The Musings of Revd. Ryan

"Deep in the Hundred-Acre Wood"

2006-08-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

Well, folks, we are approaching the end of this blog, at least for the time being. There may be more posts in the future, but they won't be quite as regular, because a week from Tuesday I am headed back to the States, bringing to an end my 361-day British odyssey. There will be a few more pics to post next week, but for now, here are a few from Thursday, when my friend John and I went rambling in Ashdown Forest, the legendary "Hundred-Acre Wood" of Winnie the Pooh fame. I did see a great deal of poo (the open spaces are grazed by hundreds of sheep), but no Winnie :( Oh, well! It was still a fun day.

The Nutley windmill- a very old windmill which has been relocated three times. This is the old windmill design where you can use the long handle on the back to turn it to face the wind!

John at the Poohsticks bridge, where you are supposed to pick up two sticks and have them race in the stream from one side of the bridge to the other- of course, we participated :)

Some deer on the edge of a cluster of trees- beautiful creatures.

Sheep on duty patroling the perimeter of the forest.

Bri's Visit

2006-07-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

The final visitor at the Manse Hostel for the year- my friend Bri from Iowa. Here she is at Beachy Head and here is an interesting sign we noticed at Middle Farm (I'm always a bit wary of children who dress like they live in the 1920s- they give me the creeps!) :)

Stacey's Farewell Tea

2006-07-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

We hosted an informal farewell tea for Stacey on her last afternoon in the country and gave an open invitation to Hailsham. Here are Ruby, Pam, May, Pam, Ted, and myself enjoy the food and conversation.

Gamelands Church Dinner

2006-07-24T03:47:00.000-07:00

A wonderful church dinner was arranged by Gamelands at the Anglican church hall. We had a wonderful evening of food and entertainment, including a hilarious skit performed by Jack and Leslie, music by Jack, Pat, and Lorna, and a few songs I played as well. I will miss these churches so much!

Alison's Visit & Ireland!

2006-07-24T03:29:00.000-07:00

Preparing to kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle.

A Celtic Cross found in the lake near the monastery on an island we rowed out to.

Stealing a kiss at the waterfall in the national park near Kilarney

Our picnic spot with the islands far in the background.

A distant picture of the two islands

The bird island- most of the white is either birds (about 10,000) or their poo :)

One of the Skelligs- you can just barely see the 600 steps leading up to the ancient monastery at the top.

Stacey and Alison on the boat. I barely survived the trip due to giant swells- it was a 3-dimensional rollercoaster ride for two hours since the swells prevented us from landing at the island. I made it through, but it was pretty miserable on the way back! The upside was getting to see a few puffins- so cool!

The strangest coincidental meeting in Europe so far- out at the end of the Ring of Kerry we had arranged to take a boat trip out to the Skelligs, two small islands inhabited by 1,000s of birds and the ruins of a 6th century Christian monastery. When we were walking down to the docks in this 200-person town, I thought I recognized someone in line, and it was Sharon from my seminary out in Denver. She was on a guided tour of early Christian sites with John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg, two prominent Jesus scholars. So random!

Alison being introduced to the Sussex Cream Tea tradition by Stacey at the manse.

Alison, a friend of Stacey's from home, came to visit for a fortnight and we all spent a few days in Ireland together near the Ring of Kerry (Kilarney and Cork).

Denver Friends Come to Visit

2006-07-10T03:14:00.000-07:00

Our friends Brad and Audra and their son Braden were recently our guests here in England at the Manse-Hostel. We had a meal together to celebrate the fourth with many of the traditional fixins. It is the busy season here at the manse, with 6 sets of visitors coming all within just over a month's time! We're having a great time hosting everyone, and the time here is flying by. One more month and I'll be back in the States!

Kilts & Lochs- Scotland!

2006-07-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

A cool church we visited which is half church and half ruins.

Scotland's smallest distillery (this is an exhibit at the distillery, not the distillery itself)

Quite possibly the oldest living thing in the world- a yew tree in Fortignall scientists believe is 5,000 years old!

The burial mounds of the McNab clan, where they have been buried for 800 years on an island in the middle of the river in Killin.

