French dressing, and the Sandstone Trail

I know most of you are preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday.  We will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Sunday with another American family.  Thursday/Thanksgiving Day is just another day here.  I am preparing my grocery list.  I have learned that when in doubt, best check the Sainsbury's web site (grocery store we frequent, along with Aldi) to see if they have an ingredient for a particular recipe.  I have learned that cranberries are hard to come by.  Regular powdered jello, Cool Whip, French's French fried onions for the green bean casserole, and canned pumpkin, among other things, are also not available.  Rumor has it they have jarred cranberries here, I suppose similar to our canned?  (Many things that come in plastic jars--mayo, syrup, etc come in glass jars here.)  For jello, they have these blocks of jelly that you dissolve.  Available in a rather limited 3-4 flavors, but not the same as Jell-O.  They also call jello, jelly.  And jelly is jam.  Yes, I know you can cook a pumpkin and puree it.  Just haven't taken the time to do so.

I thought some of you might find that tidbit interesting.

We are also in the midst of planning our term holiday.  (Kids complete first term of 3 at Christmas break.)  We are not returning to the US this term break.  If all works out, it should be a super-duper holiday.  A gold star will be awarded to the ones who can figure out where we're going.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

We went hinking on the Sandstone Trail this past weekend.  Very nice.  Got some nice pics of the kids.  One or two even made it onto the xmas card.  Beautiful setting. 



A marker for the Sandstone Trail in Frodsham.  J is not in pain, as he appears to be.  The sun was shining brightly at him and blinding him. 




The Sandstone Trail is a 30 mile trail that travels through various towns.  There is a lot of sandstone through here, hence the name.  Being 30 miles, there are several different portions of the trail.  We did a shorter one.




J standing by a telephone/stamp dispensing/mail collection booth.  And you thought it was just a phone booth!



Historical description of the phone booth/stamp dispenser/mail collection booth J is standing beside in previous picture.



View to the west of Frodsham from a vantage above the city.  We reached this point by walking on the Sandstone Trail.

 

View of Frodsham



Monument to those who gave their lives in the Great War, and WWII.  Poppies and poppy wreaths and various markers memorializing Remembrance Day, known as Veterans Day in the US.  This spire stands high above the city, and is very visible.

 

 

 

Kids standing by one of the cliffs with forced smiles.  They did enjoy themselves, just are not good at posing.  This trail is very "woodsy", and there is LOTS of mud.  Up to our ankles in many spots.  Always wear your wellies!



J did not do the carving into the cliffs here, but he was very happy to find that his initials had been carved into the sandstone for all to see.

 

 

N by one of the cliffs.



W hanging out in a tree.



J will not be outdone by his bro, now will he?

 

 

Apparently W thinks he is a koala!

 

 

 

A lot of the trail went right along ridges/cliffs.  No fences, so when you are trying to dodge the mud and straddle the path, be careful you don't go over the edge!  Will you get over already??  Reminds me of another time we were at the edge of a cliff in mud.  Will blog about that at a later time.  All's well that ends well.  This time there is no lake below, and lots of trees to slow your descent.

 

 

 

Break time.

 









Picture of N-wish his smile would have been more natural.