Turning Leaves

Reflections: 2009

2009-12-20T23:43:00.004-07:00

2009. One of the finest, sweetest years of my life. It has definitely flown by faster than any other, and been filled with the most monumental events. Life just keeps getting better!! Even with all of its variety, color and adventure, my year can basically be summed up in three pursuits:

Loving my work at the Church History Library as an archivist/historian. I was hired permanently in May 2009, upgraded from intern (June 2008) to full-fledged employee…one of the great miracles of my life! My career has been established and I am living my dream job!
Continuing to compile the life writings of Ruth May Fox (diaries and autobio). One of the great miracles of 2008 was signing a contract with the University of Utah for its publication. I will complete the manuscript in the Spring of next year.
The abiding discovery of Kyle…the man I love! We started dating in February and it has been a beautiful, exciting journey ever since!

It has been a truly choice year. And 2010 will be even better! If 2009 was a year of furrowing and planting, 2010 will be a year of reaping and fruition. YAY!!

2009 Highlights

I presented at my first two academic conferences in 2009! At the Association of Mormon Letters (AML) on February 28, I presented a paper titled: "'I never considered my poems anything but just rhymes': Ruth May Fox and Domestic Feminism in the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association, 1898-1937." The second was on August 15 as a member of the "Young Mormon Scholars" panel at Sunstone.

March 21^st I went through the Manti Temple for the first time with my dear sister. I am so thankful I made this decision…it has strengthened and enriched my life immensely!!!

Angela and Pat got married on April 25^th! What a delightful time for our family. We are so lucky to have inherited such a fine brother.

And, for me, the highlight of 2009 has been all of the time I've spent with my sweet lova'! We've shared many magical experiences, but one of the most special was spending Thanksgiving with Kyle and his family in Idaho (center picture). These memories fill me with such joy!

Kyle and I have enjoyed a variety of concerts this year. He has exposed me to new musical horizons and I've acquired a taste for bands I had not considered before. We have also enjoyed following a budding band called Fictionist, based in the Salt Lake area, and have seen them perform three times (and counting!). We expect them to "hit the big time" any day! Below are some pics of concerts we enjoyed together, including the incredible U2 concert in Las Vegas!! There I had the pleasure of meeting two of Kyle's siblings and got to spend some great girl time with Carly and Ange (and Pat!)!

So, that is my year in review, essentially! Perhaps I should also include that the Library moved to a new building April-June, and that has been exciting to be a part of. What a great year!!! Sweetest wishes to all for a happy new year during this glorious season. Much love.

Sunstone Panel

2009-08-16T15:47:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I was on a "Young Scholars in Mormon Studies" panel at the Sunstone Symposium in Salt Lake. It was a great experience and a privilege. Sunstone is a unique little society that has traditionally had a "fringe-y" reputation in Mormon Studies, but over the past decade it has become more respected and its contributions more solid. The theme this year was "Celebrating Mormon Women's Contributions to Church and Culture." This picture is of me and the lovely Elizabeth--we were the only two women on the panel.

Reunited!

2009-08-16T15:32:00.000-06:00

The last time Anja and I saw each other we were waving goodbye after EFY in Kansas City twelve long years ago! Thanks to facebook, we were reunited two weeks ago! (I'm a lil slow in blog posting!) What a blessing to find old friends! :)

Deer Valley Music Festival

2009-08-16T15:30:00.000-06:00

On August 1st, Kyle and I went to the Deer Valley Music Festival where we heard Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture to the boom of real cannons! Deer Valley is the summer home of the Utah Symphony and is right near Park City. It is a fantastic tradition...audience members bring picnic dinners and dine in the fresh outdoors to fantastic tunes! It goes all summer long. We had a blast. And played Mindtrap while eating dark chocolate. Yum!

INCUBUS!! Fun for All

2009-07-21T21:39:00.000-06:00

Kyle and I, with my sister Angela and brother-in-law Pat, enjoyed an incredible concert at Usana on July 16. Incubus was GREAT! And it is decided...Brandon Boyd's voice is even better live.

Wish You Were Here!

2009-07-21T21:35:00.001-06:00

This video does zero justice...it doesn't come close to capturing the thrill of actually being there in the electric crowd. The sound on my little camera is seriously lacking, so please don't judge the fullness and vibrant blend of their music based simply on this!!

By Popular Demand...DETAILS! :)

2009-06-17T21:41:00.005-06:00

Thank you all for taking such an active interest in the good things going on around here! I suppose it is best to satiate your curious minds. :) Oh it is a long story! This is Kyle and I at the SLC Greek Festival in early September 2008. Kyle and I met on a blind date in November 2003 at BYU. I, however, was not his date--I was his roommate's date. I dated his roommate for a time and got to know Kyle a bit through this relationship (double dates, etc). I was always impressed by Kyle and his cheerful disposition, kindness, and keeness for travel. Time passed, ways parted, and Kyle stayed in the back of my mind as a seriously cool chap. Four years later, in January 2008 to be exact, I was sitting at my computer wondering just what happened to this Kyle I was so impressed by. I decided to get brave and see if he was on facebook. :) He was! And what to my SHOCK but he was living in Salt Lake City and was still single! I was planning to move to Salt Lake in two months time and hoped that somehow our paths would cross again. After living in Salt Lake about a week (this was April 2008), I was having dinner with one of my best friends (Salt Lake is the most beautiful mecca to reunite with old friends!). We were talking about people and friends and Kyle's name came up--we both knew him! In fact, it had not been long since she had hung out with him. That totally blew me away. We decided to plan a group activity with our mutual friends. In late April 2008 we "reunited" at a concert at the Cathedral Madeleine. I so hoped he would ask me out thereafter, but alas, patience had to be learned. The summer was sprinkled with additional mutual-friend outings, which were always fun. But alas, patience. In the interim, Kyle had gotten a job in the Church Office Building where I also worked! I remember leaving the cafeteria one day and seeing Kyle sitting at a table and I thought, "No way...could it be??..." (this was mid-October 2008). It was him! Sooo, we would eat lunch intermittently together, which was always lovely. But alas, patience still! The hope to get to know Kyle was always there, but I decided there was no point in waiting around--I had a life to live! So I did! I had an incredible time dating manically--I think my record was eight dates in one week? The men just came out of nowhere! It was a heck of a lot of fun! But, as FUN as it was dating all these guys, Kyle always stood out as different from the rest, in my mind. But alas, I continued dating manically. In late February 2009, things miraculously changed. Overnight! And I stopped dating manically. It has been one gigantic miracle! We've been dating about 3.5 months and it's been such fun to discover and enjoy each other! And that's our story thus far! Pretty cool, eh? Love ya'll. :)

