A very quick sketch and study of a darling little cottage on our walk

We are so lucky with our managed footpaths in this area of Kent. Today we struck out early monrning taking a new turn on one of the many paths that are right at our door off the High.

The sun was just beginning and the dew was being burned off the long grasses in the meadows. The light was amazing.

In fact I am so struck by the light here at this time of year.

Coming upon another churchyard, we are spoiled for wonderful churches in our area, the light was luminescent.

The light making long shadows and playing with colour and form, like an unseen artist.

As we ascended the climb the sun shone brighter and you could see the sheep in the field. In this bit of the footpath, you are allowed to walk amonst the sheep, as this is farming community. The sheep are let into various fields and today the sign read to keep dog's on a lead as the sheep were in.

There is a lovely local manor house that looked like an English landscape painting.

I know I shall have my Singularity women amongst this backdrop once I can get back to painting.

It is like stepping into a painting this magical ramble amongst the sheep.

I felt like Marry Poppins popping in and out of chalk drawings, only in my case, hopping into the landscapes painted in the early 19th century.

As we continued on, the path meandered and opened onto a quiet country lane.

This amazing little cottage met us like a magical gingerbread affair in a fairy story.

At every turn, since our coming here, we keep needing to pinch ourselves as the things we imagined would be the joyful quaint quirky things we HOPED to find in English village life seem to keep cropping up. As if someone read my wish journal and set about creating this bit of English coutryside.

We turned from this magical cottage and saw chickens and ducks rambling about in open grassy fields. And a sign hearlding Tadpole Tearoom.

Were we in a dream world? And as we apporached the door, this sign made us wonder if indeed we had found Valhalla.

Not only dogs welcome, but muddy boots as well, and my own wellies were sodden with much and mud.

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After a splendid pot of Lapsong (one of my favourite teas this time of year) and delicious bread and scone for my friends ( I promise I didn't sample a carb at all) we were quite satisfied with our morning's ramble.

And then, to top off an already splendid morning, we entered the farm shop on site and was ecstatic to see this!

We had just been contemplating if they used duck eggs as well as chickens for the tea room, as they raise duck here. And to see these, also well soiled from the nests, for sale made me smile no end.

To know that I can get such great local veg and farm raised and well cared for meat on the end of a wondrous foot path ramble seems a dream, indeed.

Only, don't pinch me as I don't want to wake from this one.

I still have not shown any more of our house as of yet. I have photos, but have just not had the moment to post it. I even planted up our two planters out front today and forgot to take before and after photos. It truly does take me actively reminding myself to document my days, as it is so easy to just slip into them.

My room continues to be more furnished and I'm itching to get back into a proper painting routine, but in due time. I mean it has only been one week since our settling ourselves into our little cottage here in the village.

I hope all of you had a moment to have a good ramble wherever you may live. If not, at least to have dreamed of forests and trees.

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Walking our Kentish foot paths to Tea house and local duck eggs.