Saturday, November 28, 2009

Thanksgiving



Thanksgiving was good but we did miss our families.. We received our new couch in today and are amazed at how large it is!! You can set 5 people on it! This is a photo of Justin studying on it. And the last photo is our Thanksgiving spread. Not much but Justin and I have both been sick. and I did not want to cook a lot so we bought a pre-cooked Chicken, Mac-N-Cheese, Dessert and Appetizers. I made the rest, LOL! Mashed Potatoes and Glazed Carrots :) Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed your time with family. 

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Cooking in Britain

Mincemeat Pie

Beef Wellington 

Bangers and Mash


When I moved here I was so scared I would not like the food or that I would not be able to find the right ingredients for my dishes. But once I walked the supermarket isles I found new and wonderful things to cook. Things that you can't find in the states are in abundance here and a lot cheeper! Duck, Lamb, Prawns, Sausages, Cheese, Wine, fresh bread and much more! I have all new ingredients to play with and my husband to taste them all and let me know if it works or not. I will start making dishes for you and let you know how they turn out. I will post photos and recipes to go with them :) Hope you enjoy and learn how to cook British food with me :)

Monday, November 9, 2009

Imagine our surprise!

What We thought we were getting...

WHAT WE GOT!

This morning Justin and I were so very excited to get our couch in today. When this showed up as our couch... Let's just say we were less than amused! This was our couch and we needed to buy more to complete the set. This just sums up our stay here so far in Oxford with customer servive. This might be a beautiful place but boy does the service here stink. We are okay now that we have had a good laugh over it. But now we need to order the rest of the couch... P.S. They forgot to bring the coffee table again. We have been waiting for it sense last week!

Adventures in Jane Austen's World


When I first got here I was very enchanted. My first steps onto the street of London outside the airport was the smell of clove cigarettes, old fashion taxi cabs and smartly dressed people. I was romanced right then and there. The drive through the English countryside to Oxforshire was lovely and the leaves were just changing to meet the expectations of the coming Fall: bright reds, yellows, accompanied the very green. The flowers were in bloom everywhere. Hanging flower pots from the pubs' front doors. The ancient walls made from stone, as well as ivy growing on the homes, made me think of Jane Austin's novel Pride and Prejudice. It looked like Elizabeth Bennet's home. We then found that we live next to a 900 year old church with grave stones adorning it so beautifully. They have lovely benches there and huge swaying trees with the hughes of red and yellow and when the leaves fall, it makes a beautiful blanket of color on the ground. It is just like walking into a painting. It is nice to see a fit and well dressed society but it is hard to understand their very thick accent. I have yet to go and experience London. But that is my next destination. As I sit here with my glass of wine and hand full of peanuts in honor of my granny :) I can't stop thinking about this wonderful place I find myself in. I think about Jane Austen in this setting. Everything on Church Way is just as it was 300 years ago. The homes, street, and church exist as if they were all suspended in time somehow. How wonderful it would be to have beautiful gowns in my closet and my hair neatly done up just like Elizabeth Bennet. One can dream, and this is the place to do it in.


Wednesday, November 4, 2009

background

University of Oxford~Christ Church College

University of Oxford~Christ Church College

Parliament. London, UK

Parliament. London, UK
Justin and Laura

Justin and me in front of the London Eye.

Justin and me in front of the London Eye.

Oxford Punting.

Oxford Punting.

Mom and Dad McKenney

Mom and Dad  McKenney

Mom and Dad Estrada

Mom and Dad Estrada

The Estrada Family Dec-2007

The Estrada Family Dec-2007

Estrada Family Snowboarding Jan-2007

Estrada Family Snowboarding Jan-2007

Snow boarding Jan-2007

Snow boarding Jan-2007

Flagstaff Arizona Jan-2007

Flagstaff Arizona Jan-2007

Justin at The Grand Canyon Jan-2007

Justin at The Grand Canyon Jan-2007

Puerto Rico Rainforest *Honeymoon*

Puerto Rico Rainforest *Honeymoon*

Wedding Justin and Laura at Westminster Presbyterian Church Brandon, FL

Wedding Justin and Laura at Westminster Presbyterian Church Brandon, FL

Justin and Laura Estrada May-20-2006

Justin and Laura Estrada May-20-2006

Justin and Laura Wedding May-2006

Justin and Laura Wedding May-2006

Wedding Cake May-2006

Wedding Cake May-2006

Belize missions Trip. Jun-2004 Our first date...

Belize missions Trip. Jun-2004 Our first date...