Today is my seventy fifth birthday. God has been so good to me. We will be traveling all the live long day today. From Cambridge to London to Seattle to Spokane and then home again, home again, jiggity jig!
It will be good to be home again and to get our bearings.
Here are some birthday photos from the past.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Thank You, LORD!
Frances Crick’s brag in the Eagle. The pub where we habitually ate lunch, that we had indeed discovered that ‘Secret of life, struck me as somewhat immodest, especially in England, where understatement is the way of life. ~James Watson
The Eagle, Cambridge ~ Discovery of DNA~
On this spot on February 23, 1953, Francis Crick and James Watson made the first public announcement of the discovery of DNA with the words “We have discovered the secret of life.” Throughout their early partnership Watson and Crick dined in this room on six days every week.
Greg and I dined in this room on Monday March 9th, 2026.
The other history that is special here is the ceiling covered in graffiti of British and American WWII pilots who burned their names and squadron numbers here using cigarette lighters, candles and lipstick.
Cottage pie and duck hash were our choices for our meal.
From The Eagle we decided to trek over to the Wren Library in Trinity College. It has limited visiting hours and this was a good day to fit it in. That will be another post!
We are walking our feet off here in Cambridge. Thanks for following along on our travels and discoveries.
The Promised Land
Far from these narrow scenes of night
Unbounded glories rise,
And realms of infinite delight
Unknown to mortal eyes.
Far distant land—could mortal eyes
But half its joys explore,
How would our spirits long to rise,
And dwell on earth no more!
There pain and sickness never come,
And grief no more complains!
Health triumphs in immortal bloom,
And endless pleasure reigns!
From discord free and war’s alarms,
And want and pining care,
Plenty and peace unite their charms,
And smile unchanging there.
There rich varieties of joy,
Continual feast the mind;
Pleasures which fill, but never cloy,
Immortal and refined!
No factious strife, no envy there,
The sons of peace molest,
But harmony and love sincere,
Fill every happy breast.
No cloud those blissful regions know,
For ever bright and fair!
For sin, the source of mortal woe,
Can never enter there.
There no alternate night is known,
Nor sun’s faint sickly ray;
But glory from the sacred throne
Spreads everlasting day.
That glorious Monarch there displays
His beams of wondrous grace;
His happy subjects sing His praise,
And bow before His face.
O may the heavenly prospect fire
Our hearts with ardent love,
Till wings of faith and strong desire
Bear every thought above.
Prepare us, Lord, by grace divine,
For Thy bright courts on high;
Then bid our spirits rise and join
The chorus of the sky.
Words: Anne Steele, 1760.
Lamb of God, We Fall Before Thee
Lamb of God, we fall before Thee,
Humbly trusting in Thy cross.
That alone be all our glory;
All things else are only dross.
Thee we own a perfect Savior,
Only source of all that’s good.
Every grace and every favor
Comes to us through Jesus’ blood.
Jesus gives us true repentance
By His Spirit sent from Heav’n;
Whispers this transporting sentence,
Son, thy sins are all forgiv’n.
Faith He grants us to believe it,
Grateful hearts His love to prize;
Want we wisdom? He must give it,
Hearing ears and seeing eyes.
Jesus gives us pure affections,
Wills to do what He requires,
Makes us follow His directions,
And what He commands, inspires.
All our prayers and all our praises,
Rightly offered in His name—
He that dictates them is Jesus;
He that answers is the same.
When we live on Jesu’s merit,
Then we worship God aright;
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Then we savingly unite.
Hear the whole conclusion of it:
Great or good, whate’er we call,
God, or King, or Priest, or Prophet,
Jesus Christ is all in all.
Words: Joseph Hart, 1759.
The God of Abraham Praise
The God of Abraham praise,
Who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of everlasting days,
And God of Love;
Jehovah, great I AM!
By earth and Heav’n confessed;
I bow and bless the sacred name
Forever blessed.
The God of Abraham praise,
Whose all sufficient grace
Shall guide me all my happy days,
In all my ways.
He calls a worm His friend,
He calls Himself my God!
And He shall save me to the end,
Thro’ Jesus’ blood.
He keeps His own secure,
He guards them by His side,
Arrays in garments, white and pure,
His spotless bride:
With streams of sacred bliss,
With groves of living joys—
With all the fruits of paradise
He still supplies.
The God who reigns on high
The great archangels sing,
And Holy, holy, holy!
cry,
Almighty King!
Who was, and is, the same,
And evermore shall be:
Jehovah—Father—great I AM,
We worship Thee!
Before the Savior’s face
The ransomed nations bow;
O’erwhelmed at His almighty grace,
Forever new:
He shows His prints of love—
They kindle to a flame!
And sound thro’ all the worlds above
The slaughtered Lamb.
The whole triumphant host
Give thanks to God on high;
Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
They ever cry.
Hail, Abraham’s God, and mine!
(I join the heav’nly lays)
All might and majesty are Thine,
And endless praise.
