Lord and Lady Clitheroe

Lord and Lady Clitheroe live in this country manor in Downham. (It looks like something out of Pride and Predjudice!) Their family (whose actual name is Assheton) owns the entire village of Downham -- all 45 homes. Downham is significant in church history as it is one of the places where Heber C. Kimball had great success. So much success that almost every person living in this small community joined the church. We always take the missionaries there as part of the church history tour. (I believe I have blogged about this previously)

The family of Lord and Lady Clitheroe have owned the entire village for 400 years. The very first time we went to Downham we met Lady Clitheroe in the village and since then have been anxious to get better acquainted. We stumbled onto a contact -- a member of the church who knows their son. He arranged for a meeting between us and so last week, we bought a bouquet of flowers and showed up at their door. (of course they knew we were coming!) We were ushered into their library that looked just like something out of the movies, offered us a glass of elderberry juice and had a most delightful (the English would say "brilliant") visit. They are both in their late 80's. They have been to SLC and told us all the details of their visit. They also have a scrapebook that contains pix of of SLC in about 1886 that were taken by his grandfather who made an around the world tour and for some reason included SLC. They seem to believe that they have no Mormon ancestors, but it would seem reasonable that they did -- thus the trip to SLC.
The back of the house is almost prettier than the front because it is covered with vines.

This is the view out their library window and yes, those are sheep!

...and this is Pendle Hill ..... oh yes.....with the man in black being President Walker. They own the property all the way to the top of this small mountain.

The entire grounds are covered with magnificent trees -- few flowers but beautiful and unusual trees.

4th of July!!!*!?+**!!

Yes, we also celebrated. No parades, no BBQ's, no fireworks, no family, but......We had decorations, US flags, wore red, white and blue (Elder McMurtrey from Texas even thought to bring his stars and stripes tie!) sang patriotic songs and shared holiday traditions.
and food......hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, fries, homemade apple pie and snickerdoodles

But the hit of the day was A&W Root Beer!!!!!

Root Beer is not available here and it is the one thing the missionaries ask for

So...............with a little sleuthing, we found a source

A good member of the church who has an import business, donated Root Beer and Grape soda for our celebration!!!!!!!

What we are not telling them ... yet ... is that we also have some Twinkies! We'll bring those out the night before they leave......a farewell surprise!

Even the instructors who are all English joined in the fun!

We gave all of them an abbreviated American history lesson.

and they caught the irony of "Independence" Day.

A post script: Boys will be boys. Many ate 2 hamburgers, 2 hotdogs, 2 pieces of chicken,potatoe salad, pasta salad, green salad, pie, ice cream, cookies and topped it all off with root beer!!! Disgusting!

Sisters are a little more reasonable!

A Heat Wave

Yep! That's what they are calling it......temps up in the 70's for 3 days in a row. That doesn't mean it doesn't rain........at least a little every day........but what's a little rain when it is mixed with sunshine. The heat is big news. Just the kind of news we love!

Monday was our preparation day so we grabbed our little book of hikes in Lancashire, packed a lunch, pulled out our walking sticks and took off. We found the most wonderful 5 mile walk -- and I do mean walk as there is very little variance in elevation.

We walked for 5 miles -- across farmer's fields dodging the cows, into the woods and over the streams, down the lanes past the beautiful english estates, through the thigh high grasses across the rolling hills, over the bridges and along the canal.

We sat on a bench and fed the ducks our lunch crumbs and then ended our walk in a place called Fairie Glen. It was magical. I do believe real fairies live there. They are curled up in the knotted trees and dancing behind the waterfalls. And if grandchildren had been with us they would have seen them in many more places.

And the best part -- we wore short sleeves and no jacket!!!!!
And the worst part -- we forgot our camera!!!!!!

Lyme Park

We all know about English gardens. And sometimes we even try to re-create them in our own yards. But it would seem we lack the variety of plants and we certainly lack the moisture that keeps everything green and lush. And we always lack the mansions that stand at the centerfold of each of these magnificent gardens.

Lyme Park is a magnificent estate. It is one of the most country-house images in England and the backdrop to where Darcy meets Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice.

In fact, the guard standing at the top of the stairway when I entered made sure I knew that I had just walked up the steps that Darcy walked up in the movie. Now really, I had just watched Pride and Predjudice but had no recollection of Darcy on these steps. Furthermore there are several versions of the movie and who knows................The home itself was as beautifully restored as anyplace I have ever seen. It has a colorful family history, from rescuing the Black Prince, sailing into exile with the Duke of Windsor, to the writing of the hit series Upstairs Downstairs. (such a hit that I have never seen it!