CHANGES!!

2009-06-14T20:21:00.001-06:00

Soo, long days have passed since I last made an entry on my esteemed blog--approximately six months! And my how much has happened in six months! Many miracles and good things.

Good Thing #1My internship at the Church History Library has become a full-time, permanent position! It is completely miraculous. The Church has instituted a worldwide hiring freeze due to economic conditions, but my supervisor, director, and others fought a hard battle and, INCREDIBLY, their petition for two more employees progressed up the channels until President Thomas S. Monson gave his approval that Alan (the other intern) and I could be hired! Isn't that mind-blowing?! I am inconceivably blessed. Above is a picture of the BRAND NEW Church History Library, which I work in [photo courtesy of the Church News]. We open our doors June 22.

Good Thing #2

I have had the pleasure and privilege of getting to know a very, verry, verrrry fine young man over the past few months.

Good Thing #3

Rainbow sighting! No flood this year! Taken outside of my house after a beautiful Spring shower a few days ago. Hooray for loveliness!

Angela MARRIED!!!

2009-06-14T20:18:00.000-06:00

In April, my beloved sister Angela tied the knot with a darling German bloke named Pat. We are so happy he's a member of our fam. :)

2009-06-14T20:16:00.000-06:00

2009-06-14T20:14:00.000-06:00

Goodbye! Good Luck!

2009-06-14T20:12:00.000-06:00

It Snoweth!

2008-12-13T13:40:00.005-07:00

So the world of Salt Lake City has received its third dusting of snow for the season. It is lovely. My friend Mishael fearlessly drove us to ward choir practice this morning, as we are getting ready for our big Christmas sacrament meeting tomorrow! We had warm bagels waiting for us. Mmmm. The snow brought rejoicing, "It finally feels like Christmas!"

We Waxeth.

2008-12-13T13:35:00.003-07:00

Wondering what it would be like to counter nature, my sisters and I tried something new...waxing our arms. We decided it was quite feminine. Hairless arms are quite a novelty.

Thanksgiving Musings & Laziness

2008-11-29T15:51:00.007-07:00

It has been so fun the past few days to be absolutely LAZY. I have only done things that I felt like doing. These included feasting with like thirty other relatives, sitting around and talking and playing games, drinking wassail and eating pie, buying a new computer for a fantastic deal on Black Friday (I love my new computer!!), customizing said computer to my satisfaction (enlisting my 12 yr. old brother's assistance, to his endless delight), finishing Cry, the Beloved Country at last (finally Matt!), and redesigning my blog with my fantastically creative sister (all important). Thus it is. So, while recuperating from some post-Thanksgiving virus in bed today, I actually filled out one of those question things that circulate in emails. This is the first one I have ever done! Soooo…enjoy the fruits of my laziness!! Hope you've had an equally relaxing Thanksgiving holiday….

RULES:
1. Put Your iTunes on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.

1) If someone says, "Is this okay?" you say:
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps—Cake. (Could there be a more diplomatic answer to this question?)

2) How would you describe yourself?
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes—Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
(Seeing as CSNY is a band that is branded in my soul, this works for me. Chorus: "I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are, you make it hard." I like the free and easy 'live and let live, be who you are' theme and because I tend to worry/overcomplicate life at times, this is an appropriate song!)

3) What do you like in a girl/guy?
Lovin' You's the Right Thing to Do—Carly Simon (This song totally works! I love a man who knows what he wants and GOES FOR IT with fortitude!)

4) How do you feel today?
Lovin' You—Minnie Riperton (Classic. I am in a dreamy, stay-in-bed mood today, so sing away Minnie!)

5) What is your life's purpose?
Dream a Dream (Elysium)—Billy Gilman/Charlotte Church (Yes! I believe life is an adventure and should never be boring. One MUST dream dreams and fill them! TO DO is one of my life's purposes.)

6) What is your motto?
Helpless –Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (Yep…I bask in helpless awe of Nature.)

7) What do you friends think of you?
Tell Him—Lauryn Hill (Ha! They are probably crazy sick of me talking about a certain chap….I'm sure they are rooting for me to just TELL HIM and get it over with. Yeah…I will…some day…at the right time.)

8) What do you think of your parents?
Helplessly Hoping—Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (CSNY is appropriate, as we were weened on them. I can't listen to them without thinking of my dad and mom, so this totally works)

9) What do you think about very often?
Mandy—Barry Manilow (Sing it Barry. Yes, my thoughts often dwell on Mandy…she came and gave without taking, but I sent her away….)

