Favorite Things

• Cozy cafes
• Writing pretty letters
• Crisps
• Organized shelves
• Lunch in the park with friends
• Colorful balls of yarn
• Movie trailers
• Walks with friends
• Learning new photography techniques 
• Shortbread cookies

Have a lovely weekend!

Questions?

   You know, I've been thinking, I'd love to answer any questions you might have about England! Questions about my plans, experiences, or thoughts. Or about the food, the weather, the people, etcetera. Anything! 

   Ask your question(s) in the comments, and I'll answer them as well as I am able! The more questions the merrier! =D

Our Adventure to Coton

   This is the recounting of the day in which we walked seven miles, picnicked, & got throughly lost. Oh. And I had the time of my life.
   This past Saturday we traipsed out to the village of Coton with our new friends Peter, Zuzana, & baby Andrew. It was about a two mile walk, so we went prepared for all weather types & took a picnic lunch to eat once we got there.
   The walk out there was lovely. The weather was perfect with just a hint of cool. We never walked for more than a quarter of a mile with the same kind of scenery. For a while the path ran along a wheat field, then it went through some woods, then a lot of over grown brush, then a cow field, etcetera.

   In several places we found huge bushes of wild blackberries! We picked some to snack on and though many of them were rather tart, some of them were sweet. So (as mum likes to say) we ate blackberries from the hedgerows! =D

   The village of Coton is not very big, & there wasn't anything extra special about it. We mostly enjoyed it because of the journey it took to get there (&, as you will see, to get back)!

Zuzana & I took lots of pictures!

   We picnicked by the church. We had a lovely spread of things, including sandwiches, crisps (chips), raspberries, avocados, olives, & chocolate swirl Slovakian bread (thanks Zuzana)! 

   After we finished lunch we began the trip home. On our way to the church we had noticed a footpath that lead from Coton to Newnham (which is very close to Tyndale House). We decided to try it out. Well, it ended up being quite the adventure, to say the least!

   The path was very narrow at times. Like, really narrow. And Andrew's stroller had to be lifted over several fences before it was all said and done.

We saw lamas!!! =D They made me sooo happy . . .

This is my favorite picture from the day. =)

   About half way through the trip home there was a branch in the road. I thought we should go right because both the arrows on the post pointed right, but everyone else thought we should go left because that would take us back over the highway. We went left & . . . got lost. I'm not saying that was where we went wrong, but that was where we went wrong. We ended up going through cow fields, wheat fields, & many other random fields. But I had the time of my life!

Photo Credit: Dad

For posterity's sake Zuzana & I had to snap a picture of this. In Peter's defense, they did this about five or six times.

  The worst part was when we had to climb over a fence into a bunch of stinging nettles & up a knoll to get to the road. Thankfully we all made it and soon realized we were very close to home! 

Photo Credit: Zuzana

Photo Credit: Dad

   As soon as we got home it started raining! We all settled down to rest & drink hot chocolate, & I watched Downton Abbey. We walked seven miles in all, so we had earned it. It was a perfect Saturday!

A Yummy Week

   Sorry for my absence, I had trouble uploading my pictures this week, but I'm good now! 

   I'm finally feeling settled in our new rhythm of life. School is going well, & I hope to do a post about it soon. I also had some lovely visits with new friends, so the week has been quite delightful.

   As I look back at my random pictures from the week, I have to laugh. Most of them are of food! I got some pictures of other subjects, but the majority are of yummies. =P We've eaten well this week.

   This is a soft boiled egg. Basically it's like a hard boiled egg, but creamier & the yolk is runny. I used these instructions & my eggs turned out wonderful! (I cooked mine for about five & a half minutes.) You should give it a go, they make a delicious & easy breakfast! 

   Sabbath Tea from last week. 

   Mum has been amazing with our suppers. The other night she made this focaccia with rosemary loaf & used our leftover couscous, vegetables, & eggs to make this lovely medley of flavors! I hope I can cook like her one day...

   This was my first ever green smoothie! I've been wanting to try one for a while, and I'm so glad I finally did. If you've never heard of a green smoothie, basically it's made with fruit & some kind of leafy green. My friend Emily sent me this recipe & it wasn't just tolerable, it was good! I'm definitely going to make it again, it gave me a ton of energy & I felt so healthy!

1 cup milk
1 tablespoon flax
1 tablespoon peanut butter
A handfull of spinach
One banana (preferably frozen)
3 ice cubes

It makes about 2 glasses though, so next time I will probably half it.

   Then Saturday we had a grand adventure going to the village of Coton. I got a ton of lovely pictures which I will share with you soon! But for now, here is a picture of my humble yet tasty picnic lunch. Nutella & Pringles are the best.

   What can I say? I really like food. =)

Favorite Things

• Floral dresses
• Fabric covered classics
• Texting (finally) with friends
• Flat peaches
• Wearing leggings & cardigans in August
• Jane Austen 
• Letters
• Fun pictures with friends 
• Playing with Asher 
• Mum's scones

Have a lovely Friday!

Skypin'!

   Skype is one of the biggest blessings ever. I wish I could bake cookies for whoever invented it. Being able to see & talk with some of my friends has gotten me through this first month.

   Gracie & Rachel, the two of you were the first people I Skyped from England. I didn't think to get a screen shot, but our talk encouraged me so much & gave me lots of laughs!

This picture makes me so ridiculously happy. Courtney, you just radiate happiness, & it's contagious.

Emily, Skyping with you renews my soul. Every time.

Oh Joshua, seeing you every other day keeps me going! You're the bestest big brother ever.

Cara & India, you guys take crazy to another level. you make me laugh so hard I get wrinkles. =)

Kaitlyn, your godly words of wisdom always make me contemplate the great glory of our God!

Love you guys!

Twists & Tucks

   I've gotten in a rut with styling my hair. It's either curled & down (when I'm out) or clipped up in a big clip (at home). But I want to branch out and experiment with some dos! Messy buns & braids here I come!

   Today I saw this tutorial & it inspired me! It's super easy & I love the result. It's a great way to get your hair off your neck while still looking super cute! 

   It's still a work in progress, but practice makes improvement, right? =) 

Random Thoughts & Snaps...

   The last few days have been a lovely blend of relaxing, creating, relating, experimenting, & working. Here are some of my favorite shots.

We walked to The Orchard in Granchester on Saturday. It's a lovely two mile walk & the weather was perfect. They were out of scones (*sigh*), but we made due with cake.

We've had a few rainy days, but not many. I enjoy them when they come, but I know I'll be singing a different tune in a few weeks. I'm trying to soak up the sun before it disappears for the rest of our time here.

Mum made a chicken pot pie & had a little extra pie crust. I liked it, so I put a bunting on it. =)

A friend came over yesterday & we baked these amazingly delicious raspberry lemon muffins. I'm eating the last one now, & I'm definitely going to make them again. You can find the recipe here.

I bought some flowers at the market to put in my lemonade bottle. They look so happy.

   This week I've also started my senior year of high school! Say WHAT? It's going to be the best year ever! More on that soon.

   I still miss all of you dreadfully, but I do love it here. Is that how most of life is? A mix of joy & pain, of longing & contentment, of questions & thankfulness? 
   Even though all the emotions can be confusing, they are what makes us human. We are aware of our humanity when our hearts ache & our minds spin with tons of emotions. But we are also reminded of God's faithfulness & kindness because His Word tells us to:

Give all your worries & cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

(New Living Translation) 

   He wants us to let Him take on all our crazy emotions. He wants to walk with us, to comfort us, to teach us, & to turn the pain into something beautiful. So will you let Him?