York & Ilkley

 Last weekend, we went to York to see some of the museums we hadn't been to--first we went to Yorkshire Museum, which had a huge exhibit about Medieval York, "Capital of the North," in the basement

This gold & sapphire pendant was from 1460--it was found near Middleham Castle, Richard III's home before he became King (there's a better close up on the museum website)

The museum is next to the ruins of St Mary's Abbey--after the dissolution, it was converted into a palace for Henry VIII to stay in during his visits to York. Clever way to save the building!

Museum gardens

It was so sunny & lovely, we had lunch by the river--if it's this nice in the summer, I'll be happy! Last summer was so wet, we didn't mind having to be inside doing DIY projects around the flat. This year, we don't have much left to do, so I hope the weather is better!

We tried so many times to get a picture on the city wall with the Minster in the background, but the sun was right in our eyes and people kept walking past. Normally I'd delete a lousy shot like this, but our expressions are great...we're trying so hard!

We went to Micklegate Bar, a gatehouse in the city wall that's been converted into a little museum. They had replica helmets from various periods in this section about the War of the Roses.

It's also the entrance to the city that the Royals use whenever they visit York, so the top floor had an interesting little exhibit about the Royal family

View of the street from the top of Micklegate Bar

Snowdrops at Holy Trinity Church, Micklegate

River Ouse--when we were here last month, the water was up where those people are standing. It's gone back to its normal banks here, but it's still very high!

On Sunday after church we went for a picnic & a walk on Ilkley Moor--we had to cut the walk short, though, because it was so muddy. The view was gorgeous, though, and I like seeing the moors in different seasons.

Cookie's still doing well--we've started keeping that down throw on the couch because she loves it so much. She's always curled up on it or inside it, with her tail sticking out. So cute!

Research trip

 My home for the week--special collections at Mullins library

 Student Union building--it's very nice, with a big common area and a fireplace, and the bookstore has a Bed Bath & Beyond section in it, too!
Wal-Mart on Campus.  The business school is named after Walton, too!

 If we had Cracker Barrel back home, I would always study like this!

My usual: Spicy grilled catfish, fried okra, turnip greens, fried apples, corn muffins and sweet tea. I ate the whole thing, too!
  
Barnett's Dairyette is still going (it's closed on weekends, though, so I didn't get to try it)

 Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital is being torn down

 And Taco Tico has apparently been shut down for not paying its sales tax. So tragic--I had my heart set on trying a taco burger!

 Seeing Duggar Automotive was amazing, though...

And here's the wildlife safari place for you, Kel!

Richard's Birthday in York

The birthday boy on the city wall! After going to New York for his birthday last year, it was funny to do 'Old York' for the occasion this year!

The Shambles

We had mulled wine & hot ginger to warm up before dinner at Lendal Cellars and a ghost walk tour.

The York Castle Museum--it had nothing to do with castles, but it did have this lovely recreated Victorian street

Haberdashery

This was the uniform for "Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service" during World War II (very cool to see how it compares to Grandma's Cadet Nurse uniform!)

The museum also had a cool 1960's section with all sorts of day-to-day objects--clothes, candy, food, furniture, records, books, and even a box of Durex condoms. This is an early Paddington Bear--his eyes used to be very creepy!

The Spirograph was invented by a Leeds local!

Happy New Year!

We celebrated New Year's Eve at Woodie's Ale House here in Headingley. It was my first New Year's Eve abroad, and it was fun to see BBC's coverage instead of Dick Clark (RIP) and Ryan Seacrest for a change. 2012 was a massive year for us--we bought the new flat and fixed it up, we went to Paris, I had my first conference presentation, and last but not least, we got married and went on our honeymoon! It was a great summer to be staying in Britain, too, with the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics!

My resolutions for 2013 are all related to the fact that I'm finishing my PhD and that we're enjoying our newlywed & childless status this year. I want to do all of the things that we won't be able to do (as much) once we have kids: travelling around Europe, going to the movies, dining out at nice restaurants, shopping, sleeping in on Saturdays, etc. As much as we're looking forward to starting a family, we're well aware of the changes it's going to create in our life. The main goal is to finish the PhD and start my career, but smaller goals, like going to the movies more often, are also important :)

Happy New Year to my friends and family!

Christmas 2012

Our First Christmas Together ornament from Mom & Kelly--Richard used one of our engagement photos that fit just perfectly

We tried to get Cookie to wear the Santa hat, but it was too big for her...

Cookie loves having us both home for the break--we've been watching a lot of movies and she cuddles up on our laps

This year we decided to blend my family's tradition of a Christmas Eve Smorgasbord with the English tradition of a Christmas Day roast dinner--for the Smorgasbord we had bread, crackers, pigs in blankets, pickled herring, olives, proscuitto, Italian herbed ham, and a cheese platter with mature cheddar, brie, Stilton, red Leicester, and cranberry Wensleydale.

Wearing our hats from the Christmas crackers--we got a six pack from Sainsbury's and they were already marked down to half-price on the 21st! We opened 2 on Christmas eve, 2 on Christmas day and we're saving the last 2 for New Years Eve.

On Christmas Day, I actually took the time to jot down a little schedule of timings for when the different components of the roast dinner needed to be put in the oven. It made all the difference! The roast potatoes turned out perfectly crispy & fluffy & cooked through, the beef was cooked to medium with just the right amount of pink (I usually over-do it and dry it out), and my first attempt at making Yorkshire puddings was a success! I also made Brussels sprouts well for the first time in my life (it's a traditional English Christmas dinner element). Since I haven't had experience making them, I followed Nigella's instructions precisely and they were so delicious! I love vegetable dishes that involve butter and pancetta/bacon!

Christmas dinner!

Clockwise: Roast beef, roast potatoes, honey-glazed parsnips, Brussels sprouts with chestnuts and pancetta, broccoli and carrots, and Yorkshire puddings.

At the end of the night, Cookie had her festive cat treats from her stocking--turkey and sausage flavour!

Abbey House Museum

Our stockings--it was so great to see my stocking that I've had for as long as I can remember. Richard had gotten some presents for Cookie, so I got her a stocking & decorated it with glitter glue. It's going to be her 18th Christmas! 

The tree looks complete now that it has presents underneath :)

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On Friday we went to the Abbey House Museum at Kirkstall Abbey--we'd never actually been, and it was much more involved than we thought it would be. There's a whole Victorian street set up with little shops like this grocery store. There was an ironmonger, a chemist, a clothier, and examples of different homes--upper class, middle class, working class.

There's a dress-up section, too!

I love this temperance movement propaganda--they make a great point!

Upstairs in the museum they have a huge Victorian childhood section

This doll house was amazing

Also in the girls' section--"Miss Pre-Teen's battery operated Vacuum Cleaner"

That would be so disappointing at Christmas, haha!

I'd much rather have this game--"Exciting, Interesting, Educative!"