Archive for the ‘England’ Category
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
If you can’t make it to Europe, the next best thing is a class in the Little Italy part of downtown San Diego. Steve and I enjoy a two hour mental trip via “the Wines and Foods of Italy by Region”: each week a different area and 4-6 wines to sample, cheeses, polenta, pizza, and dulce. The class enjoys videos of each region and shares their own Italian stories.
It was one year ago today that we left for Manchester on our way to Volvo and Montalcino. This week’s trip will be to the Open Air Market in Little Italy on Saturday to replenish oils, spices, and memories. Bene, molto bene.
Tags: europe, little italy, manchester, montalcino, pizza, polenta, san diego, steve, wine
Posted in England, Italy, Potpourri, Volvo | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Last year was an awesome year of travel; 22 weeks away from home and on the road! The sights and tastes of the journey were incredible, awesome, priceless. From Barnoldswick, England to Pisa, Italy,to Orland, Sweden the adventure far exceeded all expectations. And the people; oh the kindness of Raymond, Alessandro, Gunner and Dieter, Miranda, Giovani, Father Piernino, and many many others.
We returned home with some inklings that all was not normal, so doctor appointments started lining up. Sonagram, pap,biopsy, specialists, waiting, and then the day you have a date with an oncologist. How do you be cheerful as you walk in that door, the one at the very end of that long hallway?
But just like the adventures in Europe, the doctors, nurse-practitioner, staff and volunteers at Scripps-Mercy Hospital, Scripps-Green and RB joined with all my friends and family to hold me up in prayer. Betty and Mary and Andy babysat me after surgery, Donna cooked and Steve e-mailed updates. I was so loved and cared for that fear NEVER had a chance to take hold. Radiation zapped some strength, but not the knowledge that God loved me and had placed me amongst the most wonderful people in the entire world.
I need to get a map with some bright pins to mark all those special destinations I hold in my heart. Just not sure where to put the trip to cancer pin, cause I don’t want to forget it…it too became a good memory.
Tags: alessandro, andy, barnoldswick, betty bloom, cancer, dieter, donna kalla, father pernino, giovani, gunner, jensons, miranda, orland, pisa, radiation, raymond, scripps-green, scripps-mercy hospital, scripps-rb, steve
Posted in England, Family, Friends, Health, Italy, Sweden | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
We are packing up and weighing our luggage for our flights tomorrow to Sweeden via Dublin . We hear there is quite a steep penalty for any overage and we have two legs to pay. This will be a lot like KC and J to Korea . So we ask that you shoot up a prayer as you go to bed and as we are getting up for EARLY flights…that our luggage arrives with us, doesn’t cost us a fortune, and that we have travel mercies as the big Volvo adventure begins!
We have had such a marvelous time here…it’s become safe haven for us, but it is time for the BIG ADVENTURE 
Tags: dublin, flights, jonathan, k.c, luggage
Posted in England, Europe Trip 2009, Ireland, Korea, Sweden, Volvo | No Comments »
Sunday, March 22nd, 2009
Designing Woman
Gail Usher
• Shop Owner
• Newly Elected Chamber of Trade President (by a landslide)
• New Rotarian
• Hollies Fan
• Good Friend
• Devoted Daughter, Sister, Mother, Confidant, Girlfriend.
Gail is THE designing force behind all that is good and creative in Barnoldswick!
And right now she is one tired puppy, having survived yet another Mothers’ Day in England. Heading up a staff of 8, she served the community and handled 450 orders on Saturday and nearly 100 on Sunday (all while being hostess to two foreigners from across the pond).
Tags: barnoldswick, gail, mothers day
Posted in England, Europe Trip 2009, Friends | 5 Comments »
Sunday, March 22nd, 2009
Cousins
Carol and Chris Howarth live in Barnoldswick, they have one son Warren, who is married to Michelle and they are parents to Owen! ( are you with me so far?) Carol and my Dad are cousins: my Dad’s mother (Marion Mc Nabb Fear) is half sister to Carol’s dad, Sam(Nice). That makes us related! They are also the ones who introduced us to Gail (her favorite florist) when we were here 6 years ago. . . and the rest is history.
