Wedding Day

One of the reasons we came to England this time was to attend Laura and Dan's wedding. We've known Laura since she was in high school in Australia. Houston worked with her dad, Brian, while we were in Sydney. Laura and Dan met in Cambridge and they lived just two blocks from us when we lived here so we saw them a bit. Dan is a big bicyclist so he and Houston had many rides around Cambridge. Houston actually bought Dan's race bike.

Anyhootie….the wedding began at 1:00 in the afternoon at the Islington Town Hall.

Upon exiting the hall, hired buses were waiting to whisk us away.

Familiar 1980's British music blasted from the speakers inside.

This is the only photo I got of Laura and Dan together.

We got a lovely tour of London on our way to the London Eye, a ferris wheel of sorts. 

Looks like a huge bicycle wheel

Each pod fits about 20 people.

We took over 4 pods. We were luckily in with the bride and groom and family.

Wheeled on board were 3 coolers full of champagne and nibbles.

Laura and her cousin, the bridesmaid.

the cousins and Laura's brother

Laura's family

We went around two times, each taking 1/2 hour so we had plenty of time to drink and eat.

We looked down upon the crown on the Westminster Bridge over the Thames. The naked bike parade was taking place and we could see tiny naked bodies on bikes with big crowds watching.

Back on the buses to take us to The Peasant, a pub near King's Cross.

They had rented the entire pub for the evening.

A hark back to the '80's, the Sex Pistols and Depeche Mode.

We had a full sit down meal with delicious food. Laura and Dan are foodies and they picked our selections well.

There was not really an official wedding cake, as we had our individual desserts with dinner, but since Dan is of Swiss descent, his father had put together this 'cheese' cake. Now, that's a wholelotta cheese!

We had to leave before the last train at 10:30 back to Cambridge, but I think that folks were staying after 11:00 to watch the English football game. 

It was a wonderful day/evening and our first traveling wedding to three locations. Fun times and I wish a long and happy life to this darling couple.

Sweet Little Cardi

I asked Audrey (my fabulous neighbor/knitter) 6 days before the Sheep & Wool Fest, if she could knit up this little cardigan. I had no samples of my new yarn, Shimmy, and wanted something to show how nice this yarn is.

Well, she got it done the evening before and I picked it up in the wee hours on Saturday morning on my way to the fest. Job well done, Audrey!

The pattern is 'Miette', available for free on ravelry. This size took 5 skeins of Shimmy.

The color is 'Orchid', the pantone color of the year.

Anne wore it while working at the booth. Love her handspun, hand knit skirt too! 

Just Riding Around

My favorite thing to do while in Cambridge is to hop on my bike and ride around, in the city and the countryside. No matter how many times I see these cottages, I am still enthralled with their charm. I love the thatched roofs, the colors of the stucco and the gardens surrounding the homes.

This was the day that England was playing in the world cup.

On some of the cottages, there are thatch adornments. 

This is in a little village, just a short trail ride from Cambridge. 

They have a Mini Cooper to match their cottage!

Bikes are allowed on most of the miles and miles of walking trails. 

This trail goes right by a gun range. After reading this sign, no problem….I wouldn't think of picking military debris up!

All the trails, even public paths and fields in town, have cattle grazing the lush pastures.

Lots of places to stop for knitting.

This is one of my favorite places. The Orchard in Grantchester has the best cranberry scones. It's a popular site to come and wile away an afternoon.

This little building next to the church is for rent. Bet it's cute inside! 

I see pheasants every now and then, near the hedgerow where it's safe to duck in.

The views within the city are so spectacular too. This is the River Cam, from the bridge we cross over on the way to City Centre.

Punting boats on the River Cam. 

I found vintage! A shop in downtown Cambridge sells vintage crates and spools along with new items. I found out the couple met in Rhode Island and loved the vintage things in the states.

A little market close to our flat. We only have a few days left in Cambridge, then we're off to the north. So today I'm off for more sight seeing while biking.

Spring Shearing

My sheep were sheared a bit late this year. Luckily it hadn't been too hot yet. Looking at that fleece, do ya think she needs shearing?!

These are Mocha's long, long locks

And Junebug is ready to have that heavy wool coat off too.

 Isn't it beautiful?!

Cappuccino is h.o.t.

Sometimes I lay right down in the field with them.

 They think this is normal.

A cute little gif.

Mocha likes to pose

A short shearing video of Farmer Anne at work:

"Why yes, since you asked, I do feel so much better!"

Four naked sheep, relaxing after the big day. Four sheep…nearly 48 pounds of wool! They did a little dance in the back field, feeling so much lighter!

Last Day in My 50's

I survived Friday the 13th. It was a pretty marvelous day. A day of riding my bike through the beautiful English countryside….

…a simple lunch of the most magnificent cranberry scone with cherry jam and rich coffee at the Orchard in Grantchester….

and a drink at the local pub with this view. I am one lucky girl. And it's my nearly last day in my 50's. I am about to turn the corner into 60-dom. Wow! I really can't believe it. Where has the time gone?! Don't we all say that when we get old?

Tomorrow we go to a wedding in London which will be really fun. It starts at 12:45 and continues on when England plays Italy in the World Cup beginning at 11:00 p.m. We will be taking the last train back to Cambridge about then after a day of celebrating with this young couple as they get married, drinking at their local pub, taking a few whirls on the  'i' with champagne, and on to another pub for dinner. Then the train ride back to Cambridge and a bike ride to our flat in the wee hours of the morning. What a way to spend my last day being 59! 

Sunday when I'm actually SIXTY YEARS OLD, we're having a quiet picnic on the grounds of the college with a few friends. Sounds so peaceful. After a day of biking for sure. I plan on eating a lot of chocolate cake from Waitrose, so will have to bike a lot to reward myself. 

Both Houston and I turn 60 within a few weeks of each other. We decided that this will be the summer of travel to ease ourselves into the 60's. 

So our next trip is a a 900 mile bike ride down the Pacific Coast. We've just booked our tickets so it's a go. I got a new bike for the trip and wish I had new knees to go along with it, but these old knees will just have to do. We're carrying all our gear and camping along the way. Let's hope I can do it.