Denton Abbey Inn and Downton Abbey Out

We spent the past week with our daughter and son-in-law in Texas. It was good to see them and also to spend a little time in a land with no snow. On the flight from Mpls, Kevin looked out the window and said the snow line was at Faribault, MN. Hardly seems fair. So close, and yet we've got so much snow and temps well below zero degrees F.

BUT, as the Dowager Countess says, 'Stop whining and find something to do,' I'll proceed with the explanation of the above mosaic:

Top Row, L-R:
Our son-in-law's feet. It's what happens when you work at Reaper too long.
Our daughter and our son-in-law, the 'public consumption' photo (he doesn't let just anyone see his feet) at her office at UNT
At the Atomic Candy Store on the Denton square.
Lots of old time candy, everything from Necco wafers (my favorite!) to Slo Poke suckers (used to remove dental fillings).

Middle Row, L-R:
Paul
Berries on a tree in their yard - I've no idea what they are, but they're not grapes.
Denton County Court House
Kevin & Judy (proof that Scandinavians don't die; they just fade away) at Abbey Inn (not quite Brit's Pub in Minneapolis, but nice. And they're new, so we'll have to give them a little time to catch up.)

Bottom Row, L-R:
Angela's SmartCar, which Kevin and I got to borrow one day - parked at Recycled Books.
Holly & Berries hedge
Hector & Boots
Reading enjoyment (Dorothy L. Sayers and Rick Steves)

Downton Abbey Recap:

Okay, this is it. When I watched that episode, relieved to see Mary and Matthew happy at last and everything going right with the birth of their son, I was so disgusted at the extremely unhappy ending. Julian Fellowes, how could you! I washed my hands of the whole thing. I swore I'd never watch another episode!  

(at least until another episode is available).

Then again, when someone wants to leave the show, I suppose there's no choice but to write them out of the script somehow.

I did love the Highlands scenes, but I wonder where Fellowes thinks he's going with this new rabbit trail involving Rose. Any thoughts on that?

What about Edith? Does this new relationship remind anyone else of Jane Eyre or Rebecca?

So please, share all your thoughts on this Season Three wrap-up. We'd love to hear them!

I think there's a Season Four in the works. Think there will be a Season Five? What are you expecting to happen?

While I'm waiting for Season Four to arrive, I think I'll watch Bleak House. It's time for a nice, dark Dickens' story with that great character, Mr. Tulkinghorn. And how did he pop into my mind?? Remember Rebecca? There is a connection, I promise.

And my favorite, Mr. Smallweed.

bbc.co.uk

'Shake me up, Judy!'

***

'Oh, Matthew!'

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Kilburn White Horse and Byland Abbey, North Yorkshire

Kilburn White Horse
and sheep - those fuzzy white dots in the pasture below

Both the Kilburn White Horse and Byland Abbey lie in the SW corner of the North York Moors National Park.

Blue dot represents the approximate location of the Kilburn White Horse

I want you to know that I was making every effort to embed a Google Earth image here, so that you would be able to move around the Kilburn White Horse, zooming in and out. Every attempt I made ended with too long a load time. But if you're interested in seeing this on Google Earth,  you can type in the location. It really is pretty cool!

Latitude: 54°13'29.13"N
Longitude:   1°12'45.56"W

The Kilburn White Horse was made by some industrious souls who, in the mid-nineteenth century, scraped off the top soil to expose a huge limestone horse, just dying to get some fresh air.

Approaching the White Horse

Leaving Thirsk, we headed east on the A170.

Directions from mapquest.co.uk: 

"Enter next roundabout and take the 1st exit onto SUTTON ROAD/A170.

Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto MOOR LANE.

MOOR LANE becomes unnamed road." (Those always seem to be interesting)
I had thought that there were M-roads, A-roads, and B-roads. I guess there are all of the above plus lanes and unnamed roads. 
 

View of car park from the top

The white that you see in the foreground is not snow; it is the Kilburn White Horse

Looking NW from the top

Zooming in on the village of Kilburn, south of the Kilburn White Horse

Near the White Horse

more of my favorites: sheep and fences

 Approaching Byland Abbey in the gloaming

Once a great Cistercian monastery, along with Rievaulx and Fountains, 12th century Byland Abbey was among the most impressive churches in England. Contrary to appearances, Byland Abbey was not 'open' when we were there, but we enjoyed walking the perimeter.

Imagine what that large west window must have looked like!

Across the street, the Abbey Inn

snagging the odd PG

Preserved in stone, the Abbey guard dog

 I have a thing about dogs on chains, but I guess I can tolerate this one.

It's always surprising, when driving around Yorkshire, that out in the middle of absolutely nowhere will appear the ruins of a once magnificent castle or abbey. After dark, I would almost expect to see hooded monks moving quietly about the abbey ruins. (See Season One, Episode 6 of All Creatures Great and Small)

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