10) What is 2+2?
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming—Charlotte Church (One of my fave songs ever. Ummm, some religious connotation with numbers?)

11) What do you think of your best friend?
May It Be—Celtic Woman (Yes, all my best friends share a deep LOTR bond…being a forever fan of Lord of the Rings is a foundational criteria for friendship, honestly.)

12) What do you think of the person you like?
Isotopes—The Mollies (Isotopes [Greek isos = "equal", tópos = "site, place"] are any of the different types of atoms of the same chemical element each having different atomic mass.Yep we are birds of a feather in the same fancy garden…its beautiful, and might be futile…but oh well!)

13) What is your life story?
Wannabe –Spice Girls (Will the Spice Girls really tell you what I want what I really really want? Friendship never ends, yo.)

14) What do you want to be when you grow up?
Op die Maan—Riku Latti (Afrikaans "On the Moon" Yeah, I could handle that. Starting a new colony on the moon? That could be interesting.)

15) What do you think of when you see the person you like?
Leaving—Agnes Poetry (Is that a divine omen?)

16) What will you dance to at your wedding?
Let Me Go—Cake (Hmmm…ok!)

17) What will they play at your funeral?
If I Were a Carpenter—Bobby Darin (Sweet! If my life captures the folksy aura of this song, that would be awesome!)

18) What is your hobby/interest?
The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room)—Flight of the Conchords (Ha! It is true I am a lover of the Beautiful…!)

19) What is your biggest fear?

Help Me—Joni Mitchell (Apparently falling in love...and losing my freedom?)

20) What is your biggest secret?
You Don't Have to Cry—Crosby Stills Nash and Young (Honestly?! What is up with CSNY? Yes, I do want to leave behind the Man, but I suppose that's no secret.)

21) What do you think of your friends?
Nobody Not Really—Alicia Keys (Wow that's depressing…Let's try the opposite of this song….)

22) What song would you play during your first kiss?
Video—India.arie (Wow…on video and everything…)

23) What will you post this as?
Uniform Grey—Sarah Harmer (Nice.)

Fun!

2008-11-11T21:09:00.005-07:00

a whole heck of a lot of things right now. At this minute I'm tired. Not overwhelmed or exhausted tired (tho I could benefit from more sleep) -- I am that kind of tired that comes as the dregs of immense happiness settle in. I'm a future published author. It is really happening. This fills me with immense happiness. I feel more purpose -- suddenly I am more than myself. My head is raised from the ground beneath my feet where my thoughts linger on *me*, my latest superficial fling, thoughts that have no basis...and suddenly I am more than what I am. I see long-term, and suddenly things up close become clear. Those things in my life that are fake and temporary, I see as such. And I no longer need them. I have purpose. I step up, determined to give voice to the noble women of the past, determined to learn from their fiery indignation, their desire for change and their belief in the empowered woman...who believed they could have it all...and they did. And so will I.

A University Press (which for now will remain unnamed) will be publishing the life writings of Ruth May Fox in 2009/2010. Thanks be to God.

Okay So It's Been Awhile....

2008-07-22T19:15:00.002-06:00

Hello People!

I hope you're doing well. Today I am just going to write and tell you what's going on! I am happy and well. Life is good. More than good. Life is excruciatingly FUN!! This little chapter--nearly 4 months in Salt Lake City--has been a complete blast. My life is full of friends, fun, and a job I love! If we indeed do weave life tapestries, this piece of mine would be beautiful--splashes of vivid color interwoven with the green of nature's glory and the silver of clarity.

So, I was offered a full-time paid internship at the LDS Church Archives on Temple Square. After much deliberation, I decided to accept it and I am soooo GLAD I did! I love it! I think I could be happy doing exactly what I am doing for a very long time. What do I do, you ask? Well, I work with the Archives' massive photograph collection! We are in the process of digitizing images so that we can eventually have them available online. I also spend a portion of my time doing little research projects for patrons/scholars/media people, which I enjoy immensely. I get to learn about many different things! My co-workers are fab and I consider it a real honor to work for the Church. I will work in this position until the middle of October.

The Book: Well, tis true sweet lil Ruth May Fox has been neglected due to my new job and explosively exciting, constant, ceaselessly fun social opportunities! But, we are recommitted to each other and right after I am done writing this, off I'll go to work on my book! I have set a new deadline of December 31.

Well, I suppose that's really all! Oh! I am going to Alaska in August 14-21! A friend of mind presented me with a deal too sweet to pass up and we're going together! I've been aching to go for ages--ever since reading Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild--I just can't seem to drink in enough wilderness---I am constantly thirsty for tall trees, big mountains, and wide stretches of uninhabited earth. Alaska will be the perfect place for saturation. I am most looking forward to visiting Denali National Park and camping in the wilderness!

Also, Ted Willmoth is visiting from England August 6-12! He will join all of us down at our B&B for a week. It should be a nice, relaxing episode.

Okay. That's all!!

Bye Bye!

The Graduate

2008-05-04T11:02:00.001-06:00

Eight years after beginning college, six years after marriage, and four children later, my sister-in-law heroically completed her education!!! Hurrah! It was a day for celebration.

The Dresses and Romper!

2008-05-04T10:55:00.000-06:00

In Michigan this Winter, "Grandma Bubba," Aunt Carly, and Aunt Brittany made matching dresses and romper for our nieces and nephew. I brought them with me to Utah and voila! Now the chilluns are wearing them! They love their pretty dresses and Joseph especially loves the buttons on his romper!

Making the Dresses

2008-05-04T10:50:00.000-06:00

We had a little sewing corner and had fun listening to books on CD whilst completing the dresses--Austenland and Call of the Wild.

Welcome Heber!

