Thursday, May 5, 2011

Millie the Lamb

My friend Tejhy and I had quite the adventure on our way home from a Pampered Chef party. We came across this little lamb just wandering in the road with its eyes closed! Cars were avoiding it, but no one stopped to help. I had a blanket in my car, so Tejhy hopped out and brought the lamb to the car. The poor thing was all muddy, and wouldn't open it's eyes, so we weren't sure if it was hurt or not. 

Tejhy and Millie in the car


We went to a couple of houses in the area to see if they knew where the sheep might belong. We found a guy who thought it belonged in the field of sheep by his house, so we got her out and gave it a try. The lamb wouldn't walk or open it's eyes, and the other lambs in the field looked much larger than Millie (Tejhy thought of her name since we found her by Mildenhall), so we didn't want to throw her in this random field and have her not belong. So we packed her back up and decided to try a vet's office for help.
Me and Millie

Tejhy and the guy trying to get Millie to walk...she wasn't having it :)

We were pulling into the vet's parking lot, and as soon as I stopped we noticed the police officer pull in behind us. I panicked because I had been on my cell phone, which is not allowed here. Whoops!! I got out and went to the police officer (which I realize now would have probably gotten me handcuffed in the States if I didn't wait in the car!) and hurriedly said "I know I was on my phone but we have a hurt lamb in the car and we don't know what to do with it!" She walked over to the car, looked inside, and said "Well, I've never heard that one before." So she forgot about my cell phone and called her friend with a farm to see what we could do with the lamb.

We got to the farm and they gave her some lamb formula and an antibiotic shot to help with her shock. Tejhy and I got a tour of the farm while they helped her - everyone was SO nice and funny!!

Our new friend Kelly bottle-feeding Millie
Tejhy and another little lamb
Peggy the three-legged sheep - they named her that because of peg legs ;)
Some other sweet little lambs - two of them are twins!
Millie in her new home
We found their horses across the lane, they were beautiful!
Tejhy and I after our adventure!
When we left the farm they thought Millie had a 50/50 chance of living, but they thought if she made it through the night she should be OK. We heard from the farmer's daughter this morning and Millie was still going strong this morning, so we were very happy that she made it :) We had a fun time on our unexpected, but fun, adventure!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The Royal Wedding

What a great time to be in England! Friday I got to go into London and be a part of the Royal Wedding hoopla. EIGHT buses full of people left the base at 7am Friday to head into the city. We got dropped off at the Embankment, and the group I was with decided to head towards Buckingham Palace so we could hopefully get a decent spot for the procession after the ceremony and the balcony kiss. On our way there we came across an intersection where they were letting marked cars into a street leading to the Abbey. Who knows who was in there, but they must have been important! :)


Lots of police presence
Decorations everywhere
On our way we also came across the New Scotland Yard with some news crews outside trying to capture who was coming out that driveway.



We finally made it to St. James Park where there were so many people and media outlets and decorations. At first we were in front of the Guard Museum where all of the police and beef eaters were getting ready to take part in the events, and after they left we made our way over to the Mall and found a spot along the procession route.

Media crane - it was SO high!

We loved the crowns at the top of all the flagpoles and light poles
These masks were surprisingly lifelike, and a little freaky!
Buckingham Palace gate
Beefeaters getting ready
The crowds lining the route
Beautiful St. James Park
The Middleton's are on the left in the carriage, and Prince Charles and Camilla are on the right
There were lots of commemorative flags and souvenirs 
The Procession after the ceremony
I wish I had thought of this - I couldn't see a thing!
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the Procession to Buckingham Palace - I wish I had gotten close enough to get this picture! :)
Source
Our view after the Procession was over and they opened up the Mall
I was beyond excited that I had a clear view of the balcony...
...Until the couple came onto the balcony and this was my new view :(
The lady behind me was on a step-stool and got this shot for me - it was right before their second kiss
Blurry dots - I can tell who they are by what color the dot is ;)
What it looked like if you had a good view - I love the little flowergirl's face, priceless!
Source
RAF flyover
Crowds in St. James Park after the balcony kiss
Lots of patriotism there :)
The park was so beautiful!
Trafalgar Square


Lots of flags and decorations


Me in front of Westminster Abbey later in the day

Me, Addison (little one), Meghan, and Danielle
The Abbey was closed from Wednesday on in order to prepare for the wedding
Back side of Westminster Abbey with some news vans
All in all it was a chaotic, crazy, exhausting, amazing day! I didn't get to see a whole lot in person, but it was so fun to just be there and be a part of the excitement and hoopla. I got a wedding program and some newspapers that came out 90 minutes after the wedding commemorating the day. I had DVR'ed the events of the day, so I have been watching all of that for the last two days, and it is very cool to see the actual events going on that I could hear but not see! :)