It has been a beautiful few days in Dorset - but we have been thinking of our friends and neighbours in Scotland too, as torrential rainfall swept through Argyll & Bute, wreaking havoc and damage as it went. It's so strange that the days here have been so quiet, so hot, by comparison.
And as we digest the horrors and helplessness of the news once again, I wondered whether to write a small blog this evening, or not. And then I remembered how many times I've received a nice message from someone saying 'thanks for keeping me calm,' and I thought, probably better now than ever.
I'd been in Cornwall on Thursday and Friday, as the astonishing heatwave passed over the south, and I got back to Dorset late on Friday evening, in time for supper and bed. On Saturday, we went to Bridport Market as usual. Morning clouds parted and the sun shone through. Lunch in the garden when we got home.
Everyone was so hot.
That afternoon, Charlie baked a cake!
And an early evening walk - the valley tipping in to Autumn so strongly, now.
Charlie's garden has never looked more beautiful, I couldn't help feeling.
The allotment garden is filled with treasure, still. Dahlias are going mad, as they will, until the first frosts.
Bizarrely, all the purple irises have come in to flower.
Sunset over our neighbour Ed and Christine's cottage.
Jewel-toned garden.
The veg garden.
The house is almost lost behind the nasturtium towers...
Almost on their way out - a week or two from now, they'll be really dying down.
A beautiful flower.
And the following morning, an early walk, as the sun came up.
Crab apples in the village.
And just as nature needs it, the ivy coming into flower.
23 comments
Thank you for a dose of sanity and beauty!
Yes…Your blog is a very calming, peaceful place…full of beautiful photos of nature and happy little animals! Thank you!
Beautiful pictures of the village and greenery. Charles’s cake looks magnificent. And the garden is still flour8sing and so beautiful. Wonderful Autumn. It is warm in Canada too and beautiful weather, but definitely not as lunch as your area.
Thank you.
I’ve been reading the blog for years from all over the world but never left a comment. All I want to say is how necessary it seems, now more than ever – full of hope, beauty and grace!
Thank you Ben for writing your blog at this time and sending such wonderful photos of peace, beauty and the 3 hot dogs. A joy to read.
Warmest regards
Susan
A gentle reminder of the beauty of life and the joy of everyday activities..
Thank you
Jean in Johannesburg
Autumn may be coming to Dorset but in Charlie’s garden, it looks to still be high summer! Thank you as always, Ben, for sharing your private sanctuary with us. Truly, as the world seems to sink in ever-worsening madness, you provide solace and sanity, and hope.
By the way, I usually view your blog on my phone, and I can no longer see others’ comments. Is this deliberate? I always enjoy the comments.
FAB pix. Autumn 🍂 ❤️ would Charlie share his recipe for that wonderful sponge 😋
From 🇳🇿
♥
Just beautiful….
So glad you chose to write and share your photos – thank you,
Lesley
“Indian Summer” post: ‘tis closest to my kind of heaven !! 3 posts from Ben Pentreath INSPIRATION in one month’s time!
These visits are so restorative and such glimpses of beauty – with dogs, garden, Dorset country vistas, food. Thank you for your generous reminder that there IS balance available in this world-gone-crazy.
Think what we would have missed if you hadn’t sent this post. Just lovely!
Charlie’s cakes are always extraordinary and decadent. PLEASE, a recipe for the cake! I’ve been infatuated for months since seeing a photo on Instagram of a 3 layer coffee and walnut cake and can’t find a recipe for anything similar online. How does he make the cakes- they look like they’re not baked in a pan- rather irregularly sided. I’m obsessed with that cake! Please pass a recipe along so I can lower my obsession anxiety! LOL!! And thank you for the stunning dahlia photos- Those helped with a moment of bliss in this crazed world of late. Ours in NJ are about to be frosted and done for the year. Thank you very much!
The beauty and peace of nature in a World that has unimaginable things happening – thank you for sharing Ben.
Ben these posts are divine. Any chance Charlie would share his Victoria sandwich recipe??
Thank you for the joy you share with us all!
💕 Love it all!!
Thank you once again for your lovely photos. Such beauty and peace in our troubled world.
Simply Beautiful my favourite season, thank you for sharing
Good idea to post. Gorgeous images. The proportions of cake to cream made me laugh. Very cheering, thanks.
Beautiful and peaceful as always. Now about that cake…..🤗
Such beautiful photographs, especially the one with the gate & the dog & the one of the iris. Maybe you have missed your vocation…..? ( don’t stop posting them!) Thank you