The George Inn, Southwark, London - Anglophile Friday

 The George Inn, Southwark

and nearby,

The Shard, a.k.a. Shard of Glass

95 story skyscraper,
housing offices, restaurants, and hotels.

Photos from March of 2015

Huge red dot marks the approximate location of The George Inn.
I'm going by its proximity to the intersection of A3200 and A3
It could be off, I suppose, but you get the general idea.

 The George Inn Courtyard

The George Inn is located in Southwark, pronounced SUTH-ick (for my fellow Americans who have a tendency to actually pronounce every letter in a given word.) Evidently, there are far too many unnecessary letters in English place names.

The stairway in our house is narrow and steep too,

but somehow doesn't exude that same romantic charm.

From Wikipedia:

"In 1677, the George was rebuilt after a serious fire that destroyed most of medieval Southwark. There had been many such inns in this part of London. Probably the most famous was The Tabard where, in 1388, Chaucer began The Canterbury Tales. The Tabard was also rebuilt after the same fire, but was demolished in the late 19th century.

"Later, the Great Northern Railway used the George as a depot and pulled down two of its fronts to build warehousing. Now just the south face remains.

"The George was one of the many famous coaching inns in the days of Charles Dickens. Dickens in fact visited the George and referred to it in Little Dorrit. It is thought that the Galleried Inns were the inspiration of the original theatres, that the Players were on a dais in the Courtyard with the standing audience next to them and that those paying a premium would be in the Galleries with a better view."

A better view

This was before the wonderful mix of olives

brought to our table, along with a bowl of olive oil

and slices of bread. Who couldn't live off that!

(Maybe a little cheese, too.)

But, of course we didn't stop with the olives and bread.

 It had been a very long day.

We were all feeling a bit blurry.

The whole scene is beautiful at night,

with The Shard rising up in the background

and the lights making everything glow.

It was a nice way to end an evening.

Of course, one expects places like this in London to be old, but take a look at this:

The Pandy Inn in Dorstone, Herefordshire,

has been a free house continuously

since the 12th century.

No kidding.


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Evening and Morning at the Bird Feeders

 Juncos at the Bird Feeder

See the little fella perched on top?

What? A lamp in the bird feeder? I took this photo about 4 PM. Check the photo below to see 'the rest of the story.'

 I loved how the sinking sun threw light onto the glass of the bird feeder, and of course I had to grab my camera. Late afternoon light is fleeting, and a few seconds makes all the difference.

Finches, Junco, and Chickadee

They're eating what the others kick from the feeder.

 You two can actually eat together?

Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess.

Bluejay and Cardinal

Red-bellied Woodpecker

The four preceding photos were taken early morning.

Do you feed the birds?  It's not exactly cheap, but our first real snow arrived November 10. Where else would the birds find food with all this snow cover? Birds are such beautiful creatures.  I'm so thankful that our loving and generous God gave us birds to enjoy. I'm also thankful that my husband has never called bird seed 'shredded money, ' as he has nicknamed the dog food. Grrrr.

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Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties:  Amaze Me Monday and Inspiration Monday and Mosaic Monday and The Barn Collective and    Treasure Box Tuesday and Vintage Bliss Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Our World Tuesday and Tuesdays at our Home and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Vintage Inspiration Wednesday and Ivy and Elephants Wednesday and Adorned From Above  and Artsy Corner Thursday and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Saturday's Critters

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Pumpkin Harvest

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This post may be linked to one or more of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and Get in My Tummy and  Cure for the Common Monday and  Clever Chicks Blog Hop and  Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and    Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Efforts and Assets and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Creative Showcase and Memories by the Mile and Crafty Texas Girls and  Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday  and Love Bakes Good Cakes and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Wildcrafting Wednesday and   Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and Whatever Goes Wednesday and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Girl Creative, Thursday and  Creative Things Thursday and Be Inspired and Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Friday Fences and  Thursday's Inspiration and  The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and Creative Things Thursday and   Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and Share Your Creativity and   A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday and  Market Yourself Monday and  Saturday Nite Special

More Farm Machinery

 Neighbor Bill's Barn and Disk

It seems like forever since I've posted anything, but I guess it's only been a few days. A lot has been happening. None of it has to do with sorting and packing, unfortunately. Right now we're waiting on the ICF block for building the the main structure of the addition. 

I thought I'd post these photos taken earlier this month (with the exception of the disk, which was taken in June.) Taken in late afternoon, I loved the way the light shone on the old red barn and John Deere disk, just across the street from our house.

 Perfect Timing

This was the last time the alfalfa was taken off the field north of the house. They get a crop in August and then let the field sit during the month of September, so that the alfalfa can prepare for the long winter ahead.

