hello dearies! after days of packing and unpacking, traveling sans internet, catching up with family, and of course, playing with my beloved golden retriever, oh and a much-needed mani-pedi {gold nails and coral toes!}, i should be back to blogging daily! but before i move on to those things that will come, a look back to my {former} neighborhood, the-hidden-jewel-of-london :
my final bustling sunday morning at the marylebone farmer's market, savoring the beauty of it all, some vendors selling crisp lettuces, juicy tomatoes, sweet cherries, delicate flowers, and fragrant lavender, others baked goods and oh-so-british savory pies, still more with dairy, cheeses, farm-fresh eggs ... british organic farmers, artisanal bakers, and passionate producers, making it so easy to eat so well ...
eating seasonally, just from the source, is so much more fun than from a silly supermarket, don't you think? {oh and tastier and better for the environment and less expensive too!}
and then a final stroll down marylebone high street, with so many delicious restaurants: french, tapas, british organic, and my very favorite pub, painted in dark grey, isn't the little man on the sign so darling? and a famous travel bookshop, and perfect bouquets ...
... and, best of all, no swarms of tourists ...
and, lastly, a walk through regent's park, treading slowly and leisurely, but deliberately, to let it all sink it, an ancient weeping willow under which to read, families laughing and playing, a moment of solitude and reflection amongst the roses, and heading home, the unmistakable perfection of colonnaded rows of gleaming white pre-war buildings, property of the crown. and me, excited to begin, but teary-eyed for it to end ...
but, you must remember, marylebone is our little secret, as in no telling the tourists!
now off to run errands and see oodles of family and a best friend. so happy to be home. have a perfect summer's weekend. xx hillary
