Yorkshire in the Spring

Hello friends,

I just wanted to share some pictures with you all from our weekend.

It's been exceptionally beautiful around here lately.  When the sun shines, it makes you wonder why you would ever throw massive temper tantrums about how much England sucks.  (ooops)  But right now when I look out the window and go on long walks with my dog and my husband, I have to think that God brought his A game when he created Yorkshire.

In fact, I have been in an exceptionally good mood lately.  I don't know whether it is because the flowers are blooming and the sun is shining or because I have gotten into vet school... but I guess it might be a bit of both.  There is something incredibly liberating about achieving your dreams.

The stresses of moving our little family to America are pretty big, but I somehow seem able to deal with them infinitely better than I ever have before, perhaps this is because my shitty dead end job has just become a short chapter in my life, and not my destiny.  

There are a million things we still need to figure out... I haven't even decided where I am going to school yet... I'm still waiting to hear back from one school.  And did you know that even when you don't live in America you have to file US taxes?  This was news to me.

Somehow I have faith that we will get all of it sorted out, and before I know it our little house in England will be sold, and I will be most definitely be complaining about how !"£"$$ %%^ hard my vet school tests are.  But for now, I am enjoying my time in God's country... 

Joni Mitchell came on the radio today, singing about how you "Don't know what you got till it's gone" and I thought man that girl knew her shit.  I guess it took me 3 challenging years to well and truly make my peace with this country, and now that I know I am leaving I can finally appreciate what it has to offer.

Without England I might not have discovered my passion for gardening, and I would have never thought about keeping chickens in my backyard (if you follow me on pinterest you know I am OBSESSED and we will be getting some asap)... I would also not know how much I freaking love tea and biscuits.  

So for now, I'm enjoying my last few months in Yorkshire, and appreciating all this quirky country has to offer.

xoxoxo

Kelly

B&W Diana in the Country

I took these pictures with my Diana Mini last January... 

I guess it was about time I got them developed. 

My hipsterness is getting out of control.

Take it or leave it...

There's more where these came from.

Double Birthday

On Friday Nick and Heidi celebrated their 29th and 2nd birthdays.  Nick and I have been super busy working on graduation at the university we work at, so I've been pretty lame at planning birthday surprises this year.  In fact, I passed out at 8 o'clock last night and left him to watch TV alone, on a Friday night, on his birthday.  Wow.  I suck.  But at least on Thursday I did spend 3 hours slaving away in the kitchen making these... which some of you might remember I posted on this blog 2 years ago.

They were totally as delicious as last time, so if you haven't made them yet - find an excuse ASAP.  We also went out for a romantic dinner Friday night, leaving Heidi alone on HER birthday.  So today we decided to make up for it today by going on a long hike in the Peak District together.

Lately we've been bracing ourselves for what is looking like it might be an exciting but also a little challenging year ahead. But at least for a moment life seemed pretty near perfect in the Peak District this afternoon.  It's funny how blue skies can do that to you.

It's Mushroom Season!

Last year Nick and I dabbled in a bit of mushroom hunting, but without the knowledge we were too scared to eat anything, and identifications seemed complicated and dangerous!  We usually identified everything as poisonous or "no idea what that is" but yesterday we had a major break through!  We identified this bad boy as a Bay Bolete.

And we're convinced enough to eat it.  But we haven't yet.  I will let you know how that goes.  Unless of course I'm dead.  Knock on wood.  

Also this nifty website, Wild About Britain, has a forum where you can post your mushroom pictures and people can help you identify them.  So you have to be a little trusting, but it seems like a great learning tool when you just can't find the right pictures in the books or you want a second opinion.

Speaking of books, the one that is our favorite is Mushrooms : River Cottage Handbook.

Have you been mushroom hunting?  I highly recommend it, it's like a treasure hunt for epicureans.... which Lord knows most of you blogstars are!

Dear Friends,

I would just like you to know that we're having fun exploring the Peak District.

Especially with all the heather in full bloom.

It looks like a purple blanket is covering the hills.

And sometimes I wonder why I'd ever want to leave this place.

But then it usually rains so I remember.

Amy Comes to Visit!

Last week my dear friend and co-favorite college roommate, Amy, came to visit.  And we had some much needed girl time. Truth be told I'm still lacking in the girl friend department in England so I am pretty sure I talked Amy's ears off.  Yes both of them.  But luckily, seeing as she is our 12th visitor to England, I'm getting pretty damn good at this tour guiding thing.  If only the British weather would cooperate a little better.  

Here's a rundown of our week in pictures....

The first night we went for a sundown walk in the Peak District.

Picturesque, No?

Then we went to Chatsworth.  Again.  

I love Chatsworth though so thats OK.  Especially the gardens.  

They don't get old.

The of course we had to go to London.  

We stayed in a very cheap girls only hostel which I can highly recommend

 for poor female travelers called Piccadilly Guest House.

 The plan was to see the major tourist spots, but England had other ideas.  

So shortly after this was taken we headed off to Harrods where they were having a sale!  

Hurrah!

We had dinner at my favorite restaurant in all of England, Bumpkin, then we went off to the West End to see Dirty Dancing. Ohhh Johnny!  No one puts baby in the corner!

When we came back to Sheffield I took Amy for a little more English countryside action.  

I love the Peak District.  

It's God's country (according to the locals anyways.)  

I must say I agree... at least when the sun is shining.  

I made a lil picnic.

 But then we had to go home because my hair was just not cooperating.  

Forrealz.

But not before Heidi pissed off a herd of sheep.  Eeeeeeeeeek!  

Sheep are creepy sometimes.

But then we saw these cute little baby horses on the way home.  

Awwwwww.  I love country life.

And then Amy and I passed out.

Note:  While we were curled up uncomfortably on the couch Heidi was in my bed.  

Typical.  

I take this to mean I was a successful tour guide.  

ps.  I didn't include pictures of our spa day at Harrogate Turkish Baths .  (this is due to the fact that there were looooooooooads of naked ladies wandering around and taking photos would have been totally inappropriate... fyi the English are so much more comfortable than Americans with nudity.)  But besides the fact that Amy and I were somewhat uncomfortable with nudies, and we creepily checked out the more ample hair styles sported by the very self assured British ladies, we had a wonderful time at the beautiful spa and this is certainly going on the guest list itinerary.  

Miss you already, Amy!

And thanks to Mr. and Mrs. N for buying her plane tickets!  What would we do without our parents?!

Heidi Meets Her Extended Family

Since we've already established that I am a crazy dog lady and Heidi is our "dog-ter" it should come as no surprise to you that introducing our furbaby to her grandparents and Aunt Lizzie was a highlight for us....

Everyone tired after hiking in the Peak District.

Disapproving looks from Grandpa Gregor as she is in such an un-ladylike position.

Never too big for cuddles from your Grandma.

Countryside walks.

This is Lizzie and Heidi doing their best E.T. impression.

Diana in the Snow

In case you can't get enough of my new found lomo skillz, 

here are some from when it snowed.

So what do you think?

Edgy, hipster, neat?

....Or just pretty shit pictures.  

Be honest.

I promise you won't offend me.

I think there is too much faux niceness in the blogosphere anyways.