Showing posts with label Yorkshire sheep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yorkshire sheep. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Hodgepodging Awe and Wonder

Winter Past


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She writes the questions;
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1.What's something you wish you knew how to do, but feel like it's too late to learn?

I think that unless someone aspires to be a brain surgeon, there probably aren't many things one can't learn to do at just about any point in life, providing one's health is adequate to the task. Recently, I made myself some musical notation flash cards for the notes above and below the staff which I never learned comfortably well, and should have done when I was about 10. I can often guess, but it would be nice, rather than guessing or having to figure out that, oh yes, that's the D above high C, I would know it at a glance. I want to finally get those firmly planted in my brain because I love to sit down and learn a piece of music on the piano, and not have to stop and figure out a note.

I just purchased a wonderful spiral-bound Carol book, titled  "100 Carols for Choirs," edited and arranged by David Willcocks & John Rutter. I love these arrangements and had been hunting for a book that would contain the carols I love from The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols sung at King's College, Cambridge each Christmas Eve.


Pay no attention to the prices on Amazon. I think I got mine for about $19.00 at Alibris.com with free shipping. It's new and spiral-bound. Perfect.

2. Your least favorite thing to shop for? Why?

Clothes. For one thing, they're always overpriced, and not made as well as they should be, and very few items really appeal to me. I know what I like, and it's usually not there, probably because it's at a better shop with higher prices...but also, I dislike shopping for clothes because I hate dragging an armload of clothes into a fitting room, trying them all on, and not finding anything I like anyway. Needless to say, I don't go clothes shopping very often...like almost never.

3. How has the celebration of Thanksgiving today changed from when you were growing up?

When I was growing up, all the cousins would be there, around the table. Today I don't even know where most of my cousins live.

4. What's something that when other people see it, reminds them of you? Explain.

I have no idea what, or if anything, reminds other people of me. Possibly if there's a snowstorm, they might remember me complaining about the snow and cold. If they see a book by Chesterton, Sproul, Lewis, or Wright on bookstore shelves (fat chance that), or if they hear John Rutter music, they might possibly be reminded of me.  OR if they see photos of Yorkshire sheep. Maybe.

 Sheep at Bolton Abbey
Do they get any cuter than this?? 

 Sheep and 'fence' near Hawes, North Yorkshire

5. If you could guest star in a TV show, what would it be and why?

If I could guest star in a TV show, I'd probably overdose on the last of my painkiller to avoid it.

6. Have you ever farmed or spent any time on a farm? Are there farm stands in your little corner of the world and do you make it a point to shop there? If so, what item do you particularly like to buy from a roadside stand or farm shop?

I grew up on a farm and live on a farm now, so I have a lot of experience with farms. We grow vegetables and berries and apples, along with lots of volunteer burdock and crab grass, so I rarely go to a farm stand. When I do go to the farmer's market, it's to walk around and see all the pretty stands of vegetables, fruit, flowers, woodcrafts, handmade items, and get a bison burger for supper.

7. What's something you've experienced recently that made you feel a sense of awe or wonder?

 Sunrise, November 24, 2015

Starting with the gorgeous sunrise, there are so many things which daily make me feel a sense of awe toward God Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. Not just beautiful trees, rushing rivers, fields of grain, intricate designs in nature, and animals to share this world with us, but also Beauty, Music, Joy, Love, Kindness, Peace. These are all from God, and oddly enough, He allows even those who hate him to experience these wonderful gifts, for the time being. That's grace.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

For an audio and visual treat, here are the boy treble choristers of St. Paul's Cathedral singing, 'For The Beauty of The Earth.' I love this arrangement.



For the Beauty of the Earth
- John Rutter

For the beauty of the earth; For the beauty of the skies, 
For the love which from our birth over and around us lies,
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, 
Hill and vale and tree and flower, Sun and moon and stars of light,
Sun and moon and stars of light.
 Lord of all, to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, 
friends of earth, and friends above, 
For all gentle thoughts and mild,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.
 Lord of all to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine 
to our race so freely given, 
Graces human and divine, Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n,
Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n.
 Lord of all to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.

Moonrise, November 24, 2015



Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, friends!
Counting blessings,

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Note:  I will not be blogging for a week or so. I hope everyone has a wonderful time with family and friends this weekend. Stay safe.


Thursday, May 8, 2014

Good Fences in Yorkshire


There is a reason that people visit England in the springtime and summer. The weather is nice, the flowers are abundant, and every possible tourist venue is up and running. That is definitely not the case with the month of March. You might find that the Elizabethan manor house or abbey you wanted to visit is closed until May. But if you want to see the landscape dotted with sheep and new baby lambs, March is the time to visit England.

'Maaaaa-maaaa!'

I'll admit that sheep and lambs were not the main reason we first decided to visit England in March. Lower prices on airfare, lower prices on B&Bs, shorter lines to attractions, and because March is just prior to the time when Mr. Cranberry's construction business revs up, are the reasons we took our vacation to England in March. (Not this March. We had to stay in Wisconsin to watch the snowflakes accumulate.)


So although they were not the main reason for visiting England in March, the sheep and darling baby lambs are a HUGE bonus. They were dotting every Yorkshire pasture (it seemed).

