Mother's Day

Sunday was Mother's Day, and Sue and Gord came with us to church.
 

Love being her mom! And Cora's mom! Cora was home asleep, after her closing night of Percy and the cast party. (This was the first cast party I didn't pick her up from at BJs - so weird! This time, she was the one giving rides home.)

We took Sue and Gord to Santa Barbara for the afternoon. 

First, we stopped in Ventura and did some shopping on Main Street.

After getting bento boxes at Violet's favorite Japanese place at the marina, we found an artisan ice cream place near downtown that was giving away ice cream to moms. Perfect! 

It was a lovely Mother's Day!

Easter Sunday

We celebrated Easter Sunday with worship at church and family time at home. 

So thankful for Christ's Resurrection and what it means for us today!

Ellie came over for a while prior to the rest of the family, while Melanie and Nick looked at a new (used) van. 

We got out the girls' Calico Critters, and she had a blast. I'm so glad we saved so much - Ellie is at the perfect age to enjoy it all.
 

I made an Easter brunch this year, because with the ongoing work around the house, I didn't have it in me to cook a roast dinner. 

The girls had an egg hunt - even the young adult - because why pass up little goodies? 

Grandma Easter Bunny brought baskets, as well. 

Happy Easter!

Christmas Prep

With Cora graduating this year, I wanted to bring back a tradition we started when she was in kindergarten: walking the neighborhood to look at the Christmas lights, and tally which streets had the most houses participate.

The girls walked with us, but Cora really didn't want to and it didn't go as well as my nostalgia had hoped. Such is parenting. Here's a post I did about this tradition in 2014.

Nothing better than lazy mornings during Christmas break, with Winston cuddles and kisses.

Liana and Colleen stopped by with gifts and treats, including something for Evie, Seb and Winston.

We attended Christmas Eve service at church, with Mel, Nick, Ellie and my parents. 

That night, we watched a Goes Wrong Christmas show, with all the cats.
 

Morning Out: Muchelney Abbey

 On Tuesday morning, Stace and I rode bikes to Muchelney Abbey, where we met up with Sue and Violet to take a tour of this local landmark. Like most other abbeys, the actual 8th century abbey was torn down by Henry VIII, but the 16th century Abbot's House was intact and we were able to tour it here.

Nearby was the thatched lavatory used by the monks - interesting to see that kind of history, and glad we now have indoor plumbing!

The walls of this hallway were lined with artifacts from the abbey.

The parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul next door was open, and also worth a look. It was built in the early 1400s and features a beautiful painted ceiling and medieval windows. This tile floor dates from the 12th century! The tiles had been in the Lady Chapel at the abbey next door.

The history here, just a short bike ride from home, is amazing.

Nearby History

While we were at Beaulieu, Nan and Pop took the girls to Montacute House. Here, Violet is in front of the greenhouse. The girls enjoyed touring the house and gardens, and they all had a bite to eat there. 

On Tuesday, we went into Sherborne with Violet, as she has been much more interested in being out and about and seeing as much as possible. 

This listing at Sherborne Abbey of the bishops, starting in 918, was striking. 

I stopped in at The Abbey Pharmacy for dental cement because one of Cora's fillings broke, and now I want all my pharmacies to have been continually operating since 1790.

I had marveled a this spot in October when Stace and I were here for the Pack Monday fair, so I had to show it to Violet.

San Juan Capistrano Mission

We hadn't visited the San Juan Capistrano Mission in many years, and I was interested in having another look. It's a great day out - history, museum, gardens, shop.

The mission was founded in 1776, the seventh of 21 missions in the state. This large church collapsed in a big earthquake in 1812.

So many beautiful vantage points.

The mission is famous for the swallows that returned each spring for many years, though they now nest in other places in the same town.

The museum told of the history of the mission and its inhabitants, including the Spanish missionaries and the native Californians.

This chapel is the last one still standing where Father Junipero Serra, now sainted, celebrated Mass.

Stace and I enjoyed our afternoon at the mission.

Popcorn, flowers and church blankets

On Friday, I made a long drive out to Rancho Cucamonga to pick up the popcorn Cora's theatre kids sold to raise funds for the program. We could have had it delivered, but it would have cost so much!

Plus, JT lives nearby and we worked it out so that she could come with me to pick up the order, and we could get lunch together. We also stopped by her church, where she now works, so I could have a tour. It was a lovely afternoon together!

I helped Melanie with a big wedding on Saturday, where I learned how to "reflex" a tulip. See the peach tulip sticking up?

When you slowly, carefully bend each petal inside out, it looks like a totally different flower. Chalk this up to "you learn something new every day."

It was a stunning wedding - see the full arch, covered in flowers? 

On Sunday, this is how Cora looked at church. It's still cold, by our standards for spring, and Cora hadn't layered up well enough. (We take part in the service from our church's amphitheater, because the girls think the music is too loud inside.)
 

Up the Bell Tower

When we returned from our trip north, Sue had some great news for us. The girls had expressed interest in climbing the bell tower at Kingsbury's St. Martin's Church, and Sue was able to arrange it! Yes, it pays to know people who know people!

We were all able to go, led by a friendly man named Dave, who has the keys to the tower. Up 130-plus steps we climbed, up the circular stairwell. We stopped and peeked in at a room with the bells themselves, one of which was 700 years old!

The views from the top were beautiful, of course!

I love this photo Violet took.
 

Here's Dave, with the bells.

This is the door at the top of the stairwell that led to the top of the bell tower.

Stairs going down

John White, in 1733, wanted to be remembered!