A herd of wild deer in Glen Lyon, a 2-hour single-track driving adventure down a beautiful valley.

A Scottish Sheep- much cuter than English sheep, I think.

The travelers aboard the S.S. Sir Walter Scott on Loch Katrine.

"You take the high road..." Me and the Peeps (http://www.peepsineurope.blogspot.com) out on Loch Lomond on our Scotland trip with Stacey and Beth & Pete, the briefest of trips covering 1200 miles in four days.

Rainy, Rainy Wimbledon

2006-07-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

The theme of our day- waiting and waiting until the tennis was finally called off. Full refund though! :)

Ah, the Wimbledon experience- strawberries and cream under a brolly, no tennis in sight.

A picture of the only tennis we got to see during the day- 45 minutes at the beginning of the day before the rain began.

The "Wimbledon 2006" flowers

Scary ball girls and ball boys- very professional to a scary degree.

A line judge ready for a serve.

A Roger Federer look-alike playing tiny tennis as a promotion at Wimbledon Station.

A Beautiful Evening at Beachy Head

2006-07-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

Stacey's friends from Washington, D.C., Beth and Pete, were here visiting and we went up to Beachy Head in the evening- a very beautiful evening.

On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin, On On On!

2006-06-24T02:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have no idea how that song goes, but I thought it was a fitting title for this badger pic. We went to visit two of my congregation members late at night because they feed the badgers in their back yard and they thought we might like to see them. It was really cool, because they usually get between five and eight badgers each night, but at one point there were ten of them out there eating! We opened the window so we could watch them and hear them eating and making badger-y noises. It was a fun evening. (My apologies for the grainy nature of this photo, but it was quite dark out when the badgers arrived).

Eastbourne Tennis

2006-06-21T00:49:00.000-07:00

vs. Akiko Morigami (JPN) & Aiko Nakamura (JPN)

Match 3- Doubles: Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) & Meng Yuan (CHN)

vs. Olga Savchuk (UKR)

Match 2: Lisa Raymond (USA)

vs. Martina Sucha (SVK)

Match 1: Shenay Perry (USA)

The Hastings Direct International Women's Tennis Championships are being held in Eastbourne this week, so Stacey and I went down and got courtside seats (using ground passes) for £6 for the day. It's a pretty big tournament (Martina Navratilova is there for doubles) and it was a great day out!

Family Visit!

2006-06-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

A lovely lunch at Barbara and Hugh's after the hike, out in the garden- delightful!

The "hire car" giant van (giant for England) with our intrepid ramblers ready for a hike

Ramblin' with Barbara and Hugh- a great morning

Laura finds the perfect souvenir in London

Bodiam Castle- famous and photogenic at sunset

The parents in historic Rye on Mermaid Street (in front of the pub- RE-built in 1438)

Stacey and Gerry peeking out from behind the stones at Avebury (like Stonehenge, but you can get close enough to see the stones (and touch them!))

Gerry taking some time to just "B" at Herstmonceaux Castle

Peahen and Babies at Herstmonceaux

Laura and Ian at Herstmonceaux Castle

Laura and I singing and playing a duet at the Hailsham Strawberry Cream Tea and entertainment evening (I'm playing guitar)

Ian and I playing "The Fox" at Hailsham

Touring David Allan's garden- pretty amazing flowers!

Laura and Ian at Beachy Head on a beautiful day!

Pheasant Phight!

2006-05-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

I went rambling on my day off through the forests of East Sussex. We stopped by a Saxon church for lunch (featuring a pre-1066 chapel and an original Medieval food jar) and then on the way back found some entertainment along the way. Just a phew pheet phrom the road, two male phesants were walking across a phield. They began to phight, and I got some great phootage and photographs and of it! Very exciting to watch and they are beautiful birds. Included also is a photo of one of the headstones in the cemetary by the church (Arlington) which will definitely be a bulletin cover someday.

Brad and Alison's Visit- Wales & Battle

2006-05-22T02:57:00.000-07:00

And finally, at the end of the trip, Brad found what he was looking for- a postbox and a telephone booth next to each other. Unfortunately, the sun had set and this is the best picture we could get.

