Shall We...

{Attention: Please read the following with a high-bred accent.}
Ladies. We all have our fantasies, but this is mine. I know perfectly well that all of these places are modern and hustly bustly, but it might just be possible to completely ignore such ridiculousness and carry on in our own manner. We could jump from century to century as we please, and be fully in the moment.

I give you, our Cousin Retreat, in

Were I to take the reins of the adventure and put pen to paper in search of a month's to-do's, we should

wear long flowing dresses, 

go horseback riding across the countryside,

 have picnics at the edge of the woods and on country manor hillsides,

 watch Regency, Victorian, and whatever era have you movies every night--

in our Regency, Victorian, and whatever era have you pajamas, 

have high tea,

swim in the lakes,

visit London with Harry Potter intentions to ride red buses

and things of that nature,

sleep in castles,

sleep in cottages,

 make meals,

weave flower crowns,

explore on foot and arrive breathless at destinations,

languidly drift down rivers on narrow boats,

go on a hot air balloon ride,
read books and poetry,

frighten ourselves on the moors at dusk,
or in wandering about the a gloomy castle by candlelight

gather roses in a secret garden,

harvest vegetables in a kitchen garden,
play instruments,
sing in quartets, 
reenact dramas,

match-make with the appropriate cousins to the eligible local gentlemen,

write love letters to the loves we have left behind, 
take food baskets to people in need,

host a party, with the challenge to each find someone mysterious to invite,
visit the sea, Lyme if at all possible,
figure out if there are waters to be sampled in Bath,
shop at local markets,
make lavender sachets and the like,
jump on down-filled beds,

and a ball! We must learn some dances and host a ball! 

 A little 19th century swoonishness your way. Would that it also included the sweeping gorgeousness that is flowing scenery and buildings of stone and moss.

I am aware that the English countryside is not all about romance. But my final message would be

Even the most drudging of deeds and dullest of scenes 

can be romantic with the right soundtrack.

It's true. Try it sometime. 

Xo, Kelsey Louise