Stone Cottages and Gardens to Love


Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission


We've had technology issues this week. Our internet provider had to perform emergency repairs, which shut us down for awhile, but we're back up and running now and I can finally share some cottage love with you.

Today we're visiting Penlan Cottage located in the Black Mountains of Wales. 


Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission
This deep well window is delightful.




Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission
Leaves in a heart. Oak, perhaps?




Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission
Love the barbed wire heart. This vignette inspires me to repurpose the old horseshoe I discovered on our property.




Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission
Great lime-washed walls in the cottage.




Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission
Lovely backyard overlooking a duck pond.




Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission
Another stone cottage in Wales: Walnut Tree Cottage.



Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission
Sometimes understated elegance is the best.



Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission
"Stable" or "dutch" door. Whichever you call it, it spells cottage.


Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission
A very pretty cottage garden just outside the doorway.



Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission
Eating outdoors is one of summer's delights, and this lovely setting is especially inviting.




Photo of The Royal Pavilions' North Garden by
David Le Masurier: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidlemasurier/831374488/in/photostream
Some Rights Reserved
And once I get started on gardens. . .well, it's hard to stop. This garden has hollyhocks, which personally I think belong in a cottage garden. I first became acquainted with hollyhocks in a cottage garden I designed in Illinois. They are a wonderful old-fashioned flower.



Hollyhocks in Taos, NM
When we visited Taos last summer I discovered hollyhocks everywhere. The climate must appeal to them.




Photo of Hollyhocks in the Pavilion Gardens by David Le Masurier: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidlemasurier/831374452/  Some Rights Reserved




Most of my gardening these days is confined to containers outside our shop. I purchased the little wagon at a friend's garage sale last week. He made it out of solid oak. It makes transporting the plants into the shop for the evening very convenient. I love it.

I hope your week is off to a good start.


Photo Cottage Garden Gate by RWM: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwm/86839537/ Some Rights Reserved
"Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed."  ~
Walt Whitman


Blessings,



Linking up with Inspire Me Monday

14 comments

  1. Oh so beautiful. Every time I open your blog and see your gorgeous header, I have to smile. Thanks for sharing all the lovely photos.

    xox

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    1. You're so sweet. Thank you Anne. By the way, I love your bath and laundry room makeovers. Great job!

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  2. What an abundance of lovely photographs! I think you may have given me an inspiration with your barbed wire heart photograph. The garden pictures are amazing and I'm smitten with the first image with the birds.

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    1. Thank you, Lisa. I tried to leave a comment on your blog, but couldn't get the comment box to appear. So I'll tell you here that I like your Iris painting, but my favorites are your pink roses. Especially "Pink Ribbons". It is exquisite. I am partial to pink roses, though, so that may have something to do with it.:) Blessings.

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  3. Oh how I love your blog. Is the banner a picture of your cottage.My heart skips a beat for every cottage you show.

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    1. Thank you, Debby. You're very kind. The banner photo was actually taken at The Fawnbrook Inn in Allenspark, Colorado (http://www.fawnbrookinn.com/). Dennis and I were married there on Valentine's Day 2010 (not outside of course). Herman and Mieke, the owners, are good friends of ours. Mieke's garden is magical and she graciously allowed me to photograph it last summer. I blogged about it and shared more photos on my other blog Joyful Altitude: http://www.joyfulaltitude.com/search/label/Fawnbrook%20Inn. When I designed A Joyful Cottage I knew that I would never find a more perfect representation of cottage joy and beauty than the photo of The Fawnbrook. Thanks for stopping in and taking the time to comment. Blessings, Nancy

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  4. What a beautiful blog, Nancy! I LOVE your header ... and the Wales cottage photos are truly lovely. I spent a year and a half in England while working on my master's degree, and I fell in love with the cottages in the UK, too. I'm your newest follower.

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    1. You're very kind, Deb. Thanks for the sweet comments and for following. I see from your profile that you're from Colorado Springs. If you ever come up to Estes Park, CO stop in and see us at our art gallery and shop A Joyful Cottage. It would be fun to meet you in person. Blessings, Nancy

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  5. Awesome post on stone cottages and gardens, both a favorite of mine! I am following your blog already, but I just started a new blog that I think you might enjoy! Stop on over, if you get a chance!
    http://cairncottage.blogspot.com/

    Ann
    “Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace” Proverb quote

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    1. I finally got to your blog today, Ann. What fun! Thank for following. Now following you back. :)

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  6. Sure looks like a lovely area to visit.

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    1. Yes, I'd like to get there some day. Thanks for visiting and commenting.

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  7. Dear Nancy,
    so many treasures to be found on your blog! Especially those old stone walls, they have such character.
    Thank you so much, you really made my day, which was not agreeable at all before...
    Yours Sarah

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    1. Sarah, I'm so happy my little blog could improve upon your day. That is a great compliment. I love traditional cottages, such as this one, and a stone wall grabs my heart every time. Hope your entire day is filled with joy. Thanks, again, for stopping by. ~ Nancy

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Your comments bring me joy! Thanks for stopping by.