After church on Sunday we went to Battle (site of the Battle of Hastings, 1066), where they were holding their annual Knight's Tournament. It was an incredibly rainy day, but we still saw some falconry and jousting and listened to some medieval music.

I thought this rock was kind of cool at the bottom of the mountain lake on Mount Snowdon, the tallest mountain in Wales- looks like a mask for the Greek chorus.

Stacey came and joined us for an early weekend trip up to Snowdonia National Park on the north coast of Wales- here are some pics from that excursion including a few adorable sheep.

Viva la Dover! I was able to take a day off whilst my friends, Brad and Alison, were visiting from the States, and we went to Canterbury and Dover, stopping through Rye and Bodiam Castle on the way back. Apparently I took one picture- here it is- from the top of Dover castle looking down on their 11th Century church and Roman lighthouse (France is in the background if you squint really hard).

My Dad's Visit

2006-05-12T05:51:00.000-07:00

My Dad (Gary) came to visit from the States for a short week, which was a lot of fun. We stayed mostly in the local area, with a surprise (for him) trip to Brighton to see the Lost & Found Orchestra, the world premiere of the sequel to the broadway show Stomp. Check it out at http://www.brightondome.org/events/eventdetails.asp?id=1928 We toured Eastbourne, played a song for the Gamelands Fayre and the Hailsham Women's Group, and visited my churches. His camera was acting up a bit, so some of the pictures had to be converted to black and white, so for your viewing enjoyment, I present Old-Timey Eastbourne, Cross in Hand, Gamelands, Pevensey Castle Wall (built 293AD), and my shiny car after a full afternoon's work.

Living the American Dream

2006-05-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

What's wrong with these pictures? I'll give you a clue from the website for The Hungry Monk, a restaurant in Jevington, England (only a few miles from my house): "Invented at the Hungry Monk in 1972, Banoffi Pie is still as popular today as it was the first time it appeared on the menu. There have been many imitations as far and wide as Russia and the United States; it is even rumored to be Mrs Thatcher's favourite pudding! Below is the original recipe as it first appeared in 'The Deeper Secrets of the Hungry Monk' in 1974." American Dream? But it's made in the England! :)

Alfriston

2006-05-04T03:30:00.000-07:00

Everybody together: "Aul-frist-en" Very good- just like the locals! The beautiful lady featured in these pics and I went to this tiny village on May 1 and witnessed the celebrations and saw the 14-century Clergy house and the church (previously featured in the painting I bought and posted a picture of on this blog). It was a great day! (Guest appearance by the Peeps at the teahouse courtesy of http://peepsineurope.blogspot.com)

Spring Has Sprung!

2006-05-04T01:53:00.000-07:00

Hooray- Spring is here! High of 71F today and sunny and beautiful. The flowers are in full bloom and I'm starting to understand the appeal of England :) Enjoy the pics!

Skansen (Cont.)- The Animals!

2006-04-20T07:16:00.000-07:00

Video available at: http://bayhillventures.com/video/videos.html

Energetic and sleepy seals.

A playful otter.

Great bears.

Two creatures you don't usually see together- the lynx and the brown bears (video on the video site: http://bayhillventures.com/video/videos.html)

Bedtime in the pigpen.

The Eagle Owl- the largest owl in the world!

Skansen

2006-04-20T07:09:00.000-07:00

Not Skansen, but another Stockholm picture of Stacey and her parents eating at the Art Cafe, an underground restaurant built in 17th-century tunnels underneath the Old Town (Gamelstan). Very cool and excellent curry!

The Skansen glassblower at work in his shop.

Skansen is a huge outdoor museum opened in 1891, featuring buildings brought in from all over Sweden. Here are some of the old time Swedish musicians featured at one of the farmsteads. You can check out video of them at the video website!

The Vasa Museet- Stockholm

2006-04-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

Stacey helps out the crew in the reconstruction of the ship's cabin.

The entire ship.

And the centerpiece of the back of the ship as it looked in 1628.

The centerpiece of the back of the ship as it looks today (unrestored)

The back of the ship above the rudder- the woodwork is amazing, and I can hardly imagine what it must have looked like when painted in bright colors.

