Playing Hooky

Mike earned so much comp time when he was working like a dog back in May and June, trying to wrap up Driver: San Francisco, that he has been taking a day off here and there when work is slow-ish. Today was one of those days. We walked Merrit to school at 9:00 and got a coffee at Sugarloaf, a cute little coffeeshop and breakfast spot between our house and the boys' school. Since Ollie doesn't go in until 12:45, he was with us. 

After coffee and a muffin, we were walking home and I said, "Let's go for a drive." So we hopped in the car and started driving north. We've been to Alnmouth twice (once on our own and once with Jer and Kara). Even though we've been there twice, we've not yet gone down to the beach. 

Steps and little paths lead to the sand.

Looking back up at the homes in Alnmouth.

Ollie was glad to be out of the car and free to roam and run.

How fun to be three feet tall in four-foot grass!

We found people footprints, dog footprints, and horse hoof
prints on the beach.

The tide is coming in to the little harbor in Alnmouth.

Lots of smooth stones to throw in the water.

I picked this one as a keepsake. I now have one from
Whitley Bay, one from Lindisfarne, and now one from
Alnmouth. Mike seriously questions the wisdom
of collecting rocks when we'll have to pay by weight
to move back to the U.S., but I can just see these in my
herb gardens when I'm 65.

Across the rising harbor is Church Hill, marked with an
ornate stone cross. A church used to stand on this hill, but
in 1806, after a violent storm, the church was badly damaged
and the hill badly eroded. The church was later destroyed.

After our little walkabout, we got back in the car so we could get Ollie back to nursery school by 12:45. We dropped him off and grabbed lunch--just the two of us. What a treat!

Arm's length self-photo. These are always fun.

Sharing a pizza and salad at De'Meo's pizzaria.

A Pre-Souvenir from Alston

I bought myself a pretty little something today. Granted it's not overly feminine, but it is diminutive and made of china. Ever since we stayed with our friend Kristi and Chris and Kristi had this cute little teapot-shaped, floral spoon rest by her tea kettle, I have been wanting something similar. (Hers came from England--at Epcot.)

I ducked into my favorite little antique shop. I go in there from time to time, and I have bought a number of small gifts there. It's the shop where I found Page's birthday present (a sandwich set from the 1930s) and Ann's birthday present (two antique pewter flagons).

The man who owns the shop helped me root around among precariously stacked piles of dishes, teacups, lamps, and glassware (I really should take a photo of the shop! It is unreal!) to find something like what I had in mind. Here's what we found:

This is a proper teaspoon, which is about half the size
of a cereal spoon, so this dish is pretty small. Fits in
the palm of my hand.

Here's a close-up of the design.

I asked him where Alston was--like could I go there and visit the place and sort of justify why I have a little teaspoon rest from there?--and he said that it's about 50 miles west of here, near Carlisle. He says it's a cute little shopping village, very quaint. Well, destination Alston, I guess. :) This is just about as random as throwing a dart at a map, but a little more fun because shopping was involved.

And, he gave it to me for free. I know it's not worth much but he was like, "You come in here so often with your cute kids. I just like to take care of my regulars." That's how you build customer loyalty. I really didn't think of myself as a "regular," but I guess I am! :)

New Clogs

I've been eyeing these babies ALL SUMMER LONG. When I saw them in the shop window marked down 50% I just went straight in and bought them. They're UGGS, so they have yummy sheepskin on the toe bed, which is so warm and comfy. They look super cute with my light brown, oversized sweater purse, and boot-cut jeans. Love.

Those Meddling Kids...

...Stuck a fake mustache and chewed-up gum on our front door while we were gone to the store.

Yesterday, after school, it was rainy and too windy to play outside, so all of them came to our house. We had this many soggy English kids playing hide and seek in our little house...

Life Is Gay at Whitley Bay

Hey, y'all! I have a lot of blogging to do to get caught up with what's been going on here in Whitley Bay! It's been busy lately, and there's lots to tell you. Suffice it to say, life is gay at Whitley Bay...

Have a cuppa.

I've posted backdated blog posts, recapping where we've been and what we've done over the last three weeks or so. Here's what you might have missed:

From Our Visit with Jer and Kara:

Mwaaah!

Come See Why We Love Our Little Village

Another Double Date

The Sunday Roast

Edinburgh with Friends, Is There Any Better Way?

The Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and the Castle Rock

High-Speed Train, Newcastle > Edinburgh

Date Night in Newcastle

We Love NC (Newcastle) ;)

It's a Small World at the Holy Island

Stopping by Alnmouth on a Windy Morning

Walk to Tynemouth and Back with Jer and Kara

What's New with Us:

Daydreaming during Class

Busy Bee at Nursery

Playdate with New Friends

Laser Tag & Go-Kart B-day Parties

Welcome to the Neighborhood...I Think?

Orientation at Ollie's New School

Back to School

Birthday Present

Going Away Get-together for Carlo
All Work and No Play
Sudsy Fun

Daydreaming during Class

The St. May's Lighthouse at low tide.

Walking home from school this week, Merrit told Mike and I that sometimes he likes to look out the window when he's supposed to be doing his schoolwork to look at the lighthouse. The little spit of connecting land between the lighthouse and the land (at left) gets covered by water at high tide, making the lighthouse look like it's on an island, which I guess it sort of is.

Merrit goes, "Sometimes I look out and it's high tide. Then a little while later, I look out and it's low tide!" Mike and I just exchanged a look like, "Sheesh, what a life!"

Busy Bee at Nursery