Eva’s Friends

[Evadig]

Just a quick update to let you know I haven’t died yet…

Sunday I was in Los Angeles all day, and too tired to write, and tonight I am in a hotel in Las Vegas because we are flying home tomorrow. I will continue the Rome trip on Sunday .

When will you know the results of the dispatcher trainee test?

I’m not sure. They had me do an observation at the dispatch center (very interesting and informative) but I haven’t heard back from them since.

My trip to England is coming up fast. I doubt I will have as many adventures as you. But, I have convinced my sister that during free time in London we HAVE to tour Westminster Abbey. Since both her husband and father-in-law are also going on the trip, they can wander off elsewhere if they're not interested in accompanying us.

I hope you will get to see Westminster and it’s not closed or something!


A few pictures:

LA Zoo: Meerkat

At the rental house: hummingbird in her nest

Flower at LA Zoo

Mom and baby

Some type of antelope

Zebra

Caiman

Downtown Los Angeles

 

[Callender Girl]

Always enjoy your photos! For a split second, before I read the caption, I was wondering if there were meerkats in LA

 

[Evadig]

Ok, where did I leave off? The memory is quickly becoming blurred and details are being forgotten. Good thing I'm writing this down.

Day Six. We're staying at the monastery in Assisi. We got up early in the morning and had mass in a tiny crypt under the Franciscan monastery founded by St Francis. Our priest told me to lector; I tried to plead shyness, but the deacon sided with him, so I had to read. Everyone said I did well, and curiously enough, I enjoyed it. I am glad he made me read because it reminded me that things are often not as difficult as they appear to be.

Afterwards we visited the tomb of St Francis, which is in the lower basilica. The walls of the upper basilica are covered by paintings of Giotto, but many of them were damaged in an earthquake.

We then went to see the place where Blessed Carlo Acutis is buried. As you know, we had been scheduled to attend his canonization, which was postponed because of the Pope's funeral. We saw his mother as well, but we did not know it was her until later.

Afterwards, we split up and as usual I went to explore the city. Assisi is built on a hill and you will either walk up or down anywhere you go. I walked all the way to the fortifications at the very top. It was a steep hike and my legs were very tired when I finally reached the summit! To visit the tower cost eight euros (around fifteen dollars) so I didn't go in.

We had a traditional Assisi dinner in the basement of a restaurant. There was a window in the door, and I was wondering how it could be so light out at 9 pm. When I mentioned this to Jenny, she pointed out that the "light" was in fact coming from the kitchen! As we finished eating, a terrible booming sound began floating down to us. Investigation proved it to be a drummer corps. The noise was deafening, but captivating. While watching the drummers some of us got gelato. It was a nice way to spend the evening.

Before I went to bed, I wandered into the chapel that was connected to the monastery. Only the dim red light of the sanctuary candle broke the blackness. It was so peaceful and quiet. I knelt on the stone floor and prayed, and hoped Jenny would take a long shower so I wouldn't have to leave. It was a bit of heaven... When I finally came up to the room, she asked if I hadn't been scared of the dark! No, indeed. I will always treasure that time with God in the dark, quiet chapel.

Now to present matters: I am back home, and somewhat bummed to discover that Tilly has been brooding on at least eight fertilized chicken eggs, and at least four are nicely developing. I am trying to rehome chickens, not hatch more. Oh, well. I am somewhat vainly hoping that if they do hatch, they will at least be hens...

Finnegan seems to be developing a distaste for coop life. He got out yesterday, and though we tempted him with choice canned food, he would not come back. My sister managed to catch him today, but I can't keep him locked up forever. He will need to go to a new home, where he can wander in and out to his heart's content.

Basilica of St Francis in the morning fog

Upper Basilica

Looking out over Assisi

A flower

Detail of the ceiling of the second picture

Mediaeval fortifications

From the top of the hill, looking out over Assisi

A church

Pictures sent from home: Annie and Eva

Inside a church

Modern part of Assisi (at the bottom of the hill) by night

The sanctuary lamp in the little chapel

 

[Evadig]

I just got back from a three day trip to New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, so I will continue the Rome trip on Sunday.

Here are a couple pictures:

USS Torsk, Baltimore

Independence Hall, Philadelphia

USS New Jersey, Camden

St Patrick’s Cathedral, NYC

USS Intrepid, NYC

 

[Callender Girl]

You see -- and photograph -- so many interesting sites on your travels. Thanks for sharing your amazing experiences.

I had guests Tuesday and Wednesday who were helping me get a laundry list of projects done before I leave Monday for the homesteading and gardening tour in England. Now that everyone's gone, I need to get ready for the trip. Right now, I'm more apprehensive than excited because I often suffer from motion sickness and haven't been on a plane in years.

How's Tilly doing with her chicken eggs? I rehomed both roosters, so I don't have concerns about more chickens. But, I've been dealing with four broody hens. Alice, thankfully, finally gave up yesterday and is her lively self again. But, Lavinia, Daphne and Isabel refuse to quit, even through they are sitting on nothing, absolutely nothing.

 

[Evadig]

I decided I'd write tonight because there's a good chance I won't be able to access my computer tomorrow.

Let's see...Day Seven. In the morning we went to mass in the little chapel, then walked down to the town square to wait for our bus. The guide said we could go shopping if we stayed within hearing distance, but the zeal of some members for coffee overruled their better judgement. As a result, there were a few moments of panic as we prepared to leave and realized certain people were missing. However, we all got onto the bus safely and started up the road toward Sienna.

