Is it Russian or Australian? And trimming the hedge.

The week of June 22-26 the Bridge Builders team ran a Mediation course at the Centre which I had to cook lunches for. I really don't mind cooking if someone else would create the menus. So I spend a bit of time going through cookbooks deciding what to make. This week was a challenge as I had a gluten intolerant, one who is allergic to chocolate, diary products, & potatoes, one who couldn't eat cheese or citrus, and a vegetarian. Really makes me appreciate omnivores. So anyway, while making the menus, I decided to try some different things. This is called Pavlova. There is a dispute where it originated. It was made and named after a Russian dancer by the name of Pavlova, but she danced not only in Russia but also a lot in Australia and New Zealand. So there is a dispute as to whether it came from Russia or Australia. Does anyone out there have an opinion?

The week the mediation group was here we had beautiful weather so they could eat all their meals outside.

Ed decided it was time to take the front hedge down a couple of feet. He loves using power tools.

Back half is done. Now for the front half.

The finished product. Now that ugly sign needs to come down and a new one up.

20/20 Cricket

Saturday, Ed was invited to go to a Cricket match. We understand that Cricket can be an all day or two ordeal. But to speed up the game in an effort to keep people's attention and interest in Cricket, a shortened form was created called twenty, twenty.

It feels a lot like baseball and yet very different. However, they try to do lots of gimmicky things such as this mascot that of course is advertising the company that is sponsoring the game. In the original cricket, players are all in white. But again, to update the game the teams have colors. These changes are criticized by many but I think it is an effort to keep the younger, computer generation interested.

Here is a batter who as you can see missed the ball. There is a catcher as well.

The stats board. The Bowler is what we would call the pitcher.

Maybe Cricket is "for the birds"!

A Trip to Ireland

We were able to find five days to take off and visit Ireland. We mostly visited Northern Ireland where Jake and Nancy Rittenhouse are doing a one year volunteer term with Mennonite Mission Network. They work at a retreat house that is associated with Corrymeela, a larger retreat centre that works with reconciliation projects stemming from the Catholic & Protestant conflict. After flying into Dublin, we drove to Portadown where our MMN boss lives with his family. We were able to meet with their church's small group that was meeting at their house that night. The next day we drove to the Rittenhouses and they drove us around the Northern Ireland countryside.

This is their house that they live in (on the left) and the 'annex' on the right which has bedrooms, a kitchen, and a large living room. This is a view from the back of the house as we were hiking up the mountain side that they live on.

This is a courtyard/garden at Corrymeela.

The next day they drove us to 'The Giants causeway', which is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. The top of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea.

Here are the basalt columns.

These are some castle ruins beside the sea not far from the giants causeway.

On the same day we drove to a forest with a river and water falls.

We saw lots and lots of sheep grazing.

After a couple days with the Rittenhouses, we drove to Donnegal which is still in the North part of Ireland but is in the republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland. There we went through the Donnegal castle and stayed in a Hostel that night.

We drove north of Donnegal to see the coastline in that area. This is called the Cliffs of Donegal.

A beautiful hidden beach.....too cold for sunbathing though and too cloudy on this day.

There were about 125 plus steps to get to this beach so you had to want to go! Notice on both sides of the steps it's all ferns. It was sooooooo lush there.

the view from our bedroom at Jake and Nancy's house. Very peaceful and serene there. Quite a contrast to our life in London.

Birds in the garden

This Saturday, 13th June we woke up to a beautiful day of warm air,mostly sunny skies, and lots of singing birds. Ed has great patience when it comes to 'shooting' birds with his camera. He'll spend a good bit of the day looking out of the window waiting for the perfect shot. Today he tried to get some good pics of a wren but it was proving to be difficult as she wouldn't hold still for very long.It looks like she is gathering building material for a nest.

If Ed's outside he can't resist snapping a few pics of the beautiful flowers we have in the garden.

Looks like the robins are building nests too.

Ed & I have been in London for nearly 2 1/2 years now. It's amazing to me how different life in London feels to me now as compared to our first year. Early on I would constantly notice all the differences between here and my life in the States, thinking that London had funny ways of doing and saying things, not to mention the difference in the weather patterns.

Now I've grown quite accustomed to most things. Someone recently asked me what I thought seemed funny to me as an American about English people. I honestly had to think about it for awhile because I realized that what used to feel awkward now feels normal.

As with so many experiences where you go into a situation of service, whether that be as a mission worker or serving in your church, etc., with the intention of giving of yourself, I once again have realized that I have received much more than I have given. It has made me wonder more than once who God had in mind, Ed & Phyllis or The London Mennonite Centre, as being the intended recipient of this service project. We feel extremely blessed to have been chosen to serve here at this time in this way.

Thank you to all of you who have supported us in your thoughts & prayers and with your visits and generous hospitality when we would come back to the States on visits.

Also thanks for being interested enough to keep reading this blog!

More pics from the Schmidt sibling visit

My (Phyllis) brother, Roger, had to leave after only five days in England to get back to responsibilities. Ed drove Rosie, Linda, and Sarah to Bath to visit the Roman baths, the Bath Abbey and a stop at Stone Henge on the way back. It was a gorgeous day. The architecture of Bath is mainly Georgian and I like it much more than the Victorian.

A gathering of birds cooling their feet.

Right before we entered through platform nine and three quarters at Kings Cross train station.

Lawn bowling we observed while in Windsor. It must be a bit like shuffle board. I've seen it a few times but only played by what looks like retired people.

I finally made the famous Beatles crossing walk.