Constable Country

Recently we had some visitors in our National Trust property who had been to Flatford Mill and had found it to be "Like Oxford Street."

On my birthday, I chose for us to go and have lunch in Dedham, which is about twenty miles north of here.  We pottered around a few shops, then drove on to Flatford Mill in the sunshine.

A mid-week afternoon was obviously the ideal time to visit.  A deep peace had settled over the scene.  This is Willy Lott's cottage, familiar from Constable's "The Hay Wain."

We had tea at the National Trust tearooms, watching a pair of swans with a well-grown cygnet cruising along the river.

Anything further from Oxford Street it is hard to imagine.

Birthdays

Over the years, my husband has made some remarkable birthday presents for me.  This was the first: a miniature chest, like a prentice piece, for a jewellery box.  This must have been about thirty years ago.

A box inlaid with veneers.  These were cut from the wood of an apple tree which did not survive the storm in '87.  It once grew in the garden of my old house.

Inside, a surprise

This time, this year, I knew that he had something on the go in his workshop, but I had no idea what it was.  He was very sneaky about obtaining the materials, and I did not guess what the project was.

And here it is!  This is a cutlery box for the set of Robert Welch cutlery which we bought when we retired.  This is American walnut - from a sustainable source  - and it is both simple and beautiful.  I love it!