What are Sundays for?
Sunday is a day of rest(oration) and creativity.
Sundays are for dreaming and exploring. A view over the lily pond to Goodnestone Church
What are Sundays for? If you don’t have too many responsibilities, then they are a great day to get out and about. To explore what your local area has to offer. There might be hidden gems in your locale that you have dismissed just because they are nearby, but might be every bit as good as the more well-known attractions.
A view of Goodnestone House
Yesterday I drove a short way to Goodnestone Park, nestled in the Kentish countryside. The village Goodnestone, (pronounced by some as Gunston) was originally thought to have been owned by Earl Godwin, a son of King Harold. The manor house within the village was built around 30 years ago and is in the Queen Anne style. Goodstone Park is perhaps best known for its connection to Jane Austin. Her brother Edward was a resident for some time and Jane herself stayed for several weeks at the house.
A large lily pond at the heart of the garden
The jewel of the Park, are the grounds themselves. Open to visitors, they are a calm and beautiful space. If it is too hot, there are trees to shade under, and a large one to sit by and contemplate. The colours of the plants and flowers offer the creative a chance to recalibrate and reset.
A bug box in the gardens
As a creative, or watercolour artist these little trips out provide the perfect opportunity for sketching or a preparatory watercolour painting. This might sound like a big undertaking, but you don’t have to take your full art studio kit. Thankfully The Arqivist often has several antique and vintage miniature watercolour paint boxes in stock. Known as bijou boxes, they are small enough to fit into a bag or your pocket and the perfect companion for plein air painting. Then the only other thing you have to pack is a small water holder and a sketchbook. You can even supply the water from your reusable drinking bottle. Once home you can admire the work you have done, and expand your work into a full-size study.
A southern magnolia in full bloom
When I go out I like to snap away with my camera and then come home to work on the images later. Here are some of the things I saw…
A darling cottage within the village of Goodnestone
