May moments: A Visit to York

May is almost over and today I've the opportunity to sit quietly for a while and think of the many happy moments that made this particular month a good and memorable one. Here are some that I give thanks for.......

Flowers

I'm grateful and give thanks for my eyesight that allows me to see the beauty around me especially in nature.  It's been a good month for flowers. In particular I looked to see if the buds of the lily-of-the valley (my birthday flower) were open. The plants were in a pot and given to me by a daughter a couple of years They were transferred last year into a raised bed by the sitting out area. I didn't mind if they multiplied there, but now they're back in a pot indoors as like many of the tender plants in the garden the buds are being munched up by some Nasty Creature. Of all the plants in the garden that flower at this time of the year in this part of the world I'm being rather protective of my lily-of-the valley.

Birthday moments

I'm thankful to be a year older and well although I don't take my health for granted. I'm grateful for medical care that we receive.  I have a recall at the hospital this week after going for a routine screening and although apprehensive I'm hoping that it's nothing to worry about. I'm also grateful for a wonderful husband - a patient one who's happy to take me on outings. Actually we do enjoy these times together even if it's only a short drive in the countryside.
I had a lovely birthday.  It didn't matter that rain stopped play with regard to spending time out of doors with our daughter and grandchildren, but we did have a lovely lunch and tea together and I had some wonderful gifts from all the children and grandchildren, too many to include here.

 Gifts -  a mug and and two plates with a cherry blossom design from grandchildren

More birthday gifts. There are some good recipes in this cook book, some variations on those I already know and many new ideas to try on the family.

Books from my daughter-in-law who knows what I particularly enjoy reading.

An enjoyable meeting

It was lovely to spend a few hours with Marilyn and her husband in York.  We had such a good time chatting over lunch and then looking around the nearby Museum Gardens.  I give thanks that we met and can continue our friendship through the wonders of the internet and the blogging experience. 

Marilyn gave me this lovely porcelain ornament made by Margaret Furlong, an Oregon artist. It's exquisite in every little detail and I shall treasure this beautiful gift from a delightful lady.

Here are some more photos of the gardens in York where we wandered and spent such a happy time together.

This area within the walls of what was once a small part of the grounds of  St. Mary's Abbey has been created as a garden for edible plants. There are entrances on a main street in Marygate and another leads into the rest of the Museum Gardens.
  

Hovenia dulcis Japanese raisin tree

Szechuan pepper (edible seeds)

Swiss chard

By midday the sun really began to shine which explains the blue skies in these later photos.

The fruit or 'grapes' of the mahonia aquiflorium.The mahonia aquifolium is the state flower of Oregon and an appropriate way to end this post. It was just after seeing this that we had to say goodbye to Marilyn and her husband, make our way to the car park near the river in Marygate and go back home. There were days of sunshine in May and I'm thankful that our day in York was one of them

I hope to catch up with all of you soon. Wishing you a good day and a good rest of the week.

A visit to York

I'm going back into my photo archives of a visit last winter to York.  The weather was just as changeable from hour to hour as it is at the moment.  The river level was high and some of the paths alongside were under water and I expect it has been the same this year because of the continual rain.

There's so much of interest in York that a day's visit is not enough.  I spent most of my time in York Minster and then walked in the Museum Garden by the river as I wanted to see some of the remains of some early medieval buildings in that area.

As the information plaque says St. Leonard's was the largest medieval hospital in the north of England and cared for the ill and infirm.  The poor came to be fed and St Leonard's also provided meals for the prisoners in York Castle.

Also in the Museum Garden is the ruined St. Mary's Abbey, first built in 1088.  It was one of the most important Benedictine monasteries in England.  The abbey estate occupied all the land that is now the Museum Garden and the abbot was one of the most powerful clergyman of his day.

The gateway on Marygate was the main entrance into the abbey.  It was here that the poor could come and claim alms.  The building known as St. Mary's Lodge is now the headquarters of York Museums Trust. The stone walls that surrounded the abbey were built in the 1290s and remain the most complete set of abbey walls in the country.  At the time they were built to defend the abbey when the city and the abbey were in dispute over taxes and land.

St. Olave's Church next to Marygate entrance

Another medieval building in the gardens is the timber and stone Hospitium which would have been a guest house or barn for the monastery.  The first floor was rebuilt in the 20th century to accommodate some of the museum's archaeology collection. Now it's used as a conference centre and venue for weddings.

In the 1530s Henry VIII began his campaign against the monasteries.  The monks at St. Mary's were pensioned off and the abbot's residence was converted into a palace for the King and base for his Northern Council.  Gradually the church fell into ruin and the other monastery buildings were used for agricultural purposes. 

As I've mentioned in my last post I've read most of the books in the series of historical novels written by C.J. Sansom set in Tudor times. Much of the plot of Sovereign is set in York in the Autumn of 1541 before returning to London and the Tower of London. St. Mary's Abbey by that date is no longer a monastery. The church is being used as stabling and pavilions are being set up in the grounds for the King's visit to attend an extravagant public display of submission by his rebellious subjects in York.

Already in the city are lawyer Matthew Shardlake and his assistant Jack Barak.  As well as legal work processing local petitions to the King, Shardlake has reluctantly undertaken a special mission for Archbishop Cranmer - to ensure the welfare of an important but dangerous conspirator who is to be returned to London for interrogation. But the murder of a York glazier involves Shardlake in deeper mysteries, connected not only to the prisoner in York Castle, but to the royal family itself. 

It was certainly interesting to see for myself this area of York that's mentioned in this novel.  The Museum Garden is full of historical and botanical interest and has been used as a backdrop for many events and the famous York Mystery Plays.

                                                                 The Fern Garden

                                                               
                                              The Roman Fortress and Multiangular Tower

                                                                     Marygate

York: the historic centre at Christmas

Yesterday I went into our city centre to do my last lot of Christmas shopping although I always try to avoid the Christmas crowds as much as possible so I didn't stay long. Do you like to shop in a covered mega centre where everything can be found under one roof or do you enjoy browsing and buying from small outlets and craft fairs?

Last year in early December I went with a group of ladies to York, travelling by coach so all the photos are from that trip. Travelling by train or a special coach is the best way to get into a city centre rather than car these days as most have pedestrian only shopping areas and the park and ride option can be a convenient alternative, but with expensive charges.

York is only a short train journey away for me so hopefully I'll go there more often in the new year.