Hiking and Car Repair

 We're back home after a smooth travel day Thursday - we took the train from Yeovil to Woking, and a bus to Heathrow. A bit of shopping at the airport, a bit of snacking, and we were on our plane and off to L.A. I was catching a cold Stace had, so it felt like a very long flight, but all went very well.

Many thanks to my dad for driving our girls around and keeping an eye on them overnight. 

On Monday, Vi and I took advantage of her new school schedule by going on a little photography expedition after class, and then a hike up the Placerita waterfall trail. 

Still a stream! This time, in October, it was full of acorns, visible on the lower left.

What a blessing this time is with this girl!

Stace repaired his MG's speedometer over the weekend and, um, had a little trouble extricating himself from the car.

He got it fixed, though!

We'll soon be changing the clocks back, but for this past weekend, the sun was rising after 7 a.m. This allowed me to get up and on the hill to see it very low in the sky. It was beautiful. 

On Saturday, Cora went to her first DTASC, or festival competition put on by the Drama Teachers Association of Southern California. She took part in a little musical number from the movie Corpse Bride. We'll get to see it early next year when they perform it for the parents.

Final Day Fun

On our final night in town, we went with Dean, Jenny and Livi to Sherborne for the annual Pack Monday Fair. Seeing the abbey lit up at night was great, too. 

Another October event I've never been over to attend, Pack Monday is a huge street fair that went for many blocks, with dozens of vendors selling crafts, goods, food and drinks. Bands were playing and the whole town seemed to have turned up.

This cool little stone building in front of the Tudor building is called the Conduit, and it was built in the 16th century as the washing place for the abbey's monks. 

We found a few souvenirs to buy, along with yummy drinks and snacks. It was great fun hanging out with the family, doing a fun even like this, and I was so glad we were here for it.

Earlier Monday, we went to Auntie Doreen's house after lunch with her and Mandy, Karen and Sue and Gord. We had to go over, to meet her new kittens!

Dolly and Teddy were just 6 weeks old, and as adorable as they come. 

We could all just watch them for hours, as they played, climbed things, and suddenly napped.

And a final photo memory of our trip - one of our meals that Stace particularly enjoyed.

Stupendous Stourhead

We had a glorious free family Sunday before us, so we decided to go Stourhead and then to a carvery for dinner. 

It was a perfectly lovely day! Beautiful scenery, nice walk, a bit of shopping, coffees and snacks, a bit of culture, great company.

This adorable thatched stone hut had people inside selling hot spiced cider. It was decorated so sweetly for autumn.

The hydrangeas were gorgeous.

Behind me was the big stately home, full of artwork. Stace and I just made it in before they closed for the day.
  

We then went to the nearby Hunters Lodge in Wincanton for dinner. 

At the craft fair at Stourhead, I'd purchased this little puzzle game that I thought would make a good "thinking" diversion while we waited.

Livi, Stace and Dean and Jen all enjoyed it.

Chard Friends and Carnival

 

A very Somerset way to get to the pub...by steam engine!

We found this beauty outside the Rusty Axe, where we met up with friends Saturday for lunch.

Jenny has remarried, and we thought it would be nice to meet her new husband, and also catch up with Marisa, Jason and Lola. 

We made plans to meet up with them, with Dean, Jen and Livi, to attend the Chard Carnival together.

I was very happy to be in Somerset for Carnival season for the first time. 

A town crier started the festivities, which included dozens of marching groups and themed floats with singing, lights, moving parts and more. 

Had to get a photo of this one!

Our favorite majorette group, the Ilchester Gems, with Chloe on the far left! We all loved watching her perform and being in town to do so.

Back in England

 Stace and I returned to England for a weeklong trip. 

It was for a sad reason - Uncle Pete has passed, and we went over to attend the funeral. But it was lovely to see everyone, despite the sadness.

The Friday service was lovely, and it was interesting being at a full burial in the church yard we've walked through so many times.

After the service, we all went to the wake, where we caught up with many friends and family. Auntie Doreen was very brave through it all, as were Karen and Mandy.

The gentlemen looked so dapper, we had to get a photo.

Week in Review

Violet was having a hard time in school. She was doing well, grade-wise, but really deeply disliked being there all day. She missed quite a bit because of tummy aches and other illness, to the point that Stace offered her $10 if she made it through a full five-day week.

Spoiler alert: she didn't! We ended up making a significant change, and she's now enrolled in the district's independent learning program. 

She takes two classes at her junior high still - yearbook and science - and will still be on campus to see friends. But the other classes, she's taking at home on the computer, with a teacher checking in with her weekly. So far, it's going well and seems to be a good move.

Cora was asked to take part in a short film project for an acquaintance's college film class. He was making a Western music video set in the late 1800s. Luckily, we were able to make my old vintage prom dress and a fitted brocade coat of Cora's work for her outfit.

Here she is, ready for filming. Ain't she purdy??

Stace wanted to get a photo of the girls when Cora got home, all made up nicely. 

Love seeing them laugh together!

 Violet and I took another Quigley walk, and it was warm enough that I was mindful of snakes.

Now, we basically never come across snakes, but I had mentioned to Violet that we should be aware. And boom! This little guy was on the path. He was actually pretty small, so not scary whatsoever. No rattle either.

Sunday Adventure

We went on a mini adventure Sunday afternoon, and had lunch with Colleen, Rigo and Liana at a BBQ place out in Soledad Canyon, just past Canyon Country off the 14. 

The food was delicious and it's beautiful out there in the canyon, with the Santa Clara River flowing on the edge of the grounds.

It's called River's End BBQ, and they have this cool threshing machine Stace was intrigued by.

The pretty stream, which the girls had fun exploring.

Just past the stream was the railroad tracks.

The girls were making their own bridges over the stream.

Earlier that morning, the girls worked together to make crepes with banana sauce.