2008-05-04T10:48:00.000-06:00

Behold the Heber...the newest addition to our clan! Joseph is a very conscientious older brother and LOVES the "baby" and gives him lots of "loves," as he demonstrates in the middle pic. Heber looks a little frightened. In the bottom pic Hebs and Dad (my brother) chill out...soo tired at the end of the day.

Switzerland

2008-05-04T10:00:00.000-06:00

The Alps and Pocket Towns. And Interlachen.

Lands End, Cornwall, England

2008-05-04T09:55:00.000-06:00

In Search of the Perfect Pic

Surfing

2008-05-04T09:49:00.000-06:00

Daniel--an avid surfer--took me surfing for the first time! This is the famous Fistral Beach in Newquay. Waxing my board in the top pics. The last pic is post-surf. We were cooold.

St. Ives, Cornwall & Coastline

2008-05-04T09:45:00.000-06:00

Daffodils and handmade willow lobster cages

Cornwall Coastline. Loverly.

Germany 6-11 February 2008

2008-03-17T11:34:00.000-06:00

Oh Germany, oh bliss. I stayed with the incredible Jen, Andy, and Davin during my visit to Baden-Wurrtenburg, Germany. I was lucky enough to meet Jen in 2005, as we taught English together in Taiwan. I have enjoyed our friendship ever since. Her husband works at the University of Stuttgart, which is why they live in Germany! They are so wonderful and were so good to me! We enjoyed superb weather as we travelled, especially as it was February! Mild and sunny. These pictures are in Calw, relatively near Stuttgart. It was the home of Herman Hesse. He described it as "the most beautiful place he knew" (or something like that).

Tubingen

2008-03-17T11:25:00.000-06:00

This is Tubingen, an ancient university city tucked in the mountains about 30 miles from Stuttgart--the thoroughly German equivalent of Oxford (in my mind). It was incredible! I fell in love with the city. The University of Tubingen began in the 13th or 14th century in a fortress completed in the 12th century. This fortress is featured in the 2nd photo. (Sorry...my camera is rubbish at night shots!) 3rd shot: I have a thing with graffitti...I love it. I find it fascinating. Man has always felt the need to scratch his name in a place, to make a statement, to prove and preserve his existance. I have found graffiti from the 1700s etched in Cathedral walls and other such places. I especially find it fascinating when it is in other languages. See if you can decipher some of the graffitti featured on this very cool door on the University of Tubingen campus! The bottom picture is the Rathaus, I believe, the main government building (??). Both Calw and Tubingen possessed that wonderful old worldy feeling of comfort and crookedness.

Featuring the Delicious Davin

2008-03-17T11:20:00.000-06:00

The top picture is of me, Jen, and Andy in a cool tunnel on the University of Tubingen campus. Little Davin was asleep for much of our trip (bless him, he is such a good traveller!), but these are awake pictures of Davin! The 2nd and 3rd pictures are of us playing in the train station, awaiting our train back to Stuttgart. The last features Davin in his stroller (affectionately termed "the cadillac" because of its size and comfort level!)Isn't Davin such a handsome little bloke?

More to Come!

2008-03-17T11:10:00.000-06:00

More coverage of my trip to Europe will come shortly... :)

Christmas Fun

2008-02-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

This is our annual Christmas Eve "Shepherd's Meal." We have what we interpret to be middle-eastern foods while we read Luke 2. We imagine we are the shepherds receiving the glad tidings of Christ's birth. This year our spread included cheese-stuffed olives, crackers, various cheeses, hummus, and pineapple actually (very middle-eastern indeed! We thought we'd add a tropical twist). In past years we actually dressed up as shepherds, but this year we felt too sophisticated.

2008-02-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

Picking Up Abe :)

2008-02-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

Abe flew into the tiny Alpena Airport from Page, Arizona (where he lives) on December 23. It had been so long since we'd seen each other...I was so happy to get him all to ourselves for ten days!! So, we thought we'd spice up the normal picking-up affair. Jake consented to dress up like Santa Claus and had a sign around his neck which read "Lost: Abe C". We excitedly waited and watched as the plane pulled up and passengers started shuffling out. Jake had a bell which he rang as passengers came into the airport. The rest of us hid behind a eucalyptus tree (yes, you can get away with that kind of craziness in Alpena...). When Abe came in he took one look at Jake and turned in the opposite direction, discovering our hiding spot at the same time! He didn't even recognize Jake (he's grown a lot) and thought he was one of the Salvation Army people asking for donations! Not having any spare change, he made a U-turn. Anyway, it was quite humorous. It was fab to have Abe back.

Thinking Back on 2007

2008-01-03T19:13:00.000-07:00

This year can be summed up short and sweet: it’s been the most rich and colorful yet. Rich with new experience and people, colorful with new sights. Last New Year’s Day I was in England sitting around a dining room table with some friends and we were discussing New Year’s goals. My goal was to visit a new place each month. With friends and loved ones, I was able to visit Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, the Czech Republic, and different gems within England. Pictures from each of these trips can be found in the Archives of this blog. My family visited England in June and it was pure bliss. We hired a car and traveled to the delicious little nooks of England, including the Lake District (I am irrevocably smitten) and Wiltshire where our ancestors lived. It was absolutely gorgeous and absolutely surreal to traverse the same streets, homes, and shops they likely frequented. This experience helped to solidify my desire to write my thesis about my great-great-grandmother (Ruth May Fox) who spent her childhood in Wiltshire, and later immigrated to Utah as a Mormon pioneer in 1867. I returned to Salt Lake City in July to complete research and write my thesis. I did most of my research at the University of Utah and LDS Church Archives; it was a fantastic, fulfilling experience

Right after I finished my thesis I went south and ran my parent’s Bed and Breakfast (http://www.osborneinn.com/) in rural Spring City, Utah. I was glad for a peaceful change of scene and for the time to mentally unwind while efforts were redirected into a different mode of work. I made many new friends in Spring City and was able to get involved in the community in empowering ways. It was fun. In December we closed up the B&B for the winter season and now I’m in Alpena, Michigan where my parent‘s live. It is a mini-Narnia (minus the talking animals and wicked witch…as far as I know). Snow swallows up every inch of earth and the abundant evergreen trees are clothed in a wardrobe of white.

