House-Elf Doings 

Simone has now received this Klimt inspired mat. Pop in and wish her a Happy Birthday for yesterday.

The fabrics are Thimbleberries.

The back is pieced too.

Now let me take you to Dorchester on Thames just south of Oxford.

The buildings are interesting.

But we though are off to Dorchester Abbey

 The building on the left is our first stop.

 Just look at how thick the walls are. They window is angled outwards into the room to let as much light in as possible. Glass was expensive and for the elite (poorer people boiled hooves and spread the onion-like layers thin, over a gap in the wall.) so windows are small by modern standards.

40p for your first cup of tea, 30p for your second, and so on. There was a huge variety of cake.

Feeling full yet? Time to explore the abbey.

Go on in

 Through the door

In this porch shelter. Often poor passing through a parish would sleep here and ask for alms. There was always an alms box in churches.  Boxing Day (26th December) was when you boxed up your food leftovers for the poor.

Click to read the info about the abbey.

It has more names and dates than I can repeat.

Exposed Medieval decoration.

Organ.

This quilted piano protector has been cut very well.

As usual I was keen on seeing the glass

Click to see more details.

Side chapel altar.

Another side chapel altar

 With a beautifully painted wall.

Main altar.

 Top of the main altar window.

Close up of the Jessie Tree window. Beautifully carved setting for the window.

Font

Weathervane on the top of the abbey tower. I told you it was more normal for me to see roosters rather than ships on weather vanes.

Now we leave Dorchester on Thames

 by car

 The river is so high after all the rain. Some of the meadows were very wet.

We are off to Wittenham Clumps– one of the higher points in the area, so it has good views.

The children came here to fly kites when they were little. Just the other side is Days Lock where the national Poohsticks championship is held.

Before the Romans “persuaded” the locals to move to the town, they lived in this Iron Age hill fort next to the Clumps.

One last look at Oxfordshire. Next time the unique habitat of Eastney Beach on Portsea Island in Hampshire.

I’m putting the house to rights at the moment. There is an idea brewing for a sea themed qult for Daughter in white cream and pale blue. I think I’ll be putting a pen and paper in my apron to jot things down as I go around the house.