Sunday, October 31, 2010

Birmingham


This picture of Harvey Nicks is in Leeds, but I just wanted to put it up, too--it's all done up for Christmas!

The Bull Ring in Birmingham, with tourists posing with the bull

The Bull Ring shopping centre, and St Martin's church

St Philip's Cathedral, built in 1705






Victoria Square

Brindley Place

Canals at Brindley Place




Me on the canal


Richard & I at Brindley Place


Nice old pub on the canal





Market Drayton


Grounds of St Mary's Church

St Mary's, which dates back to 1150


The Clive, where we ended the night--lovely old timbered pub that serves real ale :)

This pub dates back to 1653!

I love the Tudor architecture

Lots of nice old pubs, like The Crown here

Graveyard at St Mary's

View of the edge of town

White Ladies Priory











On the way home from Market Drayton, we stopped off at an English Heritage site, White Ladies Priory. It was founded in the late 12th century by a group of Augustinan nuns (who wore white, hence the name), and closed in 1538 (it was kept as a private house). In 1651, Charles II stayed here briefly on his way to continental Europe after he was defeated by Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester. It's surrounded by farmland and it was really lovely and quiet :)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Jack-O-Lantern



Last night I went to Sainsbury's and got my pumpkin :) I sketched out the design on paper, then carved it freehand while watching the traditional Halloween Disney version of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"--my favorite!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Saltaire and Calverley



Typical street in Saltaire

Back alleyway in Saltaire

St Wilfrid's, Calverley Parish Church

St Wilfrid's landscaping crew


Goats and graves



This morning we went out to Saltaire again, the model city planned by Sir Titus Salt for his mill workers and their families. They've finished the construction over at the park, and it was really nice! On the way home, we stopped in Calverley for a Sunday Roast. It was really good, and they did this surprisingly delicious veg dish of mashed carrots & parsnips. After lunch, we walked around this gorgeous old church, St Wilfrid (the oldest parts of the building are from 1154, newest parts are from restoration in the 1800's). As you can see, parts of the graveyard are sectioned off and the "landscaping" around the older, more fragile stones is done by goats and sheep. Isn't that brilliant?!