So, plans for 2008? I received the results back from my thesis in November and those who marked it encouraged me to compile Ruth May Fox's life-writings for publishing. For the month of January, I will be preparing manuscripts and proposals for various publishers. Hopefully it will be fruitful! In February I will be going back to Europe to visit friends in Germany and the UK! I can hardly wait…it will be so good to go back! I have indefinite plans beyond February; they will materialize as different variables unfold. I feel that 2008 will be full of good things, even though I am not sure what it will bring. Life is wonderful. I wish you all the sweetest and best year in 2008. Lots of Love.

Winter Wonderland

2008-01-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

This is our home in Michigan. My parent's own 10 acres of land and the State Forest borders their property, so we are able to bask in nature's dominance! Cross-country skiing on our land (and in the Forest) has become a favorite hobby. The dogs often join us. The majesty of the trees still gives me a thrill.

Sittin' in a Tree

2008-01-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

This is my sister Ange and her main squeeze Clifton (for those of you who wanted to see a picture!). Ange is in her freshman year at BYU and is doing AWESOME! Yay Angie!

Yay for Feb!

2007-12-07T20:17:00.000-07:00

Wow....I hardly know how it happened; one minute I was fantasizing about a trip to Europe and then,in a whirlwind of excitement, itineraries, and plans I found myself in possession of a plane ticket to Stuttgart, Germany! I have friends there who I would love to visit--Jen, Andy and baby Davin--and it just seemed like the perfect opportunity. (Finding a wickedly inexpensive ticket to Stuttgart helped too!). So this is the place I will be visiting in February! If you want to find it on the map, Stuttgart is in Southern Germany near France. Yippee!

Of course it would be IMPOSSIBLE to be that close to the UK and not Go....

2007-12-07T20:10:00.000-07:00

I'll go "home" to Leicester and see my buds who I love love LOVE!...

And to Newquay...

2007-12-07T20:05:00.000-07:00

...in Cornwall to visit my friend Daniel. I'm looking forward to seeing this part of England! From pictures it looks incredible. Newquay is the surfing capital of England - I'm not sure how good the surf will be in Feb., but it's a fun sidelight!

...and last but certainly not least...to London

2007-12-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

...to visit my dear old "grandad" Ted!!! The icing on the cake. :) What a privilege. :0) Byeee! Until then!

By the Way....

2007-12-07T02:54:00.000-07:00

I will be leaving Spring City on December 21; I'm moving up to Alpena, Michigan! We decided to close the Bed and Breakfast for the winter season! We'll be open in the spring!

Where Have I Been?

2007-11-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

My, where have I been? I have been in a cloistered space of contented complacency, where creative outbursts settle muffled and unimportant. Where exultation in the simplicity of nature and existence overwhelms all other sentiments which used to stimulate; where the essence of life in human contact and community fulfills every prior need for self-propulsion or advancement. Time slips by, like an egg slipping off the edge of a frying pan. In an ethereal haze of dimpled gold: perpetual sunshine, crisp autumn leaves. This is home. For now. But it cannot be for much longer. I am not ready for it yet. My inside-self reaches out its figurative arms for more; it cannot resign itself to placidity yet. I am still searching; still unsettled; still yearning for something....different. Some solidity I have not yet found and hope to find soon. Life, singlehood--my singlehood--has been full and colourful, yes, but in spurts and starts. Blocks of sure direction are followed by unsettled searchings, sinking marshes underfoot. While tender-footing through this marsh, I, like an unflinching tour-guide, assure myself that this period of indecision, transition and waiting IS part of the path, not a detour. I welcome and bask in the luxury of this golden plateau I've been given here: two months in Spring City, Utah. But am feeling the need to move from this waiting room to the full action of life. "I must establish myself, I must stand on my own, I must create a life and career for myself"--like a marquee flashing in my brain, these thoughts awaken me from my much needed Savasana in Spring City; one cannot always remain in Relaxation Pose. It is good to be at a cross-road. It means good things will happen--exciting and new things--and isn't that what I live for? I wouldn't know what to do without them...hence I constantly create them for myself! I will be leaving Spring City in December and begin another phase. Miraculously, God has prepared an opening: things here, which I held stewardship over, are being cared for...stewardships are being redistributed...the reasons for my being here have been fulfilled. I marvel at the workings of God and see His good, kind hand. And trust that, just as surely as He has prepared the way to gently usher me out of this phase of life, His Hand will be leading me into whatever is next. But now, life is GOOD.

Aren't they GORGEOUS?!

