England/France 2012



Leah and I traveled to England and France for just over three weeks in May and June.  I'm a bit slow in getting a blog post out about our trip but it was wonderful.  We missed Emily, who did not join us on our European travels this year, but much fun was had and memories were made even in her absence.  I've loaded a lot of photos, so feel free to take a look as time allows...

 

William and Leah on our walk in the country.  I'd give anything to have walking trails at home like they have in England!

The Tower Bridge

Arlene and I on the train on a trip to Brighton on the coast.

Leah in the Great Court in the British Museum, the world's oldest museum.

Paella maker at Covent Garden.  Mmmmm!

Leah at the corner market, selecting apricots (the best we've ever had!) in Paris.

A row of trees in a park in Paris.

Opera de Paris Garnier designed by Charles Garnier for Napoleon III in 1862.  It took 13 years to complete!
Leah and I are fans of Phantom of the Opera and wanted to tour the Opera de Paris
but it wasn't open for tours on the day we were there.

Leah standing on a bridge over La Seine in front of Notre Dame.

Enjoying a morsel from heaven: Macarons!  It is our goal to learn how to bake
these challenging little treats.

We visited Sainte-Chapelle last year but had to return on this trip.
It's an exquisite Gothic masterpiece considered to be Paris's most beautiful church.
The stained glass windows soar 50 feet to the sky!

A close up of the gorgeous stained glass in Saint-Chapelle.  Amazing.

A view in a bakery window of the luscious meringues that come in all flavors.
Leah and I tried the rose meringue and it was delectable!

I'm so captivated by the locks on the bridges (or Ponts) of Paris.  The locks are placed there by couples in love who throw the keys in the river afterward and symbolize a never-ending love.  Sigh...  So romantic!

No caption needed.  The Eiffel Tower is gorgeous architecture at its finest.

Leah and I on a beautiful sunny day at Jardin des Tuileries with the gorgeous Musee du Louvre in the background.

Back in England, we took the train to the coastal village of Eastbourne and hiked along
the enormous chalk cliffs at Beachy Head.

A sobering reminder of those who ventured to close to the edge of the cliffs. 
There were more crosses than these shown here.  Sad.

So beautiful!

Old lighthouse in the distance.

We spent four days in northern England in the Lake District and took a tour of Beatrix Potter's Hill Top Farm.

Arriving at Ferndene, the lovely B & B in Keswick, the Lake District.

The Lake District has some of the most gorgeous scenery in the world! 
It also happens to be known for having some of the wettest weather in the world.
We were blessed with unseasonably warm and sunny weather while we visited.

Leah and I on the Catbells hike.

Please forgive me for going on and on about the scenery on our hike.  It was amazing.

Leah taking a little break on our hike.

What?!  We have to go still higher?!  These hills look deceptively gentle but they are more arduous than they look!

Leah at Catbells Peak.  Such a fantastic view with the bonus of blue skies!

I'm not too old to climb mountains (er, fells) with my daughter. 
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life and health!

An old bridge in the quaint village of Grange.
We enjoyed some of the best ice cream I've ever tasted there: Homemade Black Currant.  Mmmm...

Sheep are EVERYWHERE in the Lake District.  This cute little lamb was checking us out.

We also ran into cattle on our hikes and Leah enjoyed bonding with this cow.

More gorgeousness

Leah at the ancient Castlerigg stone circle.

I love old cemeteries and gravestones.  This one was across the street from our B & B in Keswick.

Leah looking out at Derwent Water on our final night there.

Cute lambs grazing in the field.

Flowers are everywhere in England, even in the crevices of stone walls.

A misty hiking path on a typical day in England.

Arlene was barbecuing sausages for the party on our last day in England.
This photo makes me smile.  She's drinking tea to stay warm and barbecuing in the rain!

Putting this blog post together makes me homesick for England and Paris.  We hope to return again next year, Lord willing.  In the meantime, the wonderful memories we have will have to suffice.

Mastering the Metro

It's taken me 47 years but I think I've finally done it.

What's that, you say?

I think I've mastered the Metro!  And the Tube!   The only thing I ask myself now, is why did I wait so long?

The Metro is the underground transit system in Paris and the Tube is the underground transit system in London.  For a country girl such as myself, I found them both intimidating.  For one thing, they're underground and I have slight claustrophobia issues.  For another they're both in extremely large cities.  For another, I don't speak French.  They also get extemely crowded and things move kind of quick down there.  Either get on the car or get out of the way!

However, all the negatives above don't outweigh their ability to speedily and efficiently and cheaply transport you all about these very large cities.  Amazing!  For hardly any money at all you can be from one side of the city to the other in mere minutes!  No traffic!  No parking!  No hassles!  (Well, a minimum of hassles...)

Last year's trip to London and Paris were my first experiences with mass transit and I wasn't sure I'd like it.  In fact, I was rather apprehensive about it.  We did manage to get on the wrong train more than once but I learned this rather apparent fact:  When you get on the wrong train, you just have to get off and get on the right train.  No harm done, really.  Such a revelation!  So we did use the trains/Metro & Tube but I can't say I liked it.

For some reason, this year is different.  Perhaps it was my exposure last year but I'm finding it so much easier.  Seriously, my transformation is nothing short of a miracle.  If I can master the trains, the Metro and the Tube I have no doubt that anyone reading this blog could.  Just another example of this old dog learning new tricks.  I hope I never get too old to learn new things and have fun doing it!

Prom Preparations

Leah and her "hairdresser", Emily.

Look at the beautiful corsage that Dad bought for his sweet daughter.

Jessie, Leah and Emily who has changed hats from hairdresser to photographer.

Aren't they beautiful?

What the girls wish they could drive to the prom: Dad's jeep!

Emily, doing her world-famous scarf dance.

The girls standing by Tex, Jessie's car and transportation for the night.

Sparkly and beautiful!

Do you sense a theme here?

Leah stopped next door to show Grandma her dress.

I know, I know, I keep talking about how I can't believe how quickly my children are growing and Prom is but one more example of this truth.  Leah, our "baby" girl attended a homeschool prom on Friday night with her friend, Jessie at a local country club.

They had a great time and as you can see by the photos above, they were the belles of the ball.  While their outward beauty is obvious to see, what I appreciate even more is their inner beauty. 

As I watch my girls grow up (that includes their friend, Jessie, too) I feel blessed to be their mother.  I'm so thankful for the opportunity to raise such lovely young ladies!