Owing to the delay in Assisi, we arrived to Sienna later than expected. We were all very hungry and in no mood to enjoy the big mediaeval churches, which weren't even that beautiful compared to those in Rome. We ended up only visiting one church and then splitting up for lunch. Here I got my first and only taste of real Italian pizza. It had red sauce and meat (sausage, maybe?) and was piping hot but also quite soggy. It was pretty good, though. After lunch we hurried back to the bus and headed toward San Gimignano (jimmy-yan-no).

San Gimignano was quite the fortress back in the day; it boasted seventy-two towers, but only fourteen now remain. It is well known now for its beautiful architecture, the world's Most Famous Gelato, and the World's Best Gelato. The two shops are right next to each other, but the World's Best Gelato had a much longer line of patrons. Our priest tried gelato from both shops and said that the famous gelato was in fact better than the best gelato. So I guess you will have to try both if you ever visit .

We arrived in Florence quite late, and had to rush to dinner. I don't recall the atmosphere, only that afterwards a few of us and I went to get more gelato! This was probably a stupid move on my part, because I was developing a sore throat, but the satisfaction of enjoying gelato on a pleasant evening with my friends overruled any common sense.

Regarding the Muddy Run: I was finally able to rehome three of my four roosters to a lady who has a large bachelor pad. Godspeed and good riddance Winston Churchill, Honor, and Liberty!

The three eggs are still kicking, and a couple others are developing nicely. Hopefully they're hens...

I had guests Tuesday and Wednesday who were helping me get a laundry list of projects done before I leave Monday for the homesteading and gardening tour in England. Now that everyone's gone, I need to get ready for the trip. Right now, I'm more apprehensive than excited because I often suffer from motion sickness and haven't been on a plane in years.

I am excited for you . I'll pray your flight goes well and you don't get too motion-sick!

But, Lavinia, Daphne and Isabel refuse to quit, even through they are sitting on nothing, absolutely nothing.

Ugh. Will you try to break them or just let them ride it out? I love their names!

The little chapel in daylight

Full view of the Basilica of St Francis

Narrow town street

Street shrine of Madonna and Child

Basilica of the Angels...I think?

Little chapel restored by St Francis, housed within the basilica

As you drive along Italian highways, random mediaeval towns greet your eye.

Church in Sienna

Italian Countryside at San Gimignano

Old car

Street of San Gimignano

Square - see the line of people waiting for the World's Best Gelato?

River

Church in Florence

The Duomo (Basilica) in Florence

Some tower in Florence; the statue of a man in front of the building (casting a shadow) is a copy of Michaelangelo's David, which is in the Art Gallery of the city.

The Duomo and the city of Florence by night

 

[Callender Girl]

Today is the day; I leave for England this afternoon. I hope my trip has as many highlights as yours. I LOVE the photo with the sunlight streaming through the round church window.

I also hope your prayer does the trick for keeping my airsickness at bay. At my sister's suggestion, I got some prescription anti-nausea patches, but after I read all the potential side effects, I'm not sure I want to use them. She says she's used them for years, and none of the bad stuff has ever happened. We'll see, I guess.

It's good that you found a suitable home for your roosters. I thought I would miss mine more than I do. Life is much more calm without them -- although I did like to hear them crow. One of my Iowa Blue hens has started trying to crow since the boys are gone. Although she stretches out and does her best, her cock-a-doodle-do isn't very good.

How are the three eggs doing? Hope they all hatch out as hens.

I am letting my hens get over their broodiness on their own. I was hoping they would get over it before I left. I lift them out of the nest boxes at least twice a day so they will eat and drink with the others. I'm not sure my pet sitter is going to be willing to do that. Isabel is a big fluffy, older Cochin who doesn't protest at all. Lavinia and Daphne are pullets who are a bit testy but don't offer too much resistance. BTW, many of my chickens are have vintage English names. Thanks for enjoying them!

I will be off to England in a few hours. Hope I have some great adventures to share when I get back.

 

[lightm]

Today is the day; I leave for England this afternoon. I hope my trip has as many highlights as yours. I LOVE the photo with the sunlight streaming through the round church window.

I also hope your prayer does the trick for keeping my airsickness at bay. At my sister's suggestion, I got some prescription anti-nausea patches, but after I read all the potential side effects, I'm not sure I want to use them. She says she's used them for years, and none of the bad stuff has ever happened. We'll see, I guess.

It's good that you found a suitable home for your roosters. I thought I would miss mine more than I do. Life is much more calm without them -- although I did like to hear them crow. One of my Iowa Blue hens has started trying to crow since the boys are gone. Although she stretches out and does her best, her cock-a-doodle-do isn't very good.

How are the three eggs doing? Hope they all hatch out as hens.

I am letting my hens get over their broodiness on their own. I was hoping they would get over it before I left. I lift them out of the nest boxes at least twice a day so they will eat and drink with the others. I'm not sure my pet sitter is going to be willing to do that. Isabel is a big fluffy, older Cochin who doesn't protest at all. Lavinia and Daphne are pullets who are a bit testy but don't offer too much resistance. BTW, many of my chickens are have vintage English names. Thanks for enjoying them!

I will be off to England in a few hours. Hope I have some great adventures to share when I get back.

A homestead tour in England sounds really wonderful. I do hope you will have a fun time and no sickness during the flight.

@Evadig i enjoy your thread and i will contribute to some photos this time.

I have been in China for about 3 weeks by now, visiting family. I'm flying back to the US tomorrow.

My beautiful hometown. It has lots of rivers and canals.

How eggs are sold here. It says 3.59 yuan per half kg. If one egg is about 60g, then it converts to about 1 dollar for 10 eggs.

Two hens in my patents neighborhood... unfortunately I think they are cooped up in doors most of the time, and only let out for a limited time in the morning.

Visiting a historical house.

A newly established outdoor mall.