Remember the tale of Peter Rabbit?  Well, I have to believe that Mr. McGreggor's garden looked just like this, with a little shed on the side filled with pots and tools.  This is Beatrix Potter's home and office after she left home and was a woman of independent means.  She called it Hill Top.  I love her beautiful illustrations and her clever stories.  I love Mrs. Tiggy Winkle and Jemima Puddle Duck.  Whenever a farm came up for sale in the Lakes District, Beatrix purchased it, and when she died, she gave over 6,000 acres to the National Trust.  That is why the L.D. is not over-developed today.

  

With the old stone houses and beautiful vegetation, even towels on the clothesline add to the charm.

This is in the Lakes District.

The Brits love to hang out their washing.

On our way up to Newcastle to pick up Maren and Mike, we stopped at Beamish, an old mining town which is now a living museum with people dressed up in costume at the school, mine, old candy store, etc.  I really enjoyed seeing what was up on the walls of the schoolroom.  (maps, plants, animals, historical events)  The cupboards were filled with snakes in formaldehyde, butterflies, bugs, and reptiles.  Kids would be intrigued with these objects.

The smell of coal permeates the area.  We went into the mine and heard about the life of miners.  Many boys started as young as 8 years old.  They would use boys to push the heavy coal carts, or to open and shut the heavy wooden doors.  Because they used dynamite to blast the coal off, many men went deaf and many lost their lives.  It was a terrible life, but it paid a wage which was hard to get in those days.

Saying goodbye to Anyela Rodriguez on the day she left England for Venezuela.  She is a friend from Trey's mission and a very special YSA in the Leeds Institute.

Come back soon, Anyela.

Our last time with President and Sister Stock at the Harrogate Zone Conference.   They have been called "Ever-ready Bunnies" as they never seem to run out of energy.  They go from one conference, to new member firesides at their home, to dinner for all the incoming missionaries, then for the outgoing  missionaries, they have been so good to all of the senior missionaries, as well.  We have all enjoyed their hospitality, love, and enthusiasm for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Two reasons we love the Leeds England Mission.

This is our last Zone Conference in Harrogate, and Elder and Sister Boren sat at our table.  What a nice couple!  They are working hard down in Sheffield, and are reaping some success in terms of baptisms.   Yea!

Food, food, and more food.  I spent Friday cutting pineapple, melons, and other fruit for kebabs for graduation. We spent the day before shopping for all the produce.  Saturday we decorated, then ran to the Institute to put the kebabs together.  Jay has become my best helper.  We fixed for 150.  They seemed to love the fruity drink and the chocolate fountain and fairy cakes.  It all turned out so nice, and that makes it worth all the effort.

These are some of sweet girls we'd like to bring home with us.  (Heidi (from Utah), Rachel, Sarah, Ruth, and Rosi.

They worked hard to help decorate for the Institute Ball last night. It looked beautiful with netting on the ceiling, fairy lights, butterflies, and roses to fit the theme "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

Yummy!  Trey always wanted us to taste the food of Venezuela and we now  know why he loved it.  The plantains tasted like potatoes, the Venezuelan french fry.

Anyela Rodriguez is here in Leeds as an assistant Spanish teacher.  She and Trey served in the same mission in her country of Venezuela. She came over and showed us how to prepare arepes and empanadas.  They were delicious--filled with ham and cheese or chicken and red bell pepper.  She ended up with a burn from the oil-- one of the hazards of empanadas.

Practicing a dance for EFY.

There is always something fun going on at the Institute.  This time it's learning a dance for EFY.

The YMYW are in for a treat with Sarah, Clio, and Rob serving as their counselors.