Shilton, pt. III, the food.

Whenever this group of friends gets together we cook. And we don't just kind of cook. We make feasts. Four days in Shilton called for many many feasts to be made. Feasts for breakfast, picnics for lunch, feasts for dinner, and lots of wine and beer in between.

Shilton, pt. II: the people.

There's nothing quite like going to a beautiful house in the middle of nowhere and hanging out with a bunch of people you really enjoy. It's in this setting that you can truly relax, not worry about anything, eat drink and be merry.

Shilton, pt. I: the place.

This weekend i found myself with a bunch of friends in Shilton, a tiny village in Oxfordshire that is the type of picturesque countryside i wasn't sure actually existed. It turns out it does, and it's there, and it's filled with stone houses that line winding, dusty streets. You shop at the farm market and you drink at the pub, where locals show up in wellies and bring their dogs with them. You have fires and cook feasts and watch lots and lots of movies.

Bike Lust.

This would do just fine.

The past week looked like this.

Boyfriend cooks a late night dinner, gourmet, really. Tait, the only one appropriate to do so, finds a flyer for a 'Rage Factor' event. Abundant snacks get eaten as we realize as americans that watching brits play baseball in london must be like brits watching americans play soccer in central park. A first ever win for said baseball team, not the worst team in england anymore, 14-1. Amazing sunsets as we walk through west london to a greek restaurant where dan cooks lamb and suckling pig is on the menu.

Americana & Bread.

Today i woke up and realized that my shoes were aligned perfectly for a slice of americana. Later that day i baked bread, and wrapped half in a tea towel, and realized that too reminded me of home.

To be a part of something.

This year's move to london has prompted a newly born football (soccer) fandom thanks to having both a boyfriend and dear friend who are wholehearted Fulham fans. I've been to four games now, and watched a good deal more on tv, becoming invested in a team known for its heartbreaking brushes with success. Last week david and i were lucky enough to snag tickets to an unprecedented semi final homegame in the europa cup, and not only that but were able to experience the energy in Craven Cottage when they won. It was an eruption, a feeling of reaching a breaking point in nerves that were then fully released. It was nice to feel so attached to an atmosphere and feel like you were a part of something huge.