The garden was delightfully tranquil. There's a fairly busy road nearby but it felt very peaceful, and very Edwardian rather than Victorian. All civilised tea on the lawn and rounds of croquet, which Hardy enjoyed with guests. I admit that my husband and I don't know the rules to croquet, so we made up our own. I lost the game, despite an early lead.










Dress: Lindybop (I think 'Joy' was the style name)
Cashmere cardigan: 1960s vintage, table top sale (£2!)
Shoes: George at Asda
Brooch: vintage, Sarah Coventry, charity shop
Headscarf: car boot sale
We were lucky to have a fairly nice afternoon weather-wise, it was lovely to wander around without a coat on. As I type this, I believe another spell of warm sunshine is due to hit Wales, so let's hope that's happened, so I can share some more summery outfits with you.
A finaly note on Hardy: I have never actually read any, as the stories always seemed a little depressing from the adaptations I caught glimpses of on television. Am I right? Or are Hardy's writings worth reading?
Linking up with: #iwillwearwhatilike, Visible Monday, Passion for Fashion
I've somehow never read any Hardy either... call myself a literature graduate! These are lovely pictures - the shot of you laying down is particularly beautiful. I love the blue and coral together. Have to say I wouldn't know the first thing about how to play croquet either... Hope you're enjoying the bank holiday :) xx
ReplyDeleteI like these photos too, though some of the outtakes from this shoot were particularly hilarious - unfortunately placed wicket things!! It's turned awfully damp and drizzly here today, I hope you've got the sun over your side of the country x
DeleteHardy is well worth reading, but very, very depressing. I think probably far more depressing than any other literature. But worth it still! Absolutely. Beautiful writing.
ReplyDeleteYour outfit, on the other hand, is just delightful! I thought on seeing that close-up pic that the cardigan looks so lovely and soft, then to read it is vintage cashmere explains it! Hard to imagine who could get rid of it. Love the dress too.
You've convinced me, I'll give Hardy a go! I'll make sure I'm in a good place before I start though ;)
DeleteI've never read Hardy either, nor do I know the rules of croquet, but your photos are absolutely delightful. That Lindybop dress looks stunning on you, and I love you you combined it with that coral cardigan. Lovely brooch too! xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you, I enjoyed wearing such bright colours together, it felt very cheery! x
DeleteWhat a beautiful manor and location to play a game of croquet, such lovely photos of you also wearing that Lindybop dress! :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Hardy either (who is reading Hardy, I have to know!) But I did enjoy the movie with Jude Law and Colin Firth. You look splendid here - love the dress and cashmere cardigan. xox
ReplyDeletePatti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
That dress is so perfect on you! These pictures are so darn beautiful. I especially love the picture of you lying down, with your eyes closed.
ReplyDeleteHardy is so depressing! I actually did kind of like Tess of the d'Urbervilles, though - you just have to be in the mood to be depressed. ;)
ReplyDeleteThis outfit is the opposite of depressing! This dress is really cute, and it looks so comfortable for a sunny day out and about. Croquet is the most baffling game to me, so I'm sure your made up rules were way more fun than the "real" way.
I don't know anything about croquet either, nor golf which I tried and failed at haha.
ReplyDeleteI do love your dress though. What i've noticed a lot recently is how us vintage/charity shop girls brighten up a very dull crowd of people in their bland dull clothes. Have you noticed it too.
Lynn x
Absolutely Lynn, especially in the British climate when a day can be dreary dull in colour, all flat grey - even a bit of red lippy cheers things up immensely! xx
Deletewonderful that place looks so beautiful
ReplyDeletei dont know about that game
hope you will teach me
keep up the good work
We've got a croquet set in an outbuilding somewhere, I was a dab hand as a child!
ReplyDeleteI adore Thomas Hardy, I think they read better than most of the televised adaptation although I'll make an exception for Jude with Christopher Eccleston.
Max Gate looks wonderful, homely and real.
Fabulous photos! xxx
How effortlessly perfect you look for the location - and what a lovely location too. Doesn't everyone make up the rules to croquet? I HAVE read several Hardy novels but I usually struggle with them, for reasons I cannot every really identify. Kx
ReplyDeleteSuperb Porcelina !
ReplyDeleteI'd never even wondered how you play this !
I read "Tess of the d'Urbervilles. I enjoyed it and it is one of my favorite books. It is a little depressing.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
My dear friend Murray was from Dorset and studied Victorian novelists for his dissertation, he used to say whilst Hardy's books were depressing as hell, his descriptions of the countryside were pure poetry and no one wrote them better.
ReplyDeleteI love the dress. What a gorgeous Springlike colour.
Beautiful photos, house and outfit!!! I've never played croquet but you make it look fun. Such a nice colour combo you're wearing too xx
ReplyDeleteI love this bright and colourful outfit! The photo of you lying down is so artistic too- and all of the photos just exude fun!
ReplyDeleteI've always wondered how to play croquet. . . I'm sure your made up rules were enjoyable ;)
I find Hardy utterly miserable. That said, his poetry is beautiful, and it's easier to take those as they're smaller doses of misery.
ReplyDeleteThis dress is just too cute!! Also I adore me a game of croquet!
ReplyDeletexoxo
-Janey
Lovely setting and lovely outfit! I've played croquet properly once, with somewhere there to explain the rules to us, and I wouldn't mind playing it more. It was fun, and just the kind of low energy "sport" that I enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI've just found out there's going to be a croquet event at a local place in August - I'll have to go so I xan learn the proper rules! X
DeleteWhat great photos! I especially like the one of you on the ground.
ReplyDeleteAll the estates you've been visiting are lovely.
bisous
Suzanne