We have fallen in LOVE with Owen; rosy cheeks, blue eyes, spikey hair…and he even comes with the cutes accent. And his favorite sport is golf. Owen turns 4 in May.
Owen
Tags: barnoldswick, carol, chris, cousins, gail, golf, howarth, joe, marion mc nabb fear, michelle, owen, sam, warren
Posted in England, Europe Trip 2009, Family, Friends | No Comments »
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
Guide Extrodinaire
“Oh, to be in England, now that spring is here.” ( I think that’s Shakespear) What a wonderful day Steve and I had with our personal quide, Raymond Chadwick!!( Gail’s Dad) We had an eight hour tour of the English countryside; from Whalley to Mortcambe , Windemere to the Trough of Bowland,and all glorious parts in between. From frolicking new born lambs, to colorful pheasants, ancient churchyards to blooming daffodils!
It was a wonderful day and filled with stories and jokes from our guide, Raymond. ( “If you look out the window and see Pendle, if will rain soon. If you look out the window and can not see Pendle, it IS raining!”)
We had fish and chips in the lake district on Lake Windemere and enjoyed a British marvel….SUNSHINE! A family meal around Gail’s table completed a perfect day with lots of family jesting and love:)
Tags: gail, mortcambe, raymond, trough of bowland, whalley, windemere
Posted in England, Europe Trip 2009, Friends | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
I am in love…and the man of my dreams is a wizard in the kitchen! Karl is an old friend of Gail’s and has reentered her life after many years. He is in residence. Besides being brilliant with his own internet company, he makes sure that Gail comes home from the House of Flowers to a warm meal. We have had the most sumptious of dinners here…Thai shrimp, Chicken Cassoulet, Chicken and dumplings,and to-die-for Croissant Bread Pudding (all from SCRATCH)!
–4 (stale) Croissants
–200g.sugar
–4 T water
–250 ml. double cream
–250 ml whole milk
–4 T Bourbon
–4 eggs,beaten
Tear the Croissants in pieces in put in casserole dish. put the sugar in a sauce pan with the water and caramelize by letting it bubble away with out stirring until it turns deep amber. Turn the heat down and add the cream ( ignore the sputtering) and the bourbon. Take off the heat and while still whisking, add the beaten eggs,. Pour over the croissants and let them soak it up for 10+ minutes. Place in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes and be prepared to swoon!!
I hope , I hope we can talk Karl into coming to Italy and letting his cooking imagination run wild.
Tags: cooking, croissant pudding, gail, house of flowers, karl
Posted in England, Europe Trip 2009, Friends | 4 Comments »
Sunday, March 15th, 2009
Gail has pulled out all the stops with our mad-cap visit to Lancashire. This was not your typical Sunday as we were priviledged to spend an hour with THE Henry the VIII. Our time together was an education in architecture, word origins, and the Church. Salmesbury Hall was the venue, which was preceeded by a trip to the flower market for M-Day flowers, and ending with a late lunch at the BEST Pub ever! We had a delicious meal of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding…only equaled by my grandmother’s. Last night we looked up the 1911 Census for the area and “found” my grandmother, Marion Mc Nabb Fear, who was born only 70 miles from here in Baron in Furness. We ‘Googled-earthed” it and found the actual house still in service! This is where I feel my roots.
Tags: baron in furness, henry VIII, marion mc nabb fear, pub
Posted in England, Europe Trip 2009 | 4 Comments »
Sunday, March 15th, 2009
A lot of this country is going wrong , but alot of it is so right and nostalgic,quaint,typically English! here are a couple shots of what I speak of.
New delivery van
sawley abbey
Tags: barnoldswick, sawley abbey
Posted in England, Europe Trip 2009 | 2 Comments »
Saturday, March 14th, 2009
Who would have guessed we would revisit the music of our youth with a concert of the Hollies….perhaps you remember the following songs…..”CarrieAnne”, “Bus Stop”, and “He’s not Heavy,He’s my Brother. We were probably some of the youngest there and we got back stage passes to boot! Gail and I swayed with our lit phone lights to the rythm of the music and had a hoot! Backstage, us groupies grabbed the lead singer for a photo-op.
Do you remember?
“
Tags: gail, hollies
Posted in England, Europe Trip 2009, Friends | 6 Comments »