Come back tomorrow for more photos of England and sheep on my Anglophile Friday post. Yes, it is the month of May, but here in NW Wisconsin, it does feel more like March in England. And besides, I was due for a dose of cute sheep.

There are five types of fences (and gate) materials in this post. Can you name them?

March visitors can find a few flowers in bloom
thanks to the sweet daffodils.


Click on this link to see English Country Gardens images from Google. Although the flowers are beautiful, I would rather be there during lambing season.

Maybe next year.


***

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Friday, February 28, 2014

Yorkshire Stone, Anglophile Friday

 In Richmond

I'm trying to determine what it is about all the stone in Yorkshire that appeals to me so. My daughter accuses me of having a low E.Q. (emotional quotient), so perhaps that's reflected in this attraction to the beautiful stone walls, stone roads, stone walls, stone everything that fills the otherwise bleak landscape of North Yorkshire.  I'm probably supposed to like the flowers better. However, flowers fade and die. Stone lives forever.


 'Private' - Richmond

 Near Buckden?

 In Reeth

 More Reeth
See those daffodils?  They're gone by now. 
But you can count on that stone still being there.



 In Kettlewell

Near Hardraw Force

Zzzzzzzz




Have a great weekend, everyone!


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Although I usually forget to do it, this post may possibly be linked to one or more of the following: Mop it Up Monday  and Mosaic Monday and Barn Hop and  Get in My Tummy and  Cure for the Common Monday and  Clever Chicks Blog Hop and  The Marketplace  and  and  Market Yourself Monday and  Mix it up Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and Le Chateau des Fleurs and   Making the World Cuter Mondays and Make the Scene Monday and   Motivate Me Monday and  Making Monday Marvelous and You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Treasure Box Tuesday and Knick of Time Tuesday and  Creative Showcase and   Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday and  Take a Look Tuesday and  Tasty Tuesday  and Adorned From Above and  Love Bakes Good Cakes and Mom on TimeOut  and Cast Party Wednesday and  We Did it Wednesday  and Whatever Goes Wednesday and Rurality Blog Hop 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 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 Weekend Reflections 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  Saturday Nite Special

Friday, May 18, 2012

Anglophile Friday - Budget Accommodations, Yorkshire Dales

Moles on a Gate.
Maybe the sheep put them there!
I think I took this photo just west of  West Burton
It has two of my favorite elements: Blackface Sheep and Drystone Walls

And now, on to Budget Accommodations in the Yorkshire Dales, (cuz I know you're all going to travel to the UK this summer/fall!)


West Burton Studio Apartment
in the Yorkshire Dales

If I ever get back to the Yorkshire Dales, this is one place I'd like to stay. Between Leyburn and Hawes, I think it's a perfect location. I subscribed to emails from Country Hideaways because I love to torture myself check out places in Yorkshire for possible future stays. This one has always appealed to me. First, because it's at the low end of the rental scale. Second, because of the location, and third, because I can take a dog along. (Maybe I could rent a dog while there?) ;-)

From their website:

Studio Apartment, West Burton:

West Burton is recognised as one of the loveliest villages in the Yorkshire Dales and is unique with its large green, market cross, stocks and no through traffic. The old watermill occupies a superb location by Walden Beck, with nearby waterfalls, pools and a pack horse bridge. 

The waterfall pools provide swimming on the doorstep and fishing is permitted in season to resident holidaymakers. 

Numerous footpaths cross the nearby dales and hills providing spectacular views and clean bracing air.

The Studio is a compact, tasteful, well equipped apartment.

The entrance is down a flight of quarry tiled steps through a galley kitchen, with fitted pine cupboards, leading into a lounge (approximately 18'x10') with dining and sleeping area with double bed .

There is a separate shower room with washbasin and toilet.

Lovely views over the water from both lounge and kitchen.

The Studio Apartment adjoins the Garden Level Apartment and the two can be rented together.

Duvets and pillows are provided. Linen and towels can be supplied at an extra cost of £6.50 per person.  (I think the last I checked, the exchange rate was $1.59 per GBP, so it's coming down. Which does not mean the dollar is strong, but just how weak the pound is becoming. Sad news for all.)

Oil-fired central heating and electricity included. Electric blanket.

Colour television, Free Sat, video, DVD, Baby Belling oven, microwave oven, radio/cassette/CD, shaver point, hairdryer, cot and high chair.

Off road parking, shop and pub 300 yards . Bus route nearby.

One well behaved small dog welcome.  (That would definitely eliminate Bridger from the list of possibilities)

Strictly non smoking.

*** 

I realize that these are not luxury accommodations, but who goes to England just to spend their time indoors??

7 nights in September for £242 means  55 USD per night per room (not per individual). That's at the current 1.59 USD/GBP rate. Who knows what it will be by September. And no, I don't have current plans to go to Yorkshire in September, but if I could...

This is why renting a holiday cottage is SUCH a better deal than hotels or even B&Bs, and as long as there are interesting places to visit within a short radius, it's the perfect solution. The Yorkshire Dales is full of interesting places and gorgeous scenery!

And if any of you ever stay here, I hope Country Hideaways sends me a commissions check! lol


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