BBB - birthday, Bath, break!

We have had a break from school this week. Started last Thursday when our Sarah turned 13! Time has flown and we enjoy her so much - she is a blessing from our Lord and we see His grace on her life daily:) On Saturday she invited a few friends over for a games party - played Dutch Blitz, pass the bomb and Werewolves - was super having all the girls celebrating with us:)

 On Friday afternoon, we drove through to Bath to a Science expo at the Bath University put on by different schools - a super day!

Chocolate testing -  apparently, females are more able to discern quality chocolate

Making bath bombs

Surface tension - pushing a kebab stick through a balloon

paper recycling - making new paper from old egg boxes

Giant bubble

And for the rest of this week, we have had a good break. Got back to swimming at Backwell, visited with friends at Noah's Ark and a lovely morning today at St Fagan's Castle, just outside Cardiff (an hour's drive from Bristol) It is an amazing open air museum, showing houses and welsh life from the past

Walls and moat and gardens around the castle

Alexandra took this photo of the water fountain in the courtyard

The castle "house" - built 1580 - unfortunately, couldn't take pics inside

Maze gardens

Couldn't resist these trees, although I have no idea what they're about!

Resting in the summer house

Mill house - this artist still uses water power for his looms, etc. He processes the wool from start to finish - sorting, combing, dyeing, spinning and weaving

400 year, timber barn - constructed flat on the ground, then erected at the end

Well, we thought this was a giant outdoor oven - but it is a traditional Welsh pigsty!

Corn mill - also water powered. People were either really short in those days (what with new generations taller each time) or their back really hurt bending to get through the doorways!

Inside a Celtic house

You may have noticed the blue skies!! We have had beautiful, sunny warm (?at 16degC?) weather. Spring is really here:)

Squirrels squirreling

Trees blossoming

Flowers blooming

Sheep lambing


Psalm 19:1
¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 104:24 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ²⁴ How many are your works, LORD!
   In wisdom you made them all;
   the earth is full of your creatures.

Birthday

I celebrated my 40th in August. My birthday fell on August Bank holiday. We invited friends to a picnic at Ashton Court - an old estate that used to belong to the Smythe family - now belongs to the council and is open to the public. We had a lovely, sunny day with our friends.

My mom

An added bonus was that my parents came to Bristol for 2 weeks - we did some travelling to Bath and Wales and they were here to celebrate with me!

Roman Baths in Wales

On a barge on the Avon River, Bath

My folks - listening to an organ recital in Bath Abbey

Famous Clifton Suspension Brisge designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Closest "beach" - Weston Super Mare (or Super Mud!)

Victorian Pier in Clevedon

Bath Cathedral

Ashton Court

 While my parents were here, they also watched Sarah and Alexandra act in a summer theatre workshop production of The Wizz (Wizard of Oz)