Along the way, we saw this snack shack, which was closed for the winter. We loved the'Christmas tree made from lobster pots. If you look closely at the sign on the window, it says 'Gone Skiing'. Pretty amusing.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Before Christmas
Before Christmas we drove up to Maine to visit Son Of. We had a fantastic day. We drove to Acadia National Park and up to the top of mountain which is said to be the first place sunlight touches America in the morning. Because it was raining and foggy, we couldn't see across the parking lot, but it was still very pretty.
Along the way, we saw this snack shack, which was closed for the winter. We loved the'Christmas tree made from lobster pots. If you look closely at the sign on the window, it says 'Gone Skiing'. Pretty amusing.
Along the way, we saw this snack shack, which was closed for the winter. We loved the'Christmas tree made from lobster pots. If you look closely at the sign on the window, it says 'Gone Skiing'. Pretty amusing.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Also Five months ago
While we were walking in Cuckmere Haven, we came upon this curious and poignant marker. The pictures show two directions from the marker - south toward the sea and north up the river valley toward Alfriston.
The marker says:
"This plaque commemorates the soldiers who died in this area and specifically in this field during World War II. Their numbers are unknown but their memory lives on.
The following is personal testimony from Corporal Leslie Edwards 1920-2004, a local man who served in the area and laid poppies on this spot every Remembrance Day until his death.
'I will never forget the day in 1940 when a Canadian company came to Cuckmere and pitched their tents in this field. I was stationed here and knew that bombers regularly used this valley for navigation purposes. I tried to tell the commanding officer, but he was not interested in what I had to say. Two mornings later the Messerschmitts arrived. Just as the sun was rising they came skimming over the water and up the valley. Around Alfriston, they banked hard and came back. Bearing down on the tents, they opened fire. Steam, soil, and grass rose in front of them as bullets and bombs entered the ground. All the young men in the marquees and bell tents were killed. The commanding officer, who was shaving at the time in the middle coastguard cottage died instantly when a shell went through the wall that held his mirror.'
"This plaque commemorates the soldiers who died in this area and specifically in this field during World War II. Their numbers are unknown but their memory lives on.
The following is personal testimony from Corporal Leslie Edwards 1920-2004, a local man who served in the area and laid poppies on this spot every Remembrance Day until his death.
'I will never forget the day in 1940 when a Canadian company came to Cuckmere and pitched their tents in this field. I was stationed here and knew that bombers regularly used this valley for navigation purposes. I tried to tell the commanding officer, but he was not interested in what I had to say. Two mornings later the Messerschmitts arrived. Just as the sun was rising they came skimming over the water and up the valley. Around Alfriston, they banked hard and came back. Bearing down on the tents, they opened fire. Steam, soil, and grass rose in front of them as bullets and bombs entered the ground. All the young men in the marquees and bell tents were killed. The commanding officer, who was shaving at the time in the middle coastguard cottage died instantly when a shell went through the wall that held his mirror.'
Nearly 5 months ago...
Nearly 5 months ago, the COG and I went for a walk on the South Downs, at Cuckmere Haven, where the Cuckmere River reaches the sea. It was a much prettier and more interesting walk than we expected. The views were amazing. We've often walked above the Seven Sisters, but we really enjoyed seeing this long view of them from across the river.
En route we saw pretty coastguard cottages, which reminded me of my favorite Heyer novel, Talisman Ring, which takes place in Sussex and involves smuggling (or free-trading).
And then there were the ripening blackberries. We have a tender feeling for blackberries along here because many years ago when Daughter of was small, the way we got her to walk with us was from blackberry bush to blackberry bush. She'd have a few from one bush and then we'd walk forward and say 'oh look at these, they're beautiful' and she'd scamper a few yards more. The bushes always remind us. Because of the unusual weather this year (warm and sunny) the berries were particularly thick on the bushes. I cannot tell you how much I wanted to pick a lot and make jelly, but I didn't.
En route we saw pretty coastguard cottages, which reminded me of my favorite Heyer novel, Talisman Ring, which takes place in Sussex and involves smuggling (or free-trading).
And then there were the ripening blackberries. We have a tender feeling for blackberries along here because many years ago when Daughter of was small, the way we got her to walk with us was from blackberry bush to blackberry bush. She'd have a few from one bush and then we'd walk forward and say 'oh look at these, they're beautiful' and she'd scamper a few yards more. The bushes always remind us. Because of the unusual weather this year (warm and sunny) the berries were particularly thick on the bushes. I cannot tell you how much I wanted to pick a lot and make jelly, but I didn't.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Taking down Christmas
I still have a few holiday decorations hanging around. Most especially the chandelier. I really dislike this chandelier and I have every intention of changing it fairly soon. But at this one time of the year, with gold ornaments on it and greenery, it looks so pretty.
We took the tree down after New Years, but we re-erected it in the yard by the bird feeders. I found some recipes online for bird food - variations of suet, peanut butter, and bird seed mixed together. Also some orange and apple slices dried in the oven and a few Apricot Balls that were past their prime. We bedecked the tree with those. Son of didn't think the birds would eat any of it, but we did it anyway. I think he was mostly right, but the birds love it anyway as a place to wait for their turn on the feeders.
And I still have some 'snowflakes' hanging at the window. They need to come down, but they are so pretty.
We took the tree down after New Years, but we re-erected it in the yard by the bird feeders. I found some recipes online for bird food - variations of suet, peanut butter, and bird seed mixed together. Also some orange and apple slices dried in the oven and a few Apricot Balls that were past their prime. We bedecked the tree with those. Son of didn't think the birds would eat any of it, but we did it anyway. I think he was mostly right, but the birds love it anyway as a place to wait for their turn on the feeders.
And I still have some 'snowflakes' hanging at the window. They need to come down, but they are so pretty.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Hi, Again
It has been months since I last posted. There have been lots of times I thought - ooooo I must blog that, but didn't. So what I propose to do is blog very frequently, maybe every day for a while. I'll probably put up some things from last fall that never got blogged, and maybe some new things, too.
We've just had a long visit of our whole family - son, daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren. It was just fantastic to have them here for such a long visit and the house seems quite empty without them. So here are some pictures:
1) Miss A. having an early lesson in Aperture from Grandpa
2) The family out for a walk at Castle Hill on New Year's Day
3) Miss T. is a cowgirl, riding a Lallow horse (Lallow being her favorite color)
4) Miss A. at Crane's Beach exploring sand.
5) Miss T. flying, with help from her Dad. This was taken a couple of months ago, but I love it so I included it.
We've just had a long visit of our whole family - son, daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren. It was just fantastic to have them here for such a long visit and the house seems quite empty without them. So here are some pictures:
1) Miss A. having an early lesson in Aperture from Grandpa
2) The family out for a walk at Castle Hill on New Year's Day
3) Miss T. is a cowgirl, riding a Lallow horse (Lallow being her favorite color)
4) Miss A. at Crane's Beach exploring sand.
5) Miss T. flying, with help from her Dad. This was taken a couple of months ago, but I love it so I included it.
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