Oxford

Inspiring architecture. A place of higher learning since 1096. 

Pink

A random shot taken out the car window just west of Brighton England. 

Pink house, pink curtains, pink flowers, pink shirt, 

pink hair, two pink cars, and two "pnk" license plates. 

The only thing missing is Margo's pink pants. 

Wear your colors proud. 

Leighton Buzzard

I could have been a Brit. 

It was a great feeling to see the little town that my great-great-grandparents called home, 

walking the streets and going in the churches where they would have attended. 

I couldn't help but wonder where great-grandpa first heard the mormon missionaries 

and decided to come to America. 

Some good perspective on how much can change because of a simple decision. 

Savoring England

Some moments and treats beg to be savored. I'm enjoying them in memory for now and hopefully get to experience them in person again.  If you get a chance I would recommend any of these:

The sight of the fresh bread- laid out on a table in the middle of a market in the middle of a quaint English town- should stop you in your tracks and you should savor that moment. 

We stopped for this bread, in Wantage. 

And then savor what ever treat you fancy.  

We went for the poppy seed bun.

I had yet to taste the next delight or I would have been ignoring the camera and enjoy each bite of tart greek yogurt, homemade granola (to die for!), and organic honey topped with a strawberry.  

Perfection to savor in Oxford!

Put me in a field of yellow flowers, in rolling hills dotted with intense green trees and my soul sings. The lanes line with trees and covered in leafy canopies also had this effect on me.

mmm... 

Just looking at the picture makes me want to go back to Brighton for scones and clotted cream.  

Our good friends recommended we get them in England and I am now passing the recommendation along to you.  I can see the possibility that this duo may be a hit or miss kind of treat...

I think it takes a fresh scone and good cream to get it right,

We only had it once while we were there and boy was it done right!

The gardens of the London England Temple.  

I'll let you savor this beautiful moment- it needs no explanation:

cruising the countryside

Who knew how fun it would be to cruise around the English countryside in a little Fiat? 

This was the very first thing we did and one of the best parts of the whole trip.

One of the gems of the countryside was the Salisbury Cathedral. The spire is the tallest in the England.

400 vs 5500

Last summer - 2 weeks - Russia & Ukraine - 400 pictures

Last month - 3 weeks - England & Italy - 5,500 pictures

Buying a "nicer" camera was definitely one of the best purchases we've ever made. 

It completely changes how you see something when you go somewhere to see something. 

(Big Ben and some flowers with the London England Temple silhouette in the background)

Jump on a plane

So there are places that you learn about, read about, hear about, and then someday.....finally see. After hours of researching, planning, and saving up a good chunk of change, you can jump on a plane and make it happen. We did and highly recommend.

the trees get smaller and smaller

Christmas is Christmas, as long as there's a tree, right? Well, with a busy December we almost completely forwent a tree this year, but Christmas cheer prevailed and late in the month Tiny Tim (the tree) was purchased in the local Christmas tree lot. He was so small, he didn't even need to be watered. Better yet, he only needed one strand of lights and 10 ornaments.

Here are some more pics of the Christmas season. Santa got us a new Canon SLR camera!

Antique ornaments on our tree, slightly reminiscent of a meteor striking the sun.

The lights of the San Francisco City Building. 

We caught this across the street when going to see The Nutcracker.

Who knew the books could be arranged in so many ways?

Still getting used to Christmas lights on palm trees. We'll get there someday.

cheers to the new year

Christmas is best when it's cold, but New Years' is welcome to have warmth and maybe even a little sunset. Utah was great for the holidays, but coming home is still the best. And after all the hearty holiday meals, a little sushi really hit the spot. Bring on 2012!

the Thanksgiving spread

This year's menu:
1. Pre-dinner Recchiuti Chocolate
2. An amazingly juicy bird (basted every 30 minutes).
3. Stuffin' Muffins
4. Homemade mashed potatoes with skins
5. Whipped yams
6. Homemade crescent rolls (with the secret ingredient: mashed potatoes)
7. Parfaits with quinoa, apples, Greek yogurt, pomegranate, and apricot yogurt.
8. "Vegetables in a cloud" dish
9. Fresh green and albino aspargus
10. Fresh green beans
11. Cherry, Apple, Pumpkin, and Banana Cream Pie