Stacey with the diving bell that was used not long after the Vasa sank to recover some of the cannons. Claustraphobics beware!

The Vasa Museum is a museum dedicated to the preservation and display of The Vasa, a Swedish warship which sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628 (dramatized in the photo above). It sat at the bottom of the Baltic sea until it was rediscovered by a man in a boat in the 1960s. It was then brought to the surface intact and was restored- it now sits in the museum, preserved for posterity. An absolutely amazing museum.

The Eden Project

2006-04-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

The original reason I was fascinated with the conservation efforts at the Eden project- they compost 1.5 tons of leftover food and rubbish produced by visitors each day during peak season and recycle all the bottles and cans. Bottles are made into really neat glasses using a very simple process- check it out!

With Stacey's Dad, Jim, close behind.

Stacey's Mom (black jacket, green shirt), coming down from the canopy inside the rainforest dome.

The robot sculpture at the Eden Project which is made up of all of the electronic gadgets that one person (British) will go through in a lifetime (probably more for Americans!). For an idea of how large the sculpture is, find a washing machine in it.

Visited the largest botanical garden in the world (in Cornwall), which features two giant geodesic domes containing the only tropical rainforest canopy "in captivity." A very cool place committed to education and conservation.

So Much Catching Up to Do!

2006-04-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

The only "United Methodist Church" I've seen in England. Definitely not UMC, but sure looks like one!

Had to take a picture of this building as a proud Methodist. Maybe I can find another sign for my house someday? ;)

An old farmstead on the road to (from?) St. Ives, with goose.

Jim (Stacey's Dad) and the lighthouse.

The beautiful scenery at the lighthouse in Cornwall on a brief trip with Stacey and her parents.

Random Pics

2006-03-18T03:15:00.000-08:00

Almost caught the eclipse, but that moon is just too fast :) Just kidding- I was just experimenting with the camera, seeing if it was able to take a picture of the full moon or not- turns out it has trouble because it is too bright, but I can get the detail of the moon in its reflection if I take the picture through my double-glazed windows!

A few snowdrops, too!

I found a few crocus plants in the yard and they're beautiful!

Two tents that Stacey and I purchased out of the Friday Ad (they came as a set- can't you tell? they match perfectly!) So we're ready- come camp with us!

Preachin' It!

2006-02-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

With Mom and Sister

Whilst I was back in the States I also had the opportunity to preach at my home church in Iowa, which was great!

Selections from America so far...

2006-02-11T09:38:00.000-08:00

My luxurious accomodations in MN

Two of my favorite rooms in the crazy-big house that my Dad is currently residing in while attempting to sell it- the library and the living room.

Some winter flowers in Florida

Ernie the Egret out by the dock in Florida

I'm back in the States for about 10 days to preach at my home church and interview with my ordination committee- so far I've stopped in Florida and Minnesota to see my Dad and half-sisters, and now I'm back in Ames to catch up with family here.

Stewards' Dinner

2006-02-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

Great fun at the Manse! The stewards at Hailsham hosted a dinner at my place, serving gammon (ham steaks) with egg or pineapple, chips (fries), peas, and pancakes for dessert- the food was excellent and the company was wonderful.

Rambling at Cuckmere

2006-01-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

GROSS! What is it?! Well, apparently it is a conglomeration of eggs of some sea creatures called welks (named for Lawrence?). Apparently they are like sea snail fish and their empty eggs are so light they float to the surface and clumps like these (softball size) show up on the shore, along with many cuttlefish "bones," shells, and other treasures. A cool sort of gross. :)

The seafront.

Seen from outside.

Looking out the sniper window of a cement structure built on the coast during the war.

A very windswept tree near the seafront.

Herding sheep- don't forget- you can check out the video of it along with many others at http://bayhillventures.com/video/videos.html

The winding River Cuckmere (freshwater) where it meets the sea (not).

The manse. Not my manse, but a manse- pretty crazy and cool.

The Long Man of Wilmington's horse, which apparently ran away from him, nearly to Seaford

The frosty leaves- an artsy shot for your wallpaper :)

The Future is Now!

