For Levi~

LIONS & TIGERS & LEMURS oh my!

It was a cold day today so the big cats were being lazy but they still were stunning. This Zoo wasn't the best that I've been to and the cages were a little small of the animals but it was still fun to go. We also saw a cheetah but I didn't get a picture of him...he was too fast.

The lemurs were really fun to watch too and this one was inside drinking water and getting warm. OH I forgot, there were also some parrots that right as we were leaving said, "Hi there!" Paul asked me what I said and gave him a funny look. It took us a while to figure out it was the bird. It would whistle too.

For Dad:

HE'S BACK!!!!
hahaha, yes this was yet another big silver back that wasn't very friendly and would stair you down just like the last. There were 7 of them and ALL of them were males... don't know why but the rest of them would all run from him. I would too.

Then next to last we came upon this exhibit with the owls. These were two born in May so they are young yet HUGE. I don't know what it is about owls that I like so much but these two were great. Paul and I were the only ones there and they weren't looking at us so I drug my foot on the ground in hopes to get their attention and sure enough they came FLYING over. Then I kept it up while trying to take pictures and they would turn their heads up and down looking directly at me. I took some video of it and will show you when I get home but you would have loved them too.

For Mom!

Babies!!

I know you like Zebras (and the English people say it funny) but they also had baby monkeys, a baby camel AND yes AND a baby Rhino!!!! He was really really cute and I thought about you the whole time I watched him. His skin is still all saggy and soft. He was clumsy too but so cute!

We're going to the Zoo Zoo Zoo

you can come too too too

we're going to the zoo

(sung by paul on the way to the zoo, at the zoo, and leaving the zoo)

Paul and I went to the Zoo today and had a great time. My hands turned purple -what's new. It was cold and the animals weren't very active but it was still a fun time. Lots of snakes, birds, and funny enough there were seagulls and rabbits everywhere.

Funny story: They had a petting farm and we walked into the barn to find pigs and sheep. Well, in the stall with the sheep was this pig in the hay sleeping. I stopped and looked at Paul to ask if he heard something. We stopped and sure enough the pig was snoring. I mean he was sawing logs. It was hilarious. I even shook the stall door to see if he would wake up but nope, not a chance. It was so funny.

Fred the fisherman just bought a big red VW van (I named it Clifford) and driving it was half of the adventure. It's from the states so the driver is on the left hand side of the car driving in the left hand side of the road. I have to give it to Paul that he did very well but I will say I was scared for a little while and afraid that we wouldn't make it. We did and on the way back I saw the most stunning rainbow. It was extremely bright and then the next time I looked back it had turned into a double one. The sad thing was that it didn't last long and by the time I got my camera out it was almost gone... I haven't seen a rainbow in a long time, it made me happy. The rain also made me think about home because it was raining yet the sun was shining bight. Good old Montreat. The leaves here are also starting to change but the color is nothing like at home. The other main difference is that the fields are all still as green as can be. I love the hills.

A couple days ago LA and I stopped at a church. This is something that both of us have been wanting to do for a while now, just go walk in. We know they are ancient and all of them are gorgeous. and it was. I can't tell you how old the church was but there was a grave stone that read: 1797 and the man died at 91 years, that's really old for that time. We also found a sun dial on the outside of the church that looked really really cool. The inside was breathtaking with the stone carvings and stain glass windows. It was silent but welcoming, not creepy. I liked it a lot and signed the guest book.

One more week... this makes me sad so I'm not going to talk about it yet. It's going to be a packed week with Theater on Tuesday night, Halloween on Wednesday, Girls movie night on Thursday, and a group dinner on Friday. Wish me luck!

Nature

I sit here looking back through my pictures at all the places I have been and wonder if it really happened. Was I really there? That first moment when you step onto the beach and take that moment to look around you your breath will be stolen from you. All you can do is shake your head in wonder. The thing is that it happens every where I go. Every mountain top I climb. Every path I take, field I walk through, beach or cove we find. Every place is special in it's own way. I have always had a weak spot for nature. It fills me with such joy and reminds me how much God loves me. It humbles me and makes me quite. I've never been much for the ocean or beach but here I love it just as much as the green grass. It's different here. I like it much better here but don't know if I could tell you why.
There are caves to find, sea foam green waters, not shells but rocks, wet sand and cold winds. Another part I love about the coast here is that for the first time i can climb the cliff next to the beach and have an incredible view rather than ride an elevator to look off a balcony. It's so much fun to find these hidden places where you know people have been before and will go but the place itself seems timeless. I also feel this way about a field we walked through. Everything around us was covered in a thick blanket of rich green moss. The rocks now looked soft, the trees were fully green, and even the river bed was green with it. My cousins and I use to make small moss villages and I smiled because here we could have lived in a moss covered world. This time is was life size. The sun was setting and fog was rolling in. Everything was quite, still. The air had a chill in it and I would have loved to walk forever. There for a moment I forgot the suffering of the world. It seemed like everything was going to be okay and for a moment it was. I feel so blessed to have walked through all these places. The land is beautiful here and so very different from home. I miss my mountains but from now the land here has captured my heart.

