Author’s Note: I stopped blogging regularly in 2020, but now in 2024, I am using Google Photos and Google Maps timeline to recreate a post about what we were up to each month!
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On the first Sunday in May, we were still having worship on Zoom and we celebrated communion as well. Just before worship I realized I didn’t have any bread in the house so I ended up using a tortilla as my bread for communion. I don’t think anyone noticed during the actual service, but I shared it as a funny story during the fellowship time afterward. Then, a few hours later, my doorbell rang and when I went to answer it I saw a church member walking away. She pointed to the doorstep where she had left a loaf of freshly baked bread! How sweet is that! It was delicious!
Later that week we harvested some rhubarb from our back garden! The very first church housing I ever lived in (in Ames) also had rhubarb in the back garden, so it was fun to have it again. I made some rhubarb bars that Joel loves and chopped up the rest to freeze for later.
I went on another bluebell walk with the ladies of Trellech and we had tea in Kathryn’s back garden after. We talked about making this a weekly event…or even a monthly one…and then we promptly never did it again. Life always gets in the way!
On the 18th we returned to the Forest of Dean, this time to check out the sculpture trail instead of the cycle trail, and with Steve in tow. I had high hopes for this sculpture trail (the sculpture park back in Des Moines is one of my favourite places in the city) but this one we found to be a bit of a disappointment. Some of the “sculptures” were impossible to find, some looked like broken-down park equipment, and others were just meh.
But it was a gorgeous walk through the woods and we did find a swing so all was not lost.
The next day was equally as gorgeous outside so we went to explore Hereford with no real plans for what exactly we would do. We ended up walking through a park and crossing this beautiful bridge…
Then we stumbled upon the cathedral so you know I had to drag the guys inside there to look around…
Funnily enough, there was a sculpture in the courtyard that was cooler than anything we saw on the sculpture trail the day before!
On the 20th we were able to go back to the cinema! I no longer remember what we saw but I do know I was very excited to get back to watching movies on the big screen. I even wore my special movie leggings to celebrate.
On the 22nd it was the Eurovision finale and we watched it on our own big screen at home (with no Steve because we were still only hanging out together outdoors and distanced.) I was not happy about the winner this year (Maneskin, blech.)
The 23rd was Pentecost and also the day that we decided to start having church in person again! Pentecost felt like an appropriately celebratory day to make that happen. We were still distanced and couldn’t sing and kept all the windows and doors open but it was still nice to gather together. We also weren’t doing fellowship/coffee time after the service, but I asked one church member to make a special treat for everyone to take home - Pentecost cupcakes! I just asked for red velvet or something vaguely on theme but Liz knocked these out of the park! Red and orange icing and an edible dove!
Another church member works for Bridges - a charity based in Monmouth. They do a lot of community work and this year they started a new project called “Cycling for all Ages.” They bought a bicycle that has a large seat on the front that can fit up to two people - the bike at the back is electric to help the cyclist haul everyone around. I volunteered to learn how to ride the bike so I could give rides to people - and also to be an accompanying cyclist. As part of the training, I got to ride on the bike which is what is happening in this photo!
Other than a few shots of sparkly nails and what looks like mug shots I took of Joel (for his provisional license) that is a wrap on May 2021! The world was slowly coming out of lockdown and the sun was starting to shine and things were looking up!
XOXO, Bethany