2006-01-17T13:52:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! For all of you who have been so patient and stuck with the blog for this long, you deserve a reward. So here it is- we are taking this blog into the 21st century and 4th dimension (bypassing the 3rd- too complicated). That's right- we have video! Check it out at: http://bayhillventures.com/video/videos.html

Seaford

2006-01-17T11:15:00.000-08:00

James and the Seven Sisters

Seaford Head

The Seven Sisters (7 chalk clliffs with Beachy Head at the far end)

Today I went to Seaford, a town slightly larger than Hailsham, by way of some of the most winding, narrow, and steep roads I have ever encountered. If you think you have driven, I am here to tell you that you have done no such thing until you try this one out- I'm thinking I'll pitch it to the video game developers- Grand Theft Auto- Eastbourne Edition. Anyway, I went to meet my ministry mentor, James, and we went for a walk along Seaford Head (like Beachy Head, only not so beachy). I also got to have lunch with him and his wife and two small children- it was a good time. Enjoy the pics!

Christmas Eve!

2006-01-12T12:32:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the long virtual silence- here's one to tide you over until I get the camera out again. Christmas Eve at the Manse in between two church services- what a spread and what a cutie!

HMC and Local Watercolor

2005-12-03T07:23:00.000-08:00

My keepsake purchase- a watercolor of the church in Alfriston, the destination on multiple rambles so far.

Hailsham Methodist Church

Battle (as in the Battle of Hastings- 1066)

2005-12-03T07:13:00.000-08:00

Mind your head!

You knew it was coming- the classic red phone booth pic!

Bath

2005-12-03T07:02:00.000-08:00

Parents at the baths

Cross-over pic of Stacey & I and Blue & Pink at the baths (just in case you haven't been keeping up with http://peepsineurope.blogspot.com) :)

Pompei-esque tile floor in Bath

Welcome to Bath, home of the Roman Baths (yes, Romans in England)!

Stonehenge

2005-12-03T06:54:00.000-08:00

Parents at Stonehenge, built by the ancients as a windbreak at the coldest, windiest spot in all of England

Stacey and I

One of my favorites

Rambling and Salisbury

2005-11-29T12:25:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what a Cedar of Lebanon looks like? Imagine there is only one of these in the picture :)

The Cathedral spire- tallest in England- there we are in front!

Cool multifaceted laser-etched crystal in the Cathedral.

Now that's a stained glass window- Salisbury Cathedral.

The oldest known running clock in existence- you can't read the time, but it chimes the hour- pretty cool!

The cutest (and most British) horse ever- just add a pipe and hat, dear Watson! Seen while rambling on the coldest, most miserable day of my parents' visit.

Oxford

2005-11-29T11:35:00.000-08:00

Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter! No, not Harry Potter- sorry to disappoint- a dining hall at a college in Oxford- crispitos or "for the crowd" casserole, anyone? ;)

Descending the treacherous stairs at the church in Oxford

Mom, Dad, and friend Sue on the balcony of the church

Cooooool (it wasn't me)

Pic from the church balcony in Oxford

Outdoor sculpture on a building in Oxford- very ornate and cool.

Leeds, Canterbury, and Windsor

2005-11-29T11:25:00.000-08:00

The next trip- Windsor Castle. Check out the little crowns that are featured on all of the street lights surrounding the castle!

Canterbury Cathedral on a day trip to Leeds, Canterbury, and Rye

Leeds Castle- "Lovliest Castle in England," complete with moderately friendly peacocks.

Parents Arrive in England- Beachy Head

2005-11-29T11:15:00.000-08:00

My parents arrived in the morning and it was a beautiful sunny day. By the time we got up to Beachy Head it had turned cold, windy, cloudy, and nasty, but it made for one great picture!

Rambling on...

2005-10-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

Stacey and I in traditional Nigerian dress at the Hailsham Circuit Mission Lunch- might wear this every Sunday! :)

Rainbow and windmill- double photography points! On the way back from rambling.

The church itself, known to be about 1,000 years old.

A yew tree growing in a churchyard- rumored to be at least 2,000 years old.

A bathroom (loo) I used on a stop while rambling. In the U.S., it would be a historic landmark, but here, a bathroom- crazy!