more pictures from london

A bit from London

London was just wonderful and packed with activities to do. The only time my feet hurt so much is over thanksgiving.
I'll try to give you the list of what we did. The first night we went to the London Eye. We rose high in the air to get an amazing
view of the city. It was quite funny that we did this at the very beginning because we really had no idea of what we
were looking at. I'm sure we could have picked out a few more buildings if we did it at the end but what can you do.
The next day
we went to the National Gallery where we saw paintings done by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Claude, Turner, Cezanne, Monet, Van Gogh, and Seurat. It was amazing to actually be looking at these amazing pieces of art that were right in front of you. The gallery however was HUGE with 5 floors and by the end we kind of lost interest... and I hate saying that but it's true. Next, we were off to the Natural History Museum with some more hands of interactive activities. This building was also giant with 4 floors and 3 zones to work your way through. We learned and viewed birds, creepy crawlies, ecology, plant power, primates, minerals and meteorites, the power within, earth's treasures, mammals, and FINALLY DINOSAURS. Graysen is in love with them and told me that they (the dinos) would be saved - best for last. We had a great time and it was well worth all the walking. Last we went to the Tate Modern- the national gallery of international modern and contemporary art and showcases art from 1900 to the present day. This is where that crack was in the ground made by Doris Salcedo. Look her up and read about her. She is worth it. Graysen and I walked much faster in and around this gallery. For one our feet were really hurting by this time and we were hungry. The other thing with Modern art is that I don't always get it. Some I like and some I don't. BUT I am very glad that we went. End of day 2.
Day three
started out with a walk in some parks and we ended up back at the Bucking Palace to watch the guard change.
We missed the horses and it really was just comic to see all the people who had gathered. Then we were off again to Hyde Park to find speakers corner. Here every Sunday you will find men and women standing on their "soap box" to say what they wish to the world. We found it all right and we just walked through stopping long enough to understand the topic and then move on to the next. Some people would stay and debate these topics, some come just to argue, some come to try and make a difference in the world. Graysen and I just sat in the park listening to all the voices while being warmed by the sun. I liked being on the outside just listening, like being a part of it but not. I think next we found a pub to eat fish and chips at and doing some work for the college conference. We also made our way to the London Bridge, the Tower Bridge, and the London Castle.
Day four
Graysen headed back to Rome and I stayed around for the day. I picked the Victoria and Albert Museum to go to and it was the best thing I could have done. I LOVED it. Sorry Graysen..... I would have gone with you if I knew. I arrived at 11 and stayed till 2. There were 7 floors. I think I walked through it all. There was Asia- with china, Japan, Korea, South Asia, South East Asia, Islamic. Europe- Cast Courts, Medieval, Northern Renaissance, Raphael. Materials & Techniques- Fashion, Photography, Sculpture,Ironwork, Jewellery, Musical Instruments, Glass and it goes on and on. Every single topic in that list had a room all to itself. soo it was like walking into a different room every time. I loved it. I was just amazed by all the things there. History. I was blown away. I then went back to the Youth Hostel to pick up my bag and head to the train station where i missed my train. It's really crazy there and the tube was late. With two hours to kill I grabbed some tea and wrote some postcards. I ended my trip 9 with Jasper to take me home. I did come back with a cold but that will be gone within 3 more days. Over all I had a blast. There is just so much to do in London but like most people I would never want to live there. It's nice to come back to my small town of Turnchapel. the end.

LONDON

I just wanted to say that I'm in London with a very sleepy boy.
Graysen and I had a wonderful night tonight and tomorrow should
be a blast. I'll write more and post pictures when i get back.

travels

well the past three days have been wonderful. Mainly we have been exploring the near villages. Yes that means more scary car rides down the narrow lanes but it's been quite fun.

