If this is Tuesday, it must be England #191

 

Happy 79th Birthday on September 25 to one of my favorite British actresses, Felicity Kendal, CBE.  This is a repost of a blog post from 2023 because I have a couple of new readers who have expressed interest in some of the TV shows, especially British ones, that I've mentioned recently.

The 1975 television series, The Good Life, is one of her best-known works.  It's the hilarious tale of a suburban couple, Tom and Barbara Good, who give up the rat race in favor of self-sufficiency, much to the chagrin of their snooty but lovable next-door neighbors, Margo and Jerry Leadbetter.

Felicity Kendal, Richard Briers, Penelope Keith, and Paul Eddington as Barbara and Tom Good, and Margo and Jerry Leadbetter.

A more recent work, Rosemary and Thyme, is another favorite - Pam Ferris as Laura Thyme and Felicity Kendal as Rosemary Boxer are a sleuthing gardening team.

Rosemary and Thyme is available on DVD as is The Good Life although it is a little harder to find.   Rosemary and Thyme is also available on some streaming services.  I highly recommend both. 

Life Last Week (15-21 September 2025)

  

A relatively quiet week.

The weather for the week ahead:::

The temperatures in the morning are lovely, I wish they'd stay that way all day!

On my reading pile:::

 Sttill working on The Last Dress from Paris by Jade Beer from my bookshelves, finished The Resistance Daughter by Joanne Kormylo, and added The Venetian Daughter by Ella Carey onto my Kindle.  It's nice to have it on my phone to have a bit of a read while I'm waiting for an appointment or waiting for Vic to finish up at Lowe's or Home Depot!

On my TV:::

Loving The Hardacres on BritBox, the Great British Baking Show on Netflix, and the Great Canadian Baking Show on Roku.  I'm learning all sorts of things about Canada and Canadian dishes.

More Fall into Love offerings on Hallmark+ - each one we watch makes me long for New England.

And a Christmas one that's been in the DVR since Christmas in July.

We also watched Tower Heist on Netflix, great cast, funny.

We also watched Episode 8 of Blood of my Blood, the prequel to Outlander.  Only one more episode until the finale.

Checked off the list:::

• Video call with Jodie to chat about all things December Daily and the other scrapbook/memory keeping companies that are bringing out their holiday offerings.
• Hooked up my photo printer and got busy printing photos for the virtual crop coming up this weekend.
• Booked Buckingham Palace tickets for our London trip.  Most tours are offered July through September but we're taking a private, guided tour of the East Wing (that's the front façade and the iconic central balcony shown below.  The balcony is just behind the impressive central gates.

Crafts roundup:::

Keeping current on my memory planning.  December Daily 2021 layouts are complete, just need a few embellishments and it will be done!

 

And in other news:::

Week Four moves us into the master bedroom to deep-clean and cut clutter, creating a serene and peaceful refuge for the busy days ahead. Time for a closet clean-out to make ready for the cooler temperatures for many of us.

Our holiday prep tasks center on home-made gifts, and we’ll begin budgeting “to-buy” items week-by-week.

I'll leave the links up here if you're interested.

Holiday Grand Planners - Get Organized Community | Facebook 

Organized Christmas? Try a Holiday Plan | Organized Home

Friday Favorites - September 19, 2025

A little of this and a little of that, things that made me smile this week.

First, can we just say WOW!

And I loved this photo of Mrs. Trump on her joint engagement with the Princess of Wales - a visit to the Squirrels - a scouting group for four- to six-year-olds.

And from British TV's Facebook page, a write-up from one of my all-time favorite British TV shows.

Though it first aired more than 20 years ago, 'Monarch of the Glen' remains a delicious bit of escapism. Set in the Scottish Highlands, the series follows Archie MacDonald (Alastair Mackenzie) as he reluctantly returns to his family’s estate, Glenbogle, and is soon caught between tradition, responsibility, and the eccentric locals.

The ensemble includes Susan Hampshire ('The Forsyte Saga'), Richard Briers ('Ever Decreasing Circles'), and Dawn Steele ('River City'). Julian Fellowes—years before creating 'Downton Abbey'—also appears as the pompous Lord Kilwillie, adding another layer of fun for fans of British TV royalty.

With sweeping Highland scenery and gentle family drama, the series still charms audiences seeking a comforting escape. And an extra bit of trivia? The central home, Glenbogle, also doubled as Balmoral in 'The Crown'. In real life, it's called Adverikie House.

In the US, you can stream it on Amazon Prime and Pluto TV.

And Christmas is always a favorite, so I was doing a happy dance when the Countdown to Christmas line-up was announced.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Around the 'Net

 

A friend of mine with four children and nine grandchildren came up with an idea like this a few years ago.  She made the snowman stacks, and each one had a new hat and scarf and then presents inside.

Christmas Stacking Boxes

Along the lines of a stack of gifts, I burst out laughing when I saw this version for adult children!

If this is Tuesday, it must be England #190

 The funeral of The Duchess of Kent - whose name was Katharine Worsley - took place today at Westminster Cathedral.

The Duchess of Kent's coffin left the private chapel at Kensington Palace where she lived with her husband, the Duke of Kent, who currently resides there, and traveled the short journey to Westminster Cathedral.

