"It is right and good that you should devote yourself to great things, to important and excellent works; but practice for the love of God those little humble virtues which spring up like flowers at the foot of the cross:the bearing of some slight misfortune, some passing infirmity, a vexation, a disappointment, an offense, a humiliation, certain tiresome occupations at home or abroad.
As such occassions are ever recurring, what a treasure they of spiritual riches you can amass if you know how to profit by them!"
– Keep it Simple, Emmanuel de Gibergues
Spent the day at the market. As you can see, there was something for everyone. : )
The older girls and I ventured down to Newmarket the other day while the weather was bright and sunny. Newmarket is the birthplace of thoroughbred racing and home to a national museum dedicated to same. Records dating back to the 1100's indicate this was the earliest racing venue in the post-classical world. Thousands of horses still train in the area. They do this in the morning. We were there in the afternoon. Hence, of those thousands, we actually saw two.
You win some, you lose some. : )
Up side? After 1pm you can walk out onto The Gallops which are the training tracks. We did wander around all of that and thought you might like to talk a virtual look around as well.
Martha's heart-shaped sandwich cookies were made by Moira and Alannah one evening after work. That's what they do for kicks ; )
Preparations well underway at our house for this, one of the biggest days of the year for my guys. Kieran asked for an early birthday party to coincide with Superbowl so we have some themed cupcakes at the ready.
He really wanted a print for his room from this season of his too so we had this framed.
Hope you have a super fun Superbowl day as well, birthday or not. Chances are good it will happen a LOT earlier in your day than it will here in ours <g> You have to be REALLY dedicated to watch football in the middle of the night.
Yours truly here, took pictures beforehand and will be fast asleep long before then.
The happy thing to talk about is tea today with these two. It has not been easy to get a table at this little tea room near the antique barn. The posted hours seem to be more suggestions than hard-and-fast opening and closing times. We tried to bring Megan a few weeks ago. We tried a couple days ago to take all the girls. That time we came very close. It was open when we arrived at the barn, but all the lights were out and doors locked before closing time. I was half expecting the same this afternoon when we came on Alannah's day off but we hit the jackpot. Tea and cakes while watching the wind and drizzle pick up out the windows.
That is the happy thing. The not-so-happy thing was the tree down in the road later in the evening. Or the lorry that hit us from behind. This is life too, yes? Not all tea and cakes. Still, we are all three safe and well and the driver has sent all his company's information to cover us it seems. Just am a little rattled still which explains editing in the wee hours. So off to bed with me now.
We couldn't let her leave without seeing the ponies after all.
“He stood staring into the wood for a minute, then said: "What is it about the English countryside — why is the beauty so much more than visual? Why does it touch one so?"
-Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle
Such a week. We have been walking, walking, walking. Walking the fens, walking the streets of cities large and small. Staying up way too late watching movies and playing board games. Reading the last of the Christmas library books and eating up the cookies. And taking pictures. And having heated fantasy football draft sessions.
That's my life this week. I hope your's is equally full of goofiness and exhaustion. Will be back to post more pics tomorrow. Probably. : ) Meantime a street shot from this afternoon.
What a year it was. We rang it in with fireworks in a tiny farming village on the highest peak in our part of the Rhineland Pfalz. We closed it out watching magnificent fireworks explode over the London Eye. (and can't wait to share!)
In between there was dancing
in Stuttgart, Ramstein, Munich…
and in Ireland. Beautiful Ireland.
There were parades big and small.
There was a lot of football. From little boys playing alongside the flight line to American pro football in Wembley Stadium
to English football in Manchester.
There were great celebrations. Holy Communion…
Confirmations.
As well as solemn memorials to a good man gone too soon for us.
We cheered at a high school graduation and a college graduation.
And then there were the road trips. Lots of them.
Luxembourg
Köln
Trier – a couple times.
Some of them hiked the French rock formations along the old Roman road.
another put her toes in the sand on the Italian coast
Others splashed along the Suffolk coast.
We watched another cross the finish line in Prague
Prague, the city which stole Abbie's heart.
And we boarded ship for the white cliffs of Dover, not a road trip but to make a home.
Where we pal around in Cambridge and London
From flowering rapeseed in Germany to the bowing fen grasses of East Anglia.
We have been blessed to share this year's adventures with over a half dozen American students as well. The one face you don't see in these pictures is our son Asher. He spent 2012 in Korea. Major goal of 2013 is a picture of him next to his mama.
It's been quite a ride y'all. I count it as a singular blessing to have been able to share it with the people I dearly love near and far, face to face and via this screen. 2012 saw a lot of boxes and suitcases and smiles – as well as tears. Life is full.
It is never easy.
It is always good.
Life is good. Hold on to that.
Starry Sky Journal 