Sights and Sounds Forty-One

We made it. It's 9pm here in the UK and we just watched the BBC Sports Personality of the year. I am about to go to bed. We arrived this moring about 10 to a snowy Manchester and Dad greeted us at the airport. The flights were good and didn't seem to take too long. It took about 1hr 20 mins to drive from Manchester to Knaresborough. Dusti and I had a cup of tea and some bacon sandwiches for our late breakfast. I took a little nap and Dusti went for a jog in the -2 Celsius weather. For dinner mum made us some Yorkshire pudding along with some good old roast beef. Here's a couple of pics form the day.

Sights and Sounds Forty-One

Okay, so this last weekend we had our "first" Christmas at the Annan's. This, due to the fact we are going to England this year to spend Christmas with the Coultas' (hopefully...weather permitting). We had a very nice Sunday although much colder than our Thanksgiving. The standard family pic was taken outside along with some others. Judy made a delicious spaghetti lunch and Steve  even threw a few bacon wrapped scallops on the grill for appetizers which were out of this world! Here's a few pics from our day.

I thought I would add little monkey at the end because this is a cute pic!

Sights and Sounds Forty

Sometimes comfort food just rules. Tonight i decided to make a good old English meat and potato pie. I also added onions, peas and carrots, a little HP sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, Beef Bisto and a splash of Guinness and wow it was amazing. A couple of tips from the Missus and voila! See for yourself....

Sights and Sounds Thirty-Nine

Today was Thanksgiving here in America. We went over to Dusti's parents for the annual feast. I have a lot to be thankful for and spending time with family is one of those things. We had a great meal on a lovely warm afternoon. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Sights and Sounds Thirty-Eight

We spent the weekend in an region outside Aiken, SC called Horsecreek Valley. Dusti's mother's family all came from this area. It is known for all the textile mills that once were thriving but now all lay silent with locked gates. We shot some video and interviewed Uncle Chuck and WooWoo for our family documentary that we are putting together. It is quite an undertaking and will be a long haul but the stories we are capturing from our time spent with Dusti's family are great. Along with the footage and interviews we plan on shooting in the UK this Christmas we think this project is going to be quite special when it's finished.

Below are couple of images. One is the now derelict Vaucluse Mill which is where Dusti's Great Grandad worked. It closed a  while back but the post office is still open!

 Dusti standing with Mama, Steve and Judy outside the little Vaucluse Post Office

Sights and Sounds Thirty-Seven

I bought the new iLife suite for my mac this week. We made a quick video of our cats.

Monkey the Garden of Delight from Jonathan Coultas on Vimeo.

Sights and Sounds Thirty-Five

Just a couple of pics of the cats over the weekend. One is of Whitman hanging by our firewood and the other is our little monkey Beckford who lived up to his nickname by taking to the trees. He climbed so high and then ventured out onto a branch. Dusti managed to get the camera in time to get a shot of him falling from about 8 feet up. He had a soft landing on his feet and had Dusti and i rolling with laughter.

Sights and Sounds Thirty-Four

I haven't updated much in the last two weeks as I have been extremely busy. Last night i made Shepherds Pie. The real deal. American's use beef for Shepherds Pie which a big no no. That would be a Cottage Pie. A true Shepherds Pie is made with Lamb, hence the Shepherd! Anyway last nights was one of my best so far. So i took a pic of it!