Back to Yorkshire

We had another holiday to the cottage in Burton with highlights of hiking Ingleborough, a train trip to Appleby through the highest train station in the UK, we visited the beach and threw a lot of stones in the river. The Olympics were well underway and we enjoyed catching up on many events. Here are a few scenes. The video is us following a flock of pheasants.

Summer Play

July 21st is the last day of school for the Oxfordites.  Betsy is catching up on doctor's appoints and so forth but in between there is a lot of time for children to play.

Fun on the zip line

Watching the rabbit

Big boy bed

TP ready and waiting

Babies in blue

Sidewalk chalk camp

French Alps

It's hard to beat the Alps for striking beauty and put that together with Lake Geneva and it's just a pleasure. Thanks to our friend Susanne for inviting us to spend time with her and Jorg and the little baby Yael. We had a great time even if Germany lost in the semis to France!

Maybe I Can if I Try

Here is a little song inspired by Alathea English and her willingness to try!

With Jesus beside me says I says I
Maybe I can if I try I try
Maybe I will if I dry my eyes
Maybe I can if I try

Jesus I'm scared hold my hand
It feels like I'm falling help me stand
Now your love for me is all that matters I see
and this sets me free so I can try

Jesus I'm sinking rescue me
It feels like I'm drowning in the sea
but  your love around me sets my feet on the ground
if we do this together I can try

Barton Hills

Out in the Barton Hills today for a fun outing with the girls and Alathea's kite.

Little Gidding

Little Gidding gets it's name from "giddy" describing the prayer, praise and delight of a relationship with the living God. Ferrar House, where we stayed last weekend, has been a house of prayer on and off since the 1600s. There is also a connection to a poem written by T.S. Elliot which Betsy knew about from her literature studies at university. To our surprise and delight the weather was near perfect and the trees and rape seed fields were in full bloom. The pheasants were crowing, the songbirds chirping, the lambs bleating and the horses clopping. This was just what we were looking for in a place of solitude to seek the Lord.

Ferrar House

Steeple Gidding

Inside Steeple Gidding

Shady Bench

Badger Hole?

Reclining

They'll come home

T.S Elliot's Sties

Bank Holiday means Grandies

Since we have season tickets for Blenheim it seemed a good call to check out the Joust at Blenheim on Bank Holiday weekend. Mayday celebrations were to take place on Sunday in Oxford but we missed those and enjoyed almost perfect weather for the Joust. Here are a few highlights.

                                     The knockdown!

The Blue Team

The Red Team

The Home Team

The Friendly Giant

Nothing better than the Playground

In the midst of the Maze

The Butterfly Garden

Preening Pair