Sudeley Castle through the eyes of Sophie (with a hint of Leah awesomeness)

written by: Sophia
photos by Sophia and Leah 

Yesterday we went to Sudeley Castle and it was an AMAZING experience. The ride up the hills was kind of crazy. At first it's ok, the hills slowly incline and the view's amazing, but then you hit a road and it winds all the way up to a village. With the speed limit 50 mph and cars on the "wrong side of the road" with steep hills, turning onto that road you almost wonder why you're even wanting to go to this place! But we turn on to the crazy winding road and head up that hill. As we go up Cleeve hill (I believe that's what it's called) the view is amazing. You see the sheep grazing on the hill side looking like big groups of maggots on the hillside, the green grass, the old cute little cottages with their weird names like ... well actually I don't remember them, but they were weird. The roads here have weird names too. On our way up I saw a road called Kidnappers road, I wonder how many kids disappear on that road. Despite of of this and also getting lost, I FINALLY see a majestic rock thing in the distance hidden be hind trees. That's when I realize OH THAT'S THE CASTLE!!!!!

We get there and the castle was amazing! The castle its self is surrounded by a grove of trees, making it look mysterious as it peeks out behind the grove making it secret. The medieval castle that still stands has the prettiest grounds I've ever seen.

This was the pond in part of the garden. In the pond were some fish, I think they were koi but, my mom said they were carp , I don't know they were fish. Anyways it was funny because if you threw anything in they'd go after it and try to eat it.

Anyways Leah and I were given the phone to take pictures and here's what happened.

Here's our parents and Georgie next to what's left of a 15th century barn.

I found a little archway hidden by grape vines in the barn.

Leah's wonderful panorama taking skills sort of ..... um... well... how do I put this nicely to you Leah.... well we'll work on it, but it's interesting.

Another hidden archway.

Leah under the same hidden archway thanks to moi!

I found some flowers and I thought this one was photogenic even though some of it's petals fell off.

Same flower not hidden this time.

Not too shabby for only using an IPhone if I do say so myself. Anyways moving along to the kids part of the castle. The castle on the inside most of it has been turned into a museum and has creepy mannequins and some old beds and stuff but yeah I guess it was cool. Well as we were going along of course we come across my favorite part DRESS UP IN DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS OF CLOTHING!!!!!! They had Medieval, they had Roman, they had Renaissance , they had princess costumes and prince costumes and Pride and Prejudice looking costumes it was fun.

They had costumes of all sizes even one for little Gorgie (Georgie+gorgeous = Gorgie)

Getting dressed was stressful

SO MANY COSTUMES!!!!!!!!!!!!

And FINALLY the finish products

Well after all of this awesomeness, I came across this little gem:

This is dedicated to all my classics club friends and my Latin/Classics club teacher who I know would've enjoyed this wonderful Roman mosaic. We had previously recreated a replica of this mosaic for a classics conference this past year, but it was never finished so unfortunately we couldn't enter it. Anyways it was cool to have come across this.

The last part of our little journey to the castle was the cool playground they had for the kids. It was this awesome treehousey thingy that looked like a castle or a fort and it was big enough for adults to go into and play as well. Everyone loved the zipline. Yes I just said it , a zipline. This playground had a mini zipline!!!! It was strong enough to hold me so I'd say most parents there could've gone on it, but they didn't. They don't know what they were missing.

Overall I had a wonderful time going to the castle, and I'd definitely go again in the future. 

The Cotswold Way

We hiked a small portion of the Cotswold Way

Through out the years Derek and I have been on a "moving journey".  It wasn't a planned out career choice, just life dictating economical housing, graduate schools and lastly career.  Once we hit the career milestone, I was for sure that our traveling roots would finally grow in soil that would keep us firmly planted in one place.  How I have whined and cried over feeling as if we'd never have that. Little did I understand God's plan for me, or the reliance I needed to place on him.

Speaking of reliance....Georgie and Sophie have had terrible congestion and though over the counter medication works fine temporarily we'll have to try out the British surgeries tomorrow to get expert help.  Unfortunately I'm getting sick too.  So it looks like a grand total of 3 Smiths will need see a doctor tomorrow.  I wish it stopped there but I have been so grumpy that I gave my kids a long scolding for not doing their kitchen chores after dinner and I'm pretty sure a sweet sister from my ward heard the whole terrible thing.  I sound like the Trunchbull when I'm mad, so welcome to the Smith Abode folks. 

Georgie pre-wheezy cough, chillin on the play equiptment.

Other than the sickness, house-hunting, and child management we really have been cherishing these moments.  Derek and I found a great deal on a Volvo XC 90, so we bought it.  It seems to drive well and there is enough space for all of us so we're happy.  With the car comes broadening our scope of exploration.  We went on a beautiful trail yesterday which is part of the Cotswold Way.  It was the first completely blissful outing since we've arrived.  I'm pretty sure we're nature lovers.  We like shops fine, but give us pastures and rolling hills and we're home.

Breath taking views from our hike.

As a professional daydreamer living in la-la land, it has been hard for me to accept that life isn't always rose colored and that true joy doesn't have a sugar coating.  With each move I have come to understand that joy is hard earned and life's rosy glow is really a dull, rainy day watching Bondi Doctor.  With that being said, the Lord has been good to Derek and I.  He must've been listening when I begged him to help me travel the world and explore new places and cultures.  I just didn't realize it would mean the "over-weight, middle-aged me--with 5 kids in tow", looking for the British equivalent to Children's Dimetapp and deciding whether or not to live in the city or outside of it. Somehow, the Cotswolds and the regency era has got lost in translation.  It takes quiet moments, long walks and a lot of exhaling to remember to take advantage of this blessing and to cherish it.  I have come to understand in these moments what a tender mercy it is to live here, with all of my family.  It is like a little present delivered to my door, wrapped up in a bow.  Now I need to be a grateful receiver of this gift.

Silly panoramas are becoming a Smith Family tradition.

I hope we can keep journaling our experiences here in the UK.  Seeing how my last post was a year ago I'm not holding my breath, but I have high hopes :)