries.
- Americans eat 3.4 pounds of fresh strawberries each year
- They are perennials.
- Strawberries belong to the Rose family.
- The fear of strawberries is call fragariaphobia.
- Room temperature berries are sweeter than cold strawberries.
Tips to Grow Your Own Strawberries
How to Grow Strawberry Plants: The Complete Guide from The Farmer’s Almanac
How to Grow Strawberries from Seed.
How to Grow and Care for Strawberries in Pots.
Strawberry Desserts
National Strawberry Day on May 20th, why not get yourself a few and make some roasted strawberry bars?
This strawberry filled layer cake?
Or this easy Fresh strawberry cake.
Shop for Strawberries
LINKS TO READ+WATCH+LISTEN
The 25 Best Gardens to Visit in England
The Worldwide Labyrinths Society
The USDA’s gardening zones shifted. This map shows you what’s changed in vivid detail
The Man Who Built a 40-Foot Spite Fence Around His Neighbor’s Home
McDonald’s New McFlurry Flavor Is Inspired By Grandmas
9 NYC Restaurants from ‘Sex and the City’ That Are Still Open Today
Physiotherapists on the functional exercises everyone should do from home (and they do themselves)
No one knows how to talk about weightless anymore.
Get to Know this Creamy Cheese from the French Countryside
10 Simple Habits to Maintain a Clutter Free Home
Lessons From a Mass Shooter’s Mother
After Seeing This Old-School Diner Trick, You’ll Never Cut a Sandwich the Same Way Again
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Monday I shared this outfit, a great movie, a books and lots more. Check out the post for all of the details.
Then I shared a moist and easy Italian Lemon Ricotta Loaf Cake Recipe that is perfect for summer and that your family will love.
Last but not least, Friday Favorites! Recipes, fashion(including this outfit), decor and more.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
I hope that you enjoyed weekend meanderings. If you did please share the post on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter or Pinterest.
Have a great day, a very wonderful weekend.
Don’t forget to pop over visit my friends Kim and Juliet you can find the links below. If you missed any of the previous Weekend Meandering posts you can find them all here.
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On My Radar
Sounds like a fun week with your niece! I just heard about Downton too. I cannot wait! I would love too visit Highclere and I got a note from a Insta friend last week after I mentioned it on stories, with her photos of meeting the count and having tour and lunch! Wow. It’s on my list.. I would also very much like to see this Lee Miller movie. I am going to have to read one of these books first! Kate Winslet is one of my favorites.
Neat that you did strawberry picking when young. We do have a lot of farms with them here along the coast and it is a fun thing with kids. These recipes look SO good. I am intrigued by the strawberry cake!
Your lemon ricotta cake sounds delicious.. pretty too.
Both outfits are darling.Especially love the yellow shirt and shorts.. The pull on shorts are so comfy!
I hope you have a lovely weekend Elizabeth!
xo
Really fun post thank you Elizabeth. How magical you got to spend time with your niece!
Take care, Francesca B
Thank you Francesca! Have a wonderful weekend.
Happy weekend, Elizabeth! Funny you should mention strawberries, I just got word that our nearby farms have opened up for pick them and other produce. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never done this, but I’m going to. My own strawberries are coming in but so far by the time the fruit is ready they mysteriously disappear. Hmmm. I’m really looking forward to the movie, Lee. How fascinating that her son had no idea of her remarkable early life. Kate Winslet is such a wonderful actress … this should be a great one. And as for other movies, how exciting that Downton is coming back for a 3rd movie. A good excuse to rewatch the first two and maybe the entire series. Christmas already? I guess I’m not surprised but oh my gosh. There’s no excuses for not being ready, right!!! Sounds like a fun time with your niece. You know I love nieces. xoxo
I think it’s way too early to put Christmas decor in the stores. I find it mildly offensive actually. I know they’re trying to make money, but enough is enough! And I love a good ripe strawberry on a salad or in my cereal.
I AGREE Brenda, it is getting a little ridiculous. They may as well stock the stores all year long.
Elizabeth! I learned a thing or two about strawberries! How fun to have your niece in town for a visit!
Xx
Have a wonderful week Annie! Hope that you had a lovely birthday!