2007-11-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

My beautiful nieces and nephew fill my heart with such joy and satisfaction! To me, they are the most dear and loveable children in the world. Little Joseph just celebrated his 1st birthday! :)

Read My Dissertation!! :)

2007-10-07T14:39:00.000-06:00

If you're interested in reading my dissertation/thesis [in British/American English] follow this link! http://www.brittanysdissertation.blogspot.com/

ROME, ITALY!!! 10-14 July 2007

2007-09-23T13:51:00.000-06:00

The Colosseum

Going to Italy was one of the most special trips I have ever taken. Rome must be the most glorious, interesting and diverse city I have ever been to. I had the wonderful pleasure of going with Ted, the remarkable man whose taken me underwing as a grandaughter. As both of us share the same interests, it was a real treat to appreciate the same things together and enjoy the sweetness of good company. I took the time to plan out each day before embarking on this trip and that made all the difference! I feel we really made the most of our time. Consistent with all things in Europe, the famous parts and pieces are just THERE in front of you, crowded amongst buildings and busy streets.

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Rome in the ruin of its ancient glory. The structures still maintained their power and majesty, despite the crumbling stone. It was almost overwhelming. One of my favourite parts of Rome.

2007-09-23T13:45:00.000-06:00

The Parthenon

My Rome

2007-09-23T13:40:00.000-06:00

Little bits of Rome which endeared it to me.

Pompeii!!

2007-09-23T13:39:00.000-06:00

Yes, we went to that famous, amazing city. I remember thinking for days afterwards, 'Wow...the dust of Pompeii is still on my shoes'. I was astounded at how well-preserved many of the things were, especially the art. In the top left corner of the collage, note the seashells still framing the shrine (if you can see them). It was fascinating to see little evidences of daily life in Pompeii, like the ruts carved by chariot wheels in the stone-paved streets. Even though Pompeii was discovered in the 1700s, archeologists are still uncovering, ever so carefully, different parts of it. We saw some at work and noticed that, while about four feet of soil divided us, we were standing on the orange-tiled roofs of partially uncovered homes. In the background of the top picture is Mt. Vesuvius. Who knew such an innocent-looking mountain could have spewed forth such massive amounts of ash and covered (and destroyed) an entire city??

Hadrian's Villa

2007-09-23T13:35:00.000-06:00

We also went to Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana) outside Tivoli, about an hour's busride from Rome. Tivoli was where all the wealthy Romans migrated in the summertime to escape the heat. You can see the hillside city of Tivoli in the top right-hand corner picture. Hadrian's Villa was designed by and built for King Hadrian. It was IMMENSE. And it's all gone to ruin! It is about 2000 years old, roughly the same age as Pompeii. But Pompeii was much better preserved! Amazing what ash will do. Hadrian's Villa was quite interesting!

MORE PICTURES TO FOLLOW!

Ireland 22-25 June

2007-08-19T15:31:00.000-06:00

Ahhh...the Emerald Isle.

2007-08-19T15:29:00.000-06:00

This adventure brought me opportunity to meet some very special people. Leicester Uni offered a HOST program for its international students - all we had to do was to tell HOST where we wanted to visit and HOST would use its mighty resources to link us with a generous volunteer host in that area. Hosts volunteer not only to give room and board, but to show us the gems of their homeland. I think I ended up with the best host ever! I wanted to visit Northern Ireland and had the great blessing of being linked up with Henrietta. What a woman! The fact that she was willing to open her home to an international stranger already speaks volumes about her....I had the pleasure of staying with her son Christopher and his cute little son Finlay too. That's Henri, Chris, and Finlay in the bottom photo. We were at the Doagh Famine Village, enjoying some nice tea (juice) and scones after learning about life during the devastating Potato Famine in the 1840s. Very interesting!

Giant's Causeway

2007-08-19T15:26:00.000-06:00

One of the ultimate highlights of our holiday was going to Giant's Causeway. It was incredible! In our man-made, genetically-altered world, I must reassure you that these octagon-shaped rocks are all-natural! There's all sorts of Irish mythology crowding about to explain the freakish natural phenomenon of such strange geology; one story involves two giants...one Scotch and one Irish...and some massive stone-throwing contests.... Henri and Marie are in the bottom photo. Lovely Marie is one of Henri's best friends and she joined us on some of our excursions. I LOVED Giant's Causeway. In Ireland, things are just THERE and its stunning. There's no loud fanfare or brash advertisements - its just there for you to experience and enjoy.

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Fisherman selling their fresh catch straight from the dock.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

2007-08-19T15:21:00.000-06:00

This little rope bridge joins two craggy cliffs as the ocean surges underneath. It was originally constructed by fishermen and is now a tourist attraction! I'd seen so many cool pictures of it...I can hardly believe I'VE actually been across it!

2007-08-19T15:19:00.000-06:00

Henri and I went on the most AMAZING walk through a valley of seven springs, Irish woodland, and gorgeous waterfalls. In the last picture, if you look very hard, you can see Scotland on the horizon. Magical!

Jonny and Joe's

2007-08-19T15:16:00.000-06:00

This is Henri and her amazing mum Mary at Jonny and Joe's Pub. It was the most awesome traditional pub I have ever been to...a rare gem from past generations and tragically a dying breed. It was so historic, so chill - locals brought their own instruments (Mary played her accordian) and they took turns playing and singing traditional Irish songs. It was bliss. It was then that the word 'pub', or public house, really made sense to me...it ws a house open to the public and the community gathered there. Unfortunately this picture is really blurry.

Belfast

2007-08-19T15:12:00.000-06:00

Belfast has always held fascination for me - it's religious tension, civil upheaval...it's so foreign to my own experience that I find it intriguing - call it thanatos or curiosity. I didn't want to leave Northern Ireland without visiting it. So I hopped on a train and visited for a couple of hours. The only outright, superficial sign of relgious conflict I saw was a pipe which had grafitted 'No pope across this line' on it....is that a sign of progress? I hope so.

