SCENES FROM MY DRIVE IN

Enjoy some sites I see each day on my 19 mile - 1.5 hour drive to work.

 

ANTIQUES OUT OF REACH

I have been a bit busy lately and probably haven't made enough time for Kel and I to do something, so she has been on me all week to take her to an antique fair/show this past weekend.  She has enjoyed watching a number of British antique shows over here on TV (similar to Antiques Roadshow) and has a bit of a bug for the antiques these days.

After dropping Dawson and his friend off after a sleepover on Saturday night, we took Kel to the Harrogate Antique Show.  I'm thinking...Antique flea market...but it was more like a Christie's auction.

Paintings for £180,000 (Pounds that is) - converted to US + Tax that is about $350,000 for a painting of a hunting dog and a bird.  We also saw a high back embroidered chair - that looks a bit like one we have in our house (minus the embroidery) for $50,000.  Needless to say we walked out without a purchase to take home with us, although there were clearly people there making purchases.  Out of our league...we are looking for the next flea market that sets up around a horse track to try our luck again.

 

SAFE AND SECURE

We picked up Chloe last night from Volleyball practice at another school where she plays with a club team.  Practice ended at 7:30 PM and it was already quite dark, as we walked up to the gym, we noticed a number of bikes, gym bags, soccer and rugby shoes just sitting outside with no concern for any of it being taken away.  We certainly do feel safer here - it isn't anything to see a young girl/boy walking a long a street at night when it is dark and they don't seem to have a care.  Our first instinct was to pull over and pick them up when we got here, but have learned that is the norm.  One great advantage of living here is a real sense of safety.

 

BATE

Lovely morning for our BATE.  Rolls in Knaresborough...just part of our routine.

 

CIRCUS UK STYLE

So Circus Vegas rolls into town and since we realized a circus all the way from Vegas (wink wink) made its way to Harrogate we better check it out - awaiting the show as we speak.  Something tells me kids are going to walk out with some useless light up spinny things and I will be $30 lighter

SCENES FROM THE GARDEN

Beautiful day today - got some last minute gardening in before fall sets in.

Enjoy some pics.

 

CIRCUS VEGAS PART TWO

For a little circus that rolled into town, Circus Vegas seemed to be a good time for all.  Chloe brought one of her friends Ellie along and we enjoyed spending the night with her.  Enjoy some video highlights!

 

MY LITTLE PONY

As usual, Sadie has the busiest social calendar of us all.  She was off to a pony party this morning.  Enjoy some pics and video of the big day for her friend Sadie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BATE

Sadie and I ventured into Knaresborough for our Saturday BATE. 

 

HALLOWEEN COMES EARLY

As we were cleaning out the storage room we found some of Sadie's dress up clothes and she quickly assembled an amazing outfit!

 

TV TIME

Little Miss Sadie decided she wanted her own TV for her room...so she decided to build one.  Reminds me of what I used to do when I was a kid....the only difference was I grew up without an actual TV.

 

THE ROYAL HORN

So...our 6 year old... that continues to impress us with her piano playing skills, poem memorization, reading, spelling, math, contemplated a deep thought on the drive home from school yesterday.

Her simple question.

"Do you think the queen ever toots?"

Hmmm

 

LOVELY KNARESBOROUGH

Some pictures of the gorgeous viaduct that anchors our little town of Knaresborough.  When we first saw it, we thought it was one of the most beautiful sites we had seen...still do.

 

BATE TIME

Had a nice BATE with Sadie this morning.  She is not enjoying the bakery like she used to so we went back to the place we went last week.  Time with her is good wherever we go.

 

A RAINY DAY...IN LONDON TOWN

Spent a few days in London this week attending a conference and having some meetings.  I was also able to connect up with a friend and his wife. Chris Widmer was one of the first managers I had at Hallmark and has since retired, but found himself in London with his wife for a week's tour.  The timing ended up working out for us to have a nice dinner and conversation together catching up.  Chris is one of those people in my life that saw something in me when I probably didn't see it in myself and created opportunities for me to grow.  Much of my work success I credit to the guidance/leadership he provided to me over the years.  It was great catching up.  Should have grabbed a picture of Chris, Jan and I together, but didn't. Below are some from the good ole days and a couple from my trip.

 

CHATE TIME

Sadie I and I enjoyed our typical Sunday CHATE (Chinese Date).  We didn't do our BATE (Bakery Date) on Saturday morning as we had some yummy pancakes, so we had a BATE this morning at a local gas station/bakery.  Sadie wasn't happy because...
1. were not at the usual bakery (it closes on Sunday)
and
2. Chloe went with us. 
So...she pouted in the car and wouldn't go into the bakery this morning. 

She was clear that CHATE Sunday night would be a solo event.  The other two obliged.

 

YORKSHIRE STROLL

We enjoyed a nice walk this brisk cool fall afternoon in Yorkshire. Enjoy some of the sights we saw along the way.