Applecombe Cottage - the gardens...

I popped around to Applecombe cottage to take a look at the garden and to do a bit of tidying in the garden.  I must say it's all looking really lovely - so thank you Yvonne for all your hard work! Here are various shots of the garden.

Summer hols in the UK...

It has been 2 months since my last update and we had a busy end of semester followed by 1 day at home and then the boys and I were off to the UK.  We are here until 1st August so will have had 2 months here.  Steve joined us for two weeks whilst we were house sitting in Newnham but he is back in the States and well into the swing of work!

I have been splitting my time between Wiltshire and Hampshire and will be also having a week in Herefordshire.

So, with out further ado here are some photos of our time so far.  I am doing separate blog entries for some of the other things we have been doing with plenty of garden shots form various gardens and the Hampton Court flower show.

Wiltshire at a garden center where we had a rather lovely lunch!

Bath

More Bath - we have visited Bath twice this holiday as we really like it around there.  A future move perhaps???

Bath again...

Last one of the Bath architecture...

 

With Uncle Simon in his TVR - da boyz were off getting a curry takeaway.  William said that he felt sick when Uncle Simon drove around roundabouts quickly!

 

Science lab at Robert Mays secondary school.  William and I went to an open evening here and we were very impressed.

William thoroughly enjoyed himself!

 

Girls night out - where the boys came along to see what we get up to! I think they were impressed with the amount of noise we could make!!!

It looks like Lindsey and I are strangling Sonia and Jill but I promise we are not! Pants is all I can say Sonia...

Thomas feeding his gorgeous cousin Nate!

 

Here's our Mini - which we call Vernon! He's been our mode of transportation since we have been here and it's been loads of fun bombing down country lanes with the radio blaring away!!!

This last photo is for Steve and shows Tom eating a Greggs steak bake! One of the few things Steve craved but didn't get a chance to eat whilst he was here.  Not to worry as I am sure Tom will eat a few more for you!!!

Mothers day photos...

I have had a very relaxed day and been given a beautiful bracelet by my boys - thank you!

Dinner was a mish mash of New York strip steak, cheese fondue and veggies - yum!!

We have also spent time in the pool today and went to Parr park and walked Rudy after dinner.  All in all a lovely day.  Now for a chilled rose and another episode of Lost!

Check out my lanky kids!!! William is only a head smaller than me!!!

Bxxx

Camp Carter, rain and garden tours...

It's been a funny old week here weather wise.  Last Sunday we had rain, cloud and a high of 11 degrees and today it is 33 degrees. We have had loads of thunder storms and of course we are keeping an eye out on the tornado situation.  Thankfully, they seem to avoid the Dallas area, and speaking to an American last night, they have had 2 small ones in the 22 years he has lived here.  Last Monday was the first full day of rain we have had since we moved here - I loved it!!!  A whole day of pottering in my wellies! It also meant a day inside for the garden club but it was fine as we were making pet rocks to sell at the field day coming up this Friday - I am trying to promote the garden by having a plant sale - here's hoping I can recruit some parents to help in September.

I took this photo on Monday driving to school.  Not sure how clear it will be but there are two ducks in it - one on the road and the other on top of the mail box - I thought they looked very sweet and certainly made the saying 'good weather for ducks' very accurate!

Last Sunday a British friend and I did the Colleyville garden promenade in the rain and cold - disappointing for the garden owners as not many turned up but it suited me fine as I hate crowds anyway.  There were some really pretty gardens which was nice to see - a change from the very landscaped look that most gardens here have - there was a bit of flounce to be seen!!

There was a plant sale too and I picked up a few bits and pieces!

The other main event last week was that William had his 4th grade field trip to camp Carter which is a YMCA facility just north of Fort Worth.  It is a fantastic place set in 360 acres of land and strangely enough situated right next to a prison! I think the camp was there before the prison though - we didn't see any inmates but it was a bit weird!

I went along as a chaperone (one of 14) and had a fantastic time.  We had around 100 students in all and were split into groups of around 25 kids.  The first morning we hiked through the woods and up to the highest point in Fort Worth.  In the afternoon we did a team building session and a scavenger hunt.  In the evening we had a camp fire and all the kids took part in various fireside skits and singing crazy songs.

 

Mr High Five goes through the sensory program

Archery - William's first shot was a bulls eye - the only one of the day! 

Outside the dinning hall is this great lake - complete with snakes and turtles

Raising the flag

Team building

More team building

 Mr America!!!

Myself and another parent (also called Becky) were in charge of cabin Loving and we had 12 girls in there with us.  What an amazingly well behaved groups of girls we had - I think our cabin got the most sleep!

Cabin Loving

The following day we had an archery session and then took part in the enchanted forest and sensory activity. This was such a great experience and I am so pleased I could take part.

Today it is mother's day here so I am just chilling and trying to get ready for next week.  We have field day on Friday and I am having a stall there to promote the garden so this week will be full of getting plants ready to sell and getting the garden to look in tip top condition.  Speaking of which I must go and get on with gourd bird house making!

Only 4 weeks tomorrow before we head back to the UK! This week I will be posting out our itinerary.

Have a great week all and I will try and update again next weekend.

Cheers,

Bex