The Long Man of Wilmington (not Willingdon or Wilmingdon, two other nearby towns- very creative names around these parts - is it any wonder I get lost? :) ) He was carved out in the cliffside sometime between the bronze age and the medieval period- 235 feet high and proportioned so that he appears normal from the ground, not above!

Up on the downs with John again- check out the size of this mushroom! Yes, that's really my foot- size 10.

Revd. B all dressed up to lead his first British funeral- never thought I would see this sight!

For more fun, check out http://peepsineurope.blogspot.com/

2005-10-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

Sweden and Stacey!

2005-10-02T12:14:00.000-07:00

I got a chance to sneak away for a few days to Sweden to see Stacey and where she is for the year- my first trip to Sweden, so it was fun. It was wonderful to see Stacey and we had a great time- she had planned a day away on the coast (Molle?) which involved a serious hike to a lighthouse along the coast (where else would a lighthouse be?) the most exciting moment of which involved walking through the middle of a cow pasture mere feet from giant cows with the largest horns I have ever seen (unlikely all 30 of them were bulls, but they all had serious horns!). Other pics are Slatton (sp?), the lovable but troublesome cocker spaniel at Stacey's house, Stacey on the coast, and me climbing the rope back up from the seashore to the trail. Enjoy!

Today's Ramblings

2005-09-22T19:18:00.000-07:00

Pictures from today's rambling (more than walking, less than hiking) up to the top of the downs near Polegate. Pictures are of the Polegate windmill, a very cute (and huge!) pig we saw along the way, some of the British rainforest with great sunlight streaming through, some foggy sheep, and John, my tour guide and rambling friend I met on the downs three weeks ago.

Stacey and I at Beachy Head in Eastbourne + First Dinner

2005-09-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

Huge lighthouse at the bottom of a 550-ft cliff about ten miles south of my house on the ocean- pretty spectacular! Also, one of one of our first real dinners in the now furnished and carpeted dining room- for a comparison, see the picture below with the nice wood floor (wish they would have refinished that instead!). Stacey was able to come visit for the first weekend, which was great, and we did a lot of cooking together, so I have been well fed this week!

Nickel Creek in London!

2005-09-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

Stacey came to visit last weekend to celebrate 1 year of dating, to see Nickel Creek in concert in London, and to be there when I led my first service. Here are pics from the concert. Not often do you get the opportunity to see Nickel Creek in a Sir Christopher Wren cathedral built in the 1600s and use every form of transportation in London due to torrential rains!

The Manse (pre-carpet)

2005-09-14T17:45:00.000-07:00

My house before carpet- four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, dining room, living room (lounge), and office. Quite a change from my studio apartment. I'll follow up eventually with more pics of the completed manse.

Margaret's and the Car

2005-09-14T17:38:00.001-07:00

More pics (text will come eventually- I promise!) from Margaret's house and my new wheels. Tthe smell of a classic Porsche, the key of an Aston Martin, but no- it is a '96 Ford Escort with the steering wheel on the proper British side- but it's an automatic- hooray!. Check out how tiny it is- I'm holding up a £1 coin! :) More to come!

Up on the Downs and Bodeam Castle

2005-09-14T17:29:00.000-07:00

More pics- this time taken when I walked up to the top of the Downs from Margaret's house (where I stayed for the first two weeks). A couple of miles up and back and met a nice elderly gentleman who served as my tour guide and has offered to do so again sometime. Also, pics from Bodeam castle, where we went on our staff day away. Enjoy!

Almost a month has passed...

2005-09-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

Almost a month has passed...so it's obviously about time I posted some pictures and some more musings. Luckily, no one has been told about this blog yet, so I'm not disappointing anyone :) Here are some pics from the training at St. Alban's (N of London)- the conference center, all of the student ministers for this year, the chapel, and roman ruins- hope you enjoy them!

I have arrived!

2005-08-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

I arrived in England on August 19th in England, jet-lagged and quite a bit nervous. David Allan and Margaret Bethel were there with a drive to meet me at the airport and whisk me away to Hailsham (well, Lower Willingdon for two weeks until the house (hereafter referred to as the manse) was carpeted and finished). Off on a one-year adventure!