Words: Thomas Olivers, 1765.
It’s another week with fresh questions for Hodgepodge Wednesday. Thank you, Joyce!
1. Do you make an effort to see/hear live music? Last time you went somewhere for the live music?
We enjoy live music every Sunday at church.
We haven’t made an effort to enjoy live music elsewhere lately except for attending evensong while in Great Britain, Scotland or Ireland and our Church’s Children’s Musicals at Christmas.
We are looking into attending a live performance of The Messiah this year.
2.According to HGTV the colors of the year for 2026 are mostly decided. Top paint companies declare a color of the year, and decorators will incorporate that into their new year home and room designs. Here’s what’s on tap in terms of paint trends for 2026 (check out the link here to see photos)
First question-did you know there were so many different paint manufacturers?
Yes, I’m married to a former painter and his first job was with his father in a painting business.
Which color on the list most appeals to you in terms of your own decorating style?
Decorating style is not a term that I would use for me or my home. 🙂 The base color in our home is Khaki Shadow with white trim.
Do you have plans to do any painting in your home in the coming year, and if so might you choose a color from this list?
The only plan is to complete some areas that were started awhile back. Just a little trim here and there.
Now, forget painting walls, which color name appeals to you most?
Hidden gem is appealing.
3. What’s something in your life you have to do-watch-or participate in that’s about as exciting as ‘watching paint dry’?
For this one, I’m going with drying my hair.
4 . Tuesday, October 14th is/was National Dessert day…did you/will you celebrate? Tell us how? What’s your absolute favorite dessert. Yes, just one. I know!!
I would pick roolyete. A traditional nut roll our mom made and we have now duplicated. I like pastries that have a soft chew to them. Here’s the recipe.
5. Perhaps today is the day I will…
Sort through my clothes and purge.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Tuesday October 14th was also Charlie Kirk Day. It was a day to wear red in remembrance of this young man who would have been 32 on that day and I was happy to participate.
We also watched the White House ceremony to honor Charlie Kirk’s memory with President Trump awarding him the Medal of Freedom, posthumously.
Everyday Images #72: I’m linking up with A Fresh Cup of Coffee for her Everyday Images and sharing my photos for her October Prompts.
listen:
matching:
clock:
current season (quarterly):
dishes:
orange:
I’ll be working on these next prompts to post in a couple of weeks:
Have a great October weekend y’all!
Sticky Toffee Pudding at Tom Morris Bar and Grill in St. Andrews, Scotland.
It’s the middle of the week and time for Wednesday Hodgepodge thanks to Joyce From This Side of the Pond!
1. What’s worth standing in line for?
I’m going with Greg’s answer here. :0)
A Restroom!
2. Tell us about a favorite food related memory.
We have many food related favorites and it is hard to choose just one but here goes.
In 2006 we along with two other couples (our doctor and his wife and our pastor and his wife) took a trip to Great Britain together. This was dubbed a ‘walking tour’. One of our over the top favorite and delicious eating experiences was at Conwy Bistro in Conwy, Wales. I had the most delicious shoulder of Welsh lamb and my mouth still waters when I think about it. We were also treated by the owners/chef with special treats while we dined. A remarkable food experience.
On this same self guided tour we decided to try Sticky Toffee Pudding at every food establishment we visited and to rate them against each other. This one above that we had in a Pub in York was a favorite.
3. What are some things you find particularly peaceful or calming?
Quiet mornings with nothing pressing on the agenda watching the wildlife on our property.
4. Is there something you do now that gets you just as excited as it did when you were a child?
Going on a trip. Now it’s the planning of a trip that gets me excited.
5. To what degree are you in touch with friends from grade school?
I am not in touch with any of my grade school friends.
high school?
There are a group of friends from high school that I’ve been in contact with, especially during the short years we lived in Camarillo (2006-2008). We had several mini reunions. I attended our 50th high school reunion in Montebello in 2018. We still exchange Christmas cards with two of my high school friends.
college if you attended college?
My best friend from Cal-State LA married my cousin. (She’s on the left in the photo) We’ve had a lot of contact the past fifty plus years. During my college years my friendship with Heidi developed not from school but from our Russian Baptist Church in L.A. (She’s on the right) We continue our friendship and cherish each other even though we live far apart.
I’ve also kept in contact with my first college roommate from the University of Redlands.
Having friends that are ‘forever friends’, ‘through thick and thin friends’ or ‘a friend that sticks closer than a brother’ are a treasure. We have a few of those kinds of friends we’ve made since college, too.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Speaking of Sticky Toffee Pudding…
From The Turf in Oxford, England.
From Dublin, Ireland, we ordered the pudding to go promising to return the plates and utensils.
We’ve enjoyed versions of it here in the USA, too.
This Sticky Toffee Pudding was enjoyed on the Sunset Terrace at The Grove in Asheville, North Carolina.
We made homemade Sticky Toffee Pudding for a British Pub Sunday Roast at our home. You can find the recipe here.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 