Tuesday, August 14, 2012 -- Mattie died 153 weeks ago today. Tonight's picture was taken in August of 2007 at the Los Angeles Zoo. That particular day was extremely hot out and while at the zoo, I bought Mattie the purple spray bottle with battery powered fan that he was holding. He loved it. He was spraying and fanning all of us at the Zoo! I still have this bottle in my closet and every time I see it, I remember that hot day at the Zoo.
Fact about Guernsey: Guernsey is a Channel Island. This group of islands, lying in the English Channel off the northwest coast of France, belonged to the Duchy of Normandy until it passed to the English Crown with the Norman conquest of 1066. It was the only British possession occupied by Germany during World War II. English and French are commonly spoken (though use of the latter is declining), and a Norman-French patois survives.
The British isle of Guernsey lies just eight miles off the coast of France and is 30 square miles. The second largest of the Channel Islands, Guernsey possesses a mild climate, breathtaking scenery and a peaceful, unspoiled ambiance. All these attributes combine to make it a popular destination for British and French vacationers. Once the haunt of sea dogs and pirates, St. Peter Port is one of the prettiest harbors in Europe. Castles and forts dot the Guernsey coastline, including German fortifications from World War II. The Channel Islands were the only part of the United Kingdom to be occupied by the Germans in the 1940s.
During the middle ages, the Channel Islands (of which Guernsey is one of the largest), became part of the Duchy of Normandy after 933. This means that William the Conqueror inherited Jersey (another larger Channel Island) and Guernsey before he subdued England. Technically, the Channel Islands are not part of Great Britain even today, but rather possessions of the royal family. This legal limbo provides a convenient opening as a tax shelter.
The fertility of the Island is wonderful for all types of agriculture, thanks to the warm current of the Gulf Stream. Greenhouses and market gardens cover every possible inch of soil, yielding an amazing variety of wonderful fruits, vegetables, and flowers. In fact, Guernsey's major agricultural exports are carnations and cut flowers.
This is a Guernsey Cow! Named for the Island it was founded on. The Guernsey cattle are noted for their rich milk and delectable cream and butter. These cows can be easily seen while driving through the countryside. Many of the land owners tether their cows on their land. The cows are tethered, we were told, so they won’t overeat. They can only eat in a circle around where they are tethered to the ground. I had the pleasure of sampling Guernsey ice cream, and all I can say is WOW! Not like the products we buy in the USA. It is very rich, creamy, and tasty, without being overly sweet.
The famous and unforgettable Little Chapel of Guernsey is located within a quiet countryside along a tree-lined path. The Little Chapel was built by hand from 1923-1925 by Brother Deodat of the Christian Schools. The church was constructed to resemble the grotto at Lourdes. Made of simple materials, it is beautifully decorated with pebbles, shells and numerous pieces of colorful broken china. The intricate construction of the chapel reflects the skill and devotion displayed by the builder to his faith, and the creation of this historic holy site. Brother Deodat built this miniature church THREE times. The first time he built it, his fellow Christian brothers laughed at him, so he destroyed the structure. His second attempt was not received positively either by the bishop, who couldn’t fit into the structure to consecrate it. So literally Deodat tore the second structure down as well. His third attempt however was a winner and it is what we see today. The chapel is like NO other I have ever seen. The pottery pieces on the exterior and interior walls are exquisite. Especially if you are a pottery lover like myself. However, the doorways and interior spaces are super narrow. In fact only about six people can traverse through this structure at any one time. In many ways I imagine it to be like walking inside a dollhouse if that were physically possible. 
This is one of the stained glass windows within the little chapel! The richness in color is simply breathtaking. Not to mention the intricacies of the pottery pieces selected!
In Washington, DC we have statues of elephants and donkeys. Here in Guernsey, they have statues of their beautiful cows. Since I LOVE cows, Peter insisted I get into this picture. 
This battlement was built during the Napoleanic Wars, to protect Guernsey from France. However, in the 1940s, it was modified and enhanced by the Germans to protect their strong hold over the Island. 
We took a picture of this house because its garden was beyond spectacular. In fact, all of Guernsey is lush and inviting. However, keep in mind that this Island is in cloud cover over 50% of the year!
A typical street in Guernsey. Filled with charm and beauty!
Castle Cornet was built in 1206 and was held by royalists during the English Civil War, although the rest of Guernsey supported Parliament. It was besieged for eight years, and was the last royalist garrison to surrender. Today, it houses three military museums and an art gallery. 
I end tonight's posting with a picture of our ship, The Caribbean Princess. Peter took a picture of her while we were tendering back from visiting Guernsey.
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