Stonehenge 101 . .

A few things I learned . .

Stonehenge was built between 3100 – 1100 BCE.

The circle was built to align with the midsummer sunrise, the midwinter sunset, and with the most southerly rising and northerly setting of the moon.

The formation and construction of Stonehenge demonstrates a great understanding in math and geometry.

The builders used two types of stones used in its construction: the bluestones which weighed as much as four tons and were brought from 240 miles away) and the Sarsen stones (averaging about eighteen feet in height and twenty-five tons in weight).

Experts have also estimated that the construction of Stonehenge required more than thirty million hours of labor.

There are more than nine hundred stone rings exist in the British Isles but Stonehenge is the most well known. I also visited one in Avebury - it had a much larger radius.

The rock formations in Britain predate eastern Mediterranean, Egyptian, Mycenaean and Greek cultures.

Something I didn't learn . .

If aliens built it.

Just me and my camera . .

Shopping with your camera is more fun than you think. I'm on a new kick, well it's not really a new kick, it's more of a lifelong plan. I like to collect things, or at least I used to. While in London, I'm not buying anyTHING. By that I mean, I'm not buying things - I'm just buying experiences.

If you haven't read this, then read it and you'll see what I mean - I gave you two links so go on and read it.

A few weeks ago a group of us went to Abbey Road and got our picture. Check that one off the bucket list. We arrived at 7 a.m. to avoid major traffic. I admire anyone who snaps this shot successfully. It's a challenge to dodge cars AND pose.

Shortly after we headed over to Portobello Market (you know the market from Notting Hill where Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts fall in love). It's just a few blocks from where I live and it's everything a market should be; lots of antiques, delicious food, fresh produce and fascinating people.

Here are three things I bought with my camera. Yes, even the camera is on a budget.

Cell phones are so overdone.
Yes, it's a door knocker. I've always wanted a lion on my door and now I'll have a functional lion on my door.
You can never have enough luggage and I'm sure it could double as a coffee table.

This is my kind of market.

*Correction . .

Okay, sooooo I guess I've had a few more nicknames than I thought. I've received a few emails with additions, rightful additions. Here are the ones I forgot: Scotty Wot, Scotty Enchilady, Scotty K.C. and The Great Gatsby.

Happy now? If you can think of any others, leave a comment.

This picture taken at Tintern Abbey in Wales.

Chills, the good kind . .

Lion King the musical was a creative explosion. Yes, an explosion. I was overwhelmed and moved. The costumes, the singing, the dancing and the feeling created gave me chills song after song.

A few days later I went to the Victoria and Albert Museum and found costumes from the show in their theater exhibit. Once again, chills. This time it was the mask, the beads, the fabric and the elegance. Seeing them up close was a whole new experience.

For my art class I have to sketch two pieces of art in every museum we visit in London. I sketched these costumes. As I sketched, I got to know every inch of the costume. And now I can say with more surety than I ever wanted that costume designer Julie Taymor knew exactly what she was doing and she did it well.

Brilliance, pure brilliance.

Nicknames . .

I've had a few nicknames in my day . .

Scotty, Scoot, Scooter, Cristofero, Christy (short for my last name - a missionary thing) but when I arrived in London I got a new nickname.

So, I'm studying abroad in London. I know, I know . . great way to avoid reality after graduation, right? Right! It was now or never, and it's now . . apparently. So let's sum it up. 35 girls. 6 guys (I'll explain later). 3 professors and their families. 2 brazilians (they cook and tidy up).

Back to the nickname thing. One of my professors has the most adorable four year old daughter and she calls me Scotch.

And now, so does everyone else.

Oh and that list of people - 61 in total. Yeah we all live together in the same house, but I'll save that for another post.

My dad is an artist . .

My dad always sketches a little something during commencement and/or convocation. I got one for high school graduation and I got one for college graduation. And I love them both the same.

I'm sure it keeps him awake but I will always cherish the messages, the inside jokes and the thought.

Thanks, Dad.

A jaunt down south . .

Just before winter semester ended my family spent the weekend in St. George to celebrate my graduation, Kade's birthday and just life in general. Not to mention, we like to hang out together - any excuse is a good excuse.

Lou had many moments of event planning genius including the graduation cap desserts. How sweet are those?! I’m still dreaming about the trays of peanut butter bars she made (my personal favorite).

Among eating, golfing and hiking, we even made a little time for a game of speed and dodgeball in the backyard. Dodgeball gets even better after elementary school, especially when you hear adult participants say things like, “let’s take out the little kids first, and then we’ll worry about the adults” or “oh my gosh, I just hit my baby with the ball.”

Even though my siblings have mortgages and kids of their own, we love to play the same old games and laugh about the same old things.

Some things never change. Thank goodness.