A day to discover....

Today, myself and three others are taking a small journey to Oxford, England...a day to discover!

~ The animal lover in me ~

~ The animal lover in me ~

This may come as no surprise to some, especially those who know me well, that I love animals! In my previous career as a veterinarian technician I have cared for; dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, 'pocket pets' (hamsters, gerbils...etc) and most recently a tortoise, these just to name a few. It is no wonder that as I have been taking my evening strolls that as I happen along a cute little critter, I can't resist taking it's picture!

As I walked out of the centre the other evening, this handsome horse whinnied to greet me! Each evening as I return home from my walk, this kitty has greeted me just at the crest the last little leg of the trail I walk. And, one evening as I was taking a casual walk around the centre, I took notice of this rabbit at first from a far. Please understant that since leaving the USA, in early 2008 I haven't seen a rabbit hopping along it's merry way! So, this little critter intrigued moving to scurry away....I thought, well that's' odd....as I approached a little closer and even closer, the reason became apparent as to why this little critter wasn't scurrying away. He couldn't see me....NOT at all! If you are able to see closely in this picture, it's eye(s) are closed, swollen shut! As I mentioned this to a colleague, she explained to me that there is a disease that rabbits do get in the UK, that causes this.

I have also been keenly observing a type of bird here in the UK as well. As some animals and birds have a routine, this bird definatly does. It perches itself on the very tip top of a pinetree just outside my window....and each evening, it sings a little song, it's a lovely little song.

I only have a few short days left in the UK, I wonder what other type animal I may come across during my stay?!

The Parish Church of All Saints in High Wycombe

~ The Parish Church of All Saints in High Wycombe ~

There has been a Christian community in Wycombe for nearly 1,000 years, and they, the present congregation, are the inheritors of their predecessors' task of building the Kingdom in this part of England.

Bishop Wulfstan of Worcester consecrated the first church on the site over 900 years ago. The builders used some material s from an even earlier age - it is still possible to see Roman stone in the walls, from a nearby 2nd century villa.

The church was rebuilt in 1275!

The Rose

"The rose speaks of love silently,
in a language known only to the heart."
Anonymous

As I have walked along each day throughout the little villages in the UK, I'm so taken by their beauty. One will see, wild roses growing along the pathways, beautiful rose bushes in and around peoples homes here and archways with roses fully in bloom.

Quotable Quotes

~ Quotable Quotes ~

"Hide not your talent. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?"
- Benjamin Franklin

This is definitely something to ponder and pray about, do I have a gift or talent that God has given me that I'm not using or maybe don't even know that I have?

Dorm life

~ Dorm Life ~

I had not ever gone to college or university, so living a dorm life is a new thing to me. Later today, I will be meeting my new lady roommates, I believe one lady is working in Cameroon and I'm not certain what country the other lady is working at. As you can see from the photo, it is a small room, what you are unable to see in the photo, is to the right of me (while I was taking this picture) there is another bed. Directly across from this bed, there is a closet, which is good size to hold our belongings, suitcases...etc.

Curiosity kills the cat!

~ Curiosity kills the cat ~

A couple of days ago, I walked into the building where they serve our meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) at the center I'm currently at for personnel administration training in the UK. I look over at this vending machine, filled with many tasty treats and this candy bar just happens to catch my eye. Well, I have to say the title caught my eye; 'YORKIE' It's NOT for girls! So, now I'm curious...what does this candy bar taste like, what is in this candy bar....NOT for girls? One thought that ran through my mind....ah, it's about the marketing. Well, it worked...it had me curious enough to buy it from this vending machine. What I found in this tasty little candy bar...simply 'chocolate', milk chocolate in fact. So, curiosity killed this cat!

Which way shoud I go?

Which way should I go?

Yesterday, as I took a walk through a lovely little countryside road not far from where I'm staying in the UK for a week of training for my work, I happened along this stone mile marker. I wasn't' sure, do I walk to Oxford, London or maybe I should just walk to Wycombe....since it's only 5 miles to reach that destination. A bit of information, the distance of travel in the UK is measured in miles, not kilometers.

This past Saturday, I had decided to take a nice long walk to a little village called; Stockenchurch. It took me about 2 hours round trip. I so enjoyed walking along, having the opportunity of seeing the beautiful countryside of the UK. Beautiful lush fields of green pastures, with horses, sheep and cattle.

~ Picture of the Week ~

~ Picture of the Week ~

This beautiful set of white blossoms are found on a tree just behind the home that we currently living in.

Now that's a leaf!

Well, I knew that there would be large palm trees swaying in the breeze and certainly bugs grow bigger in Africa, but the size of this leaf amazed me. Now that's a leaf! After seeing this leaf, I thought maybe it's a good thing they don't have the season of fall here in Bangui. Could you imagine racking up a whole yard of these leafs?!

How romantic!

How romantic....Trace shows up with these beautiful and extremely sweet fragrant bouquet of flowers! There is a gentleman who sells them along the street, not to far from where we live. Not long ago, Trace arrived home with these beautiful flowers....to say to me; "I love you".

My usual place....

This is my usual space while I'm at work. However, my work really begins at home each morning, around 7AM. I have the ability to set up my computer at home and use a program to write my work emails ahead of time and then save them until I reach the center, where I work. I usually finish writing emails at home by 11 AM, I have my lunch and then I'm ready to catch a taxi to work (which is normally at 12:30PM). Once I arrive at the center, I simply connect onto the Internet, bring in all the "receive" emails and then "send" the emails that I had written earlier that morning. Afterward, I will look through each email while I'm still there at work and if there is something that has a need for an urgent reply, I will write my reply and send it along. Otherwise, I will pack up my computer, take another taxi home and once I arrive back home....well, by that time it's time to start dinner. The next day, I begin this work routine all over again...Monday through Friday, well except on Wednesday.....however, that's another blog entry. Look for that blog entry soon!

You can't have one without the other!

If you will notice on the left of this picture....a delicious plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. On the right of the picture, a 9x13 baking pan and Tupperware container. As the title of this blog states "you can't have one without the other. Notice the photo below.
You're thinking to yourselves....okay, so what's the big deal? Well, as I discovered with baking cookies or baking anything in Africa for that matter, once you have placed something on the kitchen counter to cool.....you have just welcomed every ant that resides anywhere near your home! I made this mistake, but only once! I then learned from another missionary, who is our neighbor and friend a neat way of allowing your baked goods to cool and not invite every ant to take part! I call it the 'ant moat'. What may be difficult to see in this picture is, there is about 1 1/2 inches of water in the 9x13 baking pan. Ants don't like water, and they certainly are not going to try and walk on it! So, there you have it. A missionaries way of allowing baked goods to cool without having every ant enjoying your cookies!