2007-08-19T15:08:00.000-06:00

And, by the grace of God, I made my flight (I got there late) and then had to say a sad goodbye to Henri :( She is such a lovely person and I had SUCH a special, memorable time! I've decided that in the future I want to tour the Isle of Man, take a ferry to Belfast, and hike the Causeway Coastline. Want to join me? xx Goodbye for now, Ireland!

My Family Visits England!!!

2007-06-18T08:53:00.000-06:00

To my great joy, my family came and visited England 28 May-11 June! It was bliss. Two heavenly weeks! We toured all over England (and even spent an exhausting day in Paris!). This is my favourite picture. We are at William Wordsworth's house in the Lake District.

London

2007-06-18T08:50:00.001-06:00

Ted hosted us and was our amazing tourguide throughout our London travels. My family was absolutely smitten by him! He felt like a grandfather to us all by the end of our time together. We're in front of the Tower of London in this picture.

2007-06-18T08:49:00.000-06:00

She's Squashing Me!! Two of the cutest girls in the world at Trafalgar Square, London.

2007-06-18T08:45:00.001-06:00

We had SUCH a fantastic time in London. We saw many of the touristy sites that one must see when they visit London! The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, museums, and a West Ender...Les Miserables! What a treat. Ted really did highlight our time there - it wouldn't have been half as special without him there.

Paris!!

2007-06-18T08:42:00.000-06:00

Paris! We went to Paris! I have to keep reminding myself of that fact because a most unusual, fleeting trip it was! We rode the overnight coach (bus) to Paris and by the time we arrived, we were absolutely shattered. My predominate memory is how incredibly TIRED we all were (three hard-core days trampsing around London, jet-lag, and hardly a wink of good sleep on the coach created a deadly combination). We arrived in Paris at 6 am. I remember walking around this beautiful city in a haze. We managed to fall asleep in Notre Dame during noon mass and at the Eiffel Tower after taking in the views. We must have been a sight! We saw the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and called it a day. We went back to the coach station four hours early (!) and fell asleep there! Sad but true....but we were there and made good memories! Boarded the overnight coach back to London at 10 pm. Would post more pictures but my laptop with all my pictures isn't working at the minute.

Oxford

2007-06-18T08:31:00.000-06:00

Next stop: Oxford. We picked up our rental car there. Yes, dad was heroic and braved the streets of the UK -- not only did he drive on the opposite side of road, but he tackled an endless amount of round-abouts! We only feared for our lives when approaching those...well almost only. He did a really great job. Bravo dad. I was planted in the front seat next to him and designated navigator; I succeeded some of the time. Oxford was really awesome. Another magical place. Almost organic and hodge-podge in its creation while still maintaining its regal and stately distinction.

2007-06-18T08:29:00.000-06:00

A hilarious restaurant we ate at in Oxford! Puccino's - I highly recommend it! They had humorous things written on the backs of their sugar packets (on everything, really). Carly is demonstrating how to use a sugar packet as 'a very small pillow'. Sweet Dreams!

Mom's 51st Birthday!!!

2007-06-18T07:20:00.000-06:00

We celebrated mom's 51st birthday in Salisbury! After an evening walk along the River Avon, we bought a toffee cake at Tesco and headed back to our B&B. We filled our teacups with squash (a concentrated English drink) and ate the cake on our saucers! It was great! Happy Bday Mum.

The Lovely Salisbury Cathedral

2007-06-18T07:17:00.000-06:00

Tallest spire in England! Absolutely gorgeous.

Stonehenge

2007-06-18T07:15:00.000-06:00

Stonehenge surprised me! I was in no way interested to see it - what did I care for an overrated pile of stones? BUT when we saw it, I could sense the unusual, mythical fascination surrounding the place. It surprised me as it popped out on the skyline right next to the highway (see above left); it was unexpected and almost magical. We parked the car for about ten minutes and took a few photographs, and then we were off again! I was glad to have seen it.

Carly's 15th Birthday!

2007-06-18T07:05:00.000-06:00

Carly's birthday was one of my favourite days! We spent it in the Lake District - the one place in England I feel my heart really lies. This is Windermere.

2007-06-18T07:04:00.000-06:00

We went and visited Wordsworth's Dove Cottage in Grasmere. No wonder he was so inspired!!!

2007-06-18T07:03:00.000-06:00

Practicing Poetical Poses in Wordsworth back garden!

Walking in Her Footsteps...

2007-06-18T05:12:00.000-06:00

One of the tastiest treats was visiting Bradford on Avon in fecund Wiltshire where Ruth May Fox lived as a little girl. Our ancestor's on mom's side go WAY back there - probably to Anglo-Saxon times. It was mind-blowing to BE in this deeply-rooted home of my DNA...to realise that I, wandering around in my current mortal tabernacle, exist because of the people who walked here years ago. So the top picture is Bradford just as you're entering it. It's called Bradford on Avon because it's on the River Avon. The second picture is of the River Avon. Trust me--the pictures hardly do it justice! Bradford is like the quintessence of English history and quaintness.

2007-06-18T05:10:00.000-06:00

So now I'm going to take you on a little journey. We had the address of Ruth May's childhood home (she wasn't "Fox" yet!). It was 85 Middle Rank Rd. It was ironic cuz when we parked our rental car, I took this picture from the car park thinking, "I bet she lived in housing something like this..." What to my happy surprise, but the kind old lady in the tourist office told us she lived in those very homes! It's the second row to the top! So let's go!

2007-06-18T05:08:00.000-06:00

Pre-departure pit-stop at the award-winning Loo of the Year! Break now - it's going to be an uphill climb!

2007-06-18T05:06:00.000-06:00

First we cross over the River Avon...

