Riddlesden Hall

We visited Riddlesden Hall on Saturday.  Strangely,  you look at a map and things look very close, but it takes much longer to get there with all the narrow roads and villages that slow down the progress.

Inside Riddlesden Hall is a sampling of Leeds creamware.  (second only to Wedgewood)  One mug had this little poem on it;

Industry

Let the wealthy and great

Roll in splendor and state

I envy them not,  I declare it

I eat my own lamb

My own chickens and ham

I shear my own fleece, and I wear it

I have lawns,  I have bowers

I have fruits,  I have flowers

The lark is my morning alarmer

So jolly boys now

Here's God speed the plow

Long life and success to the farmer!

There is an enormous oak bin with wooden pegs holding it together.  This held their oat grain after the harvest.  Little boys would be put inside to trample the grain so it would be packed and have less chance for molding.  Every summer they would take it apart, wash it, and let the sun dry and bleach it thoroughly.  (again so no mold would grow)

It is hard to believe this was built in the early 1600s,  and that the site was cleared and settled in the 7th Century. 

Original to the house were two or three entry doors.  The oak slats are vertical to the outside and another set of slats run horizontal on the inside.  There are metal tacks all over the door. (the ax would hit the metal, another barrier)  Even during the English Civil War these doors were impenetrable to enemy attacks.   The doors are set into stone, so can never be removed.  Even the hinges are original.

                                                                                   

                                                                       

GAME NIGHT

Many of the YSAs are home for Easter Break, so we haven't had any classes at the institute this week.  (That means no lunch served either.)  It has been a nice break for us as well.  We are growing to love these kids.  One of our favorites commented that he loves it when we call them our kids.

We had a game night tonight with Blockus, Mexican Train, and Wizard all going at the same time.  I fixed homemade salsa, bean dip, fresh guacamole, and Jay made nachos.  We weren't sure they would like the spice because their food is quite bland, but oh Josie!  They really liked it.  There were just the right amount of people where everyone was able to play.  Sometimes the building is so full that you can't really move around.  We feel good about what is happening.  We're getting a pretty good draw from all the stakes round about.  Some of the kids had ridden the train in tonight--it takes an hour and 1/2 to get in from the areas around York.

We planted flowers in our "not so good" soil, but hope having moisture will make up for the soil.  My neighbor likes them, he knocked on the window and gave me a two thumbs up.  

FROM BARN TO RANCH HOUSE--A TRANSFORMATION

After more than a year since we first began work on the house at Horse Springs, it is looking like a real house.  When we left to go on our mission, the travertine floors were complete, doors stained and hung, the tiles in the bathrooms were nearly finished, and the boxes for the kitchen cupboards were in, but no fronts on yet or countertops.  Since we've been gone, the tile work in bathrooms is finished, countertops are on, beams outside stained, and I'm not sure what else.  We had to leave it to the kids to get it taken care of.

Trying to get this done when we're out in the middle of nowhere has been challenging!

Horse Springs house comes together

12 Breary Terrace, Horsforth, Leeds

Our little kitchen meets all our needs.  We have a dryer next to the table and the washer is next to our sink.  You've got it made if you can have a washer and dryer, Right?  To get some perspective, we can barely fit four people in this table area.  

Kirkstall Abbey

Every morning, on our way to the Institute, we pass the ruin of an old abbey built in the 1100s by Catholic Monks.  They lived a very simple life with few comforts, hardly any heat, and a basic diet of bread, vegetables, and a little meat.  Each morning they would arise at 1:00 A.M.  for study and prayers.  Henry VIII put an end to the abbeys, and after many years it fell into decay and ruin.

Right now the crocus are in bloom.   There will be patches of purple, yellow, and white in various spots in the grass.

Friday Pancake Breakfast & Discussion

Every Friday morning we have a pancake breakfast and discussion.  This week we had such a good time.  They hadn't eaten eggs and pancakes, so Jay introduced them to that.  They ate with caution until they decided that it was good; now, they want one every Friday.  Last week we had pancakes with bananas and walnuts and this week Sarah Deeny brought a Belgian Chocolate spread and we added bananas for a delicious treat.  Some of these kids can eat like Little Black Sambo.   After this picture was taken, the missionaries came with a new member and an investigator.  KEEP COOKING!

Yorkshire Dales

We've been in Leeds, England since January 25th serving a mission in the Center For Young Adults.  It has been cold and wet, but we hadn't been out of Leeds, so off we went into the Yorkshire Dales.  The grass is green even with freezing nights, daffodils are coming up and the heather is in bloom in a couple of shades of pink and white.  The rock walls partition pastures and keep things looking like they were 200 years ago.  We stopped at Skipton, where they have a weekly market.  We bought some Wensleydale cheese and some primrose.