From Pioneer.com:

'As fall approaches, remember that it is strongly recommended that alfalfa fields in the upper Midwest and Northeast not be harvested from September 1 to October 15. Alfalfa needs six weeks of uninterrupted growth to be fully preparing itself for winter. This winterizing period is important to help maintain the stand's health and productivity the following year...The main advantage of this winterizing period is that it enables the plant to go into winter with adequate levels of root food reserves. These reserves help the plants to effectively survive the winter and maintain high root energy levels that are required for vigorous regrowth in the spring. 

Harvesting alfalfa fields during the September/early October time period can result in alfalfa plants going through the winter and early spring period with depleted root energy reserves. When alfalfa is cut, plants will instinctively start to regrowth. Energy reserves stored in the plants root system are used to initiate this regrowth. Plants will continue to 'pull' stored food reserves from their root system until there is about 6-8 inches of vegetative top growth. At this stage of growth, the plant will then start to move food reserves back into the root system to build them back up.'

More interesting than video games!

Notice how there are so many pallet projects out there in blogland?  I found the perfect one for me.

Enjoying looking at the wildflowers growing up around and through it.
How could anyone improve upon that.

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This post may be linked to one or more of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and Get in My Tummy and  Cure for the Common Monday and  Clever Chicks Blog Hop and  Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and    Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Efforts and Assets and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Creative Showcase and Memories by the Mile and Crafty Texas Girls and  Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday  and Love Bakes Good Cakes and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Wildcrafting Wednesday and   Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Girl Creative, Thursday and  Creative Things Thursday and Be Inspired and Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Friday Fences and  Thursday's Inspiration and  The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and Creative Things Thursday and   Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and Share Your Creativity and   A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday and  Market Yourself Monday and  Saturday Nite Special

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This post may be linked to one or more of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and Get in My Tummy and  Cure for the Common Monday and  Clever Chicks Blog Hop and  Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and    Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Efforts and Assets and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Creative Showcase and Memories by the Mile and Crafty Texas Girls and  Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday  and Love Bakes Good Cakes and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Wildcrafting Wednesday and   Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Girl Creative, Thursday and  Creative Things Thursday and Be Inspired and Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Friday Fences and  Thursday's Inspiration and  The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and Creative Things Thursday and   Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and Share Your Creativity and   A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday and  Market Yourself Monday and  Saturday Nite Special

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(Leave separate comments for each, please, for each comment will get a number. Please include your email address so I can notify winner.)


Giveaway will end Thursday, August  9 at 8:00 PM. CDT. (Read on. You'll understand why.)
Comments posted after 8:00 PM CDT will not be counted for the Giveaway.
(but still very much appreciated.)

Winner will be chosen at random by my 3 year old grandson, just before he goes to bed. Low tech - Comments will be numbered and he will choose a number from a hat. At least that's the plan.

U.S. addresses only.

Winner will be announced on Friday, August 9 here at Cranberry Morning.


Check out the new Family Photo at the bottom of the page. God has blessed us with a great family. I just wish my parents and Kevin's parents were still here.

P.S. My mother was cooking for a threshing crew on the farm when she went into labor oh so many years ago on August 6. She drove herself to the hospital and there delivered the joy of her life - her first girl.

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This post is linked to 'You're Gonna Love It'
and Love Bakes Good Cakes 

Where's the Little Boy Who Looks After the Sheep??

I'm assuming this means that the cow's in the meadow.

The Feeder

See the little bluebird house?

I wonder if he feels the same way I do when I sneak some chocolate chips.

The Haymow

This is easier on the neck.

The dash of color on the Amish farm: gas can

Look at that kitty sneaking past!

As for the original question, where would you start looking?

Hope you're having a great start to your week! The grandkids are here so it's busy...and fun. We're expecting the rest of the family in by the weekend. They're coming from the four corners - Texas, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and they'll be here to celebrate my birthday with me.Yea! :-) We've done this for the past four years and I love it that it's become a tradition. Who wouldn't?!

***

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This post may be linked to one or more of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and Get in My Tummy and  Cure for the Common Monday and  Clever Chicks Blog Hop and  Barn Charm and  The Marketplace  and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and    Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and  Something I Whipped Up Monday and  Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and Get Your Craft On and Efforts and Assets and   You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Creative Showcase and Memories by the Mile and Crafty Texas Girls and  Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday  and Love Bakes Good Cakes and Mom on TimeOut  and Adorned from Above and Wildcrafting Wednesday and   Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday  and The Girl Creative, Thursday and  Creative Things Thursday and Be Inspired and Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Friday Fences and  Thursday's Inspiration and  The Self-sufficient Home Acre and  I'm Lovin' it Thursday and Creative Things Thursday and   Mandatory Mooch   and Foodie Friends Friday and Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Get Schooled Saturday  and Inspiration Friday(ThursNite) and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and Share Your Creativity and   A Favorite Thing Saturday and Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday and  Market Yourself Monday and  Saturday Nite Special