The grounds go on for miles and are park like. When you enter they give you a CD to listen to while you drive. It gives you a description of what you are seeing and a little history of the site.

Very well done!!!!!

You Just Never Know!

In our past life we have on occasion hosted some cruises for LDS Travel.

Earlier in the week we got a call from them to say they had a group that would be docking

in Liverpool on Thursday.

We invited them to the MTC and offered to step on their bus and show them the Church History Sites in and around Preston

And so......

they showed up today in a very large motorcoach......bigger than usual with a very UPTIGHT driver. Though he was local, the narrow roads were challenging to him and he was not able to maneuver the bus to some of the areas we often visit.

We sensed that he was a bit uptight, a bit on edge, and not a bit happy about being with us.

As we prepared to return to the MTC, someone asked if we would share the story of how we met

and so.................

we gave a quick abbreviated version, ending with our love of the missionary work we were now engaged in.

When we arrived at the MTC, we invited the group in and asked the missionaries to come in and sing for them.

As the bus was unloading Richard made a point of thanking the driver

and then.......

this uptight, unhappy driver opened the flood gates and told him that he had been deeply touched by the experience we had shared. He said that he recently lost his wife and was in despair and could not believe the kind of peace that we seem to have and that he had felt the entire day.

And so...................

Richard gave his one minute version of the apostacy and restoration. He told him it was the spirit he was feeling and invited him to join us in the MTC for a brief meeting. He jumped at the chance and joined with us.

This missionaries sang the combo version of "Sisters in Zion and Army of Helaman". (I might say that we have a group that is so talented that their music simply knocks your socks off). After they sang President asked an elder from Slovania to come forward and bear his testimony. There was not a dry eye including this crusty bus driver!

Just looking at the missionaries is a sight that stirs the soul and fills you with such love. And then to hear them sing almost transcends you into another atmosphere.

It turned out to be such a wonderful day and I think a very memorable experience for all those who were here.

And the codgy bus driver asked if he could learn more, gave us all his information, said he is anxious to meet with us again....

In short, he thinks we are amazing!!!!

What he doesn't realize (yet) is that the Lord put him on that bus today.

This is not about us, it is about the spirit directing this work!

And to think we can be a part of it!!!!

Sometimes it overwhelms me and I simply say, "Why me?"

Temple Grounds -- Preston England

And I thought the fern grotto was in Hawaii!

Early summer on the grounds of the Preston Temple.

Every two weeks we walk the 500 yards to the temple and every time it is a new experience.

We have watched the crocuses turn to daffoldils and then tulips and then azaleas and then......

on and on it goes.

This week was no different. The trees are as beautiful as the flowers.

This tree is covered with these delicate white blossoms.
Perhaps someone out there knows what they are.

Even the green archways are blooming!

English gardens are filled with variety. No formal beds....
just a flux of color mixed among greens

This white tree heralds the entrance to the brick pathway that leads to the temple.

No all paths lead to the temple, but this one does!

Don't they look good enough to hug!
But I have to leave that to the President.

I tell them they are proxy hugs from me!

Ironbridge and Shrewsbury

We took a day between groups and went south to two towns: Ironbridge and Shewsbury. They are located in the Midlands of England and this area looks very different from Northern England.

Iron bridge is noted for the large Iron Bridge that was built by a man named Abraham Darby III in 1779. It was the first cast iron bridge to be built anywhere in the world, and cost considerably more than anticipated, leaving Darby in debt for the rest of his short life!

I am always amazed at the genius of some people! The things they create in their brains and then bring to fruition --- like iron bridges!!!

So what if Darby died penniless. Look at the monument he created in his memory.

The River Severn flows through this
valley and towards nuclear reactors
Have you ever seen the painting titled: Swans on the Severn
Look closely and you can see the baby swan riding on it's mothers back!



In Ironbridge they have recreated a Victorian Village, much like Williamsburg or Pioneer Village at Lagoon.

The village is a re creation of the age of coal smeltering that was used to make the iron.

The village streets with the horse drawn carriages speak of days gone by.

At one point I heard a little girl aske her grandmother if she lived during Victorian times. The grandmother spoke right up and said, "Of course I did!" And why not, the woman looked all of 62!

We left Ironbridge and went on to Shrewsbury. This is a historic Tudor Town complete with black and white buildings -- some look like they are ready to topple!







It was another great day and VERY warm. What a pleasant surprise. Bet many of you wish for such a day, given the weather in the states!