A piper from the Royal Dragoon Guards played as the hearse left the palace she called home. The Duchess of Kent was Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Dragoon Guards for over thirty years. She was transferred to Lady Chapel-Westminster Cathedral, where a private Vigil for the Deceased, the Rite of Reception, and Vespers took place. She rested there overnight ahead of the funeral service.

Her historic funeral at Westminster Cathedral marks the first royal Catholic Requiem Mass in modern British history. Her sustainable wicker coffin - crafted from English willow - served as a final nod to her environmental consciousness. The flowers that adorned her coffin were selected to tell the story of the Duchess's life.

The white roses that dominated the floral tribute serve as a nod to Yorkshire, the Duchess's birthplace, where the blooms have reigned as the county's symbol for centuries. The white rose of Yorkshire represents purity, virtue, and innocence.

The coffin of the Duchess of Kent is carried out of Westminster Cathedral

© Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

The choice is even more meaningful when considered against the Duchess's groundbreaking 1994 conversion to Catholicism, making her the first member of the royal family to embrace the Catholic faith in over 300 years. In Catholic tradition, white roses symbolize the purity of the Virgin Mary, known as the "Mystical Rose of Heaven".

Beyond the Yorkshire roses, each flower in the arrangement functions as a chapter in Katharine's life story. Rosemary sprigs represent remembrance, which is fitting for a woman whose 64-year marriage to the Duke of Kent and decades of royal service left a mark on British society. The oak leaves symbolize strength, reflecting not just her personal resilience but also her passionate support for various charitable organizations throughout her life.

The jasmine blooms were chosen for their representation of amiability. Those who knew the Duchess often remarked on her genuine warmth and approachability, which made her beloved among both the public and her charitable causes.

The inclusion of yew sprigs from Hovingham Hall, the Worsley family home where young Katharine grew up, added the most personal touch. In ancient symbolism, yew represents eternal life. These evergreen branches, capable of living thousands of years, served as nature's promise that while earthly life may end, memory and influence endure.

The achillea flowers, representing healing and strength, spoke to Katharine's lifelong dedication to charitable work, particularly her patronage of organizations supporting children and music education. Even the seasonal September-blooming flowers symbolizing farewell, were deliberately chosen to mark this autumn goodbye with dignity and grace.

Life Last Week (8-14 September 2025)

 

We finished up the week with glorious weather for Vic's birthday celebration outing.

The weather for the week ahead:::

68, yes...82, NO, NO NO!

On my reading pile:::

 No change here - still working on The Last Dress from Paris by Jade Beer from my bookshelves, and I have The Resistance Daughter by Joanne Kormylo on my Kindle.

On my TV:::

We've been all over the place again this week.  Some BritBox, some Hallmark+, some STARZ.

(BritBox) The Hardacres launched last week with two episodes and the remaining four will be shown one per week for the next four weeks.  Really enjoyed this one.

Checking out the Fall into Love offerings on Hallmark+.

We also watched Episode 7 of Blood of my Blood, the prequel to Outlander.

Checked off the list:::

• Our Lunch Bunch friend who entered hospice last week died on Wednesday.  So sad, she was one of our founding members, had a wicked sense of humor, and will be very much missed.  Not a checked off the list item, but something that happened last week.
• Downton Abbey - The Grand Finale was fabulous!  I think I need to watch the whole series from the beginning and by the time I'm done, this latest movie should be available for streaming.
• Booked our flights for London in December, so excited!

Crafts roundup:::

Photo printer arrived, just need to hook it up.  Still keeping current on my memory planning.  Working on December Daily 2021 because when I went to file away 2022, I realized that I had never completed 2021.  Fifteen stories told, ten to go.

 

And in other news:::

Week Three's cleaning emphasis is the entryway.  I'll leave the links up here if you're interested.

Holiday Grand Planners - Get Organized Community | Facebook 

Organized Christmas? Try a Holiday Plan | Organized Home

Sunday was Vic's birthday, so I planned a getaway to a destination we had not visited before - Mount St. Helens.

The Visitor Center had an informational film, great 3-D displays of the area, and the complete history of Mount St. Helens up to and after the eruption in 1980.

Here we are at the Science Learning Center with Mount St. Helens in the background and Coldwater Lake in the foreground.

Picnic lunch at the Coldwater Lake Recreation Area.

Vic's favorite - scones and fixings.

Happy Birthday, mon amour!

Coldwater Lake

Our hotel for the evening was the Kalama Harbor Lodge, one of the McMenamins historic hotels.  It is modeled after the Pioneer Inn in Maui.  I took this photo Sunday morning as we were leaving, hence the rain.

Each of the rooms celebrate people, places, and events from Kalama's history.  John (Johannes, a German native) who, with his brother Phillip in 1871, founded Kalama's first and only brewery along the flat east of the train depot, which they ran for 15 years. John married Lucy Ahles, and our room is named for them.

The room was lovely.  We had a partial view of the Columbia River (as all the river view rooms were sold out) with a balcony.

While we were having dinner, an American Cruise Line ship, the American Harmony, pulled up to the dock.  It's on a Snake and Columbia Rivers cruise.

After dinner relaxing in the rocking chairs next to the Columbia River.

The weather on Saturday was glorious, and we had a great time.  As we entered the Visitor Center and Vic saw all that they had to offer, he said, "I LOVE trips like this!".  Happy Birthday, darling!