First stop was in Modury where we walked the streets window shopping. This town is also "Britain's first plastic shopping bag FREE town". I bought some funny post cards that I will try to write and send out soon.

As we were driving to the next town Lee Ann took a sharp turn to turn around and look at this old building and sign. I'm glad she did because what we found was a great find.

Then we reached Totnes. Here they have an open market full of Victorian odds and ends along with home grown produce stands and hand made bags and such. This town reminded me a lot of Ashville in a way that it was so free flow and open/hippyish. With that said we ate at a restaurant called the Vegetarian Garden Willow. It was wonderful with a garden out back or Odie could be with us. The town was packed so we had to park on the edge of town and walk in but the view was just amazing along with the green grass and weather. We had a wonderful dinner of Salmon. It was really really good.

Yesterday we all packed into the car and headed to a town called Devon so Lee Ann could buy a light that she has wanted for some time now and it's a great one. On the way we took a road leading to a cove that we have never been to hoping to get a good walk in for Odie. Well we found it and it was just amazing. We started at the little beach and then hiked up on the cliffs. It really really was just breath taking and we all just sat in wonder. We have had the best luck just walking around and finding great spots to play.

Today has been a chill day but I was introduced to the kids of the town and have made some fast friends. We walked to Jenny Cliff and had some great fun there. I'll say more about them as we become better friends but they are just great kids.

perfect day

so i didn't have my camera with me at all today and I'm really sad but I'll just have to tell you so you can picture it.

this morning i got up and lee ann, odie, and i packed up and headed off to this barn. Lee Ann has been volunteering there. At this barn groups of all ages come to ride horses for about an hour at a time. The amazing thing is that the program is for people with disabilities of all kinds. Riding is therapy for them. We worked with babies to adults and really I had a blast with them all. I was a walker and just walked holding a leg or foot to help stable the person. Inside the indoor ring is called the school. You walk with your person and horses around working on their riding skills as well as other skills like shapes, colors, letters, and numbers. It's an incredible program. Peggy is the director and boy does she have it all in place. She is an amazing women. I worked with Danny-who told me that I talked funny then decided it would be funny to repeat every word I said, Wendy- and 30 year old that talks just to talk. She asks a million questions and when she asked me how long I was to stay here and who I was staying with, I answered for 5 weeks with lee ann and Wendy's reply was "is Lee Ann okay with that?" she is a trip but a hand full. Then there was sweet little Ariana- she doesn't speak but signs. She's a cute blond that is as light as a feather, she is known for her hugs and she blows kisses non stop. So most of my day was spent with kids and horses and dogs. I think I was glowing I was so happy.

It turned out to be a beautiful day. Jeans and a t-shirt was all that was needed and after the barn Lee Ann and I took Odie for a walk. We went to the Hoe and walked there, found LA's favorite coffee stand and explored. We ended up sitting down on the side walk basking in the sun and watching the ships come in. The Royal Navy Ships that is. There were also youth diving and swimming in the ocean. That made for fun entertainment. The place we were at has the coast line rocks but also stairs, walk ways, pools, and flats built into the rock. It's wild, creepy but really cool. We found a spot where there was a little beach and let Odie swim in the ocean. He was great fun to watch and the cold water gave him a very playful kick. We waited in Plymouth till Jasper was done with work and could meet us at the china house for some drinks with a friend of theirs. Once we found out that they didn't serve any chips we moved to a different bar to find some snacks but just ended up eating dinner there. It was a great find and great fun. Back to the house to finally change out of our horses smelling clothes for a shower and then a nightly appearance at the pub next door and one more walk for Odie.

I'll try to go back and take some pictures and I think that I will help volunteer 3 days a week. I'm sure that there will be many more perfect days but today was one to remember.

Welcome my love to England!

oh what a day. This will be short because I'm in need of sleep but I did make it and all is well.

The flight was fine, long, but smooth. I could not sleep for some reason on the plane so stayed up most of the morning watching shooting stars from my window and it was wonderful to see the sun rise even thought the wing of the plane was right in my view.

Then right off the bat we went to Stonehenge. It was cold, over priced, roped off but still cool to see. It's just one of those things that you have to do. It was really funny because we were driving and then there it was right by the road.

Then we stopped at a nice pub to have some lunch in this cute town. Odie found the meat store and from that moment on had a one track of mind.

I'm really glad I'm here but it's been a full day and I can't keep my eyes open much longer. I'll tell more later. Oh, we had a wonderful dinner but no sea food yet... but we bought salmon!!