Cora Celebrates 8 Bigs Ones - Happy Birthday!

Cora celebrated her 8th birthday this week with her friends and family here in the UK, including Umi and Papa and Aunt Helen! On Saturday the 17th she had several friends over for an afternoon of dress-up and general playing and a big cookie. Then on the 21st she was able to open more gifts with Umi and Papa. Finally, on her actual birthday she had pudding and blew out a candle. What a week of celebrations!

Cora enjoys cookie with friends.

Cora shows off her new shawl and hat from Umi.

Normandie Part IV - Offbeat Sites

While most of the locations in Normandy are straightforward - bunkers, museums, castles, abbies and the like - there are some interesting sights we came across during our visit. Some of these we photographed are shown below.



This new 'silver woman of peace' was erected by the people of France and China (?) in a small town just west of Point du Hoc. It now overshadows a smaller US National Guard memorial to a fallen Medal of Honor winner near the site.



We like to call this excited fellow 'the happiest German in Normandy'. He is actually the communications officer at the great bunker that now houses the Atlantic Wall museum near Sword beach. We are not sure what he is so pleased about but whatever it is we want some for ourselves!



Cora found this unicorn in the middle of St. Lo. We think it must represent the emergence of modern St. Lo from the ashes of WWII. Either that or folks around here like to see mythical animals on high street.

Normandie Part III - Tanks

One of my favorite sites to visit anywhere in Europe is any town or location where there is an old tank. Here are a few of the ones we found on our trip.



This Tiger I was left behind by the German Army outside of the town of Vitomiers near the Falaise Pocket where much of the army was destroyed during the campaign. This tank has stood beside the road outside town ever since.



The Churchill IV was the workhorse of the British Army in 1944. This Chruchill was immobilized soon after leaving Juno beach, close to the same location that Churchill himself visited in the weeks following the invasion.



The Sexton was a medium self-propelled artillery carrier used by Commonwealth forces during the Normandy campaign. This example shown here is located in the middle of Ver-Sur-Mer near Gold beach.

Guy Fawkes gets Burned Again!

Last night was the annual Guy Fawkes bonfire at the Lewis Farm and as always it was a great event. Sharon made some of the best chili was have had in years (an especially difficult feat for a native Englishperson!) and David put together a 'small' bonfire that lasted for several hours. Elizabeth provided lots of oohs and aaahs at the local fireworks shows we could see from the field while the children stayed busy jumping on and off the hay trailer, running around in the dark and playing with fire (!).



David holds a can of the official Belgian import of the 2007 Guy Kawkes bonfire.



Kids ready for a ride on the tractor.



The crowds huddle as the fire begins to wane.

Halloween Fun in Hatherly!

Despite the fact that Halloween is a 'new' holiday in the UK, this year was a busy one for tricker-treaters and treat-givers alike here in Hatherly. Our treat-seeking expedition here at 62 Redgrove included 10 TTers of various ages from little Aidan Boline to big Owen and his buddies. Costumes included the always popular 'Elf Pricncess' as well as various ghouls, kights and devils.




This was the young crowd including the Bolines and Cora's friends Rebecca, Harriet and Harriet's brother the 'little devil'.



A ghoul left over from the English Civil War was photgraphed here revealing his true identity.









This elf princess arrived earlier this week and managed to turn dad into a frog!