2007-06-18T05:05:00.000-06:00

And this is what you'll see once over the bridge! An old Anglican church built in the 1100s. Whoa. Very likely our ancestors went there! Amazing.

2007-06-18T05:04:00.000-06:00

I could almost see the shadow of a little Ruth running in black dress and knee socks-kinky curls bouncing-to creak open this rather imposing gate as she ran late into Sunday School. Cuz I think she would have been late. :)

2007-06-18T05:03:00.000-06:00

Outstripping phantoms of the past, we curve a little to the right and voila! We reach Church Lane. The most flippin awesome Church Lane I've ever seen! It is a little pedestrian Lane. The steeply terraced housing the Mays lived in is basically only accessible by walking! It's so unique and just felt so right, strangely! So, up we go!

2007-06-18T05:00:00.000-06:00

Continuing On...(this is Angie and Carly, by the way)

2007-06-18T04:59:00.000-06:00

And up, up, up the stairs we go...! (I thought this house was super cute. It's just tucked cozily beside the little pedestrian walkway). Continuing on...

2007-06-18T04:58:00.000-06:00

...Until you reach the top!

2007-06-18T04:55:00.000-06:00

And this is Middle Rank "Road"!! Barely big enough for two people to walk abrest! Oh it was so cute! And what a view!! You can see the little staircase in the background of the middle photo which leads to the next 'layer' of housing. In front of each little house there was a garden plot. Everything was so green and blooming! It's so unusual to have such lovely, sunny weather in England - and we enjoyed nearly two weeks of it! There is a little girl in the bottom photo, probably about 4 years old. She was playing in her garden when we arrived, running about in carefree barefeet. When she saw us, she left her organic playground and ran to get her daddy to help us. Sadly, we weren't able to find the May's exact address, 85 Middle Rank Rd. Some of the homes were demolished in the 1970s (until the National Trust stepped in!). Also, the numbering system may be slightly different now, as well. But it was HERE that they lived!!

Westbury

2007-06-18T04:37:00.000-06:00

Where Ruth May was born! The white horse on the hilltop (which so cleverly floats atop Angie's hand) is a Westbury trademark. Archeologists aren't sure of its exact historicity; its earliest documentation is in the 1700s.

PRAGUE!!

2007-05-01T03:48:00.000-06:00

April 20-22, Ted and I journeyed to Prague in the Czech Republic, smack dab in the heart of Europe.
It was probably one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen.

2007-05-01T03:47:00.000-06:00

One of the first things we did was take a bus tour of the city. It was the first time I had done such a thing and I highly recommend it! Taking a tour right away helped us to get our bearings and was a great overview of the city, including some of the city's history. This is the National Palace.

2007-05-01T03:46:00.000-06:00

We saw the changing of the guard, though Ted jokingly remarked that it was "Nothing compared to England's." He's allowed to be biased.

2007-05-01T03:45:00.001-06:00

View from the top.

2007-05-01T03:45:00.000-06:00

On a pretty walk just below the National Palace

2007-05-01T03:35:00.000-06:00

The first evening we were there, we attended a six-string ensamble concert at the National Museum. It was a fantastic and a little unconventional! Instead of sitting in chairs, we sat on the cushioned steps of the stairwell! The musicians performed in the stairwell where four grand staircases met. The acoustics were amazing and the music beautiful.

The Food

2007-05-01T03:30:00.000-06:00

We ate at all sorts of yummy restaurants! Goulash and dumplings is a favourite there. The goulash is more of a thick gravy with beef chunks, mopped up with distinctive potato, bread-like dumplings. Also enjoyed cabbage soup. Desserts tended to be dry cake-like breads, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and served with cream.

2007-05-01T03:28:00.000-06:00

I had an amazing culinary surprise! I had heard the Czech Republic was famous for its sausages. They had loads of little stands around selling them (like the one pictured above). Usually I'm not so keen on the sausages, but before leaving Prague I determined to try one. Oh my goodness it was SO GOOD! It didn't even taste like any sausage I had had before. They served it with this gorgeous sweet mustard...mmm...not something to forget!

The City

2007-05-01T03:25:00.000-06:00

Wenceslas Square: a statue of St. Wenceslas and the National Museum (Yes, as in Good King Wenceslas from the Christmas carol! He was actually a prince, not a King, and was murdered by his brother before he could become so. Thus his brother earned the moniker "The Cruel.")

2007-05-01T03:23:00.000-06:00

Pretty. I am glad we got to go in the Springtime. There were so many pretty blooming things!

2007-05-01T03:20:00.000-06:00

Pretty little plazas like this opened unexpectedly everywhere.

2007-05-01T03:18:00.000-06:00

Hello! There was grafitti everywhere. I almost came to like it (is that bad?)- it was so creative! To me, it became this ubiquitous art form that united the diversity of Prague! It was cool to see it written in another language, too.

Old Town Square

2007-05-01T03:14:00.000-06:00

The famous clock-tower, boasting one of the world's most unique clocks. See below.

2007-05-01T03:13:00.000-06:00

Famous clock. Whenever it chimes on the hour, each of the 12 apostles appear in turn in those little windows (see them?). Masses of people gather around each hour to watch that little spectacle!

2007-05-01T03:12:00.000-06:00

Old Town Square.

Charles Bridge (Karlov Most)

2007-05-01T03:10:00.000-06:00

This is the famous Charles Bridge- I think it's the oldest of the 12 bridges that join both sides of Prague over the Vltava River. It is lined with statues of 30 saints and is so cool!

2007-05-01T03:08:00.000-06:00

Charles Bridge (named after King Charles IV - one of the best Czech kings ever) is a pedestrian bridge and there are loads of things to buy and little shows to see as you cross over it.