0 Summer Solstice

The sun is up over 17 hours on the longest day of the year here at latitude 53.99, but it sure went down gracefully.

The nearly full moon in a nearly cloudless sky didn't disappoint, either.

0 Birstwith Hall

Birstwith Hall is the family home of the Aykroyd Baronets.  It is a beautiful estate, and I have driven by many times.  Today the gardens were open to the public as a part of the National Garden Scheme charity.   There were lots of flowers and decorative bushes and plants around the gardens.  I took many more pictures than I can put here, of course!

 Directly behind the house is a little circular raised area, with a fountain (seen below) and a sitting area.  This poem is on a paver leading into the walkway. 

"The kiss of the sun for pardon/ the song of the birds for mirth/ 

one is nearer to God's heart in a garden/ than anywhere else on earth"

Can you see the tiny fish?

The gardens are extensive, and there are many areas connected by various walkways.  This was alongside the vegetable gardens towards the tennis court.

Tang Beck (the creek) runs in front of the house.

You can see in the previous image that there are several of these curved alcoves for sitting along this wall.

Two of the three horses that live here.  They share a large pasture with some sheep.

One of two walking bridges over Tang Beck. 

I sat in front of the house with my tea and cake and enjoyed the view.  To the right (from looking out of the front of the house) is a little lily pond that Tang Beck flows through.  To the left is the pasture with the horses and sheep.

The house again.  You can get a much clearer shot when you aren't in your car on the road, feeling a bit like a stalker!  I think I could live here... although the utilities would be astronomical!

0 Due to Overwhelming Demand

I am finally posting pictures of the church doors that I went nutso over at the auction about 6 weeks ago.  Before you ask, I don't know anything about their history.

They're tall, I think taller than the average door (I haven't measured, though) and kind of heavy, so I didn't want to try hauling them out of the garage by myself.

This one is just to show you the stained glass part.   There are a couple of broken panes, but not too bad, and since they don't make up a picture or anything I should be able to get them replaced by a specialist without a lot of trouble.   I really do love them, I just need to figure out what to do with them!

1 Knaresborough Bed Race

Knaresborough is a fairly good sized town just outside of Harrogate.   

I'd been hearing about the annual bed race for a few months now, so I had to check it out. 

This was the first group of women- in about 8th place, which the British family I was standing with said was impressive.  We didn't see any other female teams for about another 20 groups- so I understood the extra applause for this group.   Unfortunately the first few pictures are fuzzy, I had my camera on the wrong setting and didn't notice because I was too busy learning about the race from the family.

At the end of the race the teams have to swim across the river, so many of them include buoyancy aids.  This group went all out with a kayak- smart, but I don't think it's a "bed"!!

The teams all wore matching t-shirts, either with their name, charity, or sponsor on them.   This team's shirts say "Lock, Stock, and six floating barrels".  The woman sitting has a different "and..." but unfortunately it's blocked in this image.  

More clever buoyancy aids.  Most teams had a child as their sitting team member, for weight, although some had a woman and a few teams rotated out the position for rest.   The children almost all had life vests and helmets on, and most had an air horn or something to keep their team going.

There were several teams of teenagers.

Many teams, male and female, used two of their six racers to pull with make-shift harnesses.  These were usually buoyancy-type bands, like the things lifeguards have. 

Several teams went beyond matching t-shirts and had fun costumes.

I was on the only long and straight drag of the course, so I saw a lot of passing or attempts to pass.

The only casualty I saw- the man on the left seemed pretty sick.  His team went on without him, although that disqualified them from placing (they were in the bottom half anyway).

One of two groups of teenage girls I saw.  Impressive!

Waaaaay in the end.

Just a shot of the river- they actually crossed it behind me, but I got there too late to get any shots.   That's where I'll stand next year, though- I want to see them swim!

Overall it was a fun event.  Between the World Cup starting today for England and the race, the whole town was turned out and festive.  I did wish there were actual beds, though, since I pictured something more like Bedknobs and Broomsticks !

0 Birstwith Scarecrow Festival and Duck Race

Birstwith, the town I live in, had it's own Scarecrow Festival this weekend.  This guy was in front of the post office the past two weeks advertising.

The only scarecrow Sloan wasn't afraid of.  In fact, I think she wanted to be friends.

The theme was "D".  All scarecrows had to represent something starting with "D".

There was a quiz challenge along with the map.  I didn't do the quiz, because several scarecrows were British characters or such that I didn't recognize.  When I came upon this one, though, there were three young (10-12ish) girls trying to figure him out.  One guessed "This is a Surreal Scarecrow" as his clue, because "I'm pretty sure surreal means weird".  I was impressed and told her yeah, it's Salvador Dali.

I think this one was my favorite. 

Outside the Surgery.  I'm not sure who he is, but he does seem to need medical attention.

I didn't know who she was until I was walking the dogs later and I saw the box in her hand is labeled "Scooby Snacks".  Sloan was convinced she was the devil and proceeded to bark her head off.  I guess if Daphne had offered a Scooby Snack she might have been better received.

This one had a sign next to it "Score 73-3; Last Man 0".  If you know the "d", fill me in.

This was the scarecrow in front of the pub.  He's for the Duck Race!

This was the "First Annual Birstwith-Hamsthwaite Duck Race".  The river through Birstwith flows right over to Hampsthwaite, so they dumped 2 bins (trash cans) of numbered ducks in the river.  They went very, very slowly.   I didn't go to Hampsthwaite, so I am not sure who won.

The crowd was very concerned about the ducks clogging the river, disturbing local wildlife, and getting in trouble with authorities.   I guess that's why the "racers" had these referees.  They fished them out of jams, often throwing the stuck duck ahead of the pack.  This brought about cheers and jeers from the crowd.

0 I lied.

I didn't go to the carnival this weekend cause the weather was terrible, although I don't think there would have been any pictures from it because it seems just like the average mall parking lot carnival.  The other festival, Beckwithshaw Gala, I missed because the weather was too good.  I was outside playing with the dogs and our temporary horse neighbors all day, then I realized it was time to get ready to go to my friends' for dinner.  Completely forgot the gala.  Sorry!  This coming Saturday there is a duck race in the town I live in, though, so I won't miss that!