Norfolk Broads

Some Pretty Things

The other day I was in a charity shop and I found a copy of Beatrix Potter's Book of ABC's. There was an inscription penciled inside the cover: "To our darling Oliver on his first Christmas, all our love, Mummy and Daddy." I flipped through it, and when I got to "L is for Ladybird" I got all verklempt and had to buy it. It is those little nuances that I am going to miss and appreciate the most once I leave.

The evenings here are endlessly long, which is great because evening is my favorite part of day. And the sun takes hours to set. This is the castle looking like a cake.

This is the cake I want for my wedding.

This tree peony is 25 years old. I know because the French woman who lives here and was pruning her roses when we walked by told us.

Jeffery and I live a 5 minute walk from this little park.

Blue sky and puffy clouds.

Poppies.

More Faces from the Neighborhood

Cat Tuesday

Jeffery and I decided to take his camera for a walk yesterday, and all of the kitties were out waiting for their people to come home and let them in. You can see the impatience on their faces.

This first kitty was difficult to photograph because he kept running towards us wanting to be petted.

Captured by the zoom lens after we walked away.

Jasper

I call this one Sabastian. He was really old; we could feel his spine spouting through the fur on his back. He was really friendly.

Tom

and Lucy.

Almost identical kitties that lived next door to one another.

King Henry

He was an excellent model.

I think I found my calling.

Marina's Visit

Marina came to London and rented an apartment near St. Pancras Church for two weeks with her friend Jill. Because Jeffery hadn't been to London yet and we both missed Marina, we hopped on a train three days after we got back from Italy.

We arrived at her apartment at about 10pm, and were greeted with kisses and cake, fresh apple juice and chocolate. The next day we saw three art museums: the National Gallery, Tate Britain and a Botanical drawing exhibit we stumbled into at Westminster Central Hall to avoid the London Marathon madness.

I have been to London three times, but I have never walked to Parliament from this direction.

(photo credit: Jeffery)

(photo credit: Jeffery)

That afternoon, we shopped for ingredients and feasted on fresh pasta primavera, salad, garlic bread, and two kinds of ice cream: coconut and lime, and Belgian chocolate. Mmm!

Jeffery and I came back to Norwich after two nights in London, and the next day Marina joined us. This is the garden we stumbled across on the way home from the train station. That night I took her to my old flat, where we had a Mexican fiesta, and where she was challenged to a game of Scrabble, which she loved.

She was explaining something to me. I have a difficult time listening when I'm taking photos. I should really work on that.

The next day Jeffery and Marina met me at school after my class and we took a walk to the lake, where we saw bunnies and ducks.

(photo credit: Jeffery)

Isn't she lovely? We had such a great time. That night I cooked butternut squash lasagna and spinach salad and invited three of my football girls around. The next day I had my final class, so Jeffery walked her to the train station after we went to Norwich Castle, which Marina painted a watercolor of. Love you Marina! I am so glad I got to share a little part of England with you.