Wells





Wells, Somerset is a beautiful town in the Mendip Hills. Dominic's teacher Mrs. V suggested we visit. It is a two hour drive from our house. We are starting to lose our US sense of time and distance, anything longer than 45 minutes feels too far.





It was worth it! The clock in the above photo is the oldest clock in the world with it's original face and dials. It is a pre-Copernican design, dated between 1386 and 1392. The sun and moon revolve around the earth on the clock face. The time shows on a 24 hour dial, as well as the motion of the sun and the moon, the phases of the moon, and the time since the last new moon. When the clock strikes every quarter, jousting knights move around above the clock and the Quarter jack marks the quarter hours with his heels.

Painted detail of ceiling.

We met up with our friends Rolle and Melina and their children, Mimi and Iggy. They are having a similar adventure and we have really enjoyed getting to know them.



Photo by Matt Wiebe, some rights reserved.

 The Scissor Arches seen in the above photo are often thought to be a modern addition, but in fact were added between 1338 and 1348.

Most obvious things to do in Wells are: see the Cathedral, visit the Bishop's Palace (or at least walk around the moated building), and do not miss Vicar's Close.

The Evdemon Hogan Family

William Penn stayed at the Crown Inn in 1685!

The name of the city comes from three wells dedicated to Saint Andrew, one in the market place and two within the grounds of the Bishop's Palace and cathedral.





The outside clock face (seen above), opposite Vicars' Hall, placed there just over seventy years after the interior clock, is driven by the inside mechanism. In 2010 the official clock-winder retired and was replaced by an electric mechanism.

Facade contains 300 medieval figures.

Vicar's Close is claimed to be the oldest purely residential street with its original buildings all surviving intact in Europe. It is charming!

It was built in the 1300's to house 42 vicars that sang in the choir. 27 of the residences remain, and to this day, some of them house vicars of the choir.

It is 10 feet wider at one end, to make the street appear longer.

This home has much smaller and fewer windows, I think this must be close to the original facade.



Chapel at the small end of Vicar's Close.



Beautiful Melina and Mimi.

Homemade chocolate chip cupcakes for sale! Choose your sprinkles!



Communing with kitty of Vicar's Close



Shiplake to Shiplake

On Mike's birthday he wanted to walk part of the Thames path. We chose Shiplake to Henley, because that is the one section I haven't walked between Reading and Marlow.

We arrived in Shiplake and parked by the parish church of Saints Peter and Paul, in view of the graveyard. The boys got very excited and asked if we could visit. What the hell, right? They love a good graveyard and there are so many here. We moseyed through, reading gravestones and imagining the lives of these resting souls. Parking we noticed a decked out Ford Model A limo and wondered if a wedding was afoot. Sure enough, not 10 minutes of meandering and wedding bells rang out with shameless, attention-drawing jubilation!



 "Theirs not to reason why,

Theirs but to do and die"



What a treat for us all, top hats and tails, and women enjoying hats. Alfred Tennyson and Emily Sellwood married in this very church in 1850. Tennyson was the Poet Laureate of the UK from 1850 - 1892.

A slippery, mossy, wet walk from the church led us down to the Thames.

Dominic, Daddy and wisps from a steamboat.

It's about 3 miles to Henley, so it seemed unlikely we would make it there and back on this special day.

There are two crazy beautiful trees just as the walk starts which needed climbing and jostling.

 From the trees we walked a few hundred yards to the Shiplake Lock.







Locks are fun to sit and watch. Boats tie up outside and wait for their turn, then slowly, carefully slide in and tie up and wait for the water to drain or fill, then the gates silently open, under the lock keepers care and the travelers move on. We ate lots of cheese and crackers here, and found a plum tree hanging over a wall. Mike was just tall enough to jump up and grab a few sour, almost ripe goodies!

At the lock, heading towards Henley, the path veers away from the river, into the village of Shiplake. You have to follow the Thames Path signs, and they eventually lead you back to the river.

We made it into town and needed two ice homemade cream cones. One chocolate and one white chocolate raspberry ripple, to the tune of $10. And to my great disappointment, it was time to turn around.

Talking to Grandma on the path.

Despite my cajoling, herding, hand holding, urging, threatening, I couldn't get our small herd to move faster than painfully slow. Dominic is a professional whiner. His legs hurt, a lot and often. He begged to be carried for almost the entire walk.

He also noticed a rock with all sorts of bugs moving around very busily. There were spiders, beetles and lady bugs hunting teeny tiny critters. It was odd to contemplate a world so close to ours, and so busy with itself. They didn't seem worried that stock markets are volatile these days. 

Mike and I talked about how fast time is passing. How quickly the children are growing up/moving on in their lives. William and Anna are both in college, traveling, and starting real life. 

Dominic is almost six, and my heart just can't believe it. 

Dandelion wishes.

For the first time in my life I wished for time to stop, to slow down. Just as it seems to pass faster and faster. I noticed a few trees with leaves changing hues from greens to browns. Please, not yet! I wanted to shout. I'm not ready for autumn!

Mike and I continued to chat, recommitted ourselves to living the moment and I worked on letting go of not making it out of Shiplake. 

I began to imagine our day as a reprieve from time.

On this one special day, our children stopped growing.  

On this day, Mother nature waited. Nothing happened, nothing changed.

And Alfred and Emily committed themselves again and again for all eternity.

Happy Birthday Mike Spacone!

32.314869, -110.8241

Walking through the airport in Houston, our first moments back in the US...an announcement comes over the loud speakers in English...and then in Spanish. Dominic listened attentively and then announced with a husky lusty roar, "This isn't AMERICA!"

Santa Catalina Mountains, view from Sabino Canyon.

This is a dry creek!

Sabino Canyon

After spending 5 weeks in Arizona, I can't believe we live here in England. It feels sureal.



Sabino Canyon.



I was worried that Tucson's summer heat would be crushing, but it was the opposite. Completely energizing.

In Sabino Heaven with mi Comadre Barb!

My sister told me a story about a woman recently returned from the UK who turned the wrong way head on into traffic and died instantly. Doesn't that suck? Every time I got behind the wheel I drove with caution, holding that unfortunate woman's wrong turn in my mind. Our ex-pat friend Alex gave us a simple but great tip for driving. The driver stays in the middle of the road. It works. It may sound asinine, but when newly driving on the wrong side of the road/car, it is super easy to get turned around. I have missed a turn, made a u-ey and find myself completely confused as to which side of the road I am supposed to be on. Now I know, driver in the middle.

Extreme bedhead self-portrait.

Our little boys bonded even more deeply with Grandma, Mike's mom. Dominic secretly proposed marriage and then completely confused me by whispering "Mom, I'm going to marry Grandma tomorrow. I need my penis cream."

Dominic's view. Antibiotics twice a day for 10 days, thank you Strep.

Open up already!

The next day he explained that Grandma doesn't have penis cream, which we happen to have handy for sore wieners. He didn't seem fazed when I explained that we would be leaving in a few days for England. ''You can visit us anytime you want."  His small innocent face showing total faith in his wacky plan. There were lots of tears and distress when I told him he couldn't live with her until he was 19 years old.

"BUT SHE'LL BE IN A WHEEL CHAIR THEN!!!!"

Ay, Dios mio.

Three legged race.

They spent the afternoon with Grandma before we left for England and Michael said goodbye bereft with tears. He sobbed all the way to the hotel.

Dancing with Uncle Tim to live music poolside at Paloma.

Cousin Fiona!

Sunset in Vail



Double Rainbow! What does it mean!?



Lobster tails and filet for a crowd.

We got a new camera that takes underwater shots. I am so into it!

Grandpa Jim!



Eat at Martin's Comida Chingona!

 Living in England for a year has helped clarify our love for our life in Tucson. We know that Tucson is our home and that we will take a path that leads us back there when the time is right.


Restin's melon!



The Tucson visit was chugging along, I was basting ribs and weeping with joy (at above party), when my friend Michael texted asking how to contact me.

Nine hours later I was on a plane to NYC to attend his surprise wedding to his true love Shane! Mr. Hoffman you rock!

Besties.

Lucky number.



Interviews with Huffington post!



Thank you God for bringing people together in love!

Watching Kern and Jude cut a rug, the Mrs. Hoffmans sobbed uncontrollably.

Super dad and #1 fan.

Must stay in shape in case of sudden need to dance! The mamas were amazing!

Archie and Carrie!

Amen Manhattan Mini Storage!

Mountain pose hug.

Amen!

Buckle up for love!

For $1 Michael will walk on your back for 3 minutes.
Grandpa was willing to cut it short, but Michael insisted on giving him the full service.

When in Greer, AZ, don't miss the Rendezvous!

Greer is horned toad heaven!

 Ever heard of the boy who cried, "I got a bite!"

Frolicking in the Little Colorado River.

In my role as sister wife sitting in back of mini van.

Red earth and blue sky.

Sister wives.

Treasures.

Mike as fishing guide, with Carson and Dominic.

When not playing outside, boys snuggled in a pile like puppies.



Other sister wives :)



Hair do!

Sausage Deli!
Favorites are turkey sub and the OMAR!

Tanque Verde Wash, Grandpa Longton's final resting place.

Longton Cousins 9!

Precious beauties.

Thank you Darling B and J!



Anna demonstrating cousin Marcus' amazing magic trick...



Brother pillow.

Love my Sarah-y Cakes! Thank you W and S for coming!!

Cousins!

Cousins!

Love you Cakers!



Goodbye to my sweet babies...



We were welcomed home by a loaded apple tree. Delicious, precious apples.





When in Tucson, eat at:

Feast, Martin's on 4th Ave, Sausage Deli, Pico de Gallo on 6th Ave (and the raspado place next door!), Vivace, Tavolino's, El Mezon del Cobre, Dairy Queen in front of the TCC and the one on 4th Ave, Miss Saigon.

Visit Sabino Canyon, Saguaro National Monument East and West, Greer, AZ, go see a movie at the loft and El Con mall, A Mountain, Mount Lemmon, top of Alvernon, the Rincons, and on and on...

Thank you Babette for inviting our boys to play in AZ, thank you mama for flying to visit, thank you William and Sarah for adding another trip to your summer, thank you Fennies, Jonesies and Sterlings for hosting us, thank you Restins for sharing your amazing lives, home and food with us. Thank you William and Anna for sharing your summer selves